First Prize Award!

Good Old USA by Gladys Jimenez

 Dear Beautiful Friends:

I'm thrilled to report that my artwork, shown above, won first place at the "All Mixed Up" art exhibit at the Escondido Municipal Art Gallery!

I so wanted to be at the reception to receive the award but unfortunately my dad was in a accident and I've been spending my days at the hospital, here in L. A.  It doesn't look good but I have faith that things will turn around. Thank you all of you who follow me on Facebook, and who have been praying for him and myself and family.

It will be a while before I can return to my normal activities, I plan to stay up here with my parents during these times.

With Love,
Glad

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Here We Go Again...

Greek Lady, my first painting in 1985

16"x20" oil on canvas panel

Dear Friends,

Here we are in the middle of August and I just couldn't stay away from signing up for an oil painting 2 class at the local community college. Class starts next week :)

I had wanted to take a break because I wanted to create my own art, and then I realized what I really wanted to do was take a break from figure painting.

Time to paint other things, like butterflies...yes, I started painting butterflies, and look forward to painting still life paintings, and landscapes, and even more abstracts!  The Butterfly Series will be posted on the website in September. At least the first three :) 

I was in Los Angeles last weekend and went to visit Barnsdale Art Gallery (The gallery I first exhibit my art for the first time in 1985).  I also went to the Rose Bowl Flea Market for the first time!!!  I wanted to see what type of art I could find there but sad to say I was not very impressed.  But sure had fun walking around the flea market and seeing all the wonderful treasures people were selling and seeing what people were buying.

I miss going to the art shows in Escondido on 2nd Saturday, but it's been a busy summer with the photography gig going until the end of November and now the new art class starting next week.

Have fun!

Love,
Glad

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Love My New Place

Butterfly 1, 8"x10" oil on canvas

Dear Friends,

It's been over a month at my new place and I must say, I'm surprised how much I like it here. I used to live in this area before I moved to Escondido, and find myself in awe to find myself so much happier here. 

With my new transition, I applied for a temporary gig as a photographer and I was again nicely surprised to get the gig! A big thank you to those of you I asked for recommendations, as this is my first "Job" after many years, as I have always been self-employed with the exception of my first job after high school.  I was really moved by the letters you wrote and the wonderful things you said about me. I will always be grateful for your kindness.  Feel so lucky to have such wonderful friends :)

I did some photography back in my 20's and actually got a few awards and some photographs printed, but dropped it quickly when I discovered oil painting.  I always enjoyed it and since I feel complete with my art classes for now, and not taking any more classes for a year, I was wondering about taking some photography classes at the local community college but then I thought, what better way to learn than working at a studio and getting paid for it.

I am learning so much already, and feel I can expand to different phases of photography in this company if I so desire, after my gig is up in late November...like Photoshop! Yeap, I only know basic stuff when it comes to editing images and it can be rather useful for my art.

I just finished two paintings. I will upload them next week to the website. I sent one to my mailing list with a special sale offer. If you haven't joined my mailing list, you can do so at my home page, at this website.

I am going to work on smaller artwork for the rest of the year. I will be creating a series of butterfly paintings...they seem to be popping up everywhere I go lately, so I take it as a sign that they need to be painted. Perhaps a symbol of my own transformation as I transition through so many changes this year.  Very exciting!

Love,
Glad

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Our Beloved Cat Chance

Our Cat Chance

Dear Friends,

Chance, our cat, passed away today, April 6, 2013. She was with us for a bit over 10 years as well. She walked into our home one thanksgiving morning in 2003, while we were cooking bacon and we had to open the door to let the smoke out. We gave her some bacon and she never left. Even when we took her outside that night, the following day she was still there by our door.

We posted flyers and no one claimed her. We took her to the vet and we found out she had Feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) and the vet said she should be kept indoors. She was about seven years old per vet. She was not like other cats I had in the past. She was her own self and if you petted her for more then a few strokes she would bite you, or sometimes you would just be passing by and she would scratch you. People who visited knew this and tended to stay away from her. 

A year after she lived with us, we found out that she belonged to our neighbors next door that had recently moved back then into our neighborhood. The owner came over one day and recognized her, but she didn't want her back as she confessed she never really liked her. She was shocked that Chance was living under the same roof with a dog (Buddy). Yeah, Chance gave our dogs a hard time too. They too stayed away from her.

