Small Wonders Daily Paintings by Polly Jones

Taking My Art to the T&P

2012-02-10T18:24:00.000-08:00

Another Pink Garlic by Polly Jones

Tomorrow is the Valentines Vendor Fair for The Grace Museum here in town. It will be open from 10:00-4:00, February 11, 2012, at the T& P Building, 901 North First Street. Individual tickets for the all-day event are $15. This should be fun. It's a beautiful space and there will be all kinds of items from art to jewelry. I've been busy getting ready and have some new little paintings that I forgot to photograph today to share.

2012-02-08T16:16:00.000-08:00

Keep-a-way Marble by Polly Jones

I have a lot of marbles but have lost a few lately.

On Etsy here.

4" acrylic on canvas.

Redo paintings

2012-02-08T12:35:00.000-08:00

Did some reworking of these two. The second one I cheated on the "wallpaper" and collaged wrapping paper as background.

Sacred Pear original mixed media painting by Polly Jones

2012-02-07T14:40:00.000-08:00

Pear by Polly Jones

Here's another little one. I'm trying to paint several for a Valentines Vendor Fair for The Grace Museum here in town. It will be on Saturday at 10:00, February 11, 2012, at the T& P Building, 901 North First Street. Individual tickets for the all-day event are $15. I'm pretty excited because I've not really done this sort of art and craft fair before. (except for jewelry eons ago)

4" acrylic mixed media on gallery wrapped canvas for sale in my Etsy shop here.

Tender original mixed media painting by Polly Jones

2012-02-03T15:24:00.000-08:00


Tender by Polly Jones

When Kenny and I rented our first house, I made black and white curtains for our living room/studio. These striped curtains figured into a lot of my paintings. I'd forgotten how much I love painting stripes until doing this one. It's connected to the whole polka dot obsession I suppose. I finally got up the gumption to tear into my antique book on prayer for collage purposes. The language is so flowery it seemed appropriate.

12" square original mixed media painting on gallery wrapped canvas, listed on Etsy here.

Wandering Jew original mixed media painting by Polly Jones

2012-01-30T16:27:00.000-08:00


Wandering Jew by Polly Jones

12" by 12" mixed media painting on gallery wrapped canvas with 3/4" edge.

This plant, named Wandering Jew, was growing out in my garden all summer long. I brought a cutting in to root before the freeze. It's as much a drawing as painting, and for me, expresses ideas about place and home. Listed on Etsy here.

Blueberry Games original painting by Polly Jones

2012-01-27T15:56:00.000-08:00


Blueberry Games by Polly Jones

I did this earlier this week. It's my last 4 inch one for a while. I was forced to keep it loose and paint without my delicate liner brush. I lost that old favorite down the drain recently when washing up. It's really time to get some new paint brushes! SOLD

Radish Pair original mixed media painting by Polly Jones

2012-01-26T17:42:00.000-08:00


Radish Pair by Polly Jones acrylic and mixed media on canvas.

4" square. I have listed this for sale on Etsy, here.

Done with radishes for now; the leaves have all wilted. Tomorrow I hope to paint some tulips that are fast fading. I'm trying not to worry about the pears that are over ripe by now. Such is the life of a still life painter.

Radishes on Yellow original mixed media painting by Polly Jones

2012-01-25T12:04:00.000-08:00

Radishes on Yellow by Polly Jones

4" square gallery wrapped canvas with 1.5" edge. SOLD

Trying a new size here and it's hard not to get fiddly with details on such a small scale. I've got another one of radishes against a white background that I'll post tomorrow. You may wonder at my really creative titles! I usually keep them descriptive just in case someone who is desperately googling for a radish painting on a yellow background can find my little painting.

Sugar Bowl Showing Off original mixed media painting by Polly Jones

2012-01-17T13:08:00.000-08:00

Sugar Bowl, Showing Off by Polly Jones

4" by 12" acrylic and paper on gallery wrapped canvas. On Etsy here.

I think this silver sugar bowl looks like it's showing it's muscles off to the mandarin oranges.

Blackberries North to South original mixed media painting by Polly Jones

2012-01-16T14:22:00.000-08:00


Blackberries North and South by Polly Jones

6" square acrylic and paper on gallery wrapped canvas. On Etsy here.

Last weekend we had a great time with some good friends. We went on a road trip to Houston to take our artwork accepted for the Houston Assistance League Show 2012. While there, we visited The Museum of Fine Arts at Houston, The Menil Collection, The Cy Twombly Gallery and several art galleries. Seeing great art in person always makes me more aware of surfaces in the work. So many amazing paintings I've only experienced by looking at reproductions. You sure miss a lot that way! I came back more challenged to pay attention to the importance of differences in brush strokes and thickness and thinness of paint texture. One reason I enjoy using paper collage mixed in with paint is that it adds a slickness and contrast that I have a hard time getting in other ways.

Aloe Vera original mixed media painting by Polly Jones

2012-01-09T14:24:00.000-08:00


Aloe Vera by Polly Jones

9" by 12" acrylic, charcoal, and mixed media on canvas boards. I enjoyed using painting, collage and drawing to interpret the aloe plant that loves our sunny studio. You can find it for sale on Etsy here.

Lemon Refraction original mixed media painting by Polly Jones

2012-01-04T14:11:00.000-08:00


Lemon Refraction by Polly Jones

6" square original mixed media painting on Etsy here. I've been fitting in some painting here and there while enjoying time with my husband and daughter on their school holiday. Hope all is well with you!

Lemon Sunshine in Depression Glass by Polly Jones

2011-12-31T10:27:00.000-08:00


Lemon Sunshine in Depression Glass by Polly Jones

6" square acrylic and mixed media on canvas. On Etsy here. The sun has been flooding into my studio again! I haven't taken advantage of it by painting much lately, but have been doing some organizing. We took Christmas down yesterday...so glad to have it put away but it's always a bit sad. I grew up looking at my mom's collection of green depression glass, which is a great mood lifter.

