Strawberries, Buffalo ware bowl, Still Life with Strawberries

" Summer Berries II "

Oil

6"x6"

Copyright 2011 J.Bellinger

Available

$425 framed

I love painting patterns in fabrics. This blue and white check dish towel is a favorite. The red white and blue color palette adds to the summer feel of berries in a vintage Buffalo Ware bowl.

As always, I determine my palette and premix my paints. If the mixed colors look good on the palette they will look good in the painting....a plan of action!

Still life with pears

" Still Life with Pears "
Oil
6"x6"

                                                           copyright 2011 J. Bellinger
                                                                               Sold

Summer is over around here, fall is in the air which means beautiful pears are in the market. I love painting pears..so human-like in their variation of shapes, personality of stems...nuts? Maybe. Here they sit on one of my favorite fabrics from my stash..a Peruvian woven stripe. I have used it many times and love the colors..a bit of everything, pink, blue, red, gold, white, green, black.

Cows, Oil painting

" Curious "

Oil

8x10

Sold

I love photographing cows. First there were these two, then little by little the whole herd makes it way over to see what's up. They were starting to climb up on each other to see me..I left quickly before they could push the fence over!

Red/green composition and I added the Black Angus in the background for contrast and interest.

Desert Botanical Garden, Agave

"Desert Botanical"

Oil

12x24

Copyright 2011 J.Bellinger

Available

I love how this painting came out...lots of contrast, light/dark, warm/cool, soft/hard. The light and shadow here in the desert is so different than light where I live in Idaho.

I am enjoying the vertical composition possibilities, too.

Saguaro Cactus, Desert Botanical Gardens, Arizona

" Saguaro...Desert Sentinel "

Oil

18x36

Copyright 2011 J. Bellinger

Available

A portrait of this amazing giant cactus. I so enjoyed depicting this wonder of nature. Seeing so many in Arizona is a great example of results from protecting very slow growing plants! A Saguaro that is just a pup, say, 10" high is already 10 years old..they don't get an "arm" until they are 75 years old.

We are down to our last 4 days of the show. It has been an amazing experience having 10 weeks devoted to my art. I have made some wonderful friends, shared my painting process with hundreds if not thousands of art lovers, other artists and collectors. Watching how my fellow artists approach their own artwork has been enlightening. My head is spinning with art on all levels. I am looking forward to some quiet time when I get home to reflect on it all!

Agave...Hot!, cactus, succulents

" Agave...Hot! "

Oil

18x24

copyright J.Bellinger 2011

Available

The second in my new series painted here at Celebration of Fine Art in Scottsdale. We are going into our last week of the show. I love painting these desert plants. This painting is stronger and hotter in color..I love the contrasts the agave naturally have..and if course I love to push the color.

Stay tuned for my first Saguaro...love these giant cactus!

Ah...Agave! , cactus, Desert Botanical Garden

" Ah....Agave! "

Oil

20x24

Copyright 2011 J. Bellinger

SOLD

I hope the warmth of the morning sun comes through in this painting...that was my goal.

There was the texture of sand, small stones, etc. and I had to bite my brush not to start in with those kind of details and just keep it simple...practice what I preach! The painting told me when to stop....really this does happen. Would love to hear your own experience and conversations with your own paintings. If I'm the only one....I'll be thinking I need to get out of the studio more!

In the Desert Botanical Garden, cactus

" In the Desert Botanical Garden "

Oil

32"x36"

Copyright 2011 J.Bellinger

SOLD

The second in my desert garden still life series while here in my studio at Celebration of Fine Art.

I was somewhat intimidated to begin such a complex painting but once I laid in the Century plant the rest fell into place. I had fun with the spines on the Hedgehog cactus and Santa Rosa prickly pear cactus. I used fine brush, palette knife, putting painting paint on, lifting paint off..whatever it took to get the effect of light on skinny shapes.

