Black // Blended // Brushstrokes

Click for full-views and check captions for artist info.

One Really Beautiful Wrist Motion

“One really beautiful wrist motion, that is synchronized with your head and heart, and you have it. It looks as if it were born in a minute” -Helen Frankenthaler

Human

I started a new pinterest board, “Human,” featuring portraits and figures in drawings, paintings and/or photography. Click to view larger images, check captions for artist information. See many more here: https://www.pinterest.com/jennabdecker/human/

Painting a Melody

“You put down one color and it calls for an answer. You have to look at it like a melody.” -Romare Bearden

Embroidered Watercolors Now Available

The new embroidered paintings are now available in my Etsy Shop. Check them out here: https://www.etsy.com/shop/MusicalColorStudio?section_id=14226717&ref=shopsection_leftnav_2

Title: Never-Played Symphony Size: 8″x10″ Medium: Watercolor and fibers (cotton thread) on paper Date: 2015 Copyright Jenna Decker

Title: Mondegreen Size: 5″x7″ Medium: Watercolor and fibers (cotton thread) on paper Date: 2015 Copyright Jenna Decker

Title: Color Scheme No. 2 Size: 5″x7″ Medium: Watercolor and fibers (cotton thread) on paper Date: 2015 Copyright Jenna Decker

New Mixed-Media (Part 3)

Title: Never-Played Symphony
Medium: watercolor and stitched fibers (cotton thread) on paper
Paper size: 8×10 inches

 

Another new mixed-media painting! I first paint with watercolors, then hand stitch the paper in a very time-intensive process. The result is an abstract watercolor of flowing and blended colors surrounded by geometric embroidery in 3 colors (tan, purple/mauve, and teal). The beauty lies in the contrast between the organic, fluid layers of watercolor versus the linear patterns of the stitches.

Be sure to check out my Gallery Section to see more of my work!

Dancing about Architecture

New Original Painting

Title: Color Scheme No. 1 Size: 8″x10″ Medium: Watercolor and ink on paper Date: 2015 Copyright Jenna Decker

Title: Not Literally, but Metaphorically
Medium: Watercolor and ink on paper
Paper size: 8×10 inches

New Mixed-Media Work (Part 2)

Title: Color Scheme No. 2 Size: 5″x7″ Medium: Watercolor and fibers (cotton thread) on paper Date: 2015 Copyright Jenna Decker

Title(s): Color Scheme No. 1 and No. 2
Medium: watercolor and stitched fibers (cotton thread) on paper
Paper size: 5×7 inches

More embroidered paintings! These two mixed-media pieces are small “color stories”. Sometimes before I start a painting, I make a small “color scheme” sketch to get a feel for which colors I want to paint with. I personally love looking at these little color sketches (almost as much as the actual finished painting they inspire). I thought I should come up with a way to “elevate” these sketches, so that they were final products in their own right- and this is what I came up with! The graphic black stitches connect each color to form a unique composition.

 

New Mixed-Media Work (Part 1)

Title: Mondegreen Size: 5″x7″ Medium: Watercolor and fibers (cotton thread) on paper Date: 2015 Copyright Jenna Decker

Title: Mondegreen
Medium: watercolor and stitched fibers (cotton thread) on paper
Measurements: 5×7 inches

Here is the first of some new work. So far it is just posted here, but soon I will list them on my Etsy shop.

It has been awhile since I have shown any new work, and I wanted to share why. I know I don’t talk about myself or my life on here a lot (or at all, maybe!), but I am coping with multiple chronic illnesses. This year I am at home doing IV treatments through a portacath, and there are a lot of factors that make it impossible for me to work/paint/draw or even gather the energy to post other artists’ work on this blog. (Pinterest is easier- if you follow me there you can find a lot of great art/ists that I haven’t been able to share on here)

I really appreciate the followers I have, and hope you forgive me for my infrequent posting… I would like to be more “personal,” and share some more about my experiences. It will probably be cathartic for me, and maybe even help someone who is going through something similar. So, expect some text-laden posts in the future, instead of just my usual image-laden posts! I might be showing some more of my sketches and other unfinished work too, as it is taking me a very looong time to finish paintings lately.

If there are other chronically ill artists (or otherwise “limited”– I know there are lots of physical and mental obstacles that effect our creativity)  who read this blog (I know of a few that I am also following!)- please feel free to comment with links to your own blog or contact me privately- I’d love to feature your work!