Back to Three original mixed media painting by Polly Jones

2011-12-26T10:54:00.000-08:00


Back to Three original mixed media painting by Polly Jones

I have just put this mandarin painting in a blue flow bowl for sale on Esty here. I painted this one before Christmas but have been too busy enjoying family to post it. Hope all is well with you and that you and yours have had wonderful holidays!

2011-12-14T14:50:00.000-08:00


Monday Afternoon original mixed media painting by Polly Jones

18" by 24" acrylic and paper on canvas. It has been grey for a week so I had to use these colors. This was an exercise in not getting fussy. Sometimes my work ethic kicks in and I think I have to keep refining. That can be disastrous when it gets too tight looking.

Free Shipping until Friday and Good News

2011-12-13T12:54:00.000-08:00


Hybrid Rapture, 24" by 36" acrylic mixed media painting by Polly Jones.

The good news part is that this painting got accepted into a juried show in Houston, The Assistance League Show. My husband also had a work accepted (marital harmony continues) as well as two friends....more on that later.

I'm having a promotion in my Etsy shop right now. If you enter the code FREESHIPPING11 while checking out, you will automatically receive free shipping. This sale will end on Saturday. If you live in Abilene and would get free shipping anyway, enter ABILENE11 for 10% off. I'm happy to deliver locally. Be sure and check out my sale section, I have added quite a few paintings, and am trying to make more room in my studio by clearing out old work. The free shipping applies to all sale items as well.

Flow Blue with Pears original mixed media painting by Polly Jones

2011-12-08T10:06:00.001-08:00


Flow Blue with Pears by Polly Jones

This is an 11" by 14" acrylic and mixed media on canvas. SOLD

It's my new favorite bowl! (sorry, old favorite one) I found it at an estate sale recently for a kindred soul; she had a huge collection of blue and white dishes. What a reminder of where all our stuff is headed some day! This bowl is soooo old, made in Maastricht, Holland and has been mended. I wonder how many owners it's had. Maps, and dictionary bits, and wrapping paper are embedded in the paint. I was happy with the contrasting texture in this painting. The sun is finally shining again after many grey days and some snow.

Santa Mug and Etsy Sale

2011-11-29T14:01:00.001-08:00

Santa Mug, 8" square original painting on canvas. For sale on Etsy here. From my vast Santa mug collection. I've got them lined up with the big ones on the back row and the small ones in front. We have our decorations up and are feeling the joy.

I'm still having my 20% off sale on the artwork that's listed in my Etsy store. Just use the coupon code NOV2011 during checkout and it will automatically take 20% off anything in the store, including pieces I have already marked down. The sale ends tomorrow.

20% off Sale on art through Wednesday

2011-11-27T14:20:00.001-08:00

I'm having a 20% off sale through Wednesday in my Etsy store. The details and coupon code are in my shop announcement here.

Hope you had a lovely Thanksgiving holiday! We enjoyed time with my in-laws during our daughter's first holiday from college. I am grateful for so many blessings. Having you guys take the time to look at my work is one of them! So, thank you very much.

Mandarin Happy original mixed media painting by Polly Jones

2011-11-16T11:14:00.001-08:00


Mandarin Happy original 4" by 5" on Etsy here. I've been having problems with my emails going out, so if that's how you read my blog, you can go catch up on what I've been posting lately by clicking right here: http://pollyjones.blogspot.com/ Here's the teaser, Kenny and I got our studio in a magazine!

2011-11-14T15:08:00.001-08:00


12" square original mixed media painting for sale on Etsy here. I apologize for the repeat bragging about the Studios feature. The blog posts stopped working for email subscribers last week and I finally figured out how to fix it. (I hope) Anyway, for more about the magazine article, you may click here: http://pollyjones.blogspot.com/2011/11/studios-magazine-feature.html

Studios Magazine Feature!!

2011-11-11T13:44:00.001-08:00

I'm so excited that our studio was included in Cloth Paper Scissors magazine, Studios, Winter 2011! I went out to our local bookstore and bought the only two copies they had. I worked into my conversation with the guy putting magazines out that my husband and I just happened to be in the magazine...he did not seem impressed. A quick call to my parents put things right, however. You might can read the text in the article if you click on the image to enlarge it.

History Is an Angel large mixed media painting

2011-11-09T11:39:00.000-08:00


Do you remember that big pink canvas on my studio floor a while back? Here it is, after a lot of starts and stops. The title comes from the Walter Benjamin quote that Laurie Anderson made into a song. It's 30" by 40" and quite a bit bigger than what I've been doing. It was accepted into the Big Country Art Show along with this one and this one. The opening is tomorrow night at The ACU Cockrell Gallery during art walk from 5:00 to 8:00. Wonderful work is in the show including our good friends, best of show winner Dan McGregor and 1st place painting winner Robert Green. Also, The Center for Comtemporary Art has a group show that will have my Vanitas with Vaporizer painting in it. Wow, I put a lot of links in this post.

Blue Willow cup commission

2011-11-04T12:44:00.000-07:00

A little commission painting I need to deliver. I'm usually up for a request, so don't be shy if you're interested. Here's a link with info on the process: http://pollyjones.blogspot.com/p/commissions.html

Vanitas With Vaporizer large original mixed media painting

2011-10-31T12:35:00.000-07:00

Hello and Happy Halloween to you! I think this ones done. It pretty much wore me out. 30" by 40" used to not seem so large until I got on this spate of small paintings. I plan on putting it in the annual Center for Contemporary Art fundraiser auction that will open on November 7th.

Here's a pretty interesting link to the term Vanitas in Wickepedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vanitas

I like this theme because it conveniently combines my love for still life subject matter with a desire to keep in mind the fleeting quality of life. The blue sage flower shows a transition of bloom down the stem, from fresh to old and withered. I believe the good here on earth is just a pale hint of what's to come in the next life. So in keeping with this I have used some of my vintage papers from The Golden Encyclopedia that include an Egyptian mummy and also a (kind of cartoon like) chart of how to butcher a pig. I used the old green vaporizer tub to paint because of how it looks and also because I love the idea of ephemeral vapor. I've heard that the use in Ecclesiastes of the word "vanity" can be interpreted as "breath."