Blue Window, Prickly Pear Cactus

" Blue Window "

Oil

30x30

Copyright 2011 J. Bellinger

Available

New painting right off the easel! I took this photo at the Desert Botanical Garden a few weeks ago. As usual, I am drawn to yellow-green and blue violet. The cactus were quite challenging and interesting to render. I really like this painting and feel I captured the glow of early morning light coming through the cactus.

I am here exhibiting at Celebration of Fine Art in Scottsdale, Az. In the lobby is a display area for the Scottsdale Arts Schools and paintings by students who have taken workshops. I was drawn to one lovely little painting of yellow tulips and was very pleasantly surprised to see it was Kelly MacDonald's! Like seeing a friend even though we've never met in person. Lovely painting, Kelly!

Other Fish to Fry, Celebration of Fine Art

" Other Fish to Fry "

Oil

8x10

Copyright 2011 J. Bellinger

Sold

I took the photo for this painting over two years ago and just now got around to painting it. I loved doing all the little highlights that make the fish shine and the Pyrex dish was fun to render.

I am getting lots of work done here in the big white tent..Celebration of Fine Art 2011. It's so much fun interacting with all the other artists!

Green apple in glass bowl, lemons, Celebration of Fine ARt

" Three to One "

Oil

11x14

Copyright 2011 J.Bellinger

Next in the red striped cloth series..I found this vintage green cup at our local thrift shop..love the color, very retro. I usually shy away from apples that are red and green but wanted both colors and only one apple. Doing over 100 hundred daily paintings help me speed and make decisions quickly..this painting took me most of one day and then some glazing and scumbling the next day. I love that feeling of accomplishment small paintings give you.

Just Peachy, Peaches, still life with fruit

"That's Just Peachy"

Oil

30x30

Copyright 2011 J. Bellinger

I forgot to post this painting earlier in January. The blue tablecloth I have had for 25 years and has finally made it into my still life stash of fabrics. I went shopping for new fabrics to inspire more in the white plate/fruit series. Stay tuned.

Art tip # 25:

People are so intrigued by the fuzziness of the peaches but we painters know it is just a matter of mixing that really grayed color..same for plums. Mix what you see and it will read correctly..isolate the color with a small 2x3 cardboard with a hole punched in the middle. Hold it over the area you want to identify the color..give that color you see a name. More than likely you will be hesitant to name it because it is so neutral. Ask yourself "is it yellowish or blueish?" I find that is more helpful than "warmer or cooler" (I got that tip from watching Daniel Greene's dvd on color mixing..excellent dvd by the way.

"Still Life with Green Apple"

Oil

30x30

Copyright 2011

A new painting finished yesterday. I am painting faster here in my studio at Celebration of Fine Art..no distractions, focus, focus, focus.

I enjoyed depicting the vintage glass bowl and of course I love painting lemons!

Love Those Lemons, Still Life Lemons, Celebration of Fine Art 2011

" Love Those Lemons"

Oil on Canvas

40"x40"

Copyright 2011

Sold

I am one of the new artists at Celebration of Fine Art 2011....a 10 week show here in Scottsdale, AZ. One hundred fine artists set up a studio and exhibit for 10 weeks. The show is amazing, diverse and in its 21 year...nothing quite like it that I know of. I am loving the interaction between patrons, artists, and show staff. Can't believe how much work I have been getting done! "Love Those Lemons" is the newest of my large canvas'. I hope to get time to shop for some new fabrics while I'm here and also take photos at the botanical gardens..the cactus are amazing and I can't wait to create some paintings of them.

Artist Tip #24, Trailing of the Sheep Festival 2010, Sun Valley, Idaho

" Trailing of the Sheep II "

Oil

6x6

$550
Copyright J.Bellinger 2010

I have fallen in love with painting sheep! I think it is the way they bunch up that makes for dramatic compositions. Designing a painting is my favorite part of the creative process. In this little painting I had the dark horse/rider and the black faced sheep...needed another dark area so darkend the shadows on the far left edge for balance.

