big girl license

I love fall.  I love the crisp weather, and all the pumpkin-ness. I’m inspired.

I haven’t painted in a long time.  I’ve come to terms with that.  For the last several months, I was caught up in a whirlwind of “the ideal.”  I wanted a perfect house, a perfect stockpile, the perfect relationship, the perfect conditions for painting. And all this want for perfection drove me into a stagnant state.  My mind was spinning wheels on how to create this perfect beautiful lifestyle, and I wasn’t acting.

Instead of setting unrealistic goals for myself, I’m keeping it simple.  I’m focusing on the things that matter.  All of this new-found clarity came from getting cut back hours at my day job… I now work  3 days a week  (which is scary!)   The scarcity is inspiring.  I now have 4 days a week to fill with things I love and tackle my biggest, fattest juiciest goals along with the trivial activities on my to-do list.  I wrote down goals for the week, so I wouldn’t drift into the fog of “should-do-but-I’d-rather.”  And one of my goals for the week was to paint for five one-hour sessions.  Today, I tackled one session and it felt amazing.  (There are also more mundane goals like “clean downstairs bathroom”-which I hadn’t cleaned in months, and it’s now checked off .YAY!) Bottom line: I have more time to grow as an artist and I am fortunate.

And as for the title of the post… since I turned 24, I finally got my horizontal license.  I’m in the big boys and girls club now.

jamie boyer

alice

2010

acrylic on canvas

12 x 12 inches

$175

oh andy.

“They always say that

time changes things,

but you actually have to

change them yourself”

- Andy Warhol

Intentions.

I haven’t posted since April! Gasp!  What happened? Instead of rationalizing and saying I’ll do better from now on, I’m just going to post one of my newest 3-piece paintings. Feedback is greatly appreciated!  Thanks!

jamie boyer

pegasus

4.12.11

acrylic on canvas

each panel: 4 X 12 inches

$215

scales.

I am loving this new computer.  I’ve never been able to edit photos this fast before.  In my laptop days, A new blog post was a 45 minute process (photograph the painting, upload the painting, edit, and write.)  Now it takes about half of that!  I am in love.

Here is the latest… I’m pretty exited about this one.  It’s a mini triptych, which for you non-art types means a 3 paneled painting. Can you see the dragons? Check it out!

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jamie boyer

dragons

3.25.11

acrylic on canvas

each panel:  4 x 12 inches

$200

SOLD

hurdles.

It’s official my laptop is out of commission.  A horrible virus consumed the 5-year-old device.  My wonderful boyfriend was able to help a bit, so I will be able to get my files.  However,  I decided to take the incident as a sign to buy a new computer and I now have a wonderful desktop.  I’m hoping the new tech will inspire me to blog more.  Using the laptop to upload and edit pictures was a horribly slow and frustrating process, and the upgrade is encouraging.  It took less than 2 minutes to upload 950 + pictures to my new computer.  I use Adobe Photoshop Lightroom to organize and edit photos.  On my laptop, the program was so slow.  I’m excited because now I don’t have to wait for my computer to load  my pictures and editing. This process is much more artist friendly, so expect more posts!

Here is a painting that was in my last show at Allegheny Arts.  For some reason, I did not post it before.

jamie boyer

inferno

10.02.10

acrylic on canvas

18 X 24 inches

$225

 

 

 

roman twist.

This week was a success.  I have loads of paintings finished, photographed and ready to share! I have committed to 1 hour a day in the studio, 5 days a week (no excuses!).  This plan has worked out well.  It is amazing what can happen in one little block of focused time and energy.  I’m liking the results, and enjoying the process.  Hopefully I will step up studio time in the near future, but this will be a gradual process.  My attention span rarely lasts for more than an hour, so I would add more 1 hour blocks, maybe 2 a day, with more on weekends.  Art shouldn’t be overwhelming, but I want a fixed, regular, dedicated schedule.  Because like Picasso said, “inspiration exists, but it has to find us working.”

Here is another piece inspired by mythology.  I hope to have 10-15 pieces for the series.

jamie boyer

salacia

acrylic

8 x 10 inches

$110

waves.

This is just a quick post to show one of my side projects.  I have a deep fascination with mythology, particularly of the Greek variety.  Getting a good picture was a challenge because of the glossy varnish. Still, I had a lot of fun with this piece, and I will do more in the near future.

 

jamie boyer

poseidon

12.10.10

acrylic

8 x 10 inches

$105

 

 

 

 

baby steps.

I have big exciting plans for this year.  Everything will be bigger and better!  I’m going to cook frequently, have an immaculate house, exercise 3 times a week, get a full-time job with benefits, and focus on polishing my relationships to a high luster.  Oh, and I’m going to paint everyday! Sounds great, right?  The problem is, I get caught up in the plans and put off the action for another day.  “I’ll do it  tomorrow” has become one of my most often used phrases.  I have put my most treasured interests on the back-burner.

Instead of living in the dream world of “someday I will”, I’m focusing on “today I can.”  I will do something everyday to lead to the dream of being a professional painter.  Whether it be a blog entry, painting, showing my art, or seeking inspiration, I want to keep getting closer to that goal. I’m tired of being stagnant and stuck in the dreamer stage.  Baby steps forward will amount to much more than merely standing still.

Today’s baby step:  overcoming procrastination momentarily for this post. Hopefully, you will notice the picture quality vastly improving from this post forward.  My amazing boyfriend bought me studio lights for Christmas, and now I can take much better pictures!  Enjoy!

my beautiful new lights!

jamie boyer

shift

12.15.10

acrylic on paper, matted and framed

12 X 16 inches

$215

new and improved.

So all of a sudden it’s 2011.  I have so many goals and aspirations for the new year. I have tons of  (invalid) excuses for why I haven’t posted in months.  Christmas presents being the main reason!!! My family got homemade gifts this year.  It was great being able to do that, but a teeny bit stressful.  I have a BIG, amazing, supportive, wonderful family.  And wanting to create something special for everyone was taxing.  I faced imagined dilemmas of my art not being good enough, or big enough, or just enough!  When it was all said and done, I was happy.  And I swear I’ll be more prepared for next Christmas… probably.

Anyway, here are some of the many pieces I gave as gifts this year.

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november!

There are two weeks until Thanksgiving!  How did this happen?!  I had my first private art reception at Allegheny Arts on Friday, October 29th.  It took 3 hours to get the paintings to stay on the big cement wall. My savior, Ann, helped me get nails in that cement monster.  I could not have done it alone.  A big thank you to my mom, Michelle, and Ashley for making the trek from Berks County to support me!  I love you guys!  And also, thank so much to everyone who made it out to my show.  I am so fortunate to have such wonderful friends and supportive co-workers!  My next solo show is in the works for sometime in February.  My goal is to have 100 pieces for this one.  I know it’s super-ambitious but I can make it happen.

For the time being, I am working on my artist portfolio.  Hard to believe I have 5 shows under my belt already!   I’m seeking gallery representation to sell more work.  I have sold 27 pieces to date, and honestly that’s what thrills me.  I want my work out in the world- owned and admired by others.  And if I’m able to make a living purely through my art, that would be a dream come true.  I’m doing my homework to find a reputable place.  Having my work at a gallery will be in addition to Allegheny Arts.  I adore the gallery and the artist community there, and I will be working/creating at the gallery two Sundays a month from 12-5.  Come watch me paint!  ( email:  jamiepaints@gmail.com to confirm if I will be there if you are planning a visit!)

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And remember, the holidays are right around the corner.  My paintings and boxes make great gifts!