Janet Fish, major hero

2011-10-28T11:51:00.000-07:00

Saw a lot of images of her work in this video that I've never seen anywhere else. No one does glass as well as Janet Fish!

Another Progress Report

2011-10-26T09:01:00.000-07:00

Still working away.

Vaporizer Progress

2011-10-25T09:28:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I finally started the big painting that's been in my head. Centerpiece is this fabulous old green glass vaporisor tub that I found at a thrift store a while back. At this stage I feel like I am living in a different reality, the image keeps popping into my head with all kinds of solutions while I look like I'm talking to people and it keeps me from going to sleep properly. Okay, getting back to work.

Mandarin original small painting by Polly Jones

2011-10-17T14:50:00.000-07:00

4" by 5" acrylic on chunky canvas. SOLD

I got my art supply order! Lots of paint and some new 4" by 5" canvases with a 1.5" edge. They stand on their own and are very object-like; I hate to say cute, but really they are kind of cute.

Cup Of Coffee original painting

2011-10-12T15:21:00.000-07:00

6" square original painting on canvas. SOLD

I had a terrible experience today. Mid morning is my faint, weak, must have food or I'll collapse time of day. So, when I sat down with my rescue snack at the computer, I should never have attempted to work on my blog. I noticed a new template that Blogger was promoting called Dynamic Views and tried out the "Magazine" template option. It looked great, but I finally noticed that none of my side links were there that I've accumulated since the beginning of my blog. These are links I don't have a copy of. I looked and tried to change it back to no avail, thought it had all vanished.

Well, this afternoon I tried some more and found it again when I plugged in my old template. Whewww. Think I better do a backup.

A Little Commission

2011-10-11T17:42:00.000-07:00

8" square acrylic painting on canvas. SOLD

This was done by request based on a painting I had done a couple of years ago. I feel like I learn SO much every time I do one this way. I have to analyze while I am working and be conscious of all the choices I'm making while I'm making them. It's amazing to me how tiny differences in color or value can cause a painting to have a very different outcome.

The Winner Is...

2011-10-07T18:14:00.000-07:00

Amber Cauley of Lighthearted Studios!! Amber is a generous hearted and talented fellow artist and blogger. I will be delighted to mail her a pumpkin painting of her choice from my Etsy store. So Amber, just get me the details and I'll send it out.

Thank you soooooo much everyone for commenting and telling me your favorite parts about Fall. It puts me in a great frame of mind every time I look through them. Also many, many thanks for being interested in my work and supporting me with your encouraging words and by subscribing.

P.S. I ended up writing all the names down (FB fans twice) and having my husband draw a name since I was once again technologically challenged when it came to the random generator device.

Pumpkin Painting Giveaway Last Day

2011-10-07T07:21:00.000-07:00

Hello friends! After supper tonight, I'm planning on using the random generator to pick someone from the comments on this POST. Above are the three paintings you can choose from (unless they sell from my Etsy shop today. So, click here if you are interested. It really is beginning to feel a little like fall this week. I have apple bread in the oven and a friend coming over for tea, yay for that.

A Blank Canvas

2011-10-03T10:12:00.000-07:00

Sometimes there's nothing scarier than a big blank white canvas. Well, I got rid of the whiteness anyway. This week the plan is to begin some larger work that I have been mulling over for a while. I'm thrilled to have a fairly open schedule this week!

Don't forget to check out my painting giveaway. Your chances are good since I only have 12 people commenting so far. Details are here:
http://pollyjones.blogspot.com/2011/09/pick-your-pumpkin-painting-giveaway.html

Pick Your Pumpkin Painting Giveaway!

2011-09-29T12:00:00.000-07:00

It's time for my second annual pumpkin painting drawing giveaway!! I have painted several this year, trying to get in an autumnal state of mind in spite of the heat. This year I'm going to do it a little differently. The person picked from the random generator (I love that phrase) will get to choose a pumpkin painting from what I have left in my Etsy store that hasn't sold by that point....and I have several. People, I still have to try to sell these things so I didn't want to take any out of the store! Just trying to pay my paint bill, you understand. Friday, October 7th I'll do the drawing. The rules are below:

1. Either subscribe to this blog (from upper right sidebar subscribe box) or sign up to Follow (also at the right sidebar but further down) If you already get emails or follow, then just go to number 2.

2. Please make a comment under this post. I'd love to hear your favorite part about fall!

3. To double your chances you can also sign up for my Facebook fan page (use the button on my blog sidebar or click here. I use FB for notifying people of sales, sharing links to videos and random comments about my art.

4. If you have any questions let me know at pollyjonesart@gmail.com!

6" square acrylic and canvas.

6" square mixed media painting on Etsy here,

Pickle Polka original mixed media painting by Polly Jones

2011-09-28T13:58:00.001-07:00

8" square colorful original mixed media painting on Etsy here.

I like to stare at pickle jars. You should try it some time. I can't quite capture the ambient color of the juice with paint. This (really colorful) piece has some vintage Golden Encyclopedia paper in it....some of it covered up. I especially like knowing that it has "Winged Victory of Samothrace" echoing the slant of the pickle spears on the right. A triceratops skeleton is covered up on the left.

Four Little Pumpkins original paintings by Polly Jones

2011-09-13T15:19:00.000-07:00

I've been busy today.

Garlic Half Light original mixed media painting by Polly Jones

2011-09-12T14:58:00.001-07:00

6" square acrylic and paper on canvas. Listed on Etsy here.

Life would be pretty dull without garlic.

Hope Bouquet original mixed media painting by Polly Jones

2011-09-09T14:11:00.000-07:00

6' square original painting.

These little flowers were hiding in our garden, surviving this long, hot, dry, summer. They were hope giving.

