Wednesday, December 28, 2016

Top Ten of 2016


Hi artsy friends! It's been a long time since I've blogged. 2016 has been a very busy and somewhat distracting year. It's been full of personal goals being met, but also a year of making tough choices. One of those tough choices was letting my design team obligations go and just create for me. This means that I haven't been under the gun to create and have sort of let it go by the wayside. Not that I haven't created art. I have! I just work on art over a longer period of time and with no deadlines. I've been running, working, teaching, and parenting. I've had an emotional roller coaster of a year and learned a lot about myself and people around me. My family is busy too... sports, performances, a child in middle school, a child still in elementary and loving it. It's been a heck of a year. So, as a tradition, here are my top 10 pieces of art created this year.

If you leave a comment on my blog, I'll pick a random winner for a small prize of a pack of Steampunk Colored Faber-Castell Design Memory Craft Gelatos. Leave a comment by midnight on January 1st!

1) 2016 Canvas: I created this for Faber-Castell Design Memory Craft and did a second one for them to display at trade shows. It was slightly different in color but same design. I displayed this on my mantel for the New Year and I'm thinking I need to do another or change the year for this year!

2) Altered Canvas Sneakers: Another fun project for Faber-Castell Design Memory Craft and love wearing these still! They always get a lot of questions and compliments. I love unique shoes!

3) Journey Mini Album using Faber-Castell Design Memory Craft's mixed media kit.
4) Encaustic Painting with Image transfers
 5) An art journal page... we did a swap for the art teachers in my district. We all trade sketchbooks and do pages in them each month and pass them on. At the end of the year art show, we display them!
6) Another Altered Shoe project... wedges this time!
 7) Die cut Encaustic necklace: Using a chipboard die cut, I created a monoprint with wax crayons and adhered it from the back. Lined with felt and a necklace attached. Love wearable art this year!
8) Nature's Playground: An amazing ceramic tile mural project that I worked with my students in grades Kindergarten through 6th grade and a visiting artist on. Deb Walsh helped kids create these relief tiles and created two huge murals outside facing our playground. So, while I didn't actually create the whole thing, I help design and facilitated the project and I'm so proud of the kids for this work!



 9) Blackbird Fly Away: Encaustic Mixed Media piece that won Honorable Mention at the New York State Fair Fine Arts exhibit.
10) Beehive: Encaustic Mixed Media- Won 2nd place at New York State Fair.

 This piece is an Intuitive Painting piece that isn't done yet, but I created in an amazing workshop at the NYSATA Conference this year. I'll post when I think it's finished.

 I hope 2016 treated you well and you created some work to be proud of. If you had a difficult year, I wish you all the best in 2017! Happy New Year!

If you leave a comment on my blog, I'll pick a random winner for a small prize of a pack of Steampunk Colored Faber-Castell Design Memory Craft Gelatos. Leave a comment by midnight on January 1st!

Please visit all of the blogs in this Top Ten hop and leave a comment for a chance to win a prize on some of them!

27 comments:

Kat said...

awesome stuff...i am digging those sneakers!

Giorgia Rossini said...

Really beautiful and creative projects

Jean Bullock said...

I am an art teacher too and I love the mural you helped to create, as well as your art projects. Great job.

Rhonda said...

It was fun to look at your creations. :o) Happy New Year!!

Mendi Yoshikawa said...

So fun! Love how you altered both pairs of shoes! I am a converse addict so those sneakers immediately jumped out at me. :)

Karen Hunter said...

Terrific projects!

Janet's Joy said...

Good for you that you are making time for you and family!! Beautiful art pieces!

McStamper said...

I am so impressed with your awesome talents. Thanks for sharing your projects.

beachgirl0323 said...

I love all your ideas especially the tennis shoes.

Marcia Dehn-Nix said...

Holy cow ... those sneakers!!! I want a pair too. Amazing, Inspiring work Jen.

Bunny Dobbie said...

Amazing work! I'm with the others on the sneakers, those are fabulous. Love the cooperative tile project. What a brilliant way to teach children that a diverse group of people can create something wonderful together.

Mary Holshouser said...

So many wonderful, different ideas.
Love the shoes and the necklace.
The butterflies are wonderful.
thanks for sharing so many
fantastic projects.
Happy New year

jasann said...

I love all your work, it is fabulous, but love the sneakers best, well done!!!!!

LauraEva said...

wow!!! Thanks for the inspiration! Those sneakers rock!

SHartl said...

I am always in awe of people who can keep up with design teams, and the pressure to create on a schedule so I can completely understand why you needed to step back and start creating for yourself. Those are all beautiful projects but the one with the wing is amazing!

Carolyn said...

very interesting and cool!

Karenladd said...

Your projects are so striking and unique and taking time to create for yourself will be a breath of fresh air I'm sure. I am always intimidated by mixed media so your beautiful projects really impress!

LisaM said...

Oh my! I just love those sneakers! Fabulous work!

StampNK said...

You are so creative and I love all the mixed media. Keeping all those balls in the air must have been tough and I hope that you are feeling a new freedom as you create just when you want to!

sammi said...

Wow! These are amazing! Each and every one of them just leaves me in awe! So many unique ideas! I love the 2016 Canvas but the shoes are just so awesome and fun! Love your creativity!

Sammibug in Ohio

Denise Bryant said...

Fun projects! Love the altered shoes!

Carolyn Johnson said...

The shoes! Such a cool idea.

Chantalle said...

Wow Jen - so many stunning projects. I love your altered shoes and your transfer pieces. Well done on the win!

Jean said...

Such delightful projects! Love your work!

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