April PRINT SALE for ADAMS Elementary Continues!

Supporting Adams Elementary

"Getting Active No 2: Adams in Motion"

Fine Art Quality Reproduction

11 x 15 inch

$20.00 plus $5.00 shipping

(regularly priced at $45.00)

$15.00 from each sale will be donated to Adams Elementary in Corvallis, OR and the "Adams in Motion" healthy kids program. For more about my print sales and the causes they support: JenniferLommers.com/Causes

For secure online payment you can buy your print using Paypal.

If you are local to Corvallis, OR - feel free to CONTACT ME (art@jenniferlommers.com) to purchase a print directly via check and pay NO SHIPPING or mail $20.00 to:

Jennifer Lommers

PO Box 2510

Corvallis, OR 97339

Unlike my other "Print of the Month" sales - THIS SALE (along with the sale of "Getting Active No 1" (pictured right)will continue thru December 2010!

About the Painting

When I became an Adams parent I was impressed with the recess fitness program they were using, called "Adams in Motion". Three days a week, schoolchildren had a choice to participate in the program during their recess and walk, run, or skip along a designated route thru the playfield which was about 1/5 of a mile. For each lap the children received a punch on their card so that they could keep track of their mileage. As each card is completed, a child was honored with a medal/trophy for the day (and the ringing of the bell). I was amazed at the number of students who would participate, and the number of parents who volunteered their time to help.

What I found out later, was this program was in its infancy, started at Adams last year (2008/2009). What I also found out was the emergence of such a program was a convergence of ideas from a remarkable group of people including a teacher (also a running enthusiast) who recently returned from sabbatical with an idea for a recess fitness program, another teacher who had a school nurse friend who founded such a program in another school district, a parent involved in a healthy kids school committee, and a principal willing to support the program. Together with many other volunteers, the "Adams in Motion" program began, and now finishing its second year, continues to thrive and grow, with one dedicated student even working to achieve 200 miles this year, providing another inspiration to fellow students.

When I started volunteering for the program this year, I was impressed not only by the dedication of these students and parent volunteers, but also by the way in which these students conducted themselves. They were sincere, kind, helpful, and a joy to watch run/walk lap after lap.

I knew I wanted to make a painting to celebrate this activity (make that 2 paintings)!

The original paintings will be made available for sale initially to families of Adams Elementary before becoming available for everyone. 100% of the purchase price of the original framed paintings will be donated to Adams Elementary

About the Print

The print image is 11 x 15 inch printed on archival quality bamboo paper size 13 x 17 inch. The print is created with archival quality inks using a digital scan to capture the original painting's true color and texture. The print is signed on the front then packed in an acid free sleeve complete with foam core for added protection. The print is shipped flat via USPS Priority Mail within the U.S. An artist bio is also included.

All payments received by the last day of each month will be included in my donation to Adams Elementary by the 5th of the following month. A record of these donations will be made available on my webiste: JenniferLommers.com/causes

No tulips in the Valley? How about a tulip Painting?

Weekend Demonstration Painting No 1

"Ode to the Skagit Valley"

Prints NOW AVAILABLE on IMAGEKIND

The tulips may have already been topped by last weekend, but it didn't prevent a beautiful, mostly sunny (with a little sprinkle on Saturday) tulip festival street fair in downtown Mount Vernon, WA. A big THANK YOU to everyone who stopped by my booth, watched my demonstrations, purchased my art, or shared your stories! Without your support I would not be able to create my art, and for that I am very grateful.

I would also like to extend a special thanks to the amazing artisans who shared their time and talent with me over the weekend - I wish I would have remembered to grab all your business cards so that I could have given you a shout out! Hopefully at the next show. I do want to mention, however,my favorite soap maker from Bellingham - so glad you were there! I love your soap (rosemary mint pictured left). You TOO can order her soaps and other fine products HERE! My bathroom is already enjoying a minty freshness scent - so uplifting in the morning!

Weekend Demonstration Painting No 2

"An Orchid for Ben"

Inspired by the lovely floral paintings of Ben Mann

Prints NOW AVAILABLE on IMAGEKIND

Bamboo Fine Art Paper - a Comparison

As a follow-up to my discussion on purchasing a new printer "Artist Survival 101: setting up a new printer", I would like to show off a new fine art paper too - the Bamboo Paper from Hahnemuhle. I purchased the 13 x 17 inch sheet size which comes in a 290 gsm weight, smooth, natural white. I've tried the PremierArt Watercolor Fine Art paper which comes in a 210 gsm in a bright white, but found that when printing a larger size (image size 11 x 14, e.g.), I liked a heavier paper. The PremierArt paper works great for the smaller prints, and makes them more economical for my customers at about 1/3 the price of other papers. For prints larger than 8 x 10, however, I will be using the Bamboo Paper. I like the fact it's made from a renewable resource (90% bamboo), it's a little heavier, and I like the softer, warmer white for my images. If it just had a little more tooth to it, it would be absolutely perfect. Give it a try - you may like it!

