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Sold 16x20 canvas |
Hi, I'm artist Jennifer Beaudet Zondervan, from Southern California, USA. I started this blog in 2009 as a way to share my art journey and meet other creative souls. It became my therapy. I use oil paints with a palette knife and bold brush marks. My work is both, passionate and sensitive; inspired by nature's beauty. I first called this blog My Life As a Starving Artist. I have another website JBeaudetStudios.com
10.25.2014
Lady in Blue Painting
10.23.2014
Simple Lines Tonal Figure Painting
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now available here |
Tonal Figure #1
24x36 inch
Canvas
$400
If you follow me on Facebook then you'll know how this one came about. I just signed it…
I have a few different series of these in mind but have to see how you all like it first!
Jen
10.21.2014
Enchanted Forest
Enchanted
Inspired by fall's light and a fresh look on life, this is what came out. I asked my Facebook friends on my fan page and I'd love to hear your thoughts too!... What is your interpretation of this image? How does it make you feel?
Jen
visit page
10.15.2014
Art Auction for a Cure!
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Bid here! |
Just finished this one for Breast Cancer Awareness month! Your winning bid will go to your choice of Cancer Charity. Happy bidding! While I'm here I want to tell you about my mom and her surgery. It went as great as it possibly could! They took out her uterus and ovaries but found "very little" cancer so there was no need to take the lymph nodes! She bounced right back form surgery and is having a hard time resting. She's already to get out and about! Thank you all for your positive thoughts and prayers!
10.01.2014
Here's all of them!
This is a collage of all 30 of the challenge. I think I may have painted one extra but there's 30 here so I'll check later. This has been an awesome experience for me. Thanks so much for all of your support!
Jen:)
I finished the Challenge!
Thank you Leslie Saeta for hosting this challenge! I don't have all the paintings prepared to post in this collage, yet, so I'll have to do that later. This has been a great learning experience for me and has also helped get me into a habit of painting everyday! Thank you all who found something special to add to your home! Out of this bunch, eleven have sold and I think one from the bunch I haven't posted yet. I did want to keep them all similar but ended up doing some quick watercolor "sketches" for lack of time. I'm still working on several commissions along with all of these.
I hope that this challenge can help me focus in one direction. I'm jotting down a plan of action right now. If anything it's renewed my momentum to keep pushing forward!
I think most artists struggle with this at times, (at least I think they do). It's not an easy business to pursue, that's for sure. Putting your art art out there is like putting a piece of your soul out for the world to see!
Thanks so much for following me on my journey!
Jen
9.27.2014
9.25.2014
Ventura Surfer Daily Painting Day 20!
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commission sold |
So, I've been so busy this month…not to mention my travels with my mom to the UC Davis Cancer Center. We're done for the month though and the next visit is her surgery! Can't wait for her to get that over with and be on the road to recovery! I think staying busy has been a good thing for me at this time. I tend to worry about things that I have no control over.
9.20.2014
Trying to Keep Up with the Daily Painting
This is one from Day 17…I have one in front of me that I haven't posted yet. I'm trying to keep up with the commissions, varnishing paintings, and packing paintings. That's not counting all the other things that go into this business. I need another me right now! I'm enjoying being busy though.
I'll be going with my mom for her pre-op, early next week and was hoping to get caught up if not ahead of the daily paintings, but not sure that's going to happen. Things look good for her! She's probably at stage 1 maybe 2 with a 50-75% chance she won't need anymore treatment after the surgery! Very hopeful!
I was happily surprised this one sold in seconds after posting it on Facebook! Are we friends on Facebook? Here's where you can find My FaceBook Page or you can follow my Fan page! I'd love to see you there!:)
Jen
9.18.2014
Day 14-17 Watercolor sketches
I'm having fun with some watercolors and quick sketches. (The color is off here on all of them so I haven't listed them yet. The paper is white) Honestly, I'm having a hard time keeping up
with the daily painting and the commissions I already have. There's not enough time in the day! …I am still having fun and have many more in mind!:)
Jen
9.14.2014
Day 13 A Little French Village
available here
This painting was another one from my Facebook friend Mary. She's been everywhere!
