Happy Redbubble’Versary!

Wow! It’s been a year since I opened my Redbubble shop. I really can’t believe it!

It took a long time to find the best platform for me to use. I looked at Society 6 and really tried to make it work...it just didn’t. But Redbubble has been great! And I thank all of y’all for supporting my endeavors. Mmmwahhh!

If I could I would send everyone a gift card or special coupon code or something...unfortunately Redbubble won’t allow that.  I created this store so that more people would have the opportunity to live with (and in!) art. I know my paintings don’t fit into everyone’s budget, but most folks can treat themselves to a $2 sticker or a new mug. 

Again, thank you thank you thank you!

Stay tuned for more designs to be added to my shop. 

What should I add next? Taking suggestions!!

Xoxo

Filomena

It’s getting closer to the show!

Hello friends! We’re less than 1 month (!!!) until my show We Are Called opens at the Evelyn Peeler Peacock Gallery in Corning NY! Wooooooot. The show opens April 16th, closes on May 11th, and I also invite you to the artist’s reception on Friday April 20th, 5-8pm.
ACK! So excited!

LOVING my studio space!

"There are always flowers for those who see them." --Henri Matisse

And I want to see A LOT of flowers! 

One of my artist heroes is Ashley Longshore. Photos of her studio in New Orleans always show huge bouquets of exquisite flowers. I'm following her lead in my studio. How can you NOT be inspired with these lovelies lookin' at you all day?


I am having a great time working in my new studio space in Hornell. I feel really lucky to have found it!

 Here are a couple of paintings I started working on during my art trip in Lucca Italy. I want to create more works like this, on paper with lots of paint. My dear friend MG (also a fabu artist) says (something like): "People don't use enough paint!" She's right! Let's use ALL THE PAINT people!! (oh, and my scarf is one of my creations that can be found on my Redbubble shop)


What have you been up to? I've been busy with happy art stuff and teaching fun classes...please do check out my Instagram feed to see more...it's purdy over there! :)

Holy Ribbon Cutting Batgirl!

Don’t you just love this young artist and her bunny ears! She’s a new friend and a keeper!

Thanks to the group for helping me celebrate! 

Holding the end of the ribbon is the amazingly talented Bridget Bossart van Otterloo. 

Look her up and buy her art/take her classes!

(All the !!!!)

So much love!!

So a lot has happened in the last month...went to Europe to take a class with the fabu Carmelo Blandino, rented an “official” art studio in Hornell, NY, and celebrated said space with friends (new & old!) and family :)

Cupcakes made by the fabu Sweet Sarah’s Kitchen in Corning, NY :) Vegan delish!



My Redbubble shop merchandise is slowly growing and I’m excited that people are choosing to wear, use, and gift my artwork. I truly feel “HASHTAG BLESSED”!  Click on the link below to head over to my shop. :) Thank you!

www.redbubble.com/people/filomenajack

Solo show announced!

I'm happy, excited, proud, and just a bit anxious to announce that I'm having my first solo show in the spring :)!

The show will open in April at the Peeler Peacock Gallery on Market St. in Corning NY. The other amazing artists listed above have set the bar very high and I have a lot of work to do. Luckily I am working with a patient and talented mentor and have a strong vision for the show. 

Stay tuned for more updates :)

Show dates are April 18 to May 11. 

New Items in the Shop! :)

I just uploaded new artwork to my RedBubble shop. Have a look see :) The products I've been testing have been really well made, bright and colorful, and just feel good...I can't stop petting my new pillow covers lol :)

Thanks for supporting the art! :)

I loved painting this mermaid. The original painting is still available for adoption :)

Cheers!

FJ! :)

3 Weeks of Learning: Week 2

I wonder if I'm making as much progress as I would have liked...or if perhaps my "to do" list has just morphed a bit from where I thought it would be.

