J Felts Art - J Felts Blog

Christmas Card 2019!

12/5/2019

I'll be at the Houston County 12th Annual Arts & Craft show tomorrow at Erin's City Hall. I'll have this year's Houston County influenced Christmas Card for sale. Houston County, "A wee bit of Ireland in Tennessee", was settled by the Irish with the coming of the railroad to the area. Also, the Magnolia Swimming hole is one of the best swimming hole in Tennessee! See article http://bcbstwelltuned.com/2015/07/02/must-try-swimming-holes-in-tennessee/
The craft show starts at 9 and ends at 5, tomorrow only.Dec. 6th
I will also have cards at the studio for sale.

The inside of the card has an Irish Christmas blessing!

Clarksville's Arts & Heritage Calendar!

11/30/2019

I got this in my email from the Clarksville Arts & Heritage Development Council
Congratulations to the following artists whose work has been selected for our 2020 calendar: Calendars can be purchased at the Customs House Museum.

FRONT COVER - Leah Foote, Smith Trahern Rocking Chairs, Watercolor
JANUARY - Larry R. Richardson, Road, Rail and River, Oil
FEBRUARY - Leo Adames, Lone Oak Picnic "Chevy 51",
MARCH - Patsy Sharpe, Overlooking the Cumberland, Watercolor
APRIL - David Magers, A Mother's Love, Photograph
MAY - Paula Baggett Edwards, Lone Oak Picnic, Pastel
JUNE - Janet L. Felts, Liberty Park at Cunningham Bridge, Oil on Canvas
JULY - Ron Jackson, Flying Free!, Photograph
AUGUST - Lisa Klemmer, Sunflower, Photograph
SEPTEMBER - D J Hatcher, Day on the Creek, Watercolor
OCTOBER - Alan Goldstein, Face Painting, Photograph
NOVEMBER - Phil Cook, Born in the Country, Photograph
DECEMBER - Betty Pierce Liles, The Old Home Place, Oil on Linen Canvas
BACK COVER - Frank Lott, After the Storm, Watercolor

Thankful for Being An Artist!

11/29/2019

My last commission was picked up just before Thanksgiving. I am thankful for the trust people put in me in hopes of creating an artwork they will treasure for the rest of the lives. I hope I was able to accomplished that with this drawing of Nancy and John's beautiful grandchildren. It's a large Pen and Ink 16" x 18" I was honored to have been able to photograph these young people and then draw them in my favorite medium. Thank you so much John and Nancy for the opportunity to draw your beautiful grandchildren. I wish the photo had turned out better but pen and ink drawings are hard to photograph.

Added Finches to this Year's selection!

11/23/2019

I wanted to add another bird to my hand painted holiday ornaments. I love Cardinals, blue birds and finches. So this year I painted a few finches to add to the collection.. I've painted Jay Birds before but not many. Today I delivered these to the DAC in Clarksville for the Holiday Bazaar. I'll also have some at the Houston County Holiday Craft show on Friday, Dec. 6th at City Hall.

silver point workshop in Chattanooga

11/22/2019

I attended a one day workshop last weekend on Silver point drawing. I've always loved the look of metal point drawings. You see them mostly in Art Museums. I think they are beautiful because with age they tarnish and turn a beautiful brown that will glisten in the light. It's a medium that the old Masters used since the 14th century. They are usually small in size. The two pieces above are my pieces completed in the workshop.

FYI: A silverpoint drawing is made by dragging a silver rod or wire across a surface, often prepared with gesso or primer. Silverpoint is one of several types of metalpoint used by scribes, craftsmen and artists since ancient times.

Wikipedia stated: Albrecht Dürer's father was one such craftsman who later taught his young son to draw in metalpoint, to such good effect that his 1484 Self-Portrait at the Age of 13 is still considered a masterpiece.

The workshop was a combination of Art History, drawing techniques and drawing from observation . We could pick to draw from the model or a still life. I used both. The presenter was Gavin Gardner. I really enjoyed my day and I got to visit my cousin and her wonderful husband while I was in Chattanooga.

Erin's Holiday Arts and Crafts Show, Dec. 6th

11/14/2019

I'll be there all day Friday, Dec. 6, 2029!

plein Air Painting Last Week

11/13/2019

Last week when it was pretty out, the DAC Plein Air Painters got out to paint. I found a boat but no water. It's not finished and may never be. I might use it as a study for a studio piece. I won't be getting out in this extreme cold weather.

Holiday Ornaments and More at DAC

11/8/2019

Now through Dec. 21 is the DAC Holiday Bazaar. Betty Pierce Liles and I are sharing a table this year at the Bazaar. I'm on the left. Our artworks are similar as we are both representational artist. She works mostly in oil and I work in watercolor and pen and ink.

I have my gift bags which are actually recycled watercolor paintings. I also have mini canvases and Holiday ornaments.
DAC hours are:
Tuesday thur Friday 1-5 pm and Sat. 9:00 - 5:00 pm.
WE will be having another reception on Thursday, Dec. 5th 5-8pm.

I also have a delightful chicken painting available and few others in the studio in Erin. Be sure to call me first before you come. 931 627 4872 I also have Karen's jewelry at the studio.

Working in Pen & Ink

11/4/2019

I spilled the ink!!! Thank goodness it didn't get the art piece I'm working on. It's always such a mess! It stains and it isn't easy to get up. I had to collect all the pencils, erasers and paper it landed on and trash them or wash them. Half a roll of paper towels later and you still have a nasty stained surface. Tomorrow, I hit it was scrubbing gel.

I've been working on a pen and ink commission for a while now. Working with pen and ink was always my favorite. Now I'm having trouble with my eye and I can see to work with it unless the lighting is really bright. I need bright natural light and lights on the drawing board. I can only work about two hours a day on sunny days. If its overcast out side, I can't work. I can still paint!

2 rivers Painting Out - so much fun!

10/21/2019

I didn't win an award or anything like that, but I really enjoyed painting with my painting partner Leah Foote. All the paintings were beautiful and the reception was very nice. I painted with watercolor this year and the weather was perfect both days. We all had a good time. And I sold a painting!!!!