Perker Painting

Perker in-progress, Oil on Panel, 16" x 24", © 2009. Jennie Traill Schaeffer

This is my newest percolator, painted. I started this about a week or so ago and it's sitting on my easel waiting to be completed. Without a lot of time to ponder over my work, I set up the percolator and just painted. Using the brush and palette knife it has a lot of texture and movement to the paint. It's good to see this on the computer, on a smaller scale away from the easel, I see areas that need some work. Check back soon for the finished piece.

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The Kitchen God's Artist

It finally hit newsstands this weekend! My profile in this month's issue of NJ Savvy Living is available now at New Jersey Borders, Barnes & Noble, King's & Wegman's through September 17th. Get your copy to read the full article in which George Anderson, editor in chief, dubbed me "The Kitchen God's Artist."

I was so pleased with the article and am thrilled to have been chosen for inclusion in such an exclusive publication. Thank you NJ Savvy Living for this GREAT opportunity!

SPECIAL OFFER* -
As a special thank you to my loyal readers, I'm offering special pricing now through September 17th when you bring in a copy of the NJ Savvy Living article to TraillWorks. TraillWorks is open Monday, Tuesday and Thursday 10 - 6pm, Friday 10 - 8pm, Saturday 10 - 5pm and Sunday 11 - 4pm or by appointment.

*Offer valid through September 17th. Only one article may be redeemed per family and is good only on purchases of artwork and note cards in the gallery on a single day. May not be applied to lessons or previously scheduled commissions.

Email me with any questions.

Perker gets Painted Again

Bound Perker, Oil on Panel, 12" x 16", © Jennie Traill Schaeffer 2008

Here's my second bound appliance portrait painting. The percolator is wrapped with my husband's grandmother Fran's hand made tulle and velvet apron. I completed it last week and it will be framed and hanging in the gallery this week.

PS - Don't forget about the Sidewalk Sale Specials going on INSIDE TraillWorks now through July 31st.

New Works

Homage to Fran's Taffeta Apron, 5" x 7",

Oil on Canvas, © 2008 Jennie Traill Schaeffer

Homage to Fran's Taffeta Apron, 5" x 7",
Oil on Canvas, © 2008 Jennie Traill Schaeffer

$100

Homage to Fran's Pink Apron, 5" x 7",
Oil on Canvas, © 2008 Jennie Traill Schaeffer

$100

The first two paintings depict my husband's grandmother's aprons that she probably made by hand in the 40s and 50s. I'm fascinated not only in the fabrics and colors, but by the historical / sociological significance of aprons.

A recent NY Times article When Mom and Dad Share it All, brings new meaning to the apron. No more are the days of the frilly hostess aprons that Fran made and wore, but men are now donning them equally in taking a more active role in household chores and child rearing.

But, there also has been a return to the frilly retro aprons of old for women. We now want our cake and eat it too. We choose to do the cooking or have hubby do the cooking, look good while cooking or entertaining, and all after a day's work.

The contemporary apron hearkens back to a time where we were bound to the kitchen, but is not quite so binding. These small paintings are both an homage to the aprons and Fran, and a depiction of our freedom as 21st century women.

And the winner is . . .

Jennifer Liebeskind!

Over the weekend as part of my grand opening celebration I raffled an original giclée of one of my paintings. The catch to participate in the raffle was to sign up for my mailing list. Unfortunately of the 65 people who attended my opening, only about 10 entered the raffle. I realized after the fact, most of the people were already on my mailing list; I should have just asked people to enter the raffle without signing up for my mailing list. Ah, you live and learn!

Many congratulations to Jennifer who will be receiving #2/75 limited edition giclée of Stainless Steel Cooker of Eggs.

Stainless Steel Cooker of Eggs, 8" x 10", matted 12" x 16"
Limited Edition of 75
$79

jennie@traillworks.com
www.traillworks.com

Grand Opening This Weekend

Enter to win an original limited edition giclée
during the weekend.

Stainless Steel Cooker of Eggs, Limited Edition of 75, 8" x 10"
Available Now for Order
$79 / ea.

jennie@traillworks.com
www.traillworks.com

Opening this Saturday

Join me on Saturday from 4 - 7pm at the SCA&HC Gallery, 137 Spring Street in Newton, NJ for an opening reception previewing the work I created while at my residency in January. I am one of three featured artists exhibiting in conjunction with a members' small works show:

• Kathy Morawski - Equine / Collage Artist

Jolly Joker II by Kathy Morawski

• Jimmy Clark - Potter / Director of Peters Valley Craft Center

Work by Jimmy Clark

Come early, stay late. . . If you're in Newton for the afternoon there's plenty of terrific shopping. After the show stay in Newton for dinner. There are plenty of highly rated restaurants to dine in.

Shop -

• Radiant Essentials - gift boutique
• Maxwell and Molly's Closet - pet boutique
• Charm - home decor, antiques and gifts
• Eaton's Antiques - antique dealer (may not be open due to his move to a larger storefront)
  
• Chocolaterie - European chocolate shoppe
  
• Cheddar Alley - domestic and international cheeses and gourmet food stuff
• Yarn Loft - designer yarn goods and supplies
• Gallery on the Green - exhibiting the art of J. Geoffrey Leckie

Dine - I've eaten at each of these restaurants and recommend all

• JC's Grill House - Certified Angus Beef, Fresh Seafood, Bar
• Andre's- Wine Boutique and Restaurant
  
• Krave - Modern American Cuisine
• Narin Thai -- 11 Main Street (no web site) -- one block from gallery

Parking is pretty easy in Newton --

• 2 - hour free parking on Spring Street until 6pm
• Park on the surrounding streets for a quarter an hour / 2 hours until 6pm
• Park in public parking lots
  

jennie@traillworks.com

http://www.traillworks.com

Day 24 at Peters Valley

Valley Brook Dorm, My home away from home, © Jennie Traill Schaeffer

This month is quickly drawing to a close and though I have had the most spectacular time painting and more painting, I am getting anxious to pack up and return to my husband and puppy. I think they're stopping by tomorrow to go for a hike in Stokes State Forest.