If you are in town the weekend of October 8-10 please come by the Ketchum Sun Valley Heritage & Ski Museum, 1st & Washington to see my exhibit. I will be there Friday Oct. 8 from 5:00-7:30 to visit with folks. Chef Ric Lum "Delicious Revolution" will be serving lamb, you can meet Cindy and Jeff Siddoway, a ranching family from Mud Lake, Idaho and Kelli Young, board member, Trailing of the Sheep Cultural Heritage Center, Inc.

Trailing of the Sheep Festival 2010

Artist's Tip # 24: Use the largest brush possible (I use a #4 bright for 6x6 panels). Load your brush with paint (don't be stingy..its called painting for a reason and we aren't house painters) Put the stroke down..leave it alone! Go back get more paint, put it down..leave it alone. Keep putting strokes down...step back. See what needs modifying...keep edges soft/fuzzy for as long as possible. Hard edges mostly belong in the focal point area. Don't be concerned about details until all the main shapes are down. After composition, value is the most important. Third is color. Your color can be off, but the values must be correct or your shapes won't read correctly and will have a flat effect..fine if that is what you are after.

Trailing of the Sheep, Ketchum, Idaho

" Curious "

Oil

6x8

SOLD

Copyright J.Bellinger 2010

This handsome sheep was in a pen with hundreds of others; we stopped on our way back from the Flat Top Sheep Ranch BBQ in June. As I slowly walked up to the pen to take photos, didn't want to spook them, it dawned on me that there could be a Great Pyrenee guard dog or two so I stopped about 15 from the pen. I heard a low growl...scampered right back to the car! He was lying next to the fencing about 10 feet where I was.

This painting will be on exhibit for the 2010 Trailing of the Sheep Festival

Trailing of the Sheep, Lambs, Sun Valley, Idaho

Spring Lambs

Oil

8x10

$750

copyright J.Bellinger 2010

The first of three new paintings for the 14th annual Trailing of the Sheep Festival which begins October 8th here in the Wood River Valley and culminates Sunday with the sheep herd trailing down Main Street and right past my house!

Seven area artists are featured at venues around Ketchum. I will exhibit my paintings at the Ketchum Sun Valley Heritage & Ski Museum .

I photographed these little lambs this summer at my friends farm. I don't know the various breeds but my favorite are the black faced ones (Suffolks?)...will have to investigate.

Portrait of a cat, Rag Doll cat

" Zoey "

Oil

6" x 6"

Copyright J.Bellinger 2010

Private Collection

Here's a little portrait of a Rag Doll cat commissioned by a friend. She is one year old and a very quiet and sweet little thing! She posed perfectly for the camera. I liked this full face view because of her beautiful blue eyes. I couldn't stand the thought of only painting one eye (profile) or partial in a 3/4 view.

Boulder Mountains, Summer View 2010, Plein Air Landscape

" Boulder Mountains, Summer View 2010 "

Oil (palette knife on panel)

8"x10"

Copyright J. Bellinger 2010

Available $650 framed

The third day of our workshop we headed north for a spectacular view of the Boulder Mountains. I like to paint this view in different seasons. You can drive almost to the huge patches of trees on the face of the mountain (which I have done in the fall). They are aspen trees and are often orange, not yellow. Our open sage hills usually have a sprinkling of confir trees and red rock outcroppings. This area of Idaho is a high mountain desert..sage on the south facing slopes, conifers on the north sides. Tall cottonwoods grown along streams and rivers, as do willows and alder.

Griffin Butte, Plein Air Landscape

" Griffin Butte, Summer 2010 "

Oil

6" x 8"

Copyright J. Bellinger 2010

Available $625 framed

This is a small panel I painted during a workshop with two students new to plein air. This location is close to town but feels pretty remote and is always beautiful in the morning light. It has everything for a workshop..views, bathroom nearby, picnic tables! While I prefer to go to more rugged places, I like to start new students here where they can feel comfortable and not overwhelmed. We spent two mornings at this location.

