Introducing Christine De Carvalho

It may be gray and cold in Boston today, but we are having a sunshine day in the office! Read on to find out why!

This week is a huge week for us here at JNA; we get to launch the amazingly talented Christine De Carvalho!!! When I first saw Christine’s work, I fell in love with her dramatic feminine style mixed with an unmistakably, cool California flare. I can practically feel the sunshine on my face in those popping pinks and cool minty leaves that seem to sway in the breeze!

As we came to know Christine better, we also got to know the breadth of her work. Her range of experience is quite impressive! From a haute couture fashion designer in Paris to in-house Textile Designer for John Galliano, she has worked all over the world using her fabulous skills. We feel so lucky to represent this powerhouse of a designer!

While Christine’s themes are quite varied, she manages to keep her signature style in tact whether painting loose watercolor flowers or working digitally on unicorns. Much of Christine’s work is inspired by her love of folk art, fairytales, and vintage children's books. Animals and nature are some of her favorite subjects to illustrate.

We are so pleased to say that Christine’s work is now available for licensing and buy-outs. Or, If you want to see what she can come up just for you, she is also available for commissions. Check out her fantastic work below and visit her bio for more information!

Advice for Artists: Many Hands

A long time ago, a British author penned the phrase “Many hands make light work.” This still rings as true today as it did in the 1400s.  

For artists, there seems to be a sense that you’ve got to do it all yourself in order to succeed. Either that or you need to get an agent who does everything so you can focus solely on creating art. This all-or-nothing idea adds an immense amount of pressure to an already challenging situation. By now, you are doing work that is creative and, therefore, inherently vulnerable. You may be feeling isolated and competitive in an industry that is a little rogue and off-the-beaten-path. And now you’ve got to either become the most organized person alive or an artist so good, with timing so perfect (because timing plays an important role in things like this) to get an agent.

For some people, one of the first two options may very well work. You might be a creative person who loves spreadsheets or you might be able to make a great connection with an agent. Most people, though, fall into a category in between. I am happy to tell you that there’s a world of gray between these black-and-white notions! To quote Mr. Rogers, a little out of context, you need to “look for the helpers.”

In this case, helpers are people who can support you in being successful as an artist with or without an agent. For example, when I started JNA, I found the work could be isolating and discovered that I needed outside motivation to keep me going. So, I hired a friend who was also a savvy business consultant to join me in weekly meetings until I felt like the company had launched successfully. Then, as the business grew, I needed someone to help with my finances and I hired a bookkeeper. All along the way, I’ve had people in my life who acted as true supporters and coaches. Some I’ve outgrown and some I am even growing into as I write this. Instead of all or nothing, there’s a sprinkle of this and a dab of that. 

Here, I do want to quickly add a note about trustworthy people. It is incredibly important that the relationships you take on, in regards to your art, are people who are worthy of that relationship. Many encounters can seem like they’re beneficial and end with you feeling disempowered. A quick way to know if someone in your life is not a good source for this kind of support is if you feel tired or insecure after talking to them. You’ll be seeing more on this topic in another newsletter soon!

I also encourage you to be creative when it comes to looking for and paying people. Maybe you know another artist who loves marketing and can help you put together a portfolio in exchange for you giving them prompts every week. Perhaps you could hire an intern or college student or look for virtual helpers online. A close friend with a head for numbers could put together a spreadsheet for you, in exchange for dinner. As your business grows, as mine did, you may find you have the money to hire people full-time.

Here is a list of potential helpers who might make your work lighter and free up space to do what you love most. See if any of these sound helpful or inspire you to think of other resources you can tap into.  

• A core person/people who can help with big picture planning

• A trusted artist friend who will hold you accountable and vice versa

• A therapist or life coach

• Bookkeeper

• A business consultant or coach

• An assistant

• Someone to manage your social media accounts

• A writer

• Sometime to manage your digital files and galleries

• Hire someone to scan artwork, clean it up and catalog it

• A person to handle your marketing/newsletters

• Trusted + proven sources for education 

• Who can you add to your team that I haven’t mentioned?