Two years ago my son also went away to college (my daughter had left in Fall of 2009). Chance and I developed a different relationship. Chance seemed to wait to demand petting from me when I was the most tired or when I was concentrating on a painting. If I ignored her, as sometimes I did, she would do her business in the area I painted. At first I thought it was strange, since cats usually go to their litter box and don't have accidents like that, but I read that cats behave like that when they are angry at you. Well, she made me angry too by her actions, but with time, I learned to pet her even when I didn't feel like it. 

One time while my daughter was visiting from college I told her that Chance was sent by God to remind me how to love. After all, it was so easy to love Buddy, he loved you unconditionally, behaved well, and always happy and content with you. But it was much harder to love someone who would bite you, scratch you and pooped on your art supplies for no reason. Someone who demanded love at the most inconvenient times. But it happened. Over the last two years we developed a bond. I could now pet her for a long time, carry her (as Chance hated her tummy touched), trim her hair and even give her a bath without a scratch! And while it had become a habit to complaint about her grouchyness, deep inside I somehow saw myself in her, and loved her.

It all happened rather quickly. Thursday night she awoke me at 3 am. She was in the living room rolling from side to side trying to get up. I picked her up and it quickly became clear that she was paralyzed from her left side. I placed her on the couch and I thought she was seeing something I couldn't see by the way she was moving her eyes, but I soon realized that she was not able to see. I had to help her when she needed to use the litter box and hand fed her. I wanted to make her feel better by giving her her favorite food (tuna fish) but it was apparent that her sense of smell was gone too. Although she started to walk again slowly within a day of her stroke, her heart started to give out, pumping really fast and making it hard for her to breath. The vet said it was due to the FIV decease she had, which tends to cause clots, and things would only get worse. 

I was with her till the end. She didn't do any of the things the vet said cats tend to do when they go. She was at peace, even her heart slowed down a bit when she heard my daughter 's voice on the phone, talking to her. 

The vet said I was her angel because cats don't live as long as Chance did with FIV and with the quality of life she had up to the last two days of her life. The vet didn't know that Chance was my best teacher yet. Wherever Chance is now, she is only taking a break from teaching humans how to love. I'm sure we will meet again.

With Love,

Glad

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Why Do I Bother to Create

Bottle, 12"x12" oil on canvas

Dear Friends,


A friend who is very analytical and not creative at all, once asked me what was the use of creating so much artwork, as I have been creating. I had to respond with my reasons for creating art.

I create because it feeds my soul...I am following my soul's desire and it's not something I can stop doing without feeling I'm starving my soul, and possibly depression of not being able to express myself (I have experienced a dark night of the soul after I took a period of two years of not creating)..., quite simply, it is my destiny.

An artist never paints for just money, that would be in insult to the creator that gave us this gift, and the artist that only creates for money even if their skills are perfect, the artwork lacks feeling and energy. I am not saying you should not commercialize your artwork, yes, we must sell our artwork as we artist also have bills to pay, food to buy and a mortgage to pay...but I am saying if it's just something you do for money, as any other career that you can do just for money, then you are missing out on living your call.  When you do what you love, it doesn't feel like work at all.

To an artist, painting or creating is as essential as food if not more. We are willing to sacrifice everything for our art, including financial gains, relationships (as our art takes most of our time), anything that will get in the way of us creating.  We are a strange breed, but I know of no other activity that makes me feel so grateful and thankful to be alive than when I am painting.  I enter the BLISS zone when I paint and am just so lucky to be able to do so on a regular basis.

With Love,
Gladys

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Art, Art, and more Art...

Red Barn, 48"x36" oil on canvas


Dear Friends,

I'm so happy to announce that for the month of February, my work will be on exhibit at three galleries.  There will be on piece, "Diana", at the Municipal Art Gallery. Three pieces at the Escondido Art Association, "Deer", "Mr. Rooster", and "Music and Dancing".  Those will be on exhibit for one month.  At 57 Degrees, down town San Diego, for two months I will have on exhibit "Red Barn", "The Southwest", "Lady in Red", and "Michael Hanlon".  So very excited to be at this exhibit among other fellow artists.

