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.