A Tree...Yep, in Brooklyn

Sketch done in charcoal

I love trees.

I love drawing them, sculpting them, painting them, climbing them and sitting under/near/around them. The best part about moving back to PA is that I get to be near as many trees as my little heart and head can handle. How strange that I had to come BACK into Brooklyn to yep...paint a tree on someones wall. It was fun. It was challenging and it was strange to be back. I've come to the conclusion that I don't miss Brooklyn (well some of the people and some of the food. Pizza and sushi just aren't the same in PA. I actually don't even know WHERE to get sushi in PA to be honest. It was heaven to have some again though.) I also came to the conclusion that no matter what the medium or surface I love reproducing trees.

Transferring the tree on the wall
with white chalk.

Blocking in color.

This tree was for a baby girl's nursery (who will be born soon). The basic process is sketch in pencil or charcoal, map out in chalk on a freshly painted wall, block in color then detail everything. The entire mural, including name in ribbon script and seven butterflies took about eight hours, good help from cousin Angela, many kisses from Mario (the pet dog), and the never ending hope we'd meet neighbor Steve Buscemi. The later never happened but that's ok as I couldn't seem to pull myself away from all those puppy kisses once I left the nursery anyway. Overall, the tree that I drew in Brooklyn proved to be a creative delight.

Details. Mural was
too big to fit in the photo frame.

Home...

Traditional Leaf shot

Home...

There is nothing quite like going home to relax and readjust. This visit to PA was spectacular. Not only did I get reconnect I had a most wonderful walk in the woods with one of my childhood friends whom I haven't seen in well over 25 years.

It is strange to think about how much time has passed between us yet how easily we were able to catch up. It was as if no time passed at all. Our personalities have pretty much stayed the same throughout our respective journeys and sitting and talking with my friend for hours that early Sunday morning was not only truly uplifting, it was spiritual. I am looking forward to hiking and talking with her again soon.

Of course, what hike wouldn't be complete without some photos? Just a few of the shots I took on the trail in the mountains of PA. I sorta consider this my backyard.

At the very top of the mountain

Cheeky little bugger
Can you see him?....

Of course packing up and coming back to the city was tough. Every time I return I find something "odd" has happened. Either a pet has run off or they have died or something crazy is in full steam and I walk into it. This time around I found the religious statue of Mary I am currently painting (cause if you are an artist and are Catholic you KNOW you'll be painting everyone's statues) covered with worms. I have no IDEA why or what these things are, but they certainly have a sense of humor. It definitely lightened the reality of being back here in this city.

Mary with her Man-stash

Nobody...

....does it better than Mother Nature.

Leaf skeleton

Even in this grimy city Mother Nature manages to shine every moment she can. Every year around this time I really start missing my woods home in PA. The colors of fall are just not as brilliant here in Brooklyn, but I still look for the rare pretty leaf every moment I get.

Today is a very busy day and I prepared for the work I'll be doing in the studio by cleaning my desk off last night. It was very messy and when it gets too messy I find that my work gets messy. So, armed with a fresh clean desk I am ready to add more color to the Taboo resin I started and to begin the Commission Me Vixen that just sold. The buyer on the Vixen decided on the color palomino which I am thrilled about cause I have secretly been itching to paint a palomino for some time and just never got around to it.

Pretty color shifts

Lastly today, if time permits, I will be designing a new splash page for the new domain name I was finally able to snag! I was thrilled to find that jenndanza.com was finally available and I snagged it. The domain will just be a portal to my other sites....well, for now anyway. Enjoy your day!

Happy Fall!

Three little leaves

Happy Fall everyone!

Three little leaves were just waiting to greet my camera today. We don't really get a lot of color during the fall season here in Brooklyn. Vibrant yellow is about the extent of the display, but it is still very pretty because the yellow is a sunny, happy yellow. It's as if the leaves are going out with a huge smile on their faces.

So, as summer officially leaves today I smile and greet fall and all the wonderful days ahead of us in the studio and of course with family. Mmm...I think this calls for some pumpkin cookies or pie or something yummy like that. Or, perhaps my little mice should be baking up a storm in my sketcbook. Mmm..either way, bring on fall.

Chilly Air

The chilly air this morning sent my mind wandering on pumpkin patches, falling leaves, and the delights of trick or treating. I pulled out a few porcelain button boxes and let my imagination go wild. Just my thoughts of Halloween, a few mice and many costumes later and I present to you some fun new china painted pieces. Well, they still need color, but here they are before their first kiln firing.

Little ones ready
for a night of trick or treat

I love this time of year and as my son pours over a costume magazine trying to decide who he will be this year, I gaze over our family schedule and remind myself its going to be another crazy, busy season! But oh, what fun we will have. I love fall!

Quick sketches for the boxes