Circus Pumpkin original mixed media painting by Polly Jones

2011-09-06T13:36:00.001-07:00

5" by 7" acrylic and mixed media on canvas. SOLD

It finally cooled off a bit around here. Praying for the people in danger of fires throughout Texas, especially near Austin.

Thinking About the Milky Way original mixed media painting by Polly Jones

2011-09-02T15:04:00.001-07:00

11" by 14" acrylic mixed media still life painting on canvas. On Etsy here.

Today I got a reprieve! I was planning on mowing the lawn but couldn't get the mower to work; so painted instead.

Yesterday I had begun this one and quite hated it. It struck me last night, while looking on Flickr at some abstract work by Mayakonakuamura that I really needed to pay attention to surface and texture more. So that's what I tried to do today and was happy (not ecstatic) about what happened with this little pear painting. The title comes from the collage paper from The Golden Book Encyclopedia on the milky way. We went to The Great Sand Dunes and the mountains in Colorado a few weeks ago. Wow, it was amazing to look at the night sky away from city lights. I was so glad when the random paper I picked up to add to my pear had a bit about the milky way in it.

Half Full Blue Willow painting for Africa

2011-08-31T14:23:00.001-07:00

6" square original painting on canvas.

I put this up on The Daily Paintworks Challenge for Africa. The UN has said up to 400,000 children in the Horn of Africa could die without aid and up to 11 million people require food assistance. This auction's purpose is so that all proceeds except shipping costs are donated to help out the hunger crisis in Africa. Here's where you can see my auction listing and Here is where you can see all the paintings in the DPW challenge. So go and bid why don't you!

In and Out Clementines original still life painting by Polly Jones

2011-08-05T15:37:00.000-07:00

I just added a new version of the clementine painting on top here. Can't figure out how to move my photo to the bottom.

5" by 7" acrylic on canvas. Available on SOLD

We've had over 50 straight days of above 100 degrees here in Abilene. All that sunshine has been great for lighting up still life set ups, but, we so desperately need rain.

I had good news today that Linda at River Oaks Gallery sold one large painting and three small ones! The large one, "A Romance" was a little hard to say goodbye too even though I've learned to let go of my work. It makes room for new work... both literally and emotionally.

Lady Like original still life painting by Polly Jones

2011-08-03T17:14:00.001-07:00

5" by 7" acrylic on canvas. Here on Etsy.

Cherry Cup original mixed media still life painting by Polly Jones

2011-08-02T14:30:00.001-07:00

6" square acrylic and paper on canvas. SOLD

Lemon Nest original still life painting by Polly Jones

2011-08-01T15:21:00.001-07:00

6" square mixed media acrylic on canvas. SOLD

These were what was left after a lovely salmon dinner the other night. It kept distracting me, so I had to paint it.

2011-07-29T13:40:00.000-07:00

11" by 14" acrylic mixed media on canvas. For sale on Etsy here.

I'm shifting my viewpoint a bit, wanting to look from above instead of the side lately. One of my favorite books on Bonnard by Julian Bell, was inspiration for this one. In writing about "The Red Checkered Tablecloth, he says the grids of the tablecloth Bonnard uses "often recedes in perspective to make a slight but interesting tension with the picture's flatness."

Very Yellow Teapot original mixed media painting by Polly Jones

2011-07-27T15:17:00.000-07:00

8" acrylic and paper on canvas. SOLD

Here's a better photo today. It seems I've lost my ability to concentrate this week. I have been back and forth from the easel a million times checking on my Pandora to see who was singing what, checking email, Facebook, real mail, and eating cherries and making more ice tea. It takes a lot of ice tea these days since my studio is the hottest room in the house.

Back to Painting

2011-07-26T15:28:00.001-07:00

My closeup photograph of the yellow teapot painting in the middle didn't turn out well, so I'll just post this wall one for now. It feels good to be painting after some time off to do other things such as washing windows, time with friends and celebrating our anniversary.

I had thought when I got back to work that I'd focus on doing larger, botanical image based pieces. In fact, I told my daughter that I might be through with still life! Apparently I'm not, since that's all I've done this week. More tomorrow.

Most Quiet Need original mixed media painting by Polly Jones

2011-07-12T14:53:00.000-07:00

18" by 24" acrylic and paper on canvas.

This painting is from the spring time when my irises were blooming. It wasn't quite finished and I already liked it a lot, which made me cautious about finishing. I really wanted to keep it fresh. It felt great to get back to the studio today. We had been on a lovely trip visiting family last week. The title comes from a line in the famous poem by Elizabeth Barrett Browning, "How Do I Count The Ways." I had randomly used a dictionary page that was about her and her husband Robert, also a poet.

A Clam and a Whelk mixed media drawing

2011-07-04T14:03:00.000-07:00

These painting/drawings came about from a wish to be on the beach. I have a big collection of shells that I sometimes use with children, for drawing from. They get so excited and passionate about them, holding them, listening to the big ones and looking them up in the identifier book. I am convinced that holding shells is some of the best available tactile therapy there is. Several of my shells have pencil smudges on them.

These 8" square mixed media paintings on canvas are on Etsy here and here.

Real Flowers original mixed media still life painting by Polly Jones

2011-07-02T14:39:00.000-07:00

11" by 14" acrylic and mixed media collage on canvas. SOLD

I like painting flowers from life and also flowers that are in patterns on cloth that other artists have designed. It's really fun to do both in the same painting sometimes. If you click on the image you can see some of the collage areas better.

Watercolor experiments and a challenge

2011-06-22T15:47:00.000-07:00

So, I've been talking about taking risks, here are three more small ones. The top painting I did as part of a challenge over at the Daily Paintworks site. This is a blog of wonderful daily painters that I follow and they post challenges on occasion. Click here to see the "Stacked" challenge that I submitted my "One of Each" painting on the left. It's 12" square. SOLD
Below are a couple of watercolor efforts that are just practice pieces. I had bought a set of old watercolors at an estate sale in the cutest tin that I had to try out for fun. I'm now remembering why I haven't done more watercolor in my life. It is really hard! Any one else have war stories with watercolor painting?

