one down, two is a gift

Around the time I was finishing up Angel 1, I was having a conversation with a good friend. now my friend is very smart, has good judgement, and a sense of humor that is hard to compare. When i look at my friend, i see her beauty, i see her gifts and i see a day for her when her self image is not determined by looks. So i decided I was going to do her portrait in my painting, to glorify her features, that is how angel #2 was born. I'd show my friend I thought she was beautiful enough to turn into an angel..or some lofty thoughts as such. SO I took my best shot at capturing her profile, anointing her head with a crown and calling the painting "the gift". It's meaning is we all look in the mirror and wish we could change something about how we look. We fail to see ourselves how God made us, and to him, it is a gift when we can be non judgmental with our selves. To wear our crowns and hold our heads up high. That is the gift, that is what I want for all of us with our self perceived flaws.

in the beginning....there was angel 1

I am currently focusing on angels. I decided back in April of 08' that I was going to do a series of 12 Angels. AKA: Jennlynn Angels. I had this idea, this vision, this achievable goal, to set in motion. Now when I started Angel #1 I had not painted in oh say 2 years. I was dry, and I was hungering to be creative again. After a vacation to California I came home with enough inspiration to light this fire in me, and thus in May I began painting. The first angel I saw was this angel holding a crown of stars. I began painting and if i think back, i remember being joyful within; but painting was painful. It was like realizing how long it had been since talking to or seeing a really good friend. The reuniting was sweet, and I promised I would let her go.

hello world! i am an artist!!!

In life there are times when we face challenges. This is one of those times for me. For most of my life I have been involved in art; my art. I drew a lot as a child and teen, and found a love for color through painting. I have used the paint brush as a poet, as an observer, and an outlet for my searching.
I would create something on canvas or paper, and then file it away. Now by file it away, i mean I put in the basement or in a box. Hidden, undisclosed, silent. For whatever reasons (and yes i know what some of them are) I was shy about my art. Shy in general is a better description. I always knew i could draw, paint, express my creativity, and so on. But I never thought I could let other people in on my "secret". That I in fact am an artist, and I have something to share with the world. It really wasn't until I began my series of Angel Paintings that I took seriously something missing in my art. The ability to let it go. I have had baby steps leading up to this realization. Like participating in an art show at my church, or having cards made. But I have always held tightly to my artwork, and now I am facing the giants that keep my art from being exposed. There within is my challenge. Finding the "gems" that will empower me to give value to my art. Thus affirming I have value as an artist. Thus enabling to me to share my art with people. To expose my thoughts and feelings, with the colors of my pallet, to capture the echoes of my spirituality. To unveil what my intention as a visual artist is. And that is to bring hope, and inspiration into a world of people. I want to capture beauty and translate it. This is where I am right now in my unfolding as an artist, and i am going to blog this journey as diligently as i can. I seek the growth i need as an artist, the freedom and unfolding. So help me blog, I will complete this task.