Posted on June 9, 2020June 11, 2020 by Sara Jo Rosenberg

Love Found in Hope – 2020.0608

COVID19 and Unemployment Project

Many Americans, including myself, have been affected one way or another due to 2020's crazy COVID19 and it's lockdown. This year started out with a major punch to the gut. Due to our organization's acquisition, I was dismissed from my position at work as our marketing team was liquidated. Then COVID19 hit...

I've diligently applied to companies I could see myself working for, filtering for the highest-rated in job satisfaction. Until that time comes again to pour my heart and soul into my work, I've found another kind of work to dedicate myself to - my home, family, and art. All the new homeschooling help with my son and getting to the honey-dos like wall paint touchups, multiple shelve installations, shoe cabinet building, repairing a leaky AC drainage pipe in the ceiling, birdhouse building, fence repairs, cabinet repairs, and bathroom tile grouting have been completed and I find myself without any significant repair to do that cost more time than money. That conundrum brought my attention to several unfinished paintings. This one was started back in April of 2019 and sat sad and forgotten in the spare bedroom closet. With new enthusiasm, I dusted it off and set myself to work.

Punch up the color

I started this one out back in 2019 and forgot it with a job demanding so much from my eyes. The colors began rather boring and needed to look and feel more like my pastel work if I was going to be satisfied with the end product. I swapped out my detail brushes for a larger brush and applied the strokes more as I would to my drawings. I also used the full rainbow of colors in every aspect so that the piece flowed together in a more balanced way. I love the results and to give it the final glitz to make this painting sing, I added some gold foil to the trailing ribbons. The title of this piece is because roses are symbolic of love and the large leaf cradling the roses is a hope philodendron. I'm sure you can put the pieces together.

Posted on December 3, 2018December 18, 2018 by Sara Jo Rosenberg

Seeking Fellowship – 2018.1203

Trying Despretly to Engrain this as a Holiday Tradition

I've managed to get these Xmas card fronts out in 2012, 2016, and now again in 2018. The fox speaks to me as a cheesy sort of spirit animal. Now that I have married and gained a bonus son + husband, I have included them too as the kit and sleeping fox in my winter journey. Just like in real life, I'm showing the little kit many of life's wonders as his dad snoozes away the morning hours, before sunrise. Early bird and worms I suppose.

The 2017 Card that went by the wayside

I started this one out back in 2017 and quickly became too wrapped up in my new job and married life so it sat in the guest bedroom for a whole year till I told myself it was going to get finished come hell or high water. Well, neither arrived but my butt was in gear and made it in time to send out 75 of these little 5x7s out to my closest friends and family. I hope they enjoy them as much as I enjoy seeing the little fox show a new adventure time and again.

Posted on February 17, 2018February 17, 2018 by Sara Jo Rosenberg

Embody the Clouds – 2018.0211

In Honor of Melvin & Mary Howard

The most majestic Magnolia tree, to me, will forever be Melvin and Mary Howard's lovely specimen that stood proud and regal, in their front yard. As a child & teen growing up, I was forever drawn to our next door neighbor retiree couple: Mel & Mary. Mel was always in his blue coveralls and a cowboy hat ...his wife Mary was his shadow, usually not far behind, joining in with an encouraging head nod accompanied by a smile, scowel if she didn't agree with Mel, or a full-bodied laugh that was contagious to all nearby. If you had a little time on your hands, a cruise down to Whataburger for fresh fries was but a conversation away... Just head over to the white picket fence and ask Mel what's up. They were a major cornerstone piece in the development of my plant obsession. I owe much of my knowledge to them both and will forever have the fondest of memories. Hopefully one day, I too will take on the mantle of the quirky neighbor with the knowledge of plants and share what I know with the local kids.

Hurry up Spring, I'm over Winter

This was started the evening of the super bowl. I wasn't feeling the football spirit and wanted to do something that would remind me of the spring just a few weeks away. The white petals are so voluminous and pure. I wanted to capture the light and purple blush that always seems to tinge several varieties of this delightful tree.

Posted on October 3, 2017October 7, 2017 by Sara Jo Rosenberg

Apple Blossoms – 2017.0930

Crockett Row @West 7th Presents the Chalk Art Festival

I saw this event pop up in my facebook news feed and thought this would be a great way to showcase my pastel skills to the public instead of doing a live painting like I have in the past. When I arrived, I found a stop next to a young man named Granger, around the age of 12, that was drawing a comical image of an alien dressed in a sheep suit (he won 3rd place). He seemed like a talented and friendly guy. Can't wait to see what he does as a fully matured artist. His parents were pretty nice too.

I myself had large goals and very little time to finish. The festival ran from 10am to 6pm. We each had buckets for "tips" that were eventually going to go for "The Art Station Benefit." While I didn't place at all, I did sell a few prints I brought along just in case. And as always, I really enjoyed talking to the patrons/audience and getting dirty on the ground.

Winners:

1st Place (& People's Choice) - Rainbow Zebra by Diana Gibson

2nd Place - Anythings Possible (Dr. Seuss Dream) by Soraya McGarrh

3rd Place - Alien Sheep by Granger Krajca

Framing Dilemma

While I was pleased that we were able to bring our artwork home, I'm not sure how I'm going to frame up this bad boy. It needs to find a home STAT! I'll have to figure something out before the October 2017 Arts Goggle!

Posted on September 10, 2017September 10, 2017 by Sara Jo Rosenberg

Meeting 100,000 Dynes – 2017.0910

So Dark, So Bright

OK, so I always seem to do the bright rainbow thing or go full macabre. This is somewhere in the middle and, I really love the colors. I had two very nice rococo black frames that needed filling. With Halloween on the horizon, near the time of Arts Goggle, Russ (husband) suggested that I do something with a Halloween vibe. Well, I ended up finding a picture of a skeleton to work from (by Vanessa Gifford) and this is the end result. Now good old husband suggests that I do another Halloween themed image to go in the matching frame using the same color pallet. He's always challenging me. I'm going to interpret that as love right there because Dad does the same thing to Mom when it comes to her quilts.

