Double Four Time

Double Four Time

Oil on canvas, 36x48

sold

I made my first cow painting when we were living in Connecticut. I'd gotten a big canvas - 48x60, I believe - on deep clearance at Jerry's Artarama in Hartford, and I got it home and realized I had no idea what to paint on it.                                                                                 I'd been painting a lot of landscapes - but if I painted a big field and little house, well, what would be the point of working on a large canvas? 

The canvas stayed in the studio while I pondered. And pondered and pondered and pondered some more. 

Then, the idea of painting cows came to me. And why not? They're big, interesting, colorful. I'd made a couple small cow paintings, and enjoyed making them. So I set about it, and had a great time. 

But, I thought, I will drag this painting around with me for the Rest of My Life. No one will ever want to buy it. Who would want a painting of cows? 

Turns out, lots of people would. People like cows. For all of us who are not ranchers or farmers, cows are the familiar, but also The Other. They're such a huge part of America - in the fields, near the roads, as beef and as milk in all its forms. Much of the time - particularly in the East - when you stop to look at a cow, the cow stops to look at you. 

That one canvas, that one decision, opened a whole world to me, and it's one I enjoy, and am so grateful to have found! 

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So Santa has a cool van now! Bet it cuts that carbon footprint...

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Dog of the Day

Erika and Paul's dog Benny had his birthday on Christmas Day. He's a full year old now, 

but I'm pretty sure he will always act like a dippy puppy. 

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A Final Thought

One of my favorite books in the world, and one that I've mentioned often in this blog and to fellow artists, is "Art & Fear / Observations on the Perils (and Rewards) of Artmaking," by David Bayles and Ted Orland. I've received permission to use quotes from the book as my "Final Thought" throughout the month of January, so here goes: 

"Artmaking involves skills that can be learned. The conventional wisdom here is that while 'craft' can be taught, 'art' remains a magical gift bestowed only by the gods. Not so. In large measure, becoming an artist consists of learning to accept yourself, which makes your work personal, and in following your own voice, which makes your work distinctive." 

- David Bayles and Ted Orland

Calendars, Tote Bags, Pillows - and a Discount, Too!

 Hope you all had wonderful Thanksgivings, filled with family and friends, love and warmth and an abundance of delicious food! I was lucky enough to celebrate with family in Connecticut and Rhode Island, and then come home and celebrate with Peter and the gang.

I spent part of the time making calendars for 2016, and they're on sale Sunday and Monday, at my store on Lulu.com - http://www.lulu.com/spotlight/carriejacobson. On Sunday,use the code TWOMOREDAYS at checkout and get 30 percent off. Monday, use the code ONEMOREDAY and get 25 percent off! The regular price is $13.88 each.

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I HAVE SOME FUN items on Fine Art America, too, like shower curtains, pillows and tote bag you see here... there are also note cards, mugs, coasters and I don't remember what else - all emblazoned with your favorite paintings.

You can click here to reach my page, or go to fineartamerica.com and search for me! I'm adding paintings all the time - if there's one you particularly love and it's not there, drop me an email and if I can put the painting up for you, I'm happy to do so.

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AND CONTINUING in the self-promotional vein, the 101 Dogs Project is a great idea for a present! For $375, you or your giftee will receive a 12-inch-by-12-inch oil painting of your dog, a book or poster starring said dog, and some other items, too, depending on your sponsorship and your choices. Part of the money you give me will go to one of four dog-related groups, or to a dog-related group of your choice. And for a bigger sponsorship, you will get two paintings, or a bigger one! Check it out by clicking here, or go to jacobson-arts.com and poke around a little.

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Dog of the Day

I bet this German shepherd puppy is pretty much all grown up now! 

I took this photo in the summer, at the South Norwalk Art Festival. 

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A Final Thought

"One can have no smaller or greater mastery than mastery of oneself." 

- Leonardo da Vinci

In the Barn - and Abby Fits In

In the Barn

Oil on canvas, 30x30

Available at Center Framing and Art, 

56 LaSalle Road, West Hartford Center, CT

To all of you who came to the Paradise City show this past weekend, and stopped by my booth to say hello, thank you! It was great to see you, and you added greatly to my enjoyment of the show. 

