Jodi Dann

Plump and Juicy, Original Painting

2023

Artist Comments
Artist Lee Smith presents seven bird friends gathered together, one grinning with joy. Bold brushstrokes outline each bird with coord...

Artist Comments
Artist Lee Smith presents a mischievous-looking rabbit in the act of running away. She leaves out the pursuer from the composition, allowing the viewer to create their own narrative. Bold black linework with strategically placed teal accents outlines the patterned golden hues of the charming hare. The gray background allows the subject to take center stage, enhanced with a complex system of white tick marks, which add interest and help create the feeling of action and motion.

About the Artist
Artist Lee Smith combines abstract, expressionist, and gritty contemporary art in her work. “My style is greatly influenced by years spent in CGI production and an unapologetic love for the daily comics,” says Lee. As a keen observer, she finds her inspiration in the social aspects of life. Her work represents human emotions and portrays these emotions by illustrating the animal world, often using those popular companions—cats and dogs. In her long professional career, Lee has worked as a newspaper layout artist, a visual merchandising specialist, a freelance graphic artist, a technical illustrator, and an art director. Lee retired from the corporate world ten years ago to concentrate on her art career. “Although I studied art in college, I prefer to describe myself as 'self-taught.' Years of irreplaceable hands-on experience have provided an extensive and invaluable continuing education in the arts,” says Lee. When building her current home in Oregon, she added a small studio that she keeps organized and clutter-free. She wears her trusty paint-covered denim overall when working, and typically listens to audiobooks or podcasts. “I have dozens of paintbrushes in cans all over the studio, but I have only about 10 favorites that I always use.”

Words that describe this painting: rabbit, bunny, grin, teeth, eyes, pattern, running, run, leap, leaping, animal, ears, feet, legs, jack rabbit, mixed media, playful, animals, mixed media artwork, grey

The Getaway...

Artist Comments
Artist Alana Clumeck illustrates a diverse herd of horses in the wild west. "To create a pattern of horses, I cut out a horse shape and repeated the pattern across the canvas," shares Alana. She outlines each horse in oil pastel and then fills the shapes in with different neutral tones using acrylic paint. Leaving one horse to paint in full detail, she outlines it with red oil pastel so that it pops and stand apart from the rest.

About the Artist
Australian-born Alana Clumeck was raised by artistic parents who owned a pottery studio during her youth. Although she grew up throwing pots, it wasn’t until she was pregnant with her second child that she began painting as creative therapy. For Alana, being an artist is entwined with motherhood. She works from her home studio, so she often paints while watching her children play. When the kids are at school, painting becomes precious meditative time alone. “Since my discovery of art came as a form of therapy, I still use it to paint out my thoughts or feelings,” says Alana. “I will often use symbolism within my paintings to represent how I feel.”

Words that describe this painting: horse, equine, equestrian, western, primitive, animal, mixed media, large, desert, herd, animals, western, primitive, mixed media artwork, black

The One...

Artist Comments
Taking inspiration from the famous Baroque painting, artist Lee Smith presents her spirited interpretation of Vermeer's masterpiece. In her playful rendition, she includes the mysterious model's favorite pet. Lee paints in the style of primitivism, creating a fresh perspective to the work. Rich with texture, the painting glows with intense color contrasts and playful patterns in the background.

About the Artist
Artist Lee Smith combines abstract, primitive, expressionist, and gritty contemporary art in her work. “My style is greatly influenced by years spent in CGI production and an unapologetic love for the daily comics,” says Lee. As a keen observer, she finds her inspiration in the social aspects of life. Her work represents human emotions and portrays these emotions by illustrating the animal world, often using those popular companions—cats and dogs. In her long professional career, Lee has worked as a newspaper layout artist, a visual merchandising specialist, a freelance graphic artist, a technical illustrator, and an art director. Lee retired from the corporate world ten years ago to concentrate on her art career. “Although I studied art in college, I prefer to describe myself as 'self-taught.' Years of irreplaceable hands-on experience have provided an extensive and invaluable continuing education in the arts,” says Lee. When building her current home in Oregon, she added a small studio that she keeps organized and clutter-free. She wears her trusty paint-covered denim overall when working, and typically listens to audiobooks or podcasts. “I have dozens of paintbrushes in cans all over the studio, but I have only about 10 favorites that I always use.”

Words that describe this painting: girl, dog, canine, pearl earring, scarf, classic, Vermeer, eyes, pet, medieval, Dutch Baroque, stencil, portrait, posed, head, profile, animal, girl, woman, people, mixed media, primitive, eyes, fashion, animals, people, fashion, primitive, mixed media artwork, green

Girl With Pearl Earring...

Artist Comments
A dancing lady throws her arms in the air with fervor in artist Libby Ramage's mixed-media piece. The work expresses the exuberance of a young girl in a flowing...

Artist Comments
Artist Johansen Newman shows a sleeping woman lying on a stage, surrounded by cascading curtains. An emerging hand reaches out to her, waking her from her deep slumber. Johansen salvages barn wood, an old clock face...