Fiendish

January has been an incredibly busy, tiresome and productive month! Quite an interesting start to the year after a holiday and work stress-induced creative dry spell. I have several hard deadlines at the end of the month and that’s really helped spurn my creative pursuits!

Sketchbook Cover – Grey Side of Life
© 2012 Kelly Jacobi
5″ by 7″
Ink on Cardstock

The deadline for the Sketchbook World Tour 2012 is January 31! Luckily, all I have to do is package it up and send it on its way.

Interior Spread from my 2012 Sketchbook
© 2012 Kelly Jacobi
10″ by 7″
Acrylic Paint and Ink on Paper

I am also participating in the For the Love of Kettle art show. Kettle Art is a small gallery in Deep Ellum that offers local artists a chance to show in a polished, professional environment. All pieces in this show are 9″ by 12″ and will be offered for sale for $50.

The boards are all due February sixth but after the first of February I won’t be available to run down to Deep Ellum to drop it off, so February first is my deadline. The reception is on February eleventh and I’d recommend checking it out!

Detail of my For the Love of Kettle Board
© 2012 Kelly Jacobi
9″ by 12″
Mixed Media on Board

 Detail of my For the Love of Kettle Board
© 2012 Kelly Jacobi
9″ by 12″
Mixed Media on Board

Lastly is a design project for my friend Eddie Heal, a classical guitarist and composer. For him I’ve designed a CD booklet and tray card for his first classical compilation! I’m very glad to have had the chance to put this together for him.

© 2012 Eddie Healy
Photography © 2012 Justin Schaefers

© 2012 Eddie Healy
Photography © 2012 Stacey Callaway

The beginning of each year, historically, invigorates me. I’m full of hope and the idea of an entire year stretched out before me gives me a sense of ease.

I’ve always been fond of new year’s resolutions: it’s a chance to refocus on what is actually important to me, to clear away any mental clutter that has accrued throughout the previous year and to put the past behind me. Last year I set three pretty serious goals for myself, and excelled at one of them: participate in one art show. I need to keep a log of shows I participate in, but I think last year I hit at least 5, which is quite good, I think, considering I’ve not been in one before! My other goals were to lose 30 pounds and to take significant strides toward opening my own business. Well, I did lose 5 pounds! I also learned a lot about myself, which is invaluable.

This year I’ve decided to set more realistic goals: show some of my photography, aim for a healthier lifestyle and do something every day that benefits my art and developing that as a career. Pretty reasonable, I’d say. One unofficial goal I have is to revive Post Revival. Most of my recipients have moved and I haven’t kept up with their addresses. If you’re interested in receiving some artsy post cards, drop me a line!

So, in the spirit of the new year, I present the first piece finished this year, began two weeks ago:

As Yet Untitled
© 2012 Kelly Jacobi
5″ by 7″
Graphite on Mat Board

Grazing upon sprouts,
Nimble, deft and naïve,
Down, sent from roots and
Eyes lit by sun,
She takes what she feels due,
Her grace lost amid brambles and thorns.

Years have passed since I last did a piece in graphite and I was feeling a little nostalgic, so I broke out my Koh-I-Noor mechanical pencils and got to work. The preliminary sketch was incredibly simple and extremely small, so outside the general composition this was improvised. Very slowly improvised, but improvised none the less!

Here’s to a new year!

The cooler weather has inspired a great sleepiness in me that has taken over my productivity. I’ve been such a slug!

I’ll get back to arting soon… yes, soon.

This morning was the Art Con 7 artist workday. It was a lovely morning and a lot of fun. I’m really excited about the show tomorrow evening.

In other news: I’m going to refocus on my health goals as well as on upping my creative output. I’m hoping that teaming up with my good friend on an exercise and health plan as well as participating in Illustration Friday and the Sketchbook Project will help me be successful with both!

A detail of a couple of ink paintings I’ve been working on.

I’ve been struggling with a creative block lately but have managed to create a couple of things I like.

Submitted a poster design for the Lights All Night New Years Eve party.

View my entry here: http://creativeallies.com/creations/kpr!

I’m going to show at Art Con 7 on November 12! From everything I’ve seen they do awesome events and a portion of proceeds benefit Musical Angels. Be sure to buy your tickets: http://www.prekindle.com/promo/id/22058230578448943!

This past weekend there was another Bolivar Arts & Music Collective show. Unfortunately, this one was put together in a hurry and had a far smaller turn out than their previous shows. It was still a lot of fun and I’m glad Justin and I participated! I displayed the same pieces shown at Premiere 23, so to save you the repetition I’ll just post some of the more fun shots from the Bolivar show.

My handsome fellow.

Photograph of me by my wonderful fellow.

My boyfriend, Justin, enjoying one of the bands.

Justin took a picture of me well into my marathon of a day.

Check out my Etsy shop for more details and to purchase.

Tree 1

Tree 2

Tree 3

Tree 4

Tree 5

Tree 6

Tree 8

I currently have 7 remaining.

Art Conspiracy is having an open call for artists that ends tonight. I recommend signing up; there’s no guarantee you’ll be chosen in the blind raffle, but nothing ventured, nothing gained.

Premiere 23 logo by the glorious Alexis Ann Boots.

The show was great! It ended up being an elegant and fun evening that earned a sizable contribution for the North Texas Food Bank. I’m glad to have been a part!

Unfortunately, nearly every picture I took turned out blurry or out of focus so there aren’t many images from the event.

Mandi of Bead Circle and myself, dressed to the nines!

One of the large paintings I showed. Acrylic and colored pencil on wood panel.

Acrylic and colored pencil on wood panel.

Some of the tree plaques I made for the event. Acrylic and card stock mounted to stained and sealed pine.

My boyfriend also showed at Premiere 23. Pictured above is one of my favorite photographs of his.

He gave away some of his CDs, too. I recommend checking out the Schaefers Recording Cooperative Web site for more information on his various musical projects, all of which are very good.

I designed some mini-cards for him. We were able to feature different photographs of his on the backs of the cards.

The other artists in attendance all had wonderful collections on display and I’m looking forward to seeing what the next Art Gala event brings!