Fun!

This was quite simply FUN. I haven't played in my kiddie pool of darkness in a while and honestly, I missed it. I'll have to make sure to toss in the occasional macabre style image just to make sure I'm staying balanced. Just the right amount of sunshine and darkness seems to keep me well-balanced emotionally and mentally. Cheers! Off to the next piece. Come check this one out at the October 2017 Arts Goggle!

Posted on September 6, 2017September 6, 2017 by Sara Jo Rosenberg

Just Ducky – 2017.0906

So Proud, So Indifferent

This summer, I enjoyed a few once-weekly walks around the Marine Creek Lake near our home, with a friend who was trying to lose some baby weight. Part of the fun of those walks is the surprise animal appearances. The day I photographed this rather proud leader of his mismatched duck squad, was incredibly hot and I'm sure he was hoping this goofy human approaching him was bringing him a snack. Once he realized I had nothing to offer, It was as if I did not exist. He went about his business for the most part and went I left, gave me the side-eye. Sassy little thing.

What was I doing?

This little 5x7 sat on the dining room table for a week or more. I'd look at the underpainting and question myself, question my direction, and questioned my value as an artist. What was I doing? What is the point? Did anyone care about what I had to offer or was this just a waste of time and resources? I think time will tell with all those questions and I had to remind myself there is a reason they are called Starving artists and that Rome was not built in a day. Lucky for me, I have a husband that will pick up the slack when it comes to the food buying and friends and family cheering me on from the sidelines when I begin to doubt myself and the path I am currently traveling. I'll try to do a few more small pieces next and I will definitely have it at the October 2017 Arts Goggle!

Posted on August 21, 2017 by Sara Jo Rosenberg

Tenacious Moo – 2017.0821

Neighbourhood Entertainment

We spent this spring and summer enjoying watching and trying to feed the little group of calves (about 3-4) on the eight acres of land next to our house. The little calves grew up and the owner moved the fun little group somewhere else. We thought our entertainment had permanently departed for the year... unless you count Brownie and two other adult females of the group who happily eat my weeds I toss over the fence line. about a month ago, a tenacious little calf arrives and boy does he cause a stir. The little guy doesn't listen to any of the cows when called, bounces joyously around the pasture, and curiously approaches the fence-line when our little papillion dog, Mercedes, approaches to see who's around to greet.

Last of the Little'uns

This little guy just needed to be drawn so in order to do it up right, I wanted the colors to invoke this little guy's lively spirit and tenacious demeanor. I will definitely have it at the October 2017 Arts Goggle!

Posted on August 18, 2017August 18, 2017 by Sara Jo Rosenberg

Embody the Rain – 2017.0817

Grandma Marilyn Approved

Hostas have always reminded me of rain and Grandma Marilyn. She use to have them in her backyard as well as many other flowers that reminded me of a shadowed grove, canopied by pines and kissed by the beginnings of the Spring rains. If you looked closer, little lily of the valley bordered the sleeping beds and crocus emerge to say hello. So, it's no surprise that when growing my own flowers, I've selected very specific ones that bring back childhood memories of loved-ones.

Soothing Colors after the Bright Marigold

I knew from the start I was going to love this drawing. Not only are the colors soothing and calm but how can anyone not love the plump, voluminous leaves of the hosta plant. Instead of playing up the typical greens of most plants, I was able to punch up blue tones that many hostas are famous for embodying. This too will be at the October 2017 Arts Goggle!

Posted on August 14, 2017August 15, 2017 by Sara Jo Rosenberg

Luz Dorado para Los Espíritus – 2017.0814

What Gives with the Spanish?!

Halloween is definitely my favorite holiday, with its mystical history and eerie origins, how could it not be?! Having grown up in Corpus Christi, TX where Dia de Los Muertos celebrations ran parallel to the more traditional US holiday of Halloween made the holiday season especially long and exceptionally wonderful. Seeing delicate sugar skulls, pan dulce, spirits, and aromatic marigolds in wonderful petal artwork joined with pictures of loved ones made the cooling autumn nights, illuminated with flickering candles glowing around graves, enchanting and "homie." Because of these memories and experiences, when I saw the opportunity to enter an art contest for Dia de Los Muertos with the emphasis on Marigolds and/or Monarchs, I immediately gravitated to the Marigold. Not only do I grow my own vibrant patch of these charmingly potent gems but their spirited personality symbolizes the celebration in my old childhood memories.

"Growing" to Love It

This project left me a bit disappointed with the starting efforts. After a mini pep-talk with the husband, I decided I should mess with it a little more and give it a fair chance to emerge from its awkward 1-hour old "birth." I'm so glad I did because this Project has left me excited to see how the center of the flower comes to life and imagining what the finished product will look like. In the event I don't make it into the show, I will definitely have it at the October 2017 Arts Goggle!

Posted on August 5, 2017August 18, 2017 by Sara Jo Rosenberg

Fruit Cocktail – 2017.0805

Silver Lining

I figured that after my Kieffer Pear tree caught a bad case of Fire Blight, I should at least capture the lost bounty of Pears and cross my fingers that the pear might make a comeback next spring.

Why a Long Horizontal?

I had three frames that I had purchased that I didn't use for their intended purpose so I figured that since I had to get ready for the 2017 Arts Goggle, I might as well use up the frames and supplies that I had on hand. This drawing takes care of one frame, two to go!