If you think I could be one of your helpers, just ask about scheduling a session. —Jennifer

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YOU GUYS ARE LOADED WITH SMARTS!: I love your questions. That's why we have a terrific Facebook group where we can all share the knowledge. Join me here in our super group - the conversation is already underway!

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I offer small group presentations on Advice For Artists Fridays and One-on-One private sessions upon request. I am glad to share my thoughts and suggestions with you. 

Bologna Children's Book Fair, Here we Come!

The Children’s Book Fair is just a couple weeks away and we're so excited!  Not only do we love to travel... not only do we love Italy... but we love children's books! It all comes together at this one event. Is it any wonder we’re excited?

If you've been to these kinds of shows before you know how many exhibitors and visitors there are. Just so we don't lose each other in the crowd I'm asking you to take a moment, while you're thinking of it, and make an appointment to get together. I'd hate to travel all the way to Italy and miss seeing you!

And when I do see you, I'll be showing off some of the wonderful work my eleven illustrators have done for the publishing industry. Take a look!

Bee Brown for Parragon

Lauren Lowen for Tyndale

Kelly Angelovic for Chelsea Flagg

Malin Gyllensvaan for Berghs Dörlag

Jill Howarth for Scholastic

Jennifer Orkin Lewis for Abrams

Miriam Bos for Cottage Door Press

Rachel Grant for Abram Noterie

Jill Howarth for Walter Foster

Lauren Lowen for Scholastic

Jennifer Orkin Lewis for Chronicle

Miriam Bos for Silver Dolphin

Advice for Artists: Let Go or Lean In?

You know how there comes a point in your creative life when you have to decide whether to let go or lean in? Well, recently, I came to my own kind of crossroads in this regard.  While I love one-on-one consultation with artists and helping to set the score straight on how to “make it” and what that means in the art industry, I also found that these sessions weren’t sparking joy like they once did.  I knew that, if I wanted to continue playing this role in our intimate and wonderful world of art, I was going to have to make a decision.  I could either let go of this part of the business or, I could lean in.

I decided to lean in. This means making some exciting changes to Advice for Artists, which I am not only thrilled about but, more importantly, will pass along benefits to you!  Below, I am detailing a new initiative: Business Basics Roundtables.

I noticed that, in many of my one-on-one sessions with artists, I was going over a lot of the same basic information. And I realized there was a way I could restructure the education offering at JNA so that it would be more productive for me and less expensive for you. This restructuring not only allows more access to artists who want to learn about breaking into the industry but also more tailored time for individuals who want personalized feedback. Sound good? Read on!

Business Basics Roundtables (Fridays) 
$100  | 1 Hour
In this intimate, 5 person or fewer course, I will share tricks of the trade that I’ve learned in my time in the art industry. Participants will come away with actionable information about markets, popular subject matter and styles, and the basics of how to market yourself (even if you are trying to get an agent). Register for sessions online.  They are available on a first-come, first served basis.

One-on-One Consulting Sessions are still available upon request.
These are reserved for individuals who have already joined in our group session or have had a previous one-on-one consulting session with me. During our time together, we will review your portfolio, discuss next steps for your work, audit your social media, website, and personal marketing plans, as well as discuss any particular concerns or questions you have. Send a note to a4a@jennifer-nelson-artists.com to book your time.

There will be more Advice for Artists offerings to come! I can’t share all the details with you now, but I can say that we are working hard to make information about making a living as an artist more accessible to everyone!

This is the beginning of what I hope will be a more extensive and accessible source of education for artists, everywhere.

I am so excited to launch the program and hope to see you online! —Jennifer

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I LOVE YOUR QUESTIONS. That's why we have a terrific Facebook group where we can all share our knowledge. Join me here in our super group - the conversation is already underway!

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Advice for Artists: Instagram is mysterious and fickle

One of the conversations I often have in the land of creatives is how to get more Instagram followers. This goes hand-in-hand with commiserating around how much time is spent on Instagram, why some posts do better than others, and why followers sometimes drop off like stampeding elephants.

Instagram is mysterious and fickle which makes it a potentially serious threat to motivation and confidence. Conversely, it can be a source of community,encouragementand inspiration.  So, how to manage this complicated relationship?

