Can an Artist Change Their Name...successfully? By Jennifer Beaudet Zondervan...

If you have been following me you may already know the situation I encountered of another artist having my same exact name...even the same middle name! She also paints oils of similar subjects. The style is not quite that same but I'm afraid it could get confusing for my collectors. I've since spoken with her and found out that she's very cool and is also a great artist. It's a strange feeling and until it happens to you it's hard to understand how it feels. I had been working hard to brand my name and have managed to show up in a lot of places online. However, I took a little break and feel like I haven't fully come back from it. A divorce, being abruptly ripped from all of my possessions, having to start my life over from scratch...it's been a journey. Things are great now! I started working as hairstylist and happened to meet someone very special. We moved to San Clemente, California together in May and will be married soon!

Field of Flowers by Jen Beaudet Zondervan Original Sold

I know I've been focused on getting my life back and my art has suffered from that. But I still had my name, at least I thought I did. There is another Jennifer Beaudet whose website has much more power  than mine, so it comes up first. I just don't have the money to put towards that and have been doing it all on my own so far. My images show up first because there are so many, but her website shows up. I don't want to compete for my name. Art is a hard business and is very competitive. I liked my name J. Beaudet but now I feel like it's lost something. It's not me. I'm going to be married soon and will change my name to Zondervan. What if I started signing my paintings, Zondervan? How would that work in the art world? I've sold hundreds of paintings as J. Beaudet. My signature is recognizable. Would I be essentially starting over if I started painting under a new name?

It's frustrating and I feel a little loss of identity. But really, what's in a name? My name was Rutkoskie before I was married at 22, I could sign my paintings Rutkoskie. I'm conflicted and could use some advice. My heart says just keep painting (or I should say...start painting again like I used to) and keep signing my name J. Beaudet and it will all work out, but my mind says different. What would you do?

My hometown! PV View by J. Beaudet Zondervan Sold

Kincaid's on The Pier by J Beaudet Zondervan Sold

Peonies Delight by J. Beaudet Zondervan Sold

Koi Fish by J. Beaudet Zondervan Sold

My Pochade

Trinity River by J. Beaudet Zondervan

Update! My name is officially Jennifer Beaudet Zondervan now! I'm signing my work J Beaudet Z for now. I still live in San Clemente, California and have always lived in California (except one mistake by moving to Arizona for about 3 months...) 

Palette Kinfe Painting of a Women in Red Dress

sold but available as a print on my Etsy
Jennifer Beaudet Zondervan ©

This oil painting was created using only a palette knife and oil paint. I tried to keep to a limited palette of complimentary colors for a dramatic impact. For her dress, I used alizarin crimson with some green for the darks and cadmium red for most other light areas. I painted this one in 2016...I don't remember exactly. I loved painting her red dress. This one just flowed so effortlessly. They don't always happen like that, so when it does I remember it, for sure! I've done several paintings of women in red and I'm sure I will do more someday. I'm inspired by beautiful fabrics and bridal gowns and since I've been wedding dress shipping recently, I have lots of paintings in mind. This oil painting is only an 8x10 and I'm trying to paint on a larger scale lately, so I may do something similar but larger.

Finding My Place by Artist Jennifer Beaudet

12x12 inch oil available

Moving to a new place is exciting but can also be an adjustment. New surroundings, new job, new life. Best thing is, I'm inspired to paint again and love my new studio! I guess it's a natural occurrence because of so many changes...I feel a transformation in my art happening. Am I struggling to find my voice as an artist? Or am I just adjusting to my new life?

18x24 inch original oil available 

I wrote this before I created my newest abstract. I am going to explore this direction and see where it takes me. It actually started because we want a large abstract for our new home. I have been wanting to try something like that and this is the perfect opportunity. The one posted here is a test and I love it! It's not large enough for my space, but I think the colors are going to work.  I already have a new commission for another one...just happens to be for my mom. I know when she loves something I've done that I'm onto something good. I mean, of course she likes most everything I do, but when she loves it it's obvious. My mom is an amazing interior designer who just never worked as one. Her life took her in a different direction, raising 3 kids, playing tennis, shopping...but if she had to make a living she would have been a top designer, really! So...when she loves something I've done, I listen.

I feel like abstract art comes from such a personal place it's not always easy to share it. I feel vulnerable, like I'm putting it all out there...naked. This is the direction I need to go not just for my art but for myself.

Sometimes it's better to leave things alone...

Forgotten Rose- Original sold...prints available here

I have been messing with my settings on here and somehow lost my social media links. I'm trying to get them back and am going to add them to the top tab buttons. In the meantime...here's and article published about my work on ArtPromotivate. I'm going to make a tab specifically for all my featured articles so they're all in one spot. Thanks for hanging in there with me as I get this all figured out!

Some little pink roses and...

I'm making some changes to my site here and just want to keep you all updated. Plus...I want to share this little one with you. I took the leaf on left out and will have it list in my shop soon. It's an 8x8 oil on canvas for $125.

New florals blooming in my studio...

Yellow Polka dots and Pink 12x12 inch oil on canvas

I have new floral oil paintings blooming in my studio! I love pink peonies and I think the polka dots are pretty cute.

