Throwback Thursday: All You Need is...

Painted just because in 2011 and hangs in my kitchen for a bright friendly reminder...

Because it's true and great. All you need is Love...Love is all you need.

Have a happy day friends.

Painting-Vacation Destination

Hi Friends,

I hope everyone had a great holiday weekend! Mine was fabulous and filled with lots of friends, food (I heart a good BBQ!) fun in the sun, camping and of course celebrating the good ole US of A! (Yay Freedom!)

I've had quite the month of June, traveling a ton both for work and for fun. Summers are the best but now that July is here (how the heck did that happen?) I have some time to really relax and enjoy Colorado. Which, in my opinion, doesn't get much better than this time of year. (Helllooo sunshine and camping!)

Anyways, a couple weeks back I finished another commissioned painting that my friend's friend wanted done to give to her fiance' for his birthday! This picture was taken, I believe, on their first vacation together in Mexico. A fabulous view when they went golfing together (if you look closely you can see the little golf ball close to the flag)

Sketched out and ready to paint, in my makeshift studio of a Kitchen. (The Kitchen has the best natural light!)

 

 

Above is a photo midway through the painting. I like to paint with the largest area first and onto the smaller detail areas, etc. So I almost always start with the sky, working towards the ground, and so on. Because I can't stand a blank canvas...the sooner I get color on the white, the better! Not sure why, but it makes it feel like I've accomplished something, even though I'll go back and rework things to death!

One of my college professors told me that the hardest thing about painting is starting and knowing when to finish. As an artist, your work is never really finished. You put your heart into it and learn to let it go to be enjoyed by someone else. Which is never easy. But the hard is what makes it fun and beautiful and great.

"Cabo Del Sol Painting". Acrylic on Canvas. 11 by 14 inches. 2013

So here's to those creations that make life a little more fun and beautiful and great. 

It's onto the next one for me.

Thanks again Kelli for thinking about me and enjoy your paintings! :)

 

House Portrait

Hi Friends,

Happy Hump day!

I hope everyone's had a great week so far. Mine has been busy, but summer busy. Which is different than regular busy. Summer busy still requires hard work and all of that but it also allows for breaks to sit in the sunshine, bike rides, staying out just a little later than normal, and of course good times with good friends. Can't beat that.

Anyways, I did just finish a couple of paintings last week and wanted to share them on here.

One of my best friend's friend from Chicago, wanted to have a couple of things commissioned to give as gifts!

The below house is her fiance' house that he grew up in and his family has since moved. She had this painted to give as a gift for her future in-laws! (how cute and thoughtful is that?)

 A picture of the house that she gave me to paint.

And the finished product!

"House Portrait". Acrylic on Canvas, 11 by 14 inches. 2013

Thanks Kelli for thinking about me and hope your future-in-laws loved the gift!

Throwback Thursday-College Edition

I figured I'd join all the "throwbacks" out there and feature some paintings from back in the day.

Today's "Throwback Thursday" is dedicated to College. Or more specifically...the College House.

Good ole Navarre Street.

 

Ahhh College. If you're lucky like me, you're college experience was nothing but the best. A magical place where freedom, fun, fabulous people (and of course hard work) all morphed together into my own little safe haven for 4 incredible years.

But senior year...Oh man senior year.

Living for the first time in a real, far away from our parents, free standing, with 4 of your best girlfriends, all of legal age, HOUSE... was absolutely the.BEST.
 (the fact that I also only had class from noon to 4 on Tuesdays and Thursdays my 2nd semester also helped, ha)

However, this little (kind of big..it had 5 bedrooms!) house that we lived in 6 years ago (gross!) is one that will always hold a special place in my heart. Our first taste of freedom. Our first glimpse into the "real" world. (Although, I have come to find out that having random dress up dance parties and day drinking during the week, aren't as widely acceptable anymore..hmph.)

Anyways, see below for a painting I did during one of our "craft times" we had at the house, way back when. One of my roomies is a school teacher and she thought we needed to give the house a little color! So, we all sat outside on our back deck and painted away the afternoon.

It now hangs in my home office, where I glance at it from time to time, feeling like it was a lifetime ago and just yesterday. I can't help but smile thinking about how awesome it all was. Enjoying the little memories as well as the big ones... we made that house a Home.

The first House portrait I ever did! (got to love the fun and whimsical colors!)

The Roomies, SMC Senior Formal night:) Love!

Pooh Painting-Nursery Love

One of my dear friends from college just recently had a beautiful baby girl! A couple months back she had contacted me, to see if I would do a painting for the Nursery. I was honored and so excited to be apart of little Matilda's room!

She wanted something large and almost like a mural. However, with the distance gap (me living in Colorado, and her in sunny Florida), we decided that separating the painting into 3 different large canvases would do the trick!

This way, it not only looks really fun and artsy when shown together, but also made it way easier to make the trek across country:)

Classic Pooh and Honey Bee theme!

In progress, before the little bees :)

"Matilda's Nursery". Acrylic on Canvas. 2013

The larger canvas of Pooh measures approx. 30 inches tall by 24 inches wide. The top balloon canvas is approx. 12 by 24 inches and the Quote canvas is approx. 12 by 36 inches long.

 

 

 

Finished product, hanging in her room!

Congrats again Melissa and Craig! Love to you guys and little Matilda. 

Enjoy every memory :)

New House Portrait-Wedding Gift

As I've mentioned before, I just Love love, and when my Mom commissioned me to paint an old friend's, new house, for a wedding gift.. I couldn't have been happier!

I was a little late getting it to them (sorry Aly!) But I so appreciate the kind words and thank you notes about this painting.