I had a couple nice sales, some to new buyers and others to people who've bought my paintings in the past. The lovely couple below, who now have four of my pieces, said the greatest thing to me. Not only do they love my art, they said, but they're buying more also because they want me to be able to keep painting. How great is that?  

Still, this fall's Paradise City was only a break-even show for me, and so I am considering skipping it next fall, seeing if I can find a more profitable - or closer - way to spend my weekend. 

It wasn't just me, of course. The weather was rainy and cold, the stock market took a big tumble, and while folks were buying, they generally weren't buying two-dimensional art. Jewelry and three-dimensional art were the big sellers of the show. 

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I DID A GOOD but pretty frightening thing after the show at Paradise City. I left a big bulk of my supply of paintings at Center Framing and Art in West Hartford Center, CT. 

It was a good move, because Lori, who owns Center Framing and Art, sells lots of my paintings, and she loves them. But it was a frightening move because I have two shows in Texas coming up in early November, and I have to paint like a crazy woman to have enough art to fill my booth! 

But I'm excited about my new paintings, and I am eager to try new things with them - and so it's good, all good. And I do love a challenge. 

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SO, THOSE NEXT shows, in Texas. The first is the Houston Fine Arts Festival, Nov. 1-2, at 1500 McKinney St., downtown Houston. The second is the Winnsboro Fine Arts Market, Nov. 7-9, in Winnsboro, which is a couple hours from Dallas. 

I've never done a show in Texas, but I'd think that my big paintings, especially sunflowers and cowscapes, might do very well there. At the very least, it will be an experience! 

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Dog of the Day

The Dog of the Day is our new addition, Abby. She is getting along great with the other dogs, and injecting a nice dose of puppy high spirits into the lives of our aging pack. Woodreau, the not-so-white fluffy dog up on the back of the couch, would like to be mean to Abby, and boss her around - but she pretty much just refuses to take him seriously. He lunges and barks and she plays. Abby is proving to be a real gal pal for my dear JoJo, which makes me very happy. Below, Joey and Abbs take a break from a bout of very enthusiastic playing. 

Photos from an exhibition

Summer and her mom, Elissa

Lori Rembetski, an amazingly talented sculptor. I have three of her dog sculptures, and they make me smile every day.

On the left, Laura Maiolo, whose beautiful work shares the space with my paintings for the rest of the month

Chris Rose, Lighthouse Gallery curator, maker of large gestures. 

We had a good turnout for the opening reception! 

Chris Rose, curator, talks with friends and supporters at the opening of "Oil & Water, Sunlight & Shadow" at the Lighthouse Gallery on March 4. 

The guy in the hat is my godson and son-in-law, Jon Mowrey. He and our daughter, Erika, came to the opening.

Laura Maiolo and I had a fabulous opening reception on Friday at the Lighthouse Gallery in Groton. Chris Rose, the curator, said he thought 60 people came through during the event. 

Many friends and co-workers from Patch came to the show, and that really touched my heart. Those of us who work for Patch work alone, in our houses, in our cars, in our cluttered and often dark heads, and so to see so many come out, and get together and have fun - and see my work! - well, it was a treat indeed. 

If you didn't make the show, no worries. It will be up at the Lighthouse Gallery through the end of the month, with the minor exception of March 17 and 18, when I will be taking the bulk of the work to the Paradise City show in Marlborough, MA. 

This is a big deal show that I've gotten into, a very high-end collection of artists and craftspeople, and I am thrilled to be included. It's at the Royal Plaza Trade Center. Directions are on the website.

In the meantime, if you're in the area here, please stop in to the Lighthouse Gallery. If you have been considering buying a piece of mine or Laura's, this is a great place to buy. Commissions go to help the Lighthouse Voc-Ed program, which helps kids with developmental disabilites. It's a wonderful program run by dedicated, caring people, and I love that my sales help them. 

And if you came to the opening, thank you! You made my heart sing.