Something to Crow About at the Blue Rooster Café

Hey there!

How are you?

I know it has been awhile since we have communicated, but I just completed a cross country move and it has been somewhat of a nightmare!

But rest assured, I am getting back into the swing of things and should be settled into my new studio space soon to begin some new projects. I am still looking for the boxes of supplies and have my fingers crossed they show up soon.

What have I been up to you ask?

Well, I have some art hanging here in Annapolis at the Blue Rooster Café. I have taken the art from the Jerry's exhibit to display, with the hopes some of it will find new homes.

50% of the proceeds will benefit the Montessori International Children's House, because it is a great school and it is what I do!

"Montessori International Children’s House is a nonprofit coeducational school for children 18th months through 6th grade. Montessori International inspires excellence, nurtures curiosity and enhances creativity. Accredited by the Association Montessori Internationale, MICH’s student centered learning community emphasizes hands-on experiential learning, respect for self and others, and the development of inquiry skills that enhance life-long learning"

The Blue Rooster is like a coffee spot "Cheers" where everyone knows your name. The staff is spot on with customer service, and take the time to look you in the eyes and remember who you are the next time you pop in for a treat.
It has a funky art vibe, and they have amazing coffee and food. Go check out their website for more information and if you are in the area, pop by for a bite to eat. It is a great place with amazing people.

As for the move, my art space has been downsized a bit, but I have a great deck to use that overlooks a few trees. I find it relaxing and inspirational.

Annapolis is fantastic and I am feeling at home already. There is something about the people here in this atmosphere that has my artistic batteries charged back up. I can't wait to get started on my next endeavor.

Until next time, which won't be that long... I promise.

Peace and well being,
CJ

Jerry's Art Hanging This Week

I believe the world can change one art piece at a time and that it only takes the artist a moment to find a way to make it happen.  It is my personal motto and mission to make the world just a little bit better using the little talent I have as an artist.

The art you will see on the walls at Jerry's Artarma is being sold to raise money for needy schools, specifically the Native American schools hit the hardest by the government imposed sequester. The pieces have been created using National Geographic magazines and Citra Solv to alter the magazines.

Each piece starts from an organic endeavor, searching for something on the page to highlight, enhance or allow to stand on its own. Some pieces do not have embellishments, simply because the art created does not need anything else. Some pieces have been used as a backdrop for sketches and some have been embellished to highlight the paper.

100% of all profits will be donated to help students affected by the sequestration.

Please take a moment to look at the art and if something speaks to you, pull it off the wall and take it to the front to make a donation. The prices on each piece are considered a monetary donation which will be pooled with all the other donations and sent as a single contribution to the receiving charity. You will not receive a donation form and the donation is not tax deductible.

In case the sticker has fallen off, the pieces are priced as follows:

Any of the (7) 2.5 x 3.5 pieces                    $15 each                

Any of the (14) 5.5 x 5.5 pieces                  $25 each                

Either of the (2) small shadow boxes         $30 each                

Any of the (30) 8.5 x 11 pieces                   $35each                           

Any of the (24) 5 x 7 pieces                        $40 each                

The 12 x 12 piece                                        $50

The 10 x 10 shadow box                             $75

Gallup-McKinley County Schools

Hey arties!

I wanted to give you a quick update. I have contacted Mr. Ray Arsenault the Gallup-McKinley County Schools, in the hopes he can direct me about making a donation to the schools after the art sale starting July 1st at Jerry's Artarama. I will provide more information as soon as I hear back. I may split the donation with the Tuba City Unified School District, which was featured on NPR,  if I can find the contact information and find out how to make it happen.

In case you have not been following the story, because of the idiots in Washington, DC the sequester has really hit the Native American population. Here is a quote from Dr. Heather Shotten, President of the National Indian Education Association, a nonprofit organization that advocates for the education of Native American students.

"For our Native students in federally impacted schools, the effects of sequestration are devastating because these are real dollar cuts in real time from district and school budgets," NIEA President Dr. Heather Shotton said. "Since these districts are often serving our children on reservation as well as federal property that the districts cannot tax, these districts cannot simply find other sources of funding to make up for lost dollars."