From my own experience managing JNA’s Instagram feed as well as partaking in these conversations, here are some tips & insights I’ve learned:

• Just because no one liked your post doesn’t mean your art is bad.  JNA sometime goes through days where likes are low.  When I first started posting, I was admittedly freaked out.  Then, I realized; this isn’t just people, it’s software—software with potentially ulterior motives!  Likes do not reflect the quality of art nor how much people value your work.  Many of the pieces I’ve posted that didn’t get high likes were amazing art which have licensed multiple times. Remember, as Instagram members, we are all prey to an alogorithm which can hide us from followers without them or us ever knowing it.  

• Know when to stop.  Shocked at how many hours you’ve spend on Instagram? Tell me about it!  The platform is like potato chips; built to suck you in with little hints of satisfaction here and there.  I’ve developed two rules to reclaim my time a la Maxine Waters (though not nearly as cool).  Rule #1: If I keep picking up my phone and looking at Instagram every minute, as if it’s going to reveal the secret to happiness, it is time to PUT THE PHONE DOWN.  Rule #2: Set clear posting & time spent goals and stick to them.  I typically post to Instagram three times a day, tops.  And I’ll spend maybe every three days stalking artists I like, responding to comments, and seeing what’s new in the creative community.  Any more than that and I’m taking time away from real life.

• People on Instagram can be jerks!  Let’s face it, social media can be a cess pool of bad attitudes and desperate feelings.  People go on there to blow off steam, find approval, confirm their best and worst fears.  Many times, trolls are trying to spread negativity, like it’s an illness.  Remember this.  Remember that you don’t know these people and they do not know you.  You can take a jerky response as an opportunity to practice mindfulness.  Notice the upset feelings you have, accept them, and watch how they change—instead of replying with your own negativity and spreading the illness (or giving the troll the satisfaction!).

• Instagram vacations are magic, in more ways than one!  Over the holidays, we took a break from posting on Instagram.  It was so nice to unplug and not be beholden to the invisible world of Social Media.  Do you know what else happened?  We earned over a two-thousand new followers.  Now, I’m not trying to undo the message that getting Instagram followers is the end-all-be-all, because it isn’t.  I’m just saying that taking a break from Instagram might get Instagram to want you back.  And how do they get you back?  By recommending you to other users, so you’ll get more followers and they hope you’ll come back.  Maybe take a break and see what happens?

Let us know in the comments below! Kindly, Jennifer

The Happiest Valentine: Our New Artist Dylan Mierzwinski!

If you haven’t noticed, we are expanding our roster at Jennifer Nelson Artists!  Always striving to meet the market’s needs, while simultaneously honoring the niches of our amazing artists, it is challenging to find just the right fit...  Well, challenging until you come across an artist like Dylan!

Dylan’s work is singular and fabulous.  From her hilarious cartoon-like drawings to her sophisticated florals, she manages to create a broad range of art while keeping the thread of her personality and skill running through.  Seeing her art for the first time, the color palette and sketchy lines struck me.  In Dylan's work, I immediately saw skill, imagination, drive, joy, and potential.

Which, as is often the way with art, are the very words one could use to describe Dylan.  A self-taught artist, Dylan’s drive is clear.  She has carved out a prominent space not only as an artist but as a top Skillshare teacher.  Her joy comes across in her passion for sharing knowledge with others through teaching and through wholehearted Instagram posts which always elevate the online community.  Dylan is a supporter through and through.  As for potential, we cannot wait to see what Dylan comes up with next!  Every new piece she sends us is a delight.  

Dylan's work is available for licensing and full-buyouts and, if your interested in seeing what she can come up for you, she is also available for commissions!  Check out some of her amazing work below and visit her bio to find out more!

Making a Dream Project Come True: Birds in a Book by Rachel Grant

Just over a year ago a little dream of mine came true when I was asked by Abrams Noterie to illustrate not only a bird book, but a pop up bird book! Birds are one of my very favourite things to paint, I’ve always felt a certain connection with them, perhaps it’s something about their (comparatively) quiet, peaceful existence, where curiosity and nesting seem to be their primary goals! 