Pink Celebration 12x12 inch oil on canvas

I have one more I finishing up today, then I think I may do another landscape. I'm currently working on getting my website again. I have always used this as my website and had my other one connected here, but blogger doesn't have as much control over SEO's as Wordpress does. You may have remembered I started a new one back in 2013 (I think that's when it was...time flies!) When my life was disrupted, and I was uprooted from my home in 2016, I neglected to pay the domain name renewal and lost it. I'm paying the price now, as it was sold to someone who is impersonating me. I've contacted the web site owners and servers to have them shut it down and may contact the local police. This is my business, and even more, my life. I take it very seriously. The strangest thing is the website has an email that goes to a woman in Maryland who has the same name as I do...even the same middle name! Crazy and it is she's also an oil painter, as of a year ago. I've spoken with her and she seems very nice. She has also sent an email to the register site demanding they take it down. Our art is quite different, and I'm pretty sure you can tell if it's an original "J. Beaudet", but I don't want there to be any confusion or uncertainty about who you're dealing with. I live in California and always have, she's lives in DC or Maryland (the east coast). I have never lived there and never will. I have been painting and selling my art on Etsy since 2009. Click to see- My first painting I sold on Etsy (besides one to my mom)

I sell my work in my Etsy shop and sell prints on Fine Art America . I have also been accepted to Saatchi and I have my work on Artfinder   I've worked hard to get my name branded, and as you may know, I started this blog with that name "my life as a starving artist". While I may never have gone hungry, and I'm grateful for that, I do everything on a very tight budget (like mostly free...as in, I do it myself) I appreciate all of you who have bought my work over the years and allowed me to continue to create art. I can't do this without you! Seriously.
I am thinking about changing my name but not sure how that would be. I'm engaged and my last name could change when we're married. I don't think anyone will have his last name! Anyway, I'm still plugging along and Love that you are still with me! Thank you :)

Summer time...

Upcountry is available as a print here

...close up of what's on my easel today

One of my favorites from an online workshop from Richard Robinson

new one...available soon in my Etsy shop

Inspired by my new home in Socal and the hint of summer...here and there...It's been a cool one so far but it's only just begun! I'll have my latest available originals posted to my Etsy shop soon. I'm still working on organizing my new "studio". Currently, I'm working outside, which I love. My view looks like some other country. It's amazing! I hope you're all enjoying your summer!

Newly Inspired...Finally!?

It's been a big adjustment and transitional time of my life. So many changes and more on their way! I've moved 3 times in as many years, and am now moving once more. I hope I will be there long enough to start a new life. It's not easy being a nomad. Things have been relatively good over the last three years, or at least not terrible.
I did lose my dad about four months ago and I'm still going through it...but things are not terrible. I'm living my dream, with the ocean only a few miles from me, and beautiful Socal weather every day! Although it has been a cold year, I think summer will be perfect! So Excited that I will be waking up to a dreamy ocean view with inspiration right outside my window!
I'm engaged to an amazing man who treats me how I deserve to be treated. I realize now I was only being treated badly because I chose to be. I chose who I was with, no one forced me to be in abusive relationships. I also realize I don't need someone to make me happy, I'm really happy by myself. It's just a bonus to have someone to share my happiness with! I'm not saying that my life is perfect, whose really is? But it's better than it has been in a long time and I know it will continue this way.
Ok...I can go on and on about my personal life but I don't want to bore you too much...
So, about my art...I can blame it on a lack of my own studio space, my computer (with all my files) died, and not to mention I've been cutting hair, like a robot, to pay the rent. Actually there are a multitude of factors that have played a role in my "little break" from my art, but the real reason is ME. I just haven't felt motivated, no energy, no inspiration. That is changing, I can feel it. It doesn't hurt that I made a sale today! Oh, I almost forgot to mention, I have a super studio moving sale happening right now! I just sold one of the largest pieces I have left but there are still a few left if you want to take a look...right here at some original paintings in my Etsy shop.

this one has sold

I also have another solo show in Santa Barbara in September but I'll tell you about that another time.

I hope you are still on blogger. I know I'm not very often anymore, but it's still a good place to get it out regardless if anyone sees it or not. Until next time...

new florals in my Etsy shop...

Wow! I can't believe this year is coming to an end! Where did it go? I'm happy that I'm moving forward with painting and seem to have emerged from wherever I was. I have new inspiration and am excited to start on some more florals and landscapes. I'd really like to do a daily painting challenge again but for now I'm working on some more abstracts florals on canvas. Bring on 2019!

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It's all about the journey...

New Woman in Red Dress Painting

available here

I've been moving a lot lately and working as a hair stylist for some stability but I'm still painting. I'll never stop. This painting continues my series of dress paintings. I'm changing mediums from oil to acrylic and really like the feel of it. I'm still working on colors as always but I finally achieved the feel I was after. What do you think? Oil or Acrylic? Does it matter? I don't think so. I hope you enjoy my latest painting and hopefully you'll be around to see my next! It's going to be a floral! 

Hi Ruby! I'll never forget all you did for me:)

Carmel Commission

I haven't posted much lately due to my other job but I'm still painting when I'm not cutting hair. 

I've finished this one and my client loves it! It's 6 feet! Onto the next commission. It's a small floral of this one I did a few years back. 

I'd like to paint a few more ladies to add to my collection...

Kincaid's Paintings

I haven't posted in so long because I've been a little busy with life. For those of you that have been following me over the, I'm home now! I made it back to the Southbay after 16 years of living up north.

Original is in Kincaid's Redondo 

In Kincaid's 

Kincaid's Collection

Sold

Sold

Add caption

Sold

Close up (Sold)

Peonies!

12x12 oil available here

close up so you can see the brushstrokes 

and on the easel 

I love all flowers but peonies are one of my favorites! I bought these last month at Trader Joe's and they started out hot pink then faded to this beautiful peach color. I'm trying to paint and post daily starting today. We'll see if I can keep it up this time!