Caution:Artist at Play-Artwork by Shana Rowe Jackson

Since August is here and there are no holidays to speak of this month I thought it would be fun to celebrate the holidays that are fast around the corner. I love the holidays, and each one has it's own special traditions. I also love doing holiday themed work!! Here are a few of my favorite paintings representing my favorite holidays. Hopefully this will help get you in the spirit to celebrate the upcoming holidays!! My favorite holidays to paint in order of where they fall in a calendar year- New Year's Eve/Day- Valentines Day- St. Patrick's Day- Easter- Independence Day- Halloween-  Thanksgiving-  Christmas-  

  I recently entered a local art show at Harlow Gallery in Hallowell Maine. The show is a Kennebec Valley Art Association (KVAA) members only show, the theme was Vaughan Vignettes, in coalition with the Vaughan Homestead foundation. The Vaughan family has a long and important history in my area, and this show was to honor them, and their legacy. The Vaughan estates are beautiful, along with the Vaughan woods also known as "Hobbit Land". Hobbit Land is known as a natural treasure in our area, running over 166 acres. The Vaughan stream runs through next to the main path, you can see many waterfalls on this stream as well as a century old dam and stone bridges. It is a beautiful place to spend time with many trails and lots to see. The Vaughan Homestead foundation has been very generous in preserving this beautiful place and sharing it with the public.  Buy Prints     I have spent a lot of time in the woods, taking pictures, walking and just taking in the scenery. M

      “The artist is a receptacle for the emotions that come from all over the place: from the sky, fro m the earth, from a scrap of paper, from a passing shape, from a spider's web.” -Pablo Picasso    Funny question I know. Surely it means different things to different people. Many say you are an artist if you are able to create, be it architecture, cooking, crocheting, singing etc. Then there are those who say anybody can be an artist. Others say you are only an artist if you are good at what you create. That's where things get so confusing. Who decides what is good and what isn't? Art is so subjective. What is Art? That question is one that may never have an answer that will satisfy everybody. "My Life as a Painter" Oil © Shana L Rowe Jackson 2013    An easier way to answer is to narrow it down. Art is very personal, so forget what others think makes you an artist, why do you think you are an artist? I asked myself today, what does being an arti

    It has been a while since I have written, I have been very busy between my day job and promoting my artwork. I figured I would stop by and share my newest art accomplishment. I have recently gotten seven of my pieces hung in the Senate Republican Office in the Maine State Capital Building!!! The office is just next to the Senate Chambers so I expect that my art will be placed in front of some very important eyes. This may be my biggest opportunity as of yet!! It feels as if my hard work is really starting to pay off. Here are the pieces that I have hanging!! "Summer In The Dale" Oil © Shana L Rowe Jackson "Watch Over Me" Oil © Shana L Rowe Jackson "Morning in The Mountains" Oil © Shana L Rowe Jackson "Hiking in Maine" Acrylic © Shana L Rowe Jackson "Roasting Mallows" Oil © Shana L Rowe Jackson "A Fort in Maine" Watercolor © Shana L Rowe Jackson "Let's Go Fly a Kite" Acryli

  I read an article recently about a program that takes children's art and makes it into realistic versions. That, coupled with my recent re-do of my "Mother Nature's Kisses" that I originally painted two years ago, got me thinking. It inspired me to go through my paintings that I did when I was a kid, and see if there were any I could revive and make realistic versions of now that I am an adult.  "Revival Painting Comparison, The first was done when I was 13!!   This project is really exciting because it takes the simplicity of my childhood imagination to a whole new level. It brings me back to my roots. It is fun to see where my style started and to see how I've grown as an artist. It's interesting to see the things that I use to come up with. I would sit for hours painting, making things up from my head, and it has been inspirational to revisit those ideas.  Original version 11"x17" Acrylic on Cardstock  Shana L Rowe Jackson 2001

  Last night I attended my first gallery opening! The show that I am in is "PLAY" at Harlow Gallery in Hallowell Maine. The object of the show is to Celebrate the Spirit of Play. Artwork that is inspired by children or childhood that is whimsical or humorous. The artwork was chosen by a jury to be placed in the show and the exhibition will be running through April 27th. "Here Kitty Kitty Kitty!!" © Shana L Rowe Jackson 2012  Click for Prints   I arrived at 5:00 pm when the opening started and stayed until 7:00, the opening ran until 8:00. We were encouraged to bring food for a pot luck style opening, I brought one of my favorite pasta salads and it was a hit, over a pound and I barely brought home left overs. The food spread was wonderful, fruits, pastries and dips, I tried new things I hadn't tried before. They also offered wine and sparkling water.   Click for Prints of this Painting   The turn out was awesome. The place was packed!! There were

   Inspiration is an artist's best friend, but at times it can also be an artist's worst enemy. When I am inspired I feel like I am on top of the world, but even being inspired has its down sides, like lack of sleep, and an obsession with a certain project that can take over my life. The only thing worse than being inspired is being uninspired. When I am uninspired, in a slump, I don't even feel like myself, I'm depressed and irritable. I second guess my artistic talents. It is one of the worst feelings a creative type can go through. These ups and downs on the roller coaster of creativity is one of the main reasons I think artists have a history of mental illness. Just saying ;).  "Inspiration-The Musician" Part of my "Be Inspired" series © Shana L Rowe Jackson 2012   So how do you get out of it? How do you break out of the slump? The best way is to keep on keeping on. It is so easy when in a slump to just give up and say you are throwing