Texas Peaches, Bing Cherries and Blue Willow original painting by Polly Jones

2011-06-10T15:28:00.001-07:00

Texas Peaches SOLD. Bing Cherries is sold. 8" square on canvas.

I know I sounded silly yesterday, posting about risk taking by using beige. I just feel I've gotten into some habits which I need to challenge more. Yesterday and today I worked on these blue willow pieces. Of course, when trying to get the right reds I had my usual old timer's rant about how alizaron crimson is not the same as it was thirty years ago. It's just not as rich as it used to be. The big challenge for myself here was not to draw my composition with vine charcoal on the canvas before beginning the painting. It was fun and felt surprisingly different. I also just threw out the idea of using collage with it. I've seen a lot of art lately using map and text in it and am doubting my use of it for now, trying a go of just simple painting again. Opinions?

Sleeping Flower original mixed media still life painting by Polly Jones

2011-06-08T15:09:00.001-07:00

12" square original mixed media painting. SOLD

I know, this is rather radical for me to be using beige. I really had to step out of my comfort zone. It's recently occurred to me that I haven't been taking as many risks as I need to for my work to go forth. This was just a small risk for now. The title comes from an Emily Dickinson poem called "The Sleeping Flowers," here.

Strawberry Shimmer original mixed media painting by Polly Jones

2011-06-01T13:25:00.000-07:00

5" by 7" acrylic and mixed media on canvas. SOLD

Well, we have had a major week with Marissa graduating and lots of family in for a lovely visit. It was a special time that we are so grateful for.

After finishing this painting today I stepped back and realized how much pink I've been using lately! I was happy with this one because it reflected an optical quality that was going on in my still life set up. For me there is a jump between the text and the paint that was similar to the shimmer of light on the strawberries and the restaurant china bowl.

Lemons on Brown Transferware original mixed media painting by Polly Jones

2011-05-23T19:57:00.000-07:00

8" square original mixed media painting on canvas.SOLD

Little Pitcher original mixed media painting by Polly Jones

2011-05-20T16:54:00.001-07:00

8" square original mixed media painting.SOLD

Here is my little pitcher with a small ear. Having a cranky day...the only solution for that was to get in the studio. I'm trying to accept the fact that my daughter is in fact graduating!

Interview and Twin Petunias original mixed media painting by Polly Jones

2011-05-14T14:08:00.002-07:00

I have had the nicest experience of being interviewed by Amber Cauley for her lovely blog Lighthearded Studios. You should check out her blog and Etsy shop here.

8" by 8" acrylic and mixed media on canvas. SOLD

I was pinching off dead petunias from an outside basket when off popped this little branch. After putting them in a vase, to my surprise, I realized they were quite wonderful. I have never given petunias a lot of credit, it seems. Mixed in with the paint is text from a very old dictionary and a small piece of map. The text included bits about Gemini, the twin and some words about flower buds. I promise these were just random pieces that I happened to pick up and yet they fit so beautifully!

Remember, Blue Willow Mug original mixed media painting by Polly Jones

2011-05-02T16:10:00.000-07:00

6" square original mixed media on canvas. SOLD

I've forgotten which Gregory Maguire book describes a broken piece of blue willow so magically. Maybe it was Confessions of an Ugly Stepsister. Does that ring a bell to anyone? I love painting this old mug because it seems to have a history.

Woohoo, Etsy's Get the Look Decor feature!

2011-05-01T12:37:00.000-07:00

I am so happy to have our home featured in my favorite Etsy blog "Get the Look Decor" column! It's authored by Christine Domanic. I had uploaded some of our house photos into the There's No Place Like H ere Flickr pool which she used, interspersed with interview questions. She compiles items from Etsy that go with the decor of the house that is shown. If you want to check it out, please click here.

Eva Zeisel cup original mixed media painting

2011-04-29T07:10:00.000-07:00

12" acrylic and mixed media original painting on gallery wrapped canvas.SOLD

I actually finished this a while back but have been pretty busy this week and am just now posting. This cup was designed by Hungarian born Eva Zeisal back in the 1950s. Over 100 years old now, she was at one time imprisoned for over a year, accused of being involved in a plot to assassinate Stalin.

White Iris with Pear original mixed media painting by Polly Jones

2011-04-25T15:15:00.000-07:00

12" square original mixed media painting on Etsy here.

This white iris is the last one I had picked a couple of days before the terrible hail storms yesterday. I have another large iris painting that I'm still working on and will share later. That's the end of iris season though. We are so grateful for the 2 inches of rain and feel fortunate not to have broken windows like many in Abilene. We only suffered a battered garden and broken hummingbird feeder. My heart goes out to the many people affected by tornadoes and wild fires elsewhere.

Irises in Blue Pitcher original mixed media painting by Polly Jones

2011-04-15T14:16:00.000-07:00

Sense from Spirit, 18" by 24" acrylic and mixed media on canvas. On Etsy here.

This is one of my favorites lately. It really expressed a sense of joyfulness and renewal that I'm grateful for experiencing during spring. The title is from an Emily Dickinson poem called "Choice."

Iris Found original mixed media painting by Polly Jones

2011-04-13T19:17:00.001-07:00

8" by 10" acrylic and mixed media papers on canvas. On Etsy here.

All of the irises seem to be blooming at the same time. I'm desperately painting, hoping they hold out for a while longer. I feel kind of lovesick because they are SO beautiful.

Knockout Rose original mixed media still life painting

2011-04-07T15:29:00.001-07:00

6" square original mixed media painting, acrylic paint, Golden Encyclopedia pages, wrapping paper and ancient dictionary pages on gallery wrapped canvas. SOLD

This came from a generous rose bush in the back yard. It's covered in blooms right now. It's freakishly hot today...right now it's 93 degrees. Painting roses always makes me get out my book on Manet for inspiration. I love the still life paintings he did later in life.