Today I taught an art class to 5th graders. I volunteer at the local elementary school since 1998.  I had so much fun teaching them about art, complementary colors, and Paul Klee.  Kids have such a thirst for art and happy to be able to do my share my love for art with them.  I wish more people donated art supplies so we could reach more children. Volunteers are available but without the supplies even with our most creative resources, it's tough to do.  The non-profit organization I founded to raise funds for art supplies is Boldly Creating Life Foundation. If it's in your heart to promote the arts to children, please stop at the website http://www.bclf.org and make a donation. It will be greatly appreciated by me, the children, teachers, and families.  Of course, your donation is tax deductible.

I hope to see you at one of the art reception events. Please do stop by and greet me, I would love to meet you, or see you again if you are a fan.

With love,
Gladys

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Painting Daily, Oh Yeah

e-Motion, 36" x 48" oil on canvas

Dear Friends,

It's hard to believe that in three weeks my Figure Painting class will be over.  I learned much from the critics, and a few more techniques that I can add to my paintings.

For the final painting I was assigned to paint in a style that is the opposite of my own.  To choose an artist and copy their work but replacing the main figure with my own self.  In my case, it would be to learn the style of Degas or Van Gogh. I chose Van Gogh and what a fun exploration it has been, to see how he created short colorful strokes to create movement and depth.

Currently at the Escondido Municipal Art Gallery you can see my painting "eMotion" on display until the first week of next December.  I was happy to receive wonderful feedback from people who stopped by to see it during my short visit at the reception.  It felt great to know that others were moved by it.

Back to the easel, much to work on for my final painting.

May you have a wonderful holiday season.

Much love,
Glad

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Life Brings Changes

Boxer, 16"x20" oil on canvas

Dear Friends,

I am enjoying taking Figure Painting classes from Michael Steirnagle.  At first I was not sure how well my art would be received because I tend to paint a bit different, not "painterly" at all, but after 6 paintings completed for this class I came to like my own style and realized that it's unique already. Here is a sample of one of the paintings I did for class from a marble statue.

Michael said that I am a graphic painter on one of his critics, and not sure if I know any other graphic painters work but I am learning much at this class and happy that I don't have to paint "painterly" but I can do me. We had two models in the the last two classes, which is new for me. Although I had a live nude model at a class I took last month with artist Darrel McPhearson, it was a different as we did sketches instead of painting.

I began a few abstracts, which are always a breath of fresh air after working on paintings for the Figure Painting class.  I want to do a series of painting from my trip to Laguna Beach and Torrey Pines this summer as well, so stay tune for those.

I celebrate my birthday in October and it always brings big changes in some area of my life.  Looking forward to something new and different.  It is also the month for Halloween...gotta love how creative people can be with their customs.

Have fun and until next time...

Love,

Glad

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My Creative Space

Horse, 8"x10" oil on Canvas


Dear Friends,

This month I began a "Farm Animals" series of paintings.  I began with a "Piggy", then "Mr. Rooster", and just began a horse painting.  All of these are small, 8" x 10" on canvas.

I also signed up to take a semester class from artist Michael Steirnagle at Palomar College.  I'm really looking forward to taking his figurative painting class, as I thought I was not going to be able because of the class schedule I had at CSUSM.

Due to health reasons I am unable to continue my plans to attend CSUSM full-time to get a Visual of Arts degree.  Sometimes you want something but life takes you a different direction. We don't always know why, but by now I do know it's because there are higher better plans for me...one good benefit I can already see is that I'll be able to spend time painting, as the full-time schedule of classes ahead at CSUM would have kept me so busy, that I would have hardly had anytime to paint.

I began reading this month a book, "Alla Prima"  by Richard Schmid.  I love his style of writing and looking forward to applying his tips after I complete my Farm Animals series and begin a series of landscape paintings. I hope I can incorporate some of his tips so I can paint more "painterly" as he does.

This is it for now, stay cool.

With love,
Glad

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Wineries and Cafes

Francavilla, watercolor on paper

Dear Friends,

This month I am exhibiting several pieces of artwork at Filters Coffee Shop in Hillcrest, CA.  I have 10 pieces on display until August 15, 2012. Stop by for a mini show of my work :)

I attended the art show at the 57 Street winery this month.  It was nice to see such variety of artwork on display. The winery has a nice feel to it, so I'm hoping to submit some of my work for exhibit here in the next few months. I was happy to see people actually buying art and appreciating the artwork.

This month my artwork "Museum" will be on exhibit at the Escondido Municipal Art Gallery until August 3, 2012.