 

 Thanks again Alyson for all the kind words! Enjoy and Happy Marriage and new house:)

Landscape Painting-Fords Beach

Another sea-scape that makes me want to dive right into that clear blue water! Or who am I kidding, lying on that soft sand with a pretty umbrella drink in hand would also be lovely:)

This painting was commissioned by one of my good buddies in CO, as a thank you gift for her Mom. She took this picture on vacation and wanted to capture it on canvas!

 

 Thanks A-Dog for thinking about me! Enjoy!

Sea Island Baby

I was honored when one of my best friends asked me to paint this picture of her niece, at her vacation home in Sea Island, GA.

A gift for her Mom, the painting needed to capture the cuteness of little Claire as well as the serenity of that beautiful beach!

It was one of my first landscape pieces and just love how bright the colors are!

Makes me want to take a vacation...hmm.

 

Thanks so much Margie for thinking about me! I can't wait to come back and visit
Sea Island soon! :)

House Portraits-Pencil Sketches

I've done so much painting lately, that I have almost forgotten how fun and nice it is to sometimes just draw with pencil. I'm for sure stronger with paint, but every now and then, it's fun to get back to the "roots".

See below for a series of House sketches that I was commissioned to do by a family friend. The husband had me draw each house he and his wife (and family) have lived in over their lifetime. He was going to have them framed and give them to his wife as a Christmas gift. How cute is that?

I love love! (AND such thoughtful gift giving!)

Sketched Dec. 2011

And..I'm Back

Well, after almost a year of being MIA, I figured no better time than now to say hello and start back up with the life and times of B Jolly Arts:)

I'll be posting more frequently (or at least try to) and get up to date on the various paintings and artwork I have done over the past year.

Enjoy!

House Portrait

A friend of mine commissioned me to do a painting of her parent's house in Indiana.

For her Mom's Birthday she was able to surprise her with this one of a kind and unique gift!

A picture of the House sent to me for painting...

The final product...

Thanks again Kat and Happy Belated to your Mom!

Funk House

Last summer, I moved in with my future In-law's as Patrick and I got ready to embark on a new journey to move out West to Colorado!

As a Thank you, I painted a picture of their Chicago suburb home!

"Funk House", Acrylic on canvas, 16 by 20 inches

Even though we now live 1,000 plus miles away from Chicago, it's so great to know that we always have a place to come back Home to!

Thanks again Don and Elaine! I can't wait to become apart of your wonderful family:)

Home Is Wherever I'm With You-House Portrait

It's so hard to stomach when devastating things happening to such wonderful people. And even more heartbreaking when they are such dear Friends.

To say this family has been put through the ringer is an understatement! Very early in the morning, this past June, the Micklo Family woke up to the sound of their fire alarm and quickly rushed to safety. Thank God the fire alarm saved their lives, but sadly their beloved home in Glenn Ellyn was completely destroyed.

The fire had consumed everything. Everything. I can't even begin to imagine the overwhelming feeling of losing the big and little things, we all (especially me) too often, take for granted.

So when Annie, one of my very best girlfriends from Saint Mary's, asked me to try and paint a portrait of her sister's once beautiful home, there was no hesitation.

I will admit, however, that I was more than anxious to paint such a special gift. Not only was there the challenge of working off of a few of the remaining photographs of the house (one covered in snow! And the other showing a small portion of the front detailing), but I really really wanted and needed this to be good.

I so wanted this painting to capture the fun, bright memories of 555 for Erin, Kevin and their two children.

"Home is Wherever I'm With You"; Acrylic Paint on Canvas. 16 by 20 inches. July 2011

 Annie wanted me to add the saying, "Home is Wherever I'm With You..." to the top of this Painting.

I can't think of a better or more perfect reminder;

No matter what you have, or where you go...it's the Love and Friendship of those around you that mean the most. That make you feel Home.

Lots of Love and Hugs to Annie, Tom & Linda, Erin, Kevin, Maggie and Emmett!

Wedding Gift-Lakehouse Sunset

Last weekend, Patrick and I ventured up to Dubuque, Iowa to celebrate the Love and Marriage of our good friends, Joe and Katie!

When thinking of what to do for their Wedding present, we thought what's better than to give some original artwork of one of their most favorite places?

The Lakehouse.

The Lakehouse has been in Joe's family for forever and it is this great little slice of heaven just north of Chicago.

It is the Best place to sit and enjoy a summer Sunset.

"Sunset Lakehouse", Acrylic on Canvas. 16 by 20 inches. July 2011

  On the final product, I added the quote, "Here's to the Nights We Felt Alive..."

Congrats Katie and Joe! May you enjoy many many more beautiful sunsets and always remember the Nights you felt Alive.

Anniversary Gift-House Portrait

Commissioned House Portrait for a friend's parents 25th Wedding Anniversary!

"Ryan Home", Acrylic Paint on Canvas; 16 by 20 inches

Thanks again Angela and Congrats to your Parents!

Painting-Pilates Studio Mural

This week I embarked on another wall/mural Painting. This time it was at a Pilates Studio in the Southside of Chicago!

Inspired by the softer tones of a sunset/beach look, as well as painting the spelled out wording behind the Studio's Name- CORE (Create Overall Renewed Energy), this Large wall painting gave this small studio a beautiful new look!

Before...

During...

And the Finished product...

"CORE"; Acrylic Paint on Wall; July 2011

Floor to Ceiling painting, Done and done. :)

(Thanks to my Mom who kept me company the last couple of painting hours, as well as being responsible for the lovely action shots of the "Master" at work)

Home is Where the Heart Is-Birthday Gift Edition

Earlier this month I was commissioned to do a House Portrait to give as a Birthday gift! Contacted via Facebook, I finished this 16 by 20 inch canvas and shipped it off to the great state of Ohio, just in time for her Mom's special day!


Here are some pictures of the reveal!

 

                            Thanks again Meghan and Happy Belated to your Mom!