All change.

 Once again, it’s been a long time since I posted, I guess that’s what student life does to a person. You get so wrapped up researching, creating, writing essays and everything else that goes along with studying. I be had a whale of a time though. It’s been one of the best experiences of my life. It all started in September 2017. I did a Batchelor of Arts and graduated in 2020 (virtually thanks to Covid) with a first class honours degree and then, despite saying I would never do it, I did a part-time Masters degree for the last 2 years and I graduate with a merit on Friday 18/11/2022. That’s it, Student finance ends at 60 years old so I’m out of time, although I doubt I would have gone on any further anyway. I’m satisfied now I proved I’m not the dumb schoolgirl my teachers thought I was back in the 1970’s. Now, I’m the most highly educated person in my family too. 

Soooo, what next? 

I’ll shortly be registering for self-assessment (UK) and beginning a new career as a self-employed Professional Portrait Artist. I’ve been creating some pieces in and amongst my studies. Some personal portraits along with some generic portraits, the latter of which will be turned into Fine Art prints. I hope to have a website done before Christmas where some of my portraits can be bought direct.

I still do crafting when the mood takes me, though nowhere near as often as I’d like. There just aren’t enough hours in the day for me. I can’t believe under the old rules, I would be retiring next year, but here I am starting a new business. Once upon a time 60 and being a pensioner seemed like OLD, but I don’t feel old and knackered and ready to rest my weary bones. I feel no different that I did at 50, 40, 30 or even 20. Yeah, my body is creaking a bit (OK, a lot) but I’m still raring to go. I feel I still have loads to give this world, instead of giving up. 

If there’s anyone still following me, thank you, if you’re new to me and a crafter, page back for crafting inspiration, hints and tips. There’s still a lot of relevant content and you never know, I might update again before I pop my clogs. LOL. 

Here’s a few pieces of recent art.

Fine Art Giclee Prints available

I now have a small number of high quality Fine Art Giclee prints available for purchase in respect of the pictures below.
If you are interested in owning a print or maybe even the original please contact me at : yvonnejenningsart@yahoo.co.uk

In the shade And Meandering along

Another two in my series of pictures down Shelf Woods, close to my home in Halifax, West Yorkshire, UK. Again acrylic on canvas board.
Prints of these will be available shortly and prints of the previous three will be available even sooner, as they are currently at the printers for digital scanning.
If you are interested in owning either a print or the original you can reach me through Facebook or send me an e-mail at : yvonnejenningsart@yahoo.co.uk

Waterfall

Encouraged by positive comments on Facebook about the way I’ve painted water, and my recent addiction to painting in acrylics, I felt inspired to ‘go for it’ and paint this waterfall which is at the bottom part of Shelf woods bordering with Coley woods (Halifax, West Yorkshire, UK). It is a photo I took some years ago now and I used to walk here a lot with my Whippet Meg. It is a special place too, because I believe it to be the site my Grandma used to call ‘the burn down’ where some of my ancestors lived. I was also told recently that it could have been the site of the Shelf flour mill which had a waterwheel, but at this time I haven’t been able to verify that. I certainly can’t think of another waterfall big enough in Shelf woods to support a waterwheel. Interesting though.

Shelf Woods 2

So, this is the second acrylic painting at the same location as previously, just closer to the fallen tree and a slightly different angle. Considering that my preference has been portraiture, I’m really enjoying the freedom that landscapes have. After all, no-one really notices a mistake with landscapes, but make a mistake on a portrait and everyone notices. For now.. let’s see how far this goes.

First unsupervised woodland painting

Following on from the weekends workshop I have now finished this piece. It is taken from a photo (my own) in the woods near where I live and is done in acrylic. I think I might be starting to like scenic paintings.

Trees and Woodland workshop

Last weekend I attended a workshop in the Lake District. I’ve struggled with acrylics due to how quickly they dry and I like to spend time blending. I also love trees and woodland so I thought it would be a challenge. I had an amazing time, despite some reservations I had on the days before. Anyway, the first day we did some 5 x 7” studies and on the second day we went larger. I didn’t get to finish this at time but I did finish it at home. It’s been done from a reference picture supplied by the tutor so cannot say where it was taken.