I am looking forward to the art reception as it follows the poetry reception, where the publication publishing my artwork and the Mary Lenore Quigley's poem will be available.

Until next time...

With Love,
Glad

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School is Over for Now

Dark Night, 40"x60" Mix Media on Canvas

Dear Friends,

School is over now. I loved taking art classes and feel grateful to have been able to meet art professors, art students, and other people in the field of art.  I got to create amazing art projects and will miss the art assignments. My first drawing 2 project done in pencil, Yosemite, was on exhibit at the Escondido Municipal Art Gallery last month.

I did my very first oil abstract painting this month. It's huge, the biggest size I've used this far.  It's 48" x 60". I was not sure how the piece would look like when I started. I started using colors I liked, trying to implement some of the color theory concepts I learned but in the end I was not happy with it, so covered it all up and painted as I did before, from my own intuition, regardless if it conformed to any color theory concept or not, and I was happy with the result.  This artwork is now available for sale at my website. 

I attended Tom Tiedeman's annual BBQ last month. I took a few watercolor lessons from him years back but really couldn't get into that medium...what can I say...I'm in love with oils.  It was nice to see him again, his lovely wife, Marty, and gather among other creative minds.  I see artist like him with great success and smile, knowing that I will someday be there as an artist.

Art is so revealing. As an artist I pour all of me into my work and display it for all others to see and critique it. I am learning much about me as I paint. I say this because I also finished my acrylic "Dark Night" painting last month. I didn't realized how much anger I had during that time, but happy to see it express itself though art.  I put that painting next to my "Bliss" painting and realized that in life, it's all one....the sad and happy, the up and down, just one side of the same, like a nickle that has heads and tails.  Why do we insist on having a one sided nickle? I am learning to embrace both sides equally and with thanksgiving.

I hope all is well with you.

Love,
Glad

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My Favorite Place in California

Yosemite, Graphite on illustration board.



Hi Friends,

This month I had seven more people join the Facebook Fanpage for Glad's art.  I'm always happy to see friends join me on this art adventure.

I received my first drawing back from drawing 2 class with an "A" and the professor said it was "impeccable"! It sure made me feel good. It is now on my portfolio. It's a drawing of my favorite place on Earth...Yosemite! If you haven't been to Yosemite I must urge you to go. It's just such a beautfiul place to visit in any season.

I did my very first color pencil drawing.  Part of the drawing was meant to have a crackle finish which I wanted to draw with pencil but my professor suggested I use an exacto knife to give it that effect. I wasn't sure about following his suggestions, and in the end I didn't like the effect. I felt I had damaged the paper instead but he was fine with it. Next time I think I'll follow my instincts instead.  Overall, I like the drawing though and will be putting it up on the website as soon as I take a photograph of the final drawing.

Looking back at photographs and paintings I have done in the past, I really have enjoyed taking photos of older people and painting them with oils.  I've been wondering about my own style of painting and my signature, and I think for a while I may spend sometime creating this type of artwork, since it speaks to me. I would love to hear your feedback on this.

Have a wonderful Spring break.

Love,
Glad

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February 11, 2012 Opening Reception Members Only

Chance, 24"x24" oil on canvas

February 11, 2012 Art Reception - Gladys will be at the Escondido Municipal Art Gallery for the Members Artist Reception. Her painting "Chance" will be on display until the end of the month.




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Working with Mix Media

Deep Blue, Mix Media on 12"x12" canvas

Hello Friends,

I've been really enjoying creating mix media artwork.  My creativity is unleashed as I consider not only the type of paints and ink I would like to use, but papers, plastics, natural objects, and anything that could add texture, color, and that Je nais se quoi factor.

The artwork is really varied too. From simple child like artwork, to collage, to abstract.  My imagination is the limit.  It's just really fun.  Once I have 30 pieces of artwork I will do an online auction to raise funds for the Boldly Creating Life Foundation. This foundation brings art back into the classrooms of public elementary school that do not currently have an art program.  It is hard to believe but our kids nowadays are going from kindergarten to 5th grade without a single art class!

If we can offer just one class to a child who has not been exposed to art, we are really providing for them a doorway to his/her imagination and creativity.  A single class could be all that is needed, to show a child that there is a world of art ready to be discovered.

You can help us by purchasing one of the artwork pieces sold at this website.  For more information on the foundation please go to http://www.bclf.org.

With Love,
Glad

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