Baby It's Cold Outside!

So for a week I was floating on a boat so to speak. My husband and I took an 8 day Caribbean which also stopped in Charleston, SC and Port Canaveral, FL during Thanksgiving week.

It was a little strange to be away on a holiday. There was no kids or grand kids, no getting up early to cook the turkey and worse of all no black Friday sales!

Click here to go to my Etsy listing.

It was nice to get away to the beautiful islands and warm weather. Then I came back to 3 days of rain and cold weather!

The cold inspired this colored pencil piece that is available in my Etsy shop.  I'm hoping it warms up a bit so that I'll be inspired to paint some of the beautiful photos I took while in the Caribbean! Hope you had a great Thanksgiving!

Welcome Fall

The temperatures are noticeably cooler in the morning and the days are getting shorter and shorter...Welcome Fall!

I'm not looking forward to raking the 50 bags of leaves that come with it. What a work out! Last year I left some in a grassy area and the grass died. I won't get lazy again.

The decorations are up and the DH (Darling Husband) can't wait to do his Halloween theme thing. But for how, it's happy pumpkins and scarecrows!

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Still Life, Oil on Canvas adhered to metal plaque.  

Available on Etsy:   Click Here for Link to Etsy Listing

August is Artist Appreciation Month....

China Painted piece from Joyce Taylor seminar.

....who knew? Thanks to the folks over at  Patience Brewster for letting me know about this holiday! Patience is an artist who creates whimisical Christmas Ornaments and figurines.  When I got thinking about Artist Appreciation Month, I thought, I've been painting a long time and I had no idea. I was inspired to share some of the artists that have had an impact on my work today.

When I was a kid one of my "toys" was always pencil and paper and that's how I got started really. I remember my Dad doodling little faces while he talked on the phone. Dad wasn't a traditional artist but he was a Masonry Specialist and his art involved brick and mortar. Even though he's been gone 2 years now, his work lives on and will for a long time. He created beautiful brick faced buildings, steps, fireplaces, barbecues, not to mention his work with stone and marble.

In 1986 I was taking a drawing class at the community college and met a china painter. She invited me to come to her studio. Her name was Jean Featherstone. When she invited me, she told me that I could use her brushes, paints, etc. and and the end of the class if I liked it I could buy my own and if not I could have a beautifully painted porcelain plate., Well I liked it and the rest is Herstory. 

My watercolor inspiration was inspired from all the ACEO artists that were in my art circles on Ebay. I dabbled with that and found that it was much like china painting, painting from light to dark. I was very comfortable with it.

I always liked to use pastel and colored pencil but I have no recollection of how I got into that. I was self taught for that. Although I guess looking at the beautiful chalk paintings in the art galleries were probably where I got the inspiration.

Later when I start dabbling in decorative painting in acrylics I met a group of ladies in the Chesapeake Bay Decorative Painters many of those were teachers. Kathy Anthony, Debbie Reeder, Candy,Mollica, Beverly Cratty, etc...all inspired my painting and helped me learn techniques that I could then incorporate in my other art forms.

One day I was on Facebook and a friend in my art circles, Riv, was showing off some of her paintings in alcohol ink. Oh boy. I was hooked on that big time for a while. I took classes on line from Karen Walker. She was such a good teacher. 

Over the years I have taken lots of seminars, workshops, classes and watched demonstrations by many talented artists (watercolor, alcohol ink, colored pencil), china painters, and decorative artists. From each of these I was left with a little bit of their style and techniques. But my biggest inspiration is the best artist of all, the God who created the sunset and sunrise, the seascape and the landscape, animals and  humans and who also gave me the talent to develop in my life journey.
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Visit me on Etsy or on Fine Art America .

Blessed but Busy!

Sorry I haven't been posting on this blog lately but I have been busy. First off, I had a beautiful new baby Grandson, Deaglan Bryan born the end of February and then 3 months later arrived another beautiful new Grand daughter, Evelyn Mae the end of May.  

Deaglan Bryan

Evelyn Mae "Evie"

My friend Jeannie's shop was opening in end of May so I've been frantically trying to paint up a storm to give her lots of new things for this year's beach season. If you are in the area of Chincoteaque Island, drop by Sandpiper Boutique, 6142 Maddox Blvd., Chincoteague Island, VA 23336. It has lots of beautiful Home Decor. In addition, Jeanne makes her own line of designer bags. All the linings are waterproof. If you can't get by the Boutique visit her new Etsy shop to see some of her bags:   https://www.etsy.com/shop/sandpiperboutique

I just listed a few new pieces in my Etsy shop as well. The one pictured is my favorite.  I am quite a fan of cottage style.

Also listed in my shop is some new more modern designs. I have been working with zentangle on porcelain and I have a couple of those as well in the shop. They have a very modern look to them quite different from my cottage leaning style.

So drop my my shop and check out my new zentangle designs and let me know how you like them....

here's the link:  https://www.etsy.com/shop/jywheeler

Have a great day, Joann

Who Me?