Another blueberry painting and original mixed media "Imposter"

2011-04-06T10:19:00.001-07:00

The top 8" mixed media painting is called "Imposter. I was really taken with this plastic lime container. It"s in Etsy here.

The next painting is a commission I did for someone who wanted a blueberry painting like I had in the show. This is the third one I've done. I enjoy the challenge of recreating the look of a painting. It causes me to study it and think about it in a new way. I don't do exact copies but set up the same still life again and see what happens. If you are interested in having me do a commission there's more information here.

Here's a shot of a grouping of 8" square pieces at the River Oaks show. Some sold and some are available at Etsy. You can see that "Imposter" looks a bit different here in the show...just couldn't leave it alone, had to incorporate that blue in there.

Garlic mixed media painting for Japan relief effort

2011-03-30T12:38:00.001-07:00

5" by 7" acrylic and mixed media on gallery wrapped canvas with 3/4" edge. Wired and ready to hang without a frame. On Etsy here.

All proceeds (except shipping costs) from this little painting will be donated to The Japanese Red Cross for disaster relief. If you look closely by clicking for a large view you can see the word "Japanese" in some of the text of the collage.

Green Apples in a Catherinholms Bowl original mixed media painting by Polly Jones

2011-03-23T15:20:00.000-07:00

11" by 14" acrylic and mixed media painting on canvas listed here on Etsy.

This had been a troublesome little piece that had been put with it's nose in the corner of the studio for several months until I finally had another go with it today. All of that previous paint and paper gave it a nice grungy surface that's hard to capture with a photograph. I was happy to find that the mug painting in the top photograph was in part of an Etsy blog feature today. I love all the colors they put together in their post here.

Blue Willow Light and Shadows original mixed media by Polly Jones

2011-03-22T09:23:00.001-07:00

8" acrylic and mixed media painting on canvas. SOLD

This painting is one of the last ones I did for the show at River Oaks. It feels like a landscape to me. It's what I've been seeing out my window with these early spring days of light chasing shadow.

Spring Trio original mixed media flower painting by Polly Jones

2011-03-09T14:59:00.001-08:00

12" square acrylic and mixed media paper on canvas, on Etsy here.

Beautiful day!

Art et Fleurs flower painting show

2011-03-09T10:47:00.000-08:00

Here's an invitation to a show happening this weekend at the Center for Contemporary Arts, Abilene, Tx. It's a group show that should be a lot of fun! Click here for a link to some of the paintings that will be included in the exhibit. A painting that I posted on the blog a while back is the last one in that bunch. I'm hoping mine will be chosen for interpretation with a flower arrangement, but haven't heard yet.

Ever After original mixed media painting by Polly Jones

2011-03-07T08:14:00.000-08:00

16" by 20" acrylic and mixed media painting on gallery wrapped canvas, SOLD

Well, the show reception went well with a huge crowd. Thank you everyone for coming!!! Can't show photographs now, since I forgot a camera but will show some as soon as I beg them off of Miles. Linda Stricklin, the owner, had it streaming live on Facebook. This was somewhat terrifying to me but apparently it's not saved on her FB page so I didn't have to look at video of myself.

It's helped me to see the work in an exhibit, to be more objective about what direction my work is going.

Two Places At Once original mixed media painting

2011-03-03T19:25:00.000-08:00

16" by 20" acrylic and paper on gallery wrapped canvas. On Etsy here.

This is one of my newer works that I have in the River Oaks Gallery right now. Hope to see you there for the reception tomorrow night. I'm so excited! Details here.

Show Invite

2011-03-01T10:27:00.000-08:00

Hope you can come to the Friday night reception! It's from 6:30 to 8:00.

More Lemons original mixed media painting by Polly Jones

2011-02-23T13:44:00.000-08:00

More Lemons original mixed media painting, 8" square acrylic and paper on canvas

I like using collage as a way to explore ideas about randomness. The different pieces of text used together collide and are changed by the context. In my life it seems like the things that happen can seem arbitrary at times, meaningful at other times. My slant on this is that purpose is not always apparent and most of the time, chaos can add up to a good end.

Today I took a break while working on this painting and called an old friend who is going through incredibly difficult trials. One thing after another has happened to this dear family. I said "I'm praying for you" and wondered if it sounded hollow. They have heard that phrase so often lately. For me, painting and praying are very similar, so I will keep on doing both and hope it eventually makes sense.

Ginger Jar original mixed media painting by Polly Jones

2011-02-16T13:13:00.000-08:00

4" by 12" acrylic and mixed media on gallery wrapped canvas. SOLD

This size of canvas was an impulse buy at Michaels. I must say it was fun to compose in this shape for a change of pace. Okay, question....what would you do with the edges. I usually have the 1 and 3/8" edge white but sometimes paint them black. Do you have opinions about this? Maybe you prefer standard canvas width which is about 3/4".

This painting and about fifteen or so more will be in an exhibit at The River Oaks Gallery, Abilene Frame and Art, in Abilene,Texas. I'm so excited! I'll be showing with Aaron Winters, a photographer, and Miles Mayfield who uses raku clay and mixed media. The opening reception is March 4th from 6:30 to 8:00 and I would LOVE to see you there.

Kalanchoe original mixed media painting by Polly Jones

2011-02-07T15:20:00.000-08:00

8" square original mixed media acrylic painting on gallery wrapped canvas. SOLD

This is definitely a winter painting. I was snowed in, wanting a flower to paint. In a fit of desperation, I ended up breaking off a swig from my kalanchoe potted plant. Now that I have uploaded the photo I see the blue willow tea cup looks a bit wombly. I like some distortion to create movement but this looks like too much. I'll probably work on it again.

Well I found out "Wish You Were Here" got an honorable mention at the Stars of Texas Exhibit. My good friend Dan McGregor received the sculpture award. Sara Beth Clevenger and Tony Brown, both friends from The Center For Contemporary Arts here in Abilene also got painting prizes too. There's a link here to an article with photos. I wimped out and didn't brave the weather to drive to Brownwood for the reception.

Thanks for all the comments and well wishes on the last couple of posts!