When Abrams approached me to produce this book as part of their “Uplifting Editions” range, it was described as a “Bouquet of Birds” and I just loved this concept. The dust jacket comes off, revealing a hard cover reminiscent of antique bird books, then each branch and its bird lifts up above the book forming a bouquet shape that can then be displayed on a desk or a shelf. 

My art director and editor began the design process with me by sharing a copy of a previous, floral version of the book that had been created in collaboration with Molly Hatch. This really helped me to see the way that I needed to engineer the illustrations in order to make them work within the confines of the page space. For example each pop up branch had to be carefully considered to check that its ‘turning circle’ was within the frame of the page when the book was closed and that the branch was wide enough to be sturdy and to take the rivet at its base. Then of course the overall ‘bouquet’ shape had to be considered, with the scale of the different bird species needing to be taken into account. 

With each spread I worked on came new facts about the birds. The text was written by Lesley Earle and I loved the way she brought the bird’s character to life, describing their quirky little habits and rituals. These kind of facts helped me to tell a little visual story on each page. For example, the male Regent Bowerbird builds an “impressive amphitheater” called a Bower to attract his prospective female and to provide them with a vantage point to watch his courtship display!

I created each page spread as a fully layered digital file in order to give maximum flexibility in the design process. To do this each element was painted individually with a mixture of acrylic, arcyla gouache and designer’s gouache on loose, watercolour paper. I then scanned these into the computer, removed the background white and digitally composed them onto the page. The text was added later by the lovely folks at Abrams. 

When my advance copy of the book arrived and I held it in my hands for the first time I was completely over the moon. To lift up each little bird and see the bouquet come to life, working just the way I designed it to, was the most rewarding thing in the world. After looking at it constantly for about a week, I then took great pleasure in taking it to my bookshelf and finding it a perfect spot amongst my collection of antique bird and botanical books. The completion of a dream come true. 

“Birds in a Book” can be purchased from Barnes&Noble, Books-A-Million, IndieBound, Powells, !ndigo and from Amazon worldwide. 

Introducing Malin Gyllensvaan!

The first time I saw Malin’s art, it sparked my imagination.  Her combination of graphite and paint was so unique, her sensibility so lavish and refined.  I felt surrounded by opulent beauty.  I traveled into the graceful curve of her lines.  I swam in her florals.  I said to myself, “I must sign this artist!”  That was back in August.  Every step along the way has been a confirmation of that decision; from her wonderful sense of humor and warmth on our artist retreat in Lake Como, to the glee I feel each time we pour over a new piece of Malin’s work.

Malin comes with an incredible arts background.  She graduated college in 2001 and immediately began working as an employed textile designer for a variety of companies, including Ikea, H&M, Wrangler, and many more.  When she had her first chid in 2013, she decided to start freelancing and has not looked back since (lucky for us!). We are simply thrilled to be included in her impressive roster of experience!

As I got to know Malin better, I came to understand the roots of her unique style.  She is a self-proclaimed “sucker” for old textiles, especially embroidered silk, and she finds inspiration from the art and crafts movement.  Most of her work starts with florals because they contain all the aspects of art that Malin loves.  They are rich in color, texture and shape.  Painting them puts her in a relaxed, meditative state of mind.  It amazes me to think how these things translate onto the page and could cause me, living thousands of miles away, to feel that same sort of meditative enchantment from just seeing her work.

We could not be happier to introduce this wonderful artist to you today and to be representing her!  Below are some of our favorite pieces.  If you’re interested in licensing her work and seeing more of what she has to offer, please feel free to request a gallery.  

I hope you enjoy her delicious images as much as I do.

-Cathy

JNA's Trunk Show is just around the corner. Have you signed up yet?

I can’t believe the Trunk Show is NEXT WEEK! We’ve been busy bees, putting together this opportunity for art buyers to enjoy our artists’ work at special studio rates. The best part is that the show is exclusively online; you can join us from the comfort of your own computer!

Come peruse our curated art galleries! Organized so you can take a leisurely stroll or go directly to the categories in which you’re most interested. Options include holiday art, greeting card sentiments, florals, and much more! Additionally, art is available for full buyouts, flat-fees, and traditional licensing. We can’t wait to see what you pick out!