Hay Bales I, Outdoor Still Life, Art Tip #23

Hay Bales

Oil

12" x 12"

Sold

Hay Bales I is the second in a series that I began last fall. The painting "Barley Fields" in the previous post was the first and I will be posting the third in a few days. I've been "off my blog" for a few months and have missed the interaction. We were doing a remodel on our bath, gutted it, so it took way more than the 3 weeks I had in my mind. Just finished up a three day art festival here in Sun Valley, which was very successful even with the thunder storms on Saturday...I got drenched but my paintings stayed dry!

Allison Stanfield is having a great sale on her audio tapes, soon to be discontinued. You might want to check them out and see if there are some you want to add to your art marketing library. I find listening to tapes over and over helpful. I only retain so much from one listening and will generally learn more with each. Plus, I enjoy loaning out my tapes and art books to students and artist friends.

Art tip # 23 Keep a record of what books, videos, tapes, etc. you loan out (date of loan, return date, name and telephone of loan-ee). I currently have one book to track down. I was mentoring a high school senior project two years ago and loaned a book...didn't record it and just recently went to read the book..not there! Now to remember the students name, etc. ..practice what I preach!

Hay Bales: Barley Fields II, Idaho Landscapes in oil

" Barley Fields: Hay Bales I "

Copyright 2010 J. Bellinger

Oil

11"x 14"
Sold

A plein air painting from last fall. I usually paint smaller panels outdoors, 6x8 or 8x10, but I felt brave that day. The larger size made me work faster, which is a goal of mine. Less dawdling, more decisive brushwork, palette knife, too.

Cherry Jumble II, Art Tip #23

" Cherry Jumble II "Copyright 2009 J. Bellinger
Oil
8"x8"
Sold
I kept forgetting to post this little painting completed last summer. It is one of the series, including the baby shoes, that I did with the objects laying on plate glass with black paper underneath. I love the design possibilities with the reflections.

Art Tip #23: When setting up/arranging a still life take your time. Play with many different arrangements. You are in total control of the composition. Composition first, then value and then color.
Walk around your home looking for objects to paint. See what inspires you. Tell a story with those objects you choose. Get the lighting right..take time seeing how the light falls on the set up objects. Look through a view finder to crop out background. I use a box with two sides and a top to isolate my set up and light from other areas of the room. I can line it with fabric, paper, etc. Look at how different colored backgrounds reflect on the objects (use a small cardboard with hole punched in it. I call this a color isolator. It allows you to "see" actual colors which are influenced by direct light, reflected light/color from other objects, background, etc.
Painting from life will improve your skills and develop your eye.

Plein Air, Hay Bales, French Easel, Art Tip #22 Brush strokes

" Painting the Barley Fields"

Copyright 2010 J.Bellinger

Oil

5"x 7"

Private Collection

The reference for this little painting was a photo I took of my good friend and student, Vickie. The ranch we are on is the same one with the old dairy barn (previous post). It was a very hot day and soon after we had our easels set up the automatic sprinklers came on..while it felt refreshing we scrambled to move our set-ups out of the reach of the sprinklers.

Art Tip 22#: Use the largest brush you can to get the job done. This will help you stay "loose" with your brushstrokes. For tiny paintings, 6x6, 6x8, 5x7 I try to use #6 or #4 bright for the whole painting.

Use all edges, sides, tip, corners of the brush. Put the stroke down and leave it. Try to hold back any blending til the end..you may not need any blending. The action of laying one color over or next to another can result in all the blending needed. Don't forget to get back from your painting..the eye can do the blending. Result: a fresher more painterly feeling.

Daily painting, Sheep, Domestic animals

" Trailing of the Sheep II "

Copyright 2010 J. Bellinger

Oil

6"x 6"

SOLD

An alternate title to this little painting could be "Happy Sheep"...I really enjoyed painting this image. The day I photographed the sheep going past my house was warm and sunny. I stood low in the barrow behind a phone terminal box to be obscure and not frighten the sheep. This put me at eye level with them and I loved the shots I took.