A Romance original mixed media painting by Polly Jones

2011-02-05T18:46:00.001-08:00

A Romance original mixed media painting. SOLD

Here's another 36" by 24" fish bowl painting I've been working on. We were snowed in for several days this week so I was pretty productive in the studio. I'm not sure if I'm done so will let it rest a while and try to look at it with fresh eyes. You can see my prized stash of Little Golden Book Encyclopedias and vintage atlas books in the background.

Hope you all are keeping warm and safe through this crazy spot of winter weather.

Wish You Were Here original mixed media painting

2011-02-02T12:43:00.001-08:00

24" by 36" acrylic and mixed media painting. SOLD

I've been working on this over several months, though not continuously. I was so happy to have it juried into the "Stars of Texas" exhibit in Brownwood, Texas this weekend. I went with a friend to drop off work at 12 and then check in at 4 to find out if they were accepted. We had so much fun killing time...going to antique stores and junk stores. That night, I got an email that the painting above has won an award but they won't reveal specific awards until Saturday at the opening. They requested a statement about it to show alongside the painting. I thought I'd share it below.

"I’ve had a fascination with fish bowls for a long time. In fact, one of my earliest memories is of my hand grasping a fish in a cold water. I’m not sure if that one survived but the deaths of subsequent pet fish (though not by my hand) were my first lessons in mortality. I think of “Wish You Were Here” as part of a still life painting tradition called Vanitas which dates from 16th and 17th century Netherlands. It’s a reminder of the brevity of life while enjoying it’s fleeting pleasures. While there are other ideas bound up in this painting, I hope the visual properties of it to be the most important. The text and map collage are woven into the paint like the many thoughts and influences that are a part of the act of looking."

Another Dutch Iris painting

2011-01-22T13:52:00.001-08:00

8" square acrylic and mixed media on gallery wrapped canvas. SOLD

What a great day yesterday! Mary McCleary has an exhibit called "An Act of Faith" at The Grace here in Abilene. If you click on The Grace you can get some images and information. She gave an artist talk that was wonderful. I had heard her speak before but never seen her art work in person. Her work is just amazing...photographs do not do them justice.

Afterwards Kenny and I went to Harold's Bar-B-Que for lunch. It's an institution here in Abilene and even get's Texas Monthly writeups. The food was good but my favorite part was how Harold asked one of the customer's in line to get him a coke from the drink station.

Dutch Iris in a Jelly Jar original painting

2011-01-17T14:03:00.001-08:00

12" square on canvas. SOLD

I got some more irises to paint. Also here is a link to an article in The Abilene Reporter News about local people with Etsy stores. I never expected to end up in the Business section!

Hybrid Rapture original mixed media painting by Polly Jones

2011-01-16T18:17:00.000-08:00

24" by 36" acrylic and mixed media on cradled wooden panel.

I'm pretty obsessed with the form of the curly leaved hybrid chrysanthemum. Unlike my usual mode of working from life, when I want that image I work from photographs. They are complex and I'm allergic to them. The drawn blue image is a plant called "Blessed Thistle" and was commonly used during the Middle Ages to treat the bubonic plague and as a tonic for monks. I got this image from one of my favorite copyright free resource books called "Handbook of Plant and Floral Ornament from Early Herbals."

This piece feels kind of different for me. Using a more limited palette this time made it so much easier to create unity than my usual mix of many colors. Also in this painting I used thick and thin paint and layers of collage to create a sense of space that has some breathing room to it. With a lot of my past work, it seems like my paint is thick throughout and gives the space a uniform feel. Does this ring true to you?

This painting will be in a Center for Contemporary Arts show that will combine paintings with floral arrangements called "Arte d'Fleur" I'll give more details later.

Dutch Irises, Together original flower painting by Polly Jones

2011-01-05T13:09:00.000-08:00

12" acrylic on gallery wrapped canvas, on Etsy here.

Here's a painting I have been working on this week in response to a request. I love hearing from people who want me to do a special painting for them. My policy is that no one has to buy it unless they love it. That takes the pressure off of me since worrying about duplicating a piece can be a total creativity buzz kill. Sometimes a painting takes on a life of it's own and it's hard to keep within the constraints of their wishes. This person requested an iris painting with a feel like this one. As you can see, I deviated a bit. Whoops. Back to get more irises and do another one.

Happy New Year!

2011-01-01T18:03:00.000-08:00

I hope you all had your black eyed peas today. May your year be fabulous!! I appreciate you guys so much. Thank you for taking the time to look at my work this year and for the feedback you give.

Here's a side view of a painting I did today. Just need to do a better photo of it head on. The blue was hard to photograph. SOLD

Merry Christmas!

2010-12-25T13:22:00.001-08:00

What a wonderful day to reflect on how good God is.

Diet Coke original mixed media painting commission

2010-12-13T19:33:00.001-08:00

5" by 7" acrylic and paper collage on canvas. SOLD

Here's a commission piece I finished up a couple of days ago. It felt so good to be back in the studio! I've been doing all kinds of piddly things that go along with the holidays and some of it has even been fun.

Last day of 20% off in Etsy store and BCAA show

2010-12-06T07:37:00.000-08:00

Net Effects after Turner by Kenny Jones. This is my husband's painting that won Best of Show in the Big Country Art Association show this weekend. It's done in ink on a 24" by 36" wood panel in ink. Be sure and click on it to see all of the layers. He is my all time favorite artist! I am so thrilled when his art get's affirmed by others. He supports us by teaching...sometimes not having enough time to do art during the semester and yet is unfailingly supportive of my art. He gives me the opportunity to paint.
Polyphonic, 24" by 36" acrylic and mixed media on canvas.

You may have seen this painting of mine earlier on the blog. I was happy to get a third place with it in the 2 dimensional category of the BCAA.