The Nitty Gritty

DATES: January 15 - 17

ACCESS: Click here to sign up. Passwords will be sent on January 14th.

JNA goes to Lake Como, Italy for Artists Retreat 2018

If you follow us on social media, you know we’ve just gotten back from an artist retreat on Lake Como.  It was an amazing time!  We were generously hosted by Amore Escapes and the majestic GrandHotel Imperiale!  Our days were filled with painting, yoga, sight-seeing and, most importantly, time together.

JNA artists from around the the world gathered, Rae came from Minneapolis, Janna from Hamburg, Miriam from the Netherlands and our newest artist, Malin, from Stockholm.

We were in the town of Moltrasio perched right over a waterfall that pours into Lake Como. Below, you can see work-in-progress from the artists as well as some scenes from the village.

A highlight of the trip was a lake tour with our kind captain, Giacomo. The lake is lined with fabulous grand old (and a few new) homes. Some of which belong to George Clooney and Richard Branson… one property even boasts scenes from Star Wars and James Bond movies. This place is like a dream.

Below are a few more shots and more art. The work is as stunning as the place!

From left: Malin Gyllensvaan, Miriam Bos, Janna Krupinski and Rae Ritchie

This is a trip I won’t ever forget! Stay tuned to see what we do next year! - Jennifer

Painting in Provence with Jennifer Orkin Lewis

I got a call a while ago to teach a painting workshop in the south of France this fall.

I jumped on the chance of course, what could be better than a week in a beautiful villa teaching people something I love to do? I added a week onto the beginning of the trip so I could travel with my husband Ken.

I always find it challenging to paint and draw while I’m on vacation, We are always on the move, trying to see so much, we tend to forget to stop and just relax.

I sketched a bit in Paris and the beginning of our travels in Provence, super quick drawings with an ink brush, pencil and crayons. I love drawing the architecture, landscapes and the people when I’m traveling. 

Paris Streets

Cassis France

Then I stepped in hole in the street where there was a missing cobble… and fractured a bone and tore ligaments in my foot. I had much more time to sit around now.

As disappointing as this was I held myself together. I focused much more on the details and enjoyed the colors, smells and very long meals! I pulled out my gouache and captured the houses and landscapes around me. 

It was beautiful teaching at the villa after touring around a for a week. There were wonderful participants who helped me get around and  truly made the week perfect, delicious food and weather and lots and lots of creativity.

We had made art, we got to know one another, laughed, (they did yoga and I sat on the side with my foot up) and we ate like there would never be another meal.

I didn't get as many pictures as I would have liked of the workshop but I do have to say, I really enjoy teaching,

our studio space

I gave everyone a copy of my book. These are a few of the students.

more Provence details.

There's lots more I could write about but I hope you enjoyed this sliver of my trip. x, Jennifer

Jennifer Nelson Artists Made A Big Splash in The City By The Bay

Whew! What a terrific trip I had traveling to San Francisco for our first-ever West Coast trade show. The city was beautiful (and I have pictures to prove it) and the show was a big success. We will definitely be coming back to Blue Print San Francisco next fall!

I met up with other artists and agents at the Fort Mason Center to set up for Blue Print (special thanks to Katy Tanis who helped me so much with the booth). The show was three good days punctuated with eating super yummy foods. I loved meeting all of you (many for the first time) and celebrating our mutual love of art.

Our booth looked great. I got to hang out with my agent friends, Abby, Brenda and Paul (founder and mastermind behind Blue Print) and Patrick too!

The flight from Boston was 3,234 miles. I brought more than 90 pounds of artwork to the show, on foot. Quite a workout, but it was well worth it! :)

A very sweet client brought Jill Howarth’s latest book up from LA for us. It’s so satisfying to see the artist’s work out in the wild.

The setting was gorgeous, right next to the water. At one point I looked out the window of the hotel and saw a seal basking in the sun. We don’t get those in Boston!

 The show was a huge success and we will definitely be there next autumn!

After three fun-but-exhausting days I had some time off. While in San Francisco I visited Alcatraz with my friend Brenda and hiked all around town.