What a honor! I was featured today on my team blog.  I belong to a fabulous team on Etsy of talented people, Folkart & Primitives. If you search FAAP on Etsy you will find the absolute best in the way of Folk Art and Prim. I am honored to be a part of this wonderful team of special people.

If you would like to see my feature, please click on this link to their blog:  http://folkartandprimitives.blogspot.com/

Thanks!

Easter Dinner Thoughts

I've been tossing around what to make for Easter Dinner. I like ham but since my husband and I were diagnosed with high blood pressure, that won't be happening this year. And turkey seems so Christmas and Thanksgiving. 

Available on Etsy

For a couple of years, our family would cook out on Easter but this year it's been so cold I don't want to chance it. So this year I'm planning to get back to my roots so to speak.

Available on Etsy

 I'm 2nd generation Italian American and I was thinking perhaps I'd do an Italian Theme this year.  So I'm thinking antipasto, manicotti with spaghetti on the side, Italian mild sausage, salad, garlic bread. 

So what are your plans for Easter Dinner? 

Angels Around Us

Well in about 2 weeks I'll be at the Glen Burnie High School Spring Craft Show.

 Come visit me and Patricia on March 21st 9-3 pm. Our booth is in the Cafeteria.

We will have hand painted china, decorative painting on wood and glass. We will also have some new things Angels and Fairies....so come say hello.

I've included photos of some of the angels that I've been working on.....

Something to Crow About

...a cup of tea with this cute little hand painted porcelain Rooster Tea Caddy. Available on Etsy.

Ash Wednesday

The beginning of Lent, a period of 40 days
 for prayer, sacrifice and almsgiving. May this time be meaningful and full of blessings for you.

Available on Etsy

 For hand painted china, decorative painting & fine art, visit my shop JYWheeler on Etsy. The large 3.5 inch porcelain egg pictured below is china painted and kiln fired with stand. Click the photo to take you to the listing.

The Month of Love

February, the month of love.

February is not just for St. Valentine's Day but also a month of anniversaries...well at least in my family.

My parents were married on February 4th. This year would have been their 64th Wedding Anniversary!

Available on Etsy

The end of the month (28th) marks my 39th Wedding Anniversary!  The year I married was my parents 25th Wedding Anniversary and I wore my Mom's wedding gown.

How many of you were married in February?
Here's hoping that this month brings you lots of love. Happy Valentine's Day!

Meet Paris

Paris, the Stick in the Mud, is a balding Travel Agent.  He loves to travel himself when he's not being a stick in the mud.  He holds a  red gem (because he thinks he's hot), a globe charm and an Eiffel Tower because, of course, his parents named him after that famous City.  His definition says: " Travel Agent: a person who arranges for travel accomodations and appointments in a travel agency.

Something New

Recently I bought a magazine while at the craft store. It had tutorials in it. Most of them were dolls. One of them was an art doll called stick in the mud. I decided I'd give it a go.

My stick in the muds are a little different from the designer. I didn't use a branch from outside for fear of insects, etc.  I bought a dowel. And rather than hobbies I decided mine would be careers. Each one  has a hand molded face and bodies wrapped in fabric. Their arms are wire and  they hold charms that relate to their career. The dolls  have the definition of their career decoupaged to them.
Around the bottom brown fabric is wrapped and around that is brass wire with a shell bead that I've written MUD on.

Here is the first one. Meet  Willow. She is a "Natural Scientist: a person who is trained or works in the field of natural science.  She holds a tree (because she's a Forester), acorn and a green gem (because you know she's also green).  Her hair is a bun in the back.

Tomorrow I will introduce you to Paris. He is a travel agent.

Punky & Funky

I love this crazy steam punk vase.  I painted it and then applied a green luster around the gear & along the edge. This photo doesn't do it justice. I love the look of the lusters in general. 

It's not my usual style. I really liked it but apparently others didn't. I have painted other steam punk porcelain pieces which sold immediately. Not this piece. 

So I'm taking a chance and reinventing it. Sometimes things just need a little touch of something different.  I've wired it with various pieces of metal hardware giving it more of an industrial look. We will see how it goes. What do you think? Even if you aren't a steam punk fan. Hardware or no hardware?

It's even funkier looking and I still like it. I'm thinking I need to sell this so I am not tempted to change my cottage style over to steam punk. My kids will think I am suffering from mid life crisis if I do that! LOL

Here's the  link on Etsy if you like it. LINK TO VASE

Spring is Coming and It's Our Team Birthday! Wooo Hoooo

Most people get a gift for their birthday right? Well we at the  Folkart and Primitives Etsy Team
are having an early jump start to Spring celebration for our second birthday!  It's a time for you to shop and receive spring creations in time to decorate for the change of Season's and as a part of that, YOU could get our Birthday Gift.....a little squirrely I know, but you benefit in the deal!  Stay Tuned!