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I've been painting custom ARTaments, which are hand-painted ornaments, for almost 5 years. Geez! I can't believe it's been that long, and that my son, who was 4 at the time, is now 8 1/2. (Watch the video above for the explanation of how I started painting ARTaments and my son's role in their development). These are both a joy and a bit of a struggle to paint, considering that I'm working on a blank "canvas" that is about 3" large. It's actually blank ceramic involves the following steps to create:
These little gems get me out of the scale I normally paint, and force me to attempt to work quickly, though I've discovered each time I paint one, I usually spend minimally 4 hours on each. And, thru this discovery, I know I'm greatly underpricing my custom pieces. But, lucky for you, you can take advantage of those introductory prices through the end of May on any ARTament commissioned. Now is certainly not too early to think ahead to the end of the year. I will be increasing their pricing come May, so get your orders in ASAP! The most recent ARTament I completed was for my friend's sister, featuring her niece. It was such an absolute joy to paint, considering that her niece is utterly adorable, and the colors of her clothes screamed a yellow background, which justly fits into my recent work with #INTOYellow. Interested in a custom ARTament? Explore the options at http://www.traillworks.com/artaments.html. 
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 ARTament in progress by artist, Jennie Traill Schaeffer I've started my first Instagram contest, and due to many local shows in the next few weeks, I decided, why not make the contest hyperlocal. I've started a new ARTament (one of my handpainted ornaments), featuring local scenery in Essex County, NJ. I'm hoping it will be finished in time for Sunday's ARTFULL HOLIDAY: a small art boutique located at the Firehouse Gallery, in Orange, NJ. It's hosted by Valley Arts and will feature jewelry, fiber art, paintings, vintage holiday decorations and more by more than 20 artists and organizations.
If you're in the Valley Arts District of Orange / West Orange, or in neighboring towns, or are out of the area and know someone in the Essex County, NJ area, please visit my INSTAGRAM page to enter. Wanna know the rules?  My 2016 Calendar, featuring new work I created this year, retails for $16.50. Now through CyberMonday, purchase for only $14.85 and get FREE SHIPPING thru my online store. Use Code FREESHIPPING at checkout. I will be donating 10% of my profits to Dining for Women, which helps support women and children in developing countries.  Enjoy free shipping on all of your purchases through my web site store now through Cyber Monday! I have a selection of 2016 Calendars, Reusable ART Bags, a selection of Small Works, plus ARTaments, my handpainted ornaments. If there is something you see in my portfolio that is not listed in my store, send me an email about purchasing. Use Code FREESHIPPING at checkout.  Save 15% on prints thru Monday at Fine Art America. Find an assortment of my works that you can purchase as prints on paper, canvas, metal, phone cases, tote bags, pillows, note cards. I've been very pleased with the quality of their printing. If there's something in my portfolio that's not available at Fine Art America, email me and I can see about adding it! Use Discount Code: ASBTFH at checkout thru Monday.  Can you imagine the couple's face when they learn they will be receiving their sweetest wedding memory? You can now purchase a selection of standard size Wedding Cake Portraits from weddingcakeportraits.com. If you're intending to give as a gift this December, I will send you or the recipient directly, a linen note card in a box with a bow announcing the commissioning of their very own Wedding Cake Portrait. More options are available if you contact me directly. Pricing is already adjusted to indicate the 10% off thru Monday. Sunday was the well-regarded SOMA Studio Tour held in South Orange and Maplewood, NJ, sponsored by 1978 Arts Center and the Baird, along with many supporters. I exhibited in a beautiful space at JESPY House, a non-profit which aims to house and educate learning and developmentally disabled adults to provide them an opportunity to live independently. As you can see from the photos, the space was stunning, the light terrific, and weather sublime. Well over 100 people came by to check out my work, along with artists, Bill Billec and Liz Demaree. I enjoyed meeting so many new people: chatting with students, sharing stories about my work, and talking about the topics of decluttering and collecting with several guests. Since closing my gallery space in Newton, I've found it very difficult to get my work in front of people, not for lack of opportunity but time with my kids. This gave me the fix I needed! Plus, I'm pleased that I sold my first set of ARTaments to a woman who will be gifting them for Christmas to relatives that cycle together. Another new customer happened upon one of my giclées of an older Appliance Portrait who came over with such a big smile and told me though she was out of space, this made her so happy she had to buy it! I was over the moon. That makes my art-making worthwhile; touching someone in that way. And, I was able to also to sell one of my favorite Appliance Portraits: Chrome Fabricator of Pasta. Thank you to everyone who stopped by and graced me with your compliments and purchases, or stopped by to say hello! Thank you to the South Orange Department of Recreation and Cultural Affairs and the 1978 Maplewood Art Center for providing this remarkable opportunity! I couldn't have done this show with my fractured foot, without the support of several friends and family, including: friends Meghan and Jeremy for schlepping, friends Sonia and Brooke for taking my kids, and, most importantly, thank you to my husband, Lee, who spent time taking care of the kids, lugging boxes and art from the 3rd floor to the car, to JESPY House, and installing the show.  Wedding Cake Portraits, Still Lifes and Linocuts on exhibit at JESPY House.  Kitchen Gods on exhibit at JESPY House.  A Pair of ARTaments, sold to be given to a couple that cycles together!  Best compliment: the buyer said she had no room for this, but it made her so happy she would find room!  Chrome Fabricator of Pasta, sold to a new collector!  Thanks to my hubby for his hanging / installation expertise!  Starfish from the Boston Aquarium, painted for Joel, 2013.  My youngest son has started daycare three days a week. It's been a blissful first week with so much new artwork begun. In the flurry of ideas, I've been working on my 2014 ARTaments for my sons, Joel and Auggie. Last year I came up with the idea of ARTaments, handpainted custom ornaments featuring precious moments, travels, and people. I have always admired artisan-made ornaments that commemorate memories. During our trip last year to Boston, I was on the hunt for unique Christmas ornaments for my boys that they could add to their collection to remember our weekend together. Unfortunately, due to lack of time, traveling with two kids, and a huge snowstorm that kept us close to our hotel, I was unable to locate anything I wanted to purchase. Later in the year, I decided that I would just paint my own ornament as a gift to them. Thus, ARTaments were born! Now that I am free as a bird, three days a week, I've begun my new pieces for my boys. I'm thru with the conception of Joel's, which ended up being less about a specific place and more about the wheels of this year: he sat in his dream car at the NY Auto Show, a 2014 blue Corvette Stingray, and learned to ride and love his bicycle. I'm still brainstorming Auggie's design, so follow me on Facebook or Twitter for updates. I would also like to extend you a special offer when you purchase ARTaments by Halloween. Now through October 31st, all ARTaments orders are 25% Off! Shipping is included in your purchase price, and each ARTament comes with a gold ribbon for hanging and a box for storage. |
Jennie Traill SchaefferDeemed the Kitchen God's Artist by NJ Savvy Living for my sainted appliances, I'm now known more for my vibrant, meditational paintings of chairs set surprisingly in landscapes. Since relocating to NC from NJ, mothering my two sons, and caring for our rescue pup, Cider, took the lead. Now, that my Durham home studio is renovated it's open again for virtual art coaching and the resumption of my personal art and commissions. The work I make is inspired by my joy of teaching, exploring nature, and traveling. On The Teaching Artist Blog, I share my approach to teaching and educate my readers about my creative process. Join my VIPs for First DibsArchives
July 2023
Want to read more from the past? Click here to read archived blog posts from my previous blog on Blogger.
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