(blogger makes the images a little brighter and more saturated than the real life image)
Jen
9.13.2014
Playing Catch up!
Contemplation
6x6 inch
$200
I decided to use my daughter as model again. She posed for me in my mom's hats, out on her deck.
Jen
9.12.2014
9.10.2014
9.08.2014
9.07.2014
9.05.2014
9.04.2014
Day 4 Just Down the Street...
Light At the End
8x10
oil
It's little every day scenes like this one that make me appreciate the beauty that surrounds me. I've had took reference photo last year while driving around my county. Fall is such a beautiful time of year and just around the corner! I could feel it in the air this morning and notice the changing light. I do love Summer but am ready for some cooler weather…for a while at least.
Jen
9.03.2014
Day 3 Bougainvillea Love
The Sunny Side
8x8 inch
Blick canvas panel
SOLD
This is another little painting inspired by my friend on face book's travel photos. I cropped in close on this scene and made the bougainvillea blooming a little more than it was at that time. I was drawn to this scene for the stairs, the flowers, and the sunny warmth on the stone walls. Off to paint my next one!
Jen
9.02.2014
Day 2 of the 30 in 30 Challenge
8x8 inch panel
Busy painting! I've also been working on a portrait commission which is coming along nicely. It has four faces in it though so it's a little more work than normal. This painting was inspired by a Facebook friend's travel photos. Just a quaint little French scene. I added the flowers and the tree on the side.
Tomorrow's painting will be another from her photos. (I'm still waiting to get some of my daughter's photos from her trip to Paris…)
Jen
9.01.2014
Open The Door to Begin!
6x8 inch panel
oil
sold
The 30 in 30 Challenge by Leslie Saeta is here! I'm opening with this little door painting, and will follow with a few more European architecture pieces. I'll also be doing some florals and figures and finish with a few from Paris.
Jen
8.27.2014
New Peonies Painting!
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Vintage Shells and Peonies |
This painting is "me", full of my favorite things. I love the Shabby Chic, French Country, Romantic style. It has an old vintage feel to it because of the palette, which I love. This is definitely a palette I would like to stick with for a while.
8.25.2014
A New Woman in Red Painting
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sold |
I took a break from my commissions (while waiting for my canvas to arrive) and painted this one. It's been a while since I've done a figure with the palette knife loose work. Felt good to free up and express my feelings with paint. I think I need some art therapy these days…
I asked my friends on Facebook for help with a name and Amira came up with the one I used, "Forgotten Rose". There were so many great suggestions! Thank you all! I was pleasantly surprised that this one sold in two hours after posting it! I really need to do more of these…and larger. This one was an 11x14 which is my go to size but I know many of you want a larger statement piece. Look for some in the future or, if you can't wait, commission me!
Jen
8.19.2014
My Life As a….Thriving Artist!
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click to view on Etsy |
Some wonderful places where my art has been mentioned:
BelleInspiration.com
bluebirdnotes.blogspot.com
dahlhausart.blogspot.com
dailyvitaminsea.com
thedecoratingdiva.com
bluebirdnotes.blogspot.com
dahlhausart.blogspot.com
dailyvitaminsea.com
thedecoratingdiva.com
GirlMeetsParis.blogspot.com
inotherwords-catania.blogspot.com
greenandpretty.net
ramblinggallivantinggirl.blogspot.com
inotherwords-catania.blogspot.com
greenandpretty.net
ramblinggallivantinggirl.blogspot.com
if I forgot you please let me know so I can add your site here!
I appreciate all of you! I just wish I had known what a big deal it was back then. I didn't have a clue what I was doing.