Putter, Labradoodle, dog portrait

" Putter "

J. Bellinger Copyright 2009

Oil

6"x6"

Private Collection

Putter's owner, Tommy, is a golf pro hence the name. I wanted a grassy green background to add to the theme. I like the simplicity of the straight forward composition. Nothing more charming than the loving gaze from your best friend! I hope Tommy is pleased.

Reinheimer Barn Fall View, Barns, Idaho Ranch

Reinheimer Barn Fall View

Jennifer Bellinger copyright 2009

Oil

12"x12"

I paint views of this barn each year. It's close to my house, only two blocks away. As you come into Ketchum from the south you drive right past the Reinheimer Ranch; ranch house on one side of the road and the barn on the other side. The Wood River Valley is quite narrow and ranch and farm land scarce, taken over by developments. Maybe that is why this little ranch is so dear to me. The owners gave it to the Idaho Park system..isn't that wonderful? This is the view looking to the south with the beautiful red rock cliffs behind.

This little painting is also in the NAMI auction coming up. Please refer to the previous post for information on bidding.

SOLD

Trailing of the Sheep 2009, NAMI AUCTION Ketchum, Idaho

Trailing of the Sheep 2009

Jennifer Bellinger, Copyright 2009

Oil

12"x12"

Each October our valley celebrates Trailing of the Sheep, the migration of sheep herds from the high elevations and the tradition of raising sheep. Years ago the sheepherders were Basque. Today Peruvians do most of the herding. I photographed the sheepherders, sheep, wagons and dogs as they passed by my house. It is a wonderful sight to see. The Border Collies had finished doing their work and the Great Pyrenees were protectively keeping them moving along behind the wagon and herdsmen on horseback.

This painting will be auctioned at the National Alliance for Mental Illness fundraiser here in Ketchum, Idaho. If you would like more information on how to place a bid (silent auction) please email me. Bidding will begin at $100. The auction starts November 27 and runs through Dec. 13.

SOLD

Reinheimer Barn, Idaho landscape

" Reinheimer Barn V "

Oil

6"x8"

Available

We are having a beautiful fall, although with all the spring rain and throughout the summer the fall color hasn't been much. Maples are normal. Aspens, which are the abundant native deciduous tree, are not changing to yellow, but brown.

The Reinheimer Barn is the focal point as you enter Ketchum from the south. The round window is multi-paned. It dates from the late 1800's. The owners have recently re-sided it in the same style shingles that were original. It is one of my favorite views to paint. The beautiful red rock cliffs behind are a nice contrast to the white barn.

Dairy Barn, Idaho landscape, barley field, Art Tip #22 Sky Holes

" Price Ranch Dairy Barn "

Oil

6"x6"

Available

This little oil was a challenge. So much information for a small painting. I usually try to simplify my subject, but this dairy barn is historic to our valley and I just learned, to my own family, too. I wanted it to be a fairly accurate recording. The barn dates from the late 1800's. My father-in-law grew up in this valley and worked on this farm as a young boy during the Depression. He would sneak into the dairy barn and eat the cream off the top of the milk containers (his father was killed in a mining accident and left the family penniless). He lived to be 87 and like many people surviving the Great Depression had a life long connection/obsession with food, never wanting to go hungry again. His freezer was always stuffed, he didn't throw anything away.

Oh, by the way. This barn is huge..I'm guessing 100' long. Fortunately, the current owner has the means to keep this property intact and restored. I hope to do more paintings of this barn.

Art Tip #22 Sky Holes...When painting the sky one sees through trees, make the sky color a half step or step darker than what you mixed for the sky. When you surround a small bit of color with darker color it appear lighter. Your sky holes will stay in place and not pop out. Also, as foliage nears the top of the tree where more light surrounds it, it becomes lighter, edges soft.