PremierArt Watercolor paper shown on top of the natural white of the Babmoo Paper

Top Poppy image: PremierArt Watercolor paper

Bottom Poppy Image: Bamboo paper

only close inspection can really show a difference

The Lure of Oils...

I was trained as an oil painter. After graduating college, however, and without an actual studio space, I switched to the land of Acrylics - where water cleans up your mess, you don't pass out from the fumes, and paint doesn't end up smudged on everything you own. I thoroughly enjoy this land! I've learned much about this fun medium over these last several years and hundreds of paintings later.

Then... the oil bug bit.

I received this generous gift of oil paints from a wonderful local paint manufacturer (M. Graham) who wanted to give me the opportunity to try out their product. And, I fell in love again.

I had this large Acrylic painting in my garage with which I was never quite satisfied. I decided to take out my little sample pack of M. Graham oils and, using my palette knife, apply patches of color to it and see how these oils compare. Wow. They are luscious and provocative. I love the texture, the color, and yes, even the smell takes me back to those earlier days. Now, maybe I'm just in mid-life crisis mode and am just enjoying a little bit of my past... OR... maybe I'm on to something here.

The painting is not yet finished (I need to go buy some more paint now - good job on your sales tactics M. Graham!), but I can feel an amazing painting on the verge. Look for the finished piece to make an appearance at:

OSU Mother's Day weekend 1 day show
Saturday, May 1, 2010
at the OSU quad
Corvallis, OR

In the meantime, I hope you enjoy the progress thus far!

PRINT SALE of the Month APRIL 2010

Supporting Adams Elementary

"Getting Active No 1"

Fine Art Quality Reproduction

11 x 15 inch

$20.00 plus $5.00 shipping

(regularly priced at $45.00!)

$15.00 from each sale will be donated to Adams Elementary in Corvallis, OR and the "Adams in Motion" healthy kids program. For more about my print sales and the causes they support: JenniferLommers.com/Causes

For secure online payment you can buy your print using Paypal.

If you are local to Corvallis, OR - feel free to CONTACT ME (art@jenniferlommers.com) to purchase a print directly via check and pay NO SHIPPING or mail $20.00 to:

Jennifer Lommers

PO Box 2510

Corvallis, OR 97339

Unlike my other "Print of the Month" sales - THIS SALE will continue thru December 2010!

About the Painting

When I became an Adams parent I was impressed with the recess fitness program they were using, called "Adams in Motion". Three days a week, schoolchildren had a choice to participate in the program during their recess and walk, run, or skip along a designated route thru the playfield which was about 1/5 of a mile. For each lap the children received a punch on their card so that they could keep track of their mileage. As each card is completed, a child was honored with a medal/trophy for the day. I was amazed at the number of students who would participate, and the number of parents who volunteered their time to help.

What I found out later, was this program was in its infancy, started at Adams last year (2008/2009). What I also found out was the emergence of such a program was a convergence of ideas from a remarkable group of people including a teacher (also a running enthusiast) who recently returned from sabbatical with an idea for a recess fitness program, another teacher who had a school nurse friend who founded such a program in another school district, a parent involved in a healthy kids school committee, and a principal willing to support the program. Together with many other volunteers, the "Adams in Motion" program began, and now finishing its second year, continues to thrive and grow, with one dedicated student even working to achieve 200 miles this year, providing another inspiration to fellow students.

When I started volunteering for the program this year, I was impressed not only by the dedication of these students and parent volunteers, but also by the way in which these students conducted themselves. They were sincere, kind, helpful, and a joy to watch run/walk lap after lap.

I knew I wanted to make a painting to celebrate this activity!

The original painting (along with another painting - "Getting Active No 2") will be made available for sale initially to families of Adams Elementary before becoming available for everyone. 100% of the purchase price of the original paintings will be donated to Adams Elementary

About the Print

The print image is 11 x 15 inch printed on archival quality bamboo paper size 13 x 17 inch. The print is created with archival quality inks using a digital scan to capture the original painting's true color and texture. The print is signed on the front then packed in an acid free sleeve complete with foam core for added protection. The print is shipped flat via USPS Priority Mail within the U.S. An artist bio is also included.

All payments received by the last day of each month will be included in my donation to Adams Elementary by the 5th of the following month. A record of these donations will be made available on my webiste: JenniferLommers.com/causes