In the last couple of days I've started a new painting (which I don't as yet love), began work on 2 online classes (hands and baby animal portraits), partially conquered a pretty major panic point (i.e. dog parks), and began to conduct artist interviews that will become a podcast series.  All while battling some wicked sinuses and artist/life glumness (and a full moon!)

Oh, and technology ...still working through some new apps and software to get things rolling. One of the projects includes migrating this here blog over to Wordpress. Light a candle for me! :)

That's a lot to report, right? Not bad for just 7 days! Here's to the next 2 weeks of learning!

3 Weeks of Learning: Day 4 recap

Yesterday I learned that sinusitis plus diphenhydramine will knock you on your ass.
Bummer. Day lost.

Plus the WiFi was down (first world problem,  I know), so I started a new sketchbook.  One of the online classes I am enrolled in is all about learning to draw hands but I am unable to connect until the tech issues are solved so I just started tracing and shading.  Welcome back to 1st grade y'all!  ;)

3 Weeks of Learning: Day 3 recap

Hey! Did you know about the CUE Art Foundation? Me neither! But now that I do I'm going to collaborate with the fine folks running the joint as often as possible! They are a gallery, artist resource  center, and event space on 25th St. in NYC. I was just casually walking down the street and boom! There they were! I heart New York!

Yesterday I found another video editing app called FilmoraGo.  Looks pretty fabulous, but of course now I have to add "learn to use FilmoraGo" to my list for this 3 week project. Yikes!

I started researching how to create endplates for my YouTube videos (you can see my latest video, as of today, here).  I'm already doing this but would like to figure out how to put clickable links to other videos...I think that because I'm using iMovie as an app, as opposed as on a "real" computer, that my funcationality is different than the tutorials I've been watching.

I bought a new-to-me color of golden acrylic yesterday at Blick. I kinda want to eat it straight out of the tube. Iridescent Bright Gold (Fine).  It's seriously drool worthy!

3 weeks of Learning: Day 2 recap

Yesterday I went to my first New York City Podcast Meetup. Wow! Now THAT'S how you throw a meetup! Lots of interesting folks and convo, fun space, experienced speakers, no tech issues, and not a muggle to be found! Snacks and drinks too, not bad!
Winner!  Thanks to Prescott at the Busy Creator for a great event! (Check out his site and podcast here!)


The big takeaway: I need to work on my mailing list game.
Ahem! Did you know you can sign up to my mailing list here? Thanks from the bottom of my creative heart :)


I learned a lot a lot a lot! I left truly inspired by the creativity and momentum in the room. I feel good that, for the most part, I could keep up with the discussion...I guess I know more than I realized about marketing, and software, and such. I have a nice set of business cards with folks I am excited to reconnect with, and handed out my cards to people that may actually use them, LOL!

I also sketched a bunch yesterday. I'm really excited by this new (to me) set of shapes I'm making on the page. Elongated ovals making up body segments. I reacently read Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert and she says something like writing is potentially a really inexpensive hobby/job because all you need is a pen and paper. I am reminded of that when I get into my sketchbook. Just a pen or pencil and some paper and I can create universes. Yes!!!

I stopped by the Macy's flower show yesterday. Has it been downsized? I'm not sure, but in any case it was fun and screaming with color (which you know I love!) Y'all should go if you're in the neighborhood. It ends on April 9th.

3 Weeks of Learning, Day 1 recap

I hit the ground running yesterday...spent a lot of the day working on my podcasting skills. I feel like there are 2 ends of the recording spectrum you can go with in this genre...techie tech tech, or low brow.  I *thought* I was going to use garage band on my beloved iPad Pro...but after spending a couple of (years), NO, just hours (I can be So dramatic!)...I just can't seem to do the stuff I want to do. More practice and touching of screens will need to happen.

I watched a bunch of YouTube videos and then found something called Boss Jock Studio.

So today I will go through the entire experiment again with this app. It was $10 and if I can get it to do what it advertises it can do it'll be well worth it. Stay tuned! (Ha! Podcast humor!)