I walked (just under 10 miles - and met not one but TWO corgis!) from Japantown to the Painted Ladies… down Haight Street to Market Street… to Lombard Street back down to the water… and back to the bayside, where a friend and Advice for Artist client, Shannon McNab, kindly drove me back to the airport.

I had a great time but it’s good to be back home. The succulents out west are so pretty, I brought one back to see if I can let it live in my studio. A little souvenir of my week in San Francisco.

Go West, JNA, Go West!

We are packing our bags, putting the final touches on the booth notions and sprinkling in some fairy dust for good measure! See you in San Francisco 2-4 October (Gallery 308 at Fort Mason Center). We get into high gear preparing for what will likely be our best show ever!

Here is a sneak peek at some of the great winter holiday art we will be featuring at Blue Print!

And some of the gorgeous florals, animals and the loveliest beach scene you have ever seen making a debut too!

We even have special handmade gifts for our Blue Print buyers! Reserve your appointment time today! I cant wait to see you there! - Jennifer

Pet Portraits by Rae Ritchie

Hi everyone! Over the past year I’ve been creating more and more private commission pet portraits! I love working on these with pet owners, discussing the animals' personality and unique details and markings to really bring the piece to life. One of my favorite parts is choosing the symbolic foliage background with the client. For example, Honey, a brown and black chihuahua, was found as a stray by her owners while they were working on a macadamia nut farm in Hawaii. Thus, Honey is surrounded by the beautiful blooms of macadamia trees. I love telling stories with my work, and when animals are involved? Well, I just can’t help myself!

Oftentimes, I get to capture a pet that has passed on. These are some of the most special portraits. When the client reacts to seeing the final piece, I realize why I started making art in the first place; to help others feel more connected to each other and to the nature of this world. 
- Rae

100 Days of Drawing by Jennifer Orkin Lewis

My New book 100 Days of Drawing is finally here!! It takes almost a year from the time I finished the art and design for the pub date to arrive so it kind of feels like the time will never get here, But it always does!!  September 4th is the official date.

I'm so excited about this book, It's a follow up to my first one Draw Every Day, Draw Every Way. They are similar yet different. They both have a beautiful open binding and you can take off the paper cover and have your own personalized notebook. They are beautiful as a pair! 

My goal is to get everyone drawing all the time, here I give you 25 ideas to get yourself started and motivation to keep going. Ideas that are easy to forget sometimes when you are staring at a blank page. such as Record your Day in Drawing, Use only Blues for your Palette and Draw Surprising Things in a Butterfly wing! If you do 1 a day, quickly you will be at 100 days! 

And there is a freebee,  If you Preorder the book and fill out the form on my website you can get a 5x7" print called Grow Your Own Way. It's super cute!

Publisher: Abrams Books I hope you love it, It's colorful, fun and I hope inspiring to you!!
x, Jennifer (Orkin Lewis)

Oodles of new products!

Whew, coming around the bend on another amazing spring of shows in NYC! I am just now catching my breath and have added some of our latest products to our portfolio. Take a minute to check out oodles of new JNA products today!

Anisa Makhoul took 10 years to come back to art

Our own Anisa Makhoul answers your questions about creating art for surface design. We asked the artist to select three questions pertaining to her art career. These are her fascinating answers.

Q. If you hadn’t become a professional artist, what kind of career do you think you would have chosen?

A. If I couldn’t do anything artistic at all, I would have studied herbs/flora and religion. I’m very interested in folklore, folk magic, and African American folk spirituality. I dream of traveling to the Caribbean and studying under a root doctor. Maybe I’ll still do it one day.

Q. How old were you when you knew you wanted to be an artist? Did you strive to get your art on the refrigerator as a child? Describe your earliest artwork. 

A. When I was really young I used to draw pictures with my crayons and then put prices in the corners, like 5 cents or so, based on how good I thought it was. I’d force my parents and grandparents to buy my drawings from me. I wasn’t just going to give them the art for the refrigerator. 

Q. Did you have formal art training? Thinking back to art school, what’s something you learned in a classroom that you still use to this day?

