Studio Mayhem

One area of collage materials waiting for divine inspiration.

Oh look, another area of collage materials waiting…..

I would love to blame this on some sort of disorder. I do this because I have an attention deficit disorder. I am dyslexic, so it makes things harder for me to organize. I have whatever……..The truth of the matter is that I allow myself to wander. I wander from painting to painting. I wander from collage to watercolor. I wander from subject to subject, and I like the wandering. My biggest problem, if we want to call it that, is that I am self-indulgent when it comes to the creative process and I LOVE that I am. It leads to some glorious discoveries!

However, every once in awhile I have to clean up the studio. My self-indulgence leads to quite few "blue" verbal out bursts, several bags of garbage, and more than a couple of hours vacuuming, dusting and mopping.

Oh well, at the end of the day I really wouldn't have it any other way.

Studio Time

This is a picture of my studio. It is fairly neat and clean. Well organized and very functional. The skylights provide great light and there is clearly enough room to work on several canvas at the same time.

Over the past several moths I completed the canvases that are visible. As I finished them, I also worked on other pieces of art. While I was working I was creating small areas of disarray. Mind you they were small, but there were several of them. No flat surface has escaped at least one, if not 3 or 4 pile os papers, pencils, tubes of color, etcetera,  etcetera,  etcetera……….

So yesterday in my infinite wisdom I tore everything asunder. Which is why I am sitting here with my cup of coffee delaying the inevitable task of reorganizing, culling, cleaning, and eventually , blessedly, getting back to painting.

Lighting and Living with Artwork.

L'Air du Temps

hanging at

 Hidden Light

L'Air du Temps

photographed at 

Tom Alexander's Studio

40" x 60"

Oil on Canvas

$7950.00

Color is so subjective and reactive. This is the same painting photographed by the same photographer. The top painting was photographed hanging at Hidden Light. The warm wood tones really heat up the color in the painting. Notice how creamy the white of the horse is and how much stronger the yellows and reds appear.

The bottom painting was photographed in the studio and is a very true representation of the original art work. The light in the studio mimics sunlight and allows for the full spectrum of color to be shown.

I love it when someone who has purchased one of my paintings sends me a photograph of it hanging in it's new home. It takes on a different persona, one I feel is a reflection it owners.

Thank you Tom Alexander for always photographing my artwork true to form.

Roses and Violets

Untitled Horse in Roses and Violets

Oil on Canvas

34" x 34"

$3750.00

When I start a painting I have a very general idea of where I am going. No set destination, no completely formed picture in my head. I like it that way, it keeps it interesting for, the not knowing. The discovery of lines, and shapes, and color combinations.

This just such a painting. I knew I wanted the composition to be dynamic, but I had no idea what color this horse would be.

I love a good surprise.

In Search of the Superlative Horse

After months of painting on May 2nd, 2014 "In Search of the Superlative Horse" opened at Hidden Light. Hidden Light is a world renowned photographic studio owned and operated by Corey Allen and Stephen Saunders. They usually do one, maybe two shows a year, so I was excited to have the privilege to show there. It was extra special as I was the first painter the exhibited.

These beautiful photographs are by Tom Alexander of the installation. Enjoy!

The event was fantastic and well attended. I could not have been happier with the way my painting look hanging in this space.

These beautiful photographs are by Tom Alexander of the installation. Enjoy!

The show runs through the month of June.

Hidden Light is located at 427 South San Francisco Street, Flagstaff, Arizona 86001 

Collages

Collage on Wood

4" x 4" x 2"

$65.00

Collage on Wood

4" x 4" x 2"

$65.00

I love making collages! It is part play, part problem solving, and part hide and seek as I search my studio for the perfect image or element. I am always delighted with them and hope you will be too!

These collages are available. if you are interested and would like more information or to purchase, contact me a tanner@ctannerjensen.com

Collage on Wood

6" x 6" x 2"

$135.00

and the winner is……..

At my opening of "In Search of the Superlative Horse" we had a raffle for this painting. Hidden Light Framing Department did a fabulous job of framing this watercolor. 

…….and the winner is Sara Jansen.

If you haven't seen the show, it will be up through June at Hidden Light, 427 South San Francisco Street, Flagstaff, AZ . Hours 9:00 am - 5:00 pm Monday - Friday, (928) 527-1847

If you are collector from out of town on the weekend call me (928) 460-0065 and I will see if I can arrange a showing.

Embellish!

Untitled

Artist Proof

Embellished Intaglio 

12" x 12"

$495.00

I love embellishment. Adding watercolor, gold leaf, ink, graphite, paper, whatever is at hand, and whatever the piece calls for. It is like putting together a puzzle, or figuring out a mystery. I love solving the riddle of creating a piece of art.

This was just such a riddle. I started out with an intaglio on Rives BFK and started adding watercolor and gouache, then ink. The final flourish, 23 karat Italian gold leaf. I am not sure it is really from Italy, but the name is romantic and adds a air of history for me. Image size is 12" x 12" on larger paper.

The Space In Between

Garden Variety Friends

34' x 56"

Sold

I was recently asked why there is a gap in between these two panels. I answered the question in this way.

It is a diptych, I like working on two or more canvases and feel the gap is time, distance, and connection.

All true, but something else.

I love the way the eye must skip the gap and make the connection to the other side. I like that it breaks up the larger areas and adds a bit more interest. I like that it makes it easier to ship.

….and still, there is something more. Something that hints at what is going on beneath the surface. It whispers about a past history and a future story. About a place that can't be wrecked by the ravages of time. A glimpse at the edge of that eternal field that is just out of sight beyond the horizon.

I may never fully understand why I prefer to use the gap, the space in between, but it some how comforts me to know that there is more.

Monoprint- Indian Summer

Indian Summer

Monoprint

Ink on Stonehenge Paper

22" x 15"

$295.00

In the Southwest the summer is marked by brilliant greens and dry browns. We have a tenuous  relationship with the vegetation as it can quickly become fuel for a wild flower. This print reminds me of that relationship.

Unframed verses Framed

"Spring Romp"

Unframed

When I frame a piece I do it to suit the painting and my taste. I do this because I maybe living with this painting in my home for weeks, months, even years before it catches someones heart and they acquire it.

I have never regretted it once.

"Spring Romp"

4250.00

Framed

Spring Romp

"Spring Romp"

Mixed Media on Paper

with 23 Karat Gold Leaf

22" x 30"

Framed

42" x 34"

4250.00

I LOVE this painting! It doesn't happen often, but every once in awhile I create a painting that I want to keep. I had this painting framed for the show and quite frankly, I'm smitten.