I truly believe each of us can make a small, yet positive impact on others. For me, the way to do it is through my art. I am donating 100% of all profits from any art that is sold to this school system in the hopes they can use the funds for something critical they need.




I can provide 100% of their budgetary needs, but I can send them something to show I am behind them and that I hear their frustration as a fellow human being. I can extend my hand in friendship and understanding in the hopes they will not give up. The children and communities need some love right now, and there is an endless supply of it, if you can open your eyes and hearts to see it and send it.

I plan on posting something longer tomorrow, to show the art I have for sale along with the prices and ways to purchase. I set up a mobile banking option for ease of payment for those of you outside my area. If you want to discuss a piece of art, please contact me via the buttons on the right side of your screen.

Until next time, peace and well being.

CJ

Not the Greatest Art Day

Sometimes you are the windshield, sometimes you are the bug...

Today was a bug kind of day in the studio. I did get a few good images, and a bunch of scrap paper, but was hoping for a "WOW" which did not happen. Always tomorrow right?

Life is like a box of chocolates... just never know what you are going to get!

Anyway, here are the latest pieces that did come out pretty decent. Let me know what you think!

I will be hanging these pieces at Jerry's the first week of July. Pictures and information forthcoming.

Until I get back from a little trip, try to think colorful thoughts!

Blue Cactus

Crow

Dante's Vestibule

Desperation

Escaped Cuckoo

Fiddler

Fire Breathing Phoenix

Grapes Are Like People

Jailed

La Tour Eiffel

 SOLD

The Miner Ghost

Lone Ranger

Mermaid Dodge Bubble

Ocean Resurrection

Owl Revisited

 SOLD

 

Peeping Sam

Peter Leaving for Neverland

Picnic

Poe 1

Poe 2

Poe 3

Poe 4

Poe 5

Refraction

Space Junk

 That Gwinn Boy

 SOLD

The Enlightened Monk's Secret Temple

The Eye of God

The Gardner and Mary

The Miner Ghost

The Temple Door Is Open

Then They Came for Me

Virgin Mary Showed Up

Angel in the Valley of Death

Damn Did I Have Fun!

Yesterday was a great day!

What made it so great you ask?

I had the best participants come by and check out the demo that an artist could ask for in all the world. They seemed to have walked away with some really good images, and seemed happy and hooked on the process. I also had a young lady show me a new trick using salt, like you would for water colors. I am going to try it out!

I ran out of magazines, and the store sold Citra Solv, which means people are going to try it at home. I ran out of business cards and I see I have a few new people stopping by here to check out the space, which means I have to be better about updating the blog.

I asked everyone to send me pictures of what they end up with and how they incorporate it into their art, which I truly hope they do based on what I saw yesterday.

I also sold 5 pieces of art, which is a first. I usually donate the art, so it was a weird feeling have someone hand me money for something I created. But the good news is that 100% of the proceeds will be going to a Native American school in NM, which have been hit very hard by the sequester. So, the art is still helping others, just in a different way. The schools were featured on NPR and it kills me they are always hit first and the hardest. I can't stand injustice and want to do my little part in helping set it right.

Brittany, at Jerry's Artarama in Austin, has also offered to let me hang the rest of the art, for sale in the store to help out with this little fundraiser, so if you are in the area and want to check it out, please click on their link for the address.

I also want to give a shout out to Melissa Zeitler at Citra Solv. She does an amazing job supporting artist who use their product for such an alternative purpose. The company has an artist page and really work hard to promote the artist and this artist is very appreciative.

If you are interested in any of the art click here and scroll through, each piece is priced at $30 and all proceeds will go to a school, that really needs basic supplies like pencils and paper. If you want to purchase, please contact me and we will work out the details for shipping.

Thanks for stopping by and supporting me. Here are a few pictures of the pages I had turn out yesterday.

 

As always,  thank you for stopping by and taking a peek at what I am doing. I will be working with the images above in the next few weeks, and bring them back around for sale soon.

Peace and well being!