A. I have a BA in fine art printmaking from Minneapolis College of Art & Design. I started out as a film and photo student and ended up graduating in hand printmaking. I never even considered illustration as a career. I thought I couldn’t draw because that’s what my drawing teacher told me. In fact, after I graduated from art school I was very sure that I had no place in the art world. After college I started sewing handmade dresses and doing fashion design. It took me 10 years to come back to art. Everything clicked when I began allowing myself to draw things in the wackiest, most relaxed way I could. I started enjoying drawing, and getting better at it. 

Anisa's clients include: Vogue, Compendium Books, Anthropologie, Flow Magazine, Taproot Magazine, American Greetings, Trend Bible, Cost Plus World Market,  TeNeus Publishing, TJ Maxx, Design House Greetings, Godiva, Hallmark, Harrods of London. 

The most wonderful time of the year!

Feel that excitement? It's spring trade show season! This is the time of year when we get into high gear preparing for two big back-to-back shows in New York City: Blue Print 1 and SURTEX. Even one day in the Big Apple means lots of things to do and people to see. This is SIX DAYS in the city so we're talking six times the energy and six times the fun! Portfolio books are arriving each week... the artists are busy putting the finishing touches on their prints... and we are making special handmade gifts for our buyers this year! Reserve your appointment time today!

Come see us 17-19 MAY at BLUE PRINT and 20-21 MAY at SURTEX (register in advance here). If you decide to come, make an appointment and I will set aside time especially for you! For more information on the busiest, most exciting time of the year, you can read about JNA at the shows.

Thanks for looking at our latest work. You can see more at the two big shows in New York, or simply let me know and I will put together a custom gallery on any subject or by the artist of your choice. Kindly, Jennifer

Jennifer Orkin Lewis works her gouache-y magic!

Here's a treat for you. In just 26 seconds you can watch Jennifer Orkin Lewis work her gouache magic. She doesn't really work quite this fast, but she is that good! Jennifer creates paintings like this constantly and never seems to run out of inspiration. 

Want to see more of Jennifer's stunning work? Just ask and I pull a gallery together for you in a jiffy!  Enjoy - (the other) Jennifer

Kelly Angelovic strives for inspiration and joy

Our own Kelly Angelovic answers your questions about creating art for surface design. We asked the artist to select three questions pertaining to her art career. These are her fascinating answers.

Q. How do you integrate your art time into your daily routine?

A. I’m grateful every day that I get to do work that lights me up. As the mother of two high-octane little ones (ages 6 & 3), my schedule involves a lot of moving parts. In lieu of balance (is there really such a thing?), I strive for inspiration and joy. Some weeks are filled to the brim with exciting creative work and some weeks, motherhood takes center stage. There are also times when everyone is sick and deadlines are looming – weeks when my joy heads for the hills (as I watch, wishing with the whole of my being that I could run for cover too). My life is blessedly full, and following a heart-centered creative path isn’t always easy, but I can’t imagine doing anything else.

Q. Do you prefer working digitally or using conventional art media?

A. My background is in graphic design so I’ve always been a digital girl. Lately though, I’ve been playing with gouache. Mixing colors, smelling the paint, feeling the way different brushes move across the paper – it’s a sensual experience. Whenever I feel uninspired or stuck in a rut, exploring a new technique or medium is a surefire way to get my creative juices flowing. There is such delight (and frustration) in becoming a beginner again, especially when I’m able to completely surrender the outcome. This is the work I do for personal enjoyment. I believe that the key to a wonder-filled life is to keep learning and trying new things. My kids, who are filled to the brim with joy and never-ending curiosity, remind me of this everyday.

Q. Did you always want to be an artist?

A. My mom was a graphic designer, so I grew up in a household where creativity was encouraged. Despite my early leanings though, I strayed from a creative path for many years, initially pursuing a degree in marketing. A few years after graduating, finally heeding my own creative call, I went back to school for graphic design. I didn’t discover my path as an illustrator until my daughter was born though. The intensity of motherhood took me by surprise and in search of a new creative outlet, I started drawing while she slept. Illustrating lit me up, it fed my soul – and made me a better mom. I haven’t looked back since. 

Kelly's super smart spots for the Seal Press book, Equally Wed.