This is the last day of my 20% off special in my Etsy shop. If you enter the coupon code DEC2010 as you check out it will automatically discount it by 20%. I'll disable this code in the morning. I'm still having free shipping for USA and Canada and half price for International shipping right now. This will last until Dec 20th. If I haven't changed it to reflect this special on the listing in the store, then I will change it for you before you buy if you contact me or I will just refund it to you by Paypal after you pay. Hope that makes sense.

Winter Peppergrass original mixed media painting by Polly Jones

2010-11-30T17:59:00.000-08:00

12" square acrylic and mixed media on gessoed masonite with raised wooded circles. You can click on the image for more details. It's listed on Etsy here.

I'm finally done with this one. It was a day for going back to older, unfinished work and trying to resolve them. I love how the remnants of different stages show through. The image is one of a weed called peppergrass. It's an image I've used several times...just enthralled with it's form I guess. Lately the winter sun has been shining in my studio at such a low bright angle. It's entirely different from the summer sunshine. This artwork is a way for me to capture that oblique cool light.

2010-11-29T15:33:00.000-08:00

I'm having a cyber monday deal in my Etsy shop that will last for a week. Now through Monday Dec 6th use this coupon code at checkout: DEC2010 for 20% off as well as Free USA and Canadian shipping and half off of international shipping until Dec 20th! Just convo me for a revise.

FREE USA and Canada shipping special, Salvia and Pickle Slump original mixed media paintings

2010-11-23T15:21:00.001-08:00

6" by 6" ( SOLD) and 12" by 12" acrylic and mixed media collage on gallery wrapped canvas. On Etsy here.

Right now I'm having a free USA and Canada shipping and half price International shipping sale. This will go on until December 20th. If you see something in my Etsy store, just shoot me an email and I will revise the listing to reflect the special.

I've been busy chopping and cooking and cleaning and getting ready for Thanksgiving. Here are a couple of pieces I've managed to work on lately too. I am so thankful to God for all the blessings we have. Also, I'm thankful for you who take the time to look at my work. Hope you all have a fantastic time with your family tomorrow!

AND THE WINNER IS....

2010-11-06T08:07:00.001-07:00

Painted Paper!!! Laura, if you will just email me at pollyjonesart@gmail.com with your address, I will pop the pumpkin painting in the mail for you. Thanks everyone for all of your comments to enter and all of the new followers and subscribers! I will be doing this again. I really appreciate you guys for taking the time to look at what I do. It challenges me to work harder and keeps me from feeling isolated in my studio.

Painted Paper is a vibrant blog with great ideas for art projects for children written by Laura, an experienced elementary art teacher. You should definitely check it out.

That's my husband's impartial hand, not my daughter...she's still not emerged from under her covers. Kenny had a surprising amount of suggestions for how to do this, including what to put the papers in. However, I prevailed with my gorgeous little yellow teapot.

Giveaway Reminder and New Mixed Media for CCA show

2010-11-03T15:38:00.000-07:00

"Be/Wilder" 24" by 36" original mixed media painting for the group show "Guilded" at the CCA. It opens November 13th.

Here's another reminder of my pumpkin painting giveaway. I just want to thank everyone for all your kind comments!!! You don't know how much I appreciate you guys reading my blog, much less saying such great things. The deadline to put your name in the pot is Friday. Some time on Saturday morning I'll print off names from the comment section and Facebook and get my daughter to draw a name out of a bowl. Details and place to enter here: http://pollyjones.blogspot.com/2010/10/8-square-acrylic-on-gessoed-masonite.html

Pumpkin painting Giveaway

2010-10-29T15:19:00.000-07:00

8" square acrylic on gessoed masonite. I'm doing a giveaway! This is the painting you could win. I meant to do this sooner but have been under the weather and terribly unproductive. I plan to have the drawing in one week on Friday, November 5th. Here's how to enter for the drawing:

1. Either subscribe to this blog (from upper right sidebar subscribe box) or sign up to Follow (also at the right sidebar but further down) If you already get emails or follow, then just go to number 2.

2. After you've done that then make a comment under this post.

3. To double your chances you can also sign up for my Facebook fan page (button on my blog sidebar). I use FB for notifying people of sales etc.

4. If you have any questions let me know!

Acorns for Steve original still life painting

2010-10-27T14:57:00.000-07:00

4" square acrylic on wood panel

I put an orange underpainting with intentions of leaving bits peaking through for warmth. I ended up heavy with the paint and had to come back on top with it. I haven't painted this small in a while...honestly it takes as much time for me to do an 8" one. Acorns are symbols of patience and in some cultures it's good luck to carry them around in your pocket.

Apartment Therapy Contest

2010-10-23T16:42:00.000-07:00

I entered the Room For Color Contest over at Apartment Therapy a couple of weeks ago. It's a peoples choice type of contest where everyone votes for their favorite and the winner gets a trip to New York and regional winners get 15 gallons of Behr paint. My chances are pretty slim but I thought I would go ahead and share the link so you could see my living room and all the really great colorful rooms entered. The first link is to my room but you can navigate from there to see all the entries.

http://community.apartmenttherapy.com/contests/color/2010/entries/569

Blue Willow Stack original mixed media painting by Polly Jones

2010-10-19T18:11:00.000-07:00

8" acrylic and mixed media on gallery wrapped canvas. On SOLD

Twice yesterday I had uploaded photos of this painting and planned on posting here only to discover when I looked at the photo on the computer that it was all wrong. Something about condensing it down helps problems show up.

For me, the bowl ended up sometimes seeming solid and clunky and sometimes atmospheric with the ship floating around. I really want that kind of tension in my work because I like paradoxes.

Late Bloomers original still life painting by Polly Jones again

2010-10-13T16:00:00.001-07:00

Sorry, something happened and my image didn't show in the previous post. SOLD

Late Bloomers original still life painting by Polly Jones

2010-10-13T15:32:00.000-07:00

8" square acrylic on gallery wrapped canvas. On Etsy here.

I'm reduced to picking flowers from my potted vinca and a little "knockout" rose. I got this rose bush because it's easy to care for, but in my heart I long for the cantankerous to grow old fashioned cabbage roses.