I even had a visit and comment from Joanna from A Cup of Jo and I really had know idea how cool that was. I loved her blog but didn't realize the opportunity. I've learned so much…but am still a little naive sometimes.
I'm going to be doing some small paintings starting in September as I am participating in Leslie Saeta's 30 in 30 challenge again! Here's last year's post of my challenge.
This year, I'm planning it out a little better and have preordered some canvas panels so I don't have to paint on paper. I may do a giveaway of an original sometime during the month so keep you eyes out for that!
Below are some of my available paintings….
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click to view on Etsy |
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click to view on Etsy |
Thanks so much for your visit! I hope you all have a great week!:)
Jen
8.14.2014
Final Painting For Kincaid's Restaurant!
Here's the final (approved!) painting going in to Kincaid's restaurant on the pier in Redondo! I really can't wait to see them hanging! This has been an amazing opportunity and so much fun to work with Randy Ruby. Looks like Blogger, or Google, has messed with the saturation on this one and it was hard to get the right hue anyway. The water is a little more grayish teal than it looks here. Well, just know it looks better in person, I promise!
Things have been busy here for me in the studio. I just finished this one today and am already starting my next commission. After that, I have 3 more confirmed and possibly 2 others! I think I may need to post that I won't be able to promise any for Christmas. I figure I'm about 3 months booked now. Never thought this would happen…but I'm not complaining!
I had some very bad news about a week ago. I had been waiting for months now to find out if my mom had uterine cancer and the labs just came back positive. She has a great attitude about it all but it's just not something you want to have to go through. I'm very close to her and it's not easy, but am being strong for her. The good news is she's having the surgery at UC Davis, where her granddaughter lives! So we'll be able to see her then. My sister is also coming up from L.A.
So that's what I'll be doing for a while and painting my commissions. I may be able to squeeze in one of my French inspired paintings, but am not sure.
Jen
7.28.2014
Redondo Beach, California Painting for Kincaid's! by Jen Beaudet
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soon to be seen in Kincaid's in Redondo |
Painting number 2 is complete, and now it's on to the last one!This is Redondo/Torrance Beach California from a rare viewpoint. It was taken from the water not by me, no way! By photographer Randy Ruby!
When they're thoroughly dry they can be shipped. I may hand deliver them, but will have to think about that. It's a 10 hour drive from here so…and…they won't fit in my car! I do want to be there when they're hung, though. We'll see. In case you can't tell from the photo this painting is enormous! It measures 60 inches across and 30 inches high! It took me about 2-3 weeks to paint and that was putting in long hours each day. Not the 11x14 painting that I'm accustomed to finishing in one day. This has been a great experience so far, and a lot of fun gaining new local fans on Facebook! I feel so blessed to have been chosen for this! Out of all the artists out there I still can't believe it! Anyway, I'm truly grateful to whoever was the one that spotted my work on here! Was it the restaurant designer? Was it the company? I wish I knew. All I can say is thank you! And thank you to Reggie for keeping me on (you could have picked anyone!) and especially to Randy Ruby for allowing me to paint your photographs! They really are something special and I hope I did them justice.
So now, it's on to the last one (after this one sets up a little. It's impossible to move at this point without messing it up).
Thanks so much for following my progress! Hang in there Floral and figure (vintage lady) fans! I promise I'll get back to my normal paintings soon…and will have lots of new Parisian photos to use very soon!
Jennifer
7.18.2014
Monet's Muse...
Awww….Monet…
of all the impressionist artists I think he's my favorite. It's hard to choose but every single painting
he has created takes me to another place. I would love to visit his home someday and paint a long side him, in spirit. I know he's still there…how could he leave?
Everywhere you look…a painting lives, just waiting for the artist to let it out.
Monet saw the beauty through his own magnificent eyes.
Oh….the bridge that has inspired so many after him. To this day artists paint their interpretation of the bridge at Givenchy
Someday, I will go and paint it.
Can NOT wait!
Too hard to choose a favorite...