After all this research and poking of screens I had a headache and decided to take Ruka Dog out for a walk. FLOWERS! FLOWERS! FLOWERS! Within seconds of being in Bryant Park my headache floated away and I felt this amazing zap of Prana...Woot!

Segue to flowers...last night I went to a live drawing meetup at the National Arts Club (ritzy!). Ugh. And Ah! But mostly ugh. Best model I've ever worked with, for sure! My drawings are abysmal. Where do the flowers come in? Well, I drew this beautiful woman so badly I should send her flowers to apologize. At least I stayed the entire time and didn't bolt during the break. I did, in a moment of "whoa is me", have a baby cry after the session, as I walked the streets of Manhattan. NYC is great like that, you can openingly cry and no one will really bother you about it.

Neil Gaiman has this great speech/book about feeling like a fraud...that the creative police are going to come and round up all your creations and supplies and throw you out of the club.  Exactly the way I was (am?) feeling. I gotta just let it go (queue that terrible song).

Tonight I'm going to a podcast info meetup. Wish me luck...I'm sure there will be less tears 😜

Art tent tour in Hammondsport

Here's my video on YouTube...just a short tour of my tent at the Hammondsport arts fair.

My booth took 3rd place in my division. Nice!!

Thanks for watching and please subscribe for more video fun :

xo

Filomena

I'm taking a class!

I live near Corning NY where luckily we have a few galleries and museums for me to loiter about in often. :)  One of my favorites is the West End Gallery. WEG showcases some of the region's best painters, including Martin Poole.


Sigh. I heart his work so much...and now I'm getting to take a class with him!


Yay!!!  The class is June 4th and 5th at 171 Cedar Arts...there may still be room if you're interested in signing up.  This 2 day class is called: The Portrait: Heads on a Textured Surface.   2 things I love a lot: heads and texture! Woot!


I have a bit of the "nervous-tingle"...there are sure to be some really fine painters in this class...let's just say, I'm going to find an easel in the BACK of the room :) 


I'm also feeling a bit of the "pride-tingle"...a few years ago I would have NEVER even had the courage to sign up for such a class...even though the class description says it is appropriate for all levels...I have the feeling I wouldn't have felt ready. Now I am ready to expand and learn and shake off the "I'm not good enough" feeling.  Ack! Excitement!


Stay tuned to see what comes from this experience. :)
Cheers!
Filomena

Radio Waves!

Oh gosh! I had a blast being interviewed by Sabra/Clifton Wood of The Graphic Ear (on WAYO FM, 104.3 Rochester, NY). Check it: http://wayofm.org/shows/episodes/02042016-1

This was an EXCELLENT exercise in thinking, writing, and talking about my art and practice. I'm forever grateful for this experience! 


Have a listen and then come on back in a few days...I'll post my playlist and cookie recipe. You're gonna want a cookie! ;)

Look back!

Today I thought I'd do a "look back" at paintings I worked on about a year ago. I feel like I've come a long way in a short amount of time, but also, I see that I'm still following the same themes and still striving to convey emotive expressions in my paintings.  It's fun to see these paintings again, some of which now live in far-off places.

Caught in the act!

Started on the "big" panel yesterday. Excited! I see that there is going to be a lot of layers to this one and am currently in need of some new tubes o'paint. Stay tuned for the progress  :) 

 

Lefties unite! :)

How about this set up? Bird coach, dog toys, roaring fire, great view of the outdoors...this place has go it all! :)

New series?

We saw Revenant last night and though I hand my hand over my eyes *a lot* I was captivated by the scenery, camera motion, and stark imagery. I wanted to sketch in the movie theater,  but didn't have my book (duh) and really wanted to stay in the movie, you know?

I sketched this drawing this morning and, as I type, am waiting for the base coat on my largest panel to date to dry.

I'm excited and a bit nervous. I guess that's the sweet spot for starting something new, right?