Hiatus

My etsy shop, Musical Color Studio, is on temporary hiatus and obviously I have not been able to blog frequently, either! Having (multiple) chronic illness(es) is, simply put, difficult. My health has recently taken a turn for the worse and I am unable to keep up with everything. Even painting has taken a backseat for the time being as I try to cope with my current situation. Thanks to those who continue to follow me, I promise more is coming in the future, but I’m not sure when that will be…

Summer Sale and New ACEOS

Check out the new ACEOs available in my shop Musical Color Studio, and use coupon code “SUMMER10” for 10% off anything in the shop!

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/

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

Drawing with your Eyes

“That was the first time I’ve drawn anything in seven years. I feel like I had been held under water, and someone finally reached down, and pulled my head up so I could take a breath.” 

— Tempt

Graffiti artist Tony “TEMPT” Quan could no longer create his art, let alone communicate with his family…Mick Ebeling was determined to help the artist accomplish both of these things. Thus, the EyeWriter was born — a pair of glasses with hardware that allows the wearer to draw and communicate … just by using their eyes.

 

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!

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!