April Painter's Post Virtual Journal - Premiere Issue
If you've read your newsletter from this month's Painter's Post already, then you know I've got big plans for this print club. I've been planning it for awhile, looking at other print clubs and really researching, deciding upon what I wanted to include in mine, wanting to make it affordable but income generating (a little) for me as well. I settled on the 4" x 6" size because it felt like a doable project, and it still left room to include little goodies from me as well, such as a bookmark, sticker, craft or tutorial.
I want my print club collectors to look forward to each month finding something to display and also some fun things to enjoy. Slow mail is so rare these days, unless it's junk mail, political direct mails or bills. I wanted to create something collectible but also distinctly Southern, combining my love of writing with my even greater love of creating paintings. My niece, a PR guru and amazing writer, Amanda, helped me name this print service, "The Painter's Post," and everything slowly began to fall into place as I began to plan the club.
April's Painter's Post is a continuation and behind-the-scenes of my latest collection, The Painted Garden. Look for prints coming soon from this collection. Spring is all about new beginnings and I thought what a great idea to make a small print similar to this collection, but uniquely created and only available first through the Painter's Post Print Club. These oil paintings were inspired by my own garden, but also by friends' and family members' gardens too. Each oil painting subject was visited in person and then photos were taken, and the painting was either begun en plein air or in my studio. Gallery-wrapped and edged in rose gold acrylic, my idea was to create a garden in paint, one that could be visited over and over again (in memories and on the wall) without having to wait on Spring to arrive.
This month's included print, "Greensboro Red," was begun during a visit from a dear friend, Crystal. We painted in the studio, after a long lunch with my family, chatting while we picked the camellias outside and continuing our conversations once we pickedup our brushes. It was a fabulous afternoon, perfect for a chilly day. I did not include this painting in my Spring Collection, because I knew I wanted to specifically use it for my print club.
My love for camellias came from my Grandmother Gladys, my father's mom. A spirited lady, she grew up as a coal-miner's daughter in the mountains of West-Virginia. In fact, in the 1920's, she was employed as a (rare back then) female deputy for her county, and brought in a band of moonshiners, after chasing them on horseback for seven miles through steep terrain. Gladys had gumption! In her later years, she married and settled down in Georgia, eventually moving to Tifton with my Grandfather. My grandmother grew beautiful, stately camellia trees in her front yard, meticulously shaped and pruned each year.
One spring, a traveling artist visited my grandmother's garden club and she invited the artist to her home to paint the camellias. Now my mother, sisters and I treasure these beautiful watercolors (pictured above). I hope you will treasure your camellias from me too.
Camellias are a bright and cheery advantage to living in the Deep South in winter and early Spring, when most of the landscape is cold and asleep.
Next month I will be painting magnolias and daylilies (each separately), and looking forward to summer days. May's issue will also be all about breezy front porches, picnics and painting South Georgia en Plein Air, before it gets too HOT. Can't wait to tell you all about it.
Sending a big hug your way, and an even bigger smile,
Jennifer