Mother and Child, 18" x 24", Oil on Stretched Linen, © Jennie Traill Schaeffer

This past week I completed another painting, but as I see it in a digital form there is one structural thing that is irking me that I will have to fix. This photo is also slightly blurry. Post a comment to me if you know what it is.

Perker Maesta in Progress, Oil on Stretched Linen, 3' x 5', © Jennie Traill Schaeffer

Above is the Perker Maesta I began working on yesterday. I am currently laying on the "under painting" which are thinned out oils to mass in volume and color which I will then palette knife over with heavier paint.

My last post from Peters Valley will be Monday where I will give you an overview of the other artists who I've spent the past month will. I was very fortunate to have had their guidance, friendship, and company.

Day 20 at Peters Valley

Frozen Wetlands, Thunder Mountain, Peters Valley/Delaware Water Gap National Park © Jennie Traill Schaeffer

I had promised you two posts ago that I would show you some of the small sketches I've been working on.

Well, you'll just have to wait. I keep forgetting and am busy with refining Mixer Maesta. I know, I said it was done, but I organized a studio tour for the artists in residence on Friday night to see each others work.

In so doing, all of the artists unanimously agreed that the halos were problematic, not reading as halos but more like dishes. Being confronted with the painting every day, I didn't see it that way and was so glad for their feedback. Basically, everything in the painting is realistic, but the halos were painted in a flat, abstract shape. Towards the Renaissance, as paintings increased in depth and realism, so too did the halos.

I've decided to scratch out the halos, shift their perspective and make only a hint at a halo by using an edge and a thin transparent layer of gold paint.

I can't show you the piece yet, it's still not finished. Hopefully by the end of the week. In the meantime I painted another version of my wedding cake for my new web site to launch in February.

12/4/04, Oil on Panel, 11.5 x 16", © Jennie Traill Schaeffer

In the meantime, the photo of today shows a frozen over wetland on Thunder Mountain, a part of Peters Valley where the wood, photo, fiber, photography and fine metals studios are. I drove up there on Sunday to show my parents around. It's breathtaking!

Day 15 at Peters Valley

Mixer Maesta in Progress, Oil on Stretched Linen, 3' x 5', © Jennie Traill Schaeffer

As promised here's the latest installment of the Mixer Maesta. Yesterday was the fifth day of working on the painting. It was a pivotal day because I was frustrated with the shadow in the background. Initially it was bigger and more of a lavender left very open-ended with the palette knife. To my appreciation, one of the artist/teachers at Peters Valley stopped by yesterday and openly gave me criticism.

Kulvinder Kaur Dhew came by the studio to use the facilities and we ended up talking. We had met two years ago at an art show in Sparta. She's an accomplished artist, known recently for her sublime graphite drawings of atmospheric conditions that are metaphors for the busy lives we lead. I invited her into the studio to see my work and she immediately openly with criticism which she quickly apologized for. In the two and a half weeks I've been here, I've not received any comments on my work and so I requested she go on.

She pointed out things that I knew were problems, but couldn't quite pin-point how to resolve or specifically what the problem was. The shadow was problematic and she suggested I shift the tone down and emphasize the palette knife edging that I was working with. Additionally, she gave me some positive feedback about the subject matter, quality of my painting/brushwork, and color.

I was so relieved to hear constructive criticism. I'm always open to it to push my work and my ability. Sometimes you need to hear from an unbiased viewer. So above, you'll see the shadow as it's been changed and the painting is close to completion. There are some things I need to tighten up and the floor/shadows need to be finished. I'm hoping to accomplish this today, but alas we have a potluck dinner tonight. So I have to leave the studio early to be domestic and make my mom's macaroni and cheese.

I'll be posting some small landscape drawings I've been working on when I post again.

Day 13 at Peters Valley

Castrocielo Roofs, Oil on Canvas, 12" x 6" © Jennie Traill Schaeffer

I'm just about halfway through my residency. Last week I was worried about the short amount of time remaining, but now for some strange reason I'm feeling like I have a lot more time. Who knows what living out here is doing to my mind!

The painting above is the final work I will do involving Italy while I'm at Peters Valley. It brings together elements from most of the other paintings in this one view of roof tops and antennas. It also is somewhat similar in view to a painting I completed of Tuscany two years ago, Town and Country. It also utilizes the palette knife technique I started a few paintings ago.

And, onto bigger things . . .

As promised, I started my first big painting on Friday.

I waited for the canvas primer to cure and then started with a sketchbook sketch of the composition to determine scale, elements, and placement. Then, once happy with it, I scaled it up onto the canvas with a colored pencil drawing. After that was done I started applying early, thin layers of color using my medium. I spent about 9 hours Saturday and Sunday with that first layer. Today, I began applying paint with a palette knife, continuing the technique from the painting above.

The photo below shows the painting in its preliminary state. I assure you it will change dramatically from now to its completion.

Mixer Maesta in Progress, 3' x 5', Oil on Stretched Linen, © Jennie Traill Schaeffer

More about the subject matter in my next blog . . .