His work has been an influence on mine over the years. When I was going to art school I worked with
a pastel landscape artist and looking at these now I'm reminded very much of his work. He doesn't have his images available online so unfortunately I can't show you how beautiful they were.
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sold |
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Davis Arboretum sold |
This painting was inspired by the Arboretum in Davis, California. When I saw the bridge my mind immediately was transported back in time to Monet's bridge. The real place is nice but there aren't any flowers.
I'm going to have some great inspiration coming my way very soon! Keep your eyes out for new Parisian paintings! Finally!
Happy Friday!
Jen
7.14.2014
Peonies Birthday Giveaway!
It's my birthday and I'm celebrating with a giveaway! You could win this signed 11x14 giclee print just by popping over to my Facebook Page and giving me a "like"! While you're there, if you'd like to comment and like the giveaway post too, that will help me keep track of your entries. Share, share, share (anywhere you can think of)! Thank you! Good luck to everyone!
You might want to check out my Summer Sale on Etsy, on some of originals too!
(prices are already marked down)
Have a great week!
Jen
Thanks for participating! The winner is Jo Turner! Congrats!
Thanks for participating! The winner is Jo Turner! Congrats!
7.05.2014
Kincaids Redondo Beach Artist J Beaudet
Here's the finished piece! Still wet on my easel. This pic was taken with my phone so it's not the greatest. I'll be taking some good ones tomorrow and then send them off for approval!
It's finally happening! You might remember me mentioning some big studio news about six months ago. I had been contacted by a restaurant designer and asked if I had any Redondo Beach artwork. She was in search of new art for an upscale restaurant on the Redondo Beach Pier. If you've been following me from the beginning, you'll know what a big deal this is for me! I grew up there, and the pier is always been the first place I go with my daughter when I visit my home. So many good memories there! I blogged about the pier back in 2009 and have done several paintings of it. They were interested in buying this one I had already done, but the size wasn't right. There also needed to be three that went together.
This was the one she was originally interested in…the one underneath was a smaller version I had painted before I painted a larger one.
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A Day at the Beach |
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available as a print… The photographer, Randy Ruby, is kind of famous in the South Bay, and I was already familiar with his work. Actually, I was already friends with him on Facebook! It couldn't have been anymore perfect! It's strange how things work out!Fast forward months later to now, it's finally happening! I'm working on the first one now! There will be three altogether and one of them is the largest size I've ever painted (30x60)! I think I'm saving that one for last. I'll be sharing the progress on here and…if you're in town, maybe you would like to see them in person! They won't be there for about 3 months from now, but I'll let you know when they are! Oh! I guess I should mention what the restaurant is! It's one of the finest restaurants in the South Bay. It's the place my family goes for celebrations. (somehow, I was never present for those celebrations, and have never been!) Anyway, it's a nice steak and seafood restaurant with a gorgeous view of the Pacific Ocean. It's called Kincaid's; you've probably heard of them as they have many other restaurants around the country! Now I'm wondering if this will lead to more! I sure hope so! |
Here's Randy on his kayak...
Here's the beautiful reference photograph from Randy Ruby…
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Prints available here... |
Good times around here right now! Thank you to all who have made this happen…! :)
Update-
I was honored to have worked with such a wonderful man. He is deeply missed.
At the time I painted this I was living in Northern California. I am now in Socal again. I'm in San Clemente. I will always love my hometown of Redondo and try to visit as much as possible.
Here are some new local landscapes I've done
Happy 4th of July Weekend to all my friends in the US! I have to also mention that this is my birthday month and I'm already starting to celebrate!
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Practicing Figure in Red
I've had this photo for a few years now. I took it in Dana Point when I came upon a couple taking wedding photos. I'm practicing ge...
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This is not the giveaway painting...but a commission I just finished! Click to get details for your own! Hi guys! I want to thank my loyal ...
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This painting came from a blogger that I contacted and asked for permission A question I'm asked, and sometimes I'm the one asking...