Jen's Blog

In the Press!

Jennifer Vranes — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 19:09:00 +0000

I just wanted to pass along some exciting news! In this month's publication of Art Business News (a top magazine for the art world) I was quoted several times in their article, "Time Honored Appeal". Also, I was delighted to find that Art Business News spotlighted me in an online exclusive, where I talk all about my painting technique, "Textures of Life".

I must say it is pretty exciting for a little girl from Southern Oregon to be getting some national attention! I just wanted to share the news with you...

"Fall Breeze"

Jennifer Vranes — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 19:09:00 +0000

This a 24 x 36 autumn scene that I intend to make into a "Season" series. I will do 3 more of this size; Winter, Spring and Summer!

The Final Result!

Jennifer Vranes — Sun, 20 Apr 2008 18:12:00 +0000

This is "Lavender Summer II" hanging up in Wade and Karen's master bath. What a gorgeous bathroom! Karen says she loves looking up at the lavender as she relaxes in the tub. She 'gets lost in the field!' It's a real treat for me to see the final result of project that took weeks of collaboration! This is the end result to Wade and Karen's vision...

Grandma's Funeral

Jennifer Vranes — Thu, 10 Apr 2008 18:53:00 +0000

On Friday, April 4th 2008 Dorothy Sophie Kreutzer Vranes, 85, passed away peacefully surrounded by loved ones. Here is a link to read her obituary. Grandma "Dotie" will be deeply missed!

"Lavender Summer II"

Jennifer Vranes — Sun, 06 Apr 2008 01:31:00 +0000

This piece was commissioned by Wade and Karen Watson. I met them at the Celebration of Fine Art in Scottsdale, where they commissioned this lavender painting for their gorgeous custom master bathroom. They wanted it similar to the first "Lavender Summer" but in a smaller size (36 x 48). They also requested that I add "puffy white clouds" to the blue sky. Karen and Wade sent me pictures of their bathroom to give me an idea of color scheme, and I saw that they had a beautiful stained glass window above their spa tub. I decided to surprise them, and added the window to the painting. You can see it in the small structure (the "bath house") to the left of the house. They approved the piece, so I'll be shipping it off tomorrow!

Gallery 1870

Jennifer Vranes — Sat, 29 Mar 2008 01:31:00 +0000

On the way up to Oregon, we wound our way through Napa Valley, CA, stopping in Yountville to visit Gallery 1870 and to give them more work. It is a beautiful Gallery located in the heart of Northern California's wine country. Gallery 1870 does very well with my vineyards and poppy fields! Pictured here is Paul Thoren (owner) and his daughter Cassia holding my latest poppy field painting.

Hollywood Baby!

Jennifer Vranes — Sat, 29 Mar 2008 01:31:00 +0000

While Linda was away "putting out fires" (as Charles calls it) at NBC, Charles took us around his neighborhood, pointing out the homes of various movie stars like Jennifer Love Hewitt (top picture), Kirsten Dunst (second picture), and Jason Alexander. I tried to be inconspicuous as I played the role of paparazzi! Charles also showed us a house that was used on the hit T.V. series, "Desperate Housewives"(third picture). What a neighborhood! For dinner, we ate at the famous Hollywood diner, "Bob's Big Boy". Charles is a very interesting conversationalist and we enjoyed very much listening to all his fascinating stories!

The Sullivans!

Jennifer Vranes — Thu, 27 Mar 2008 22:10:00 +0000

We next stopped in Hollywood to visit Charles and Linda Sullivan. Linda is the President of NBC-LA, and is a dear collector. Last Christmas, Charles decided to surprise Linda with a 48 x 48 painting to hang above the mantel. The whole operation was done completely in secret, and on Christmas morning, Linda opened a huge, square box containing the painting. She was very surprised!

"Sherwood Gallery"

Jennifer Vranes — Wed, 26 Mar 2008 22:10:00 +0000

To break up the long, 26 hour trip back to Oregon from Scottsdale, we made a few stops along the way. Our first stop was to the Sherwood Gallery in Laguna Beach, which is a beautiful Gallery located right on the main street near the ocean. I really wanted to see where they had hung my 108" x 48" triptych! I was pleased to find it hanging on a prominent wall in the front of the Gallery. I was surprised to discover that my work is the most representational work in the Gallery! Everything else is very abstract and super contemporary. I think it's my extreme use of texture, and bold color, that enables my work to cross over into the contemporary realm. My paintings are an interesting combination of impressionism and modernism. Pictured here with me is the Gallery owner, Donna Gourley, who first discovered my work in Las Vegas at ArtExpo 2007. She is very well known in the art world and I was pleased to join her gallery last year.

Packing up!

Jennifer Vranes — Wed, 26 Mar 2008 06:26:00 +0000

Welp, the show is all over! It was an exciting adventure...but now it's time to pack up and move out. Unfortunately, they're going to have to kick me out! Here I am STILL working on finishing up a painting! It's sick. Though, in the 10 weeks of the show, I was able to do 40 paintings! This has definitely been a working show for me. The show ended daily at six, and after everyone cleared out, I would work distraction-free until midnight! My best time has always been in the evening. I feel my energy level start to rise as the sun begins to set. Plus, I figured since my family was back home in Oregon, I might as well make the time away really count. Here's a shot of me still at it--putting the final touches on a painting before it got shipped out. I brought nothing home. What I didn't sell at the show, I shipped off to various Galleries.

The End!

Jennifer Vranes — Sun, 23 Mar 2008 03:08:00 +0000

last day of the show is tomorrow! I can't believe it's already been 10 weeks! Time to get back to the family and back to real life. It's been a ball.

''Lavender Summer'' sold!

Jennifer Vranes — Sun, 23 Mar 2008 02:53:00 +0000

Ron and Debby Branham, from Scottsdale AZ, are the new owners of my 48 x 48, "Lavender Summer". This piece was my show stopper...and it was a little hard to see go! But I'm delighted the Branhams loved it, and thought it perfect for their bedroom nook. It will look fabulous against the gold venitian plaster of their bedroom walls. What a delight it was getting to know these new collectors.

''Making a Video''

Jennifer Vranes — Sun, 23 Mar 2008 02:38:00 +0000

Tonight I invited a production crew to film a DVD for my Galleries and Collectors. They spent several hours filming raw footage of my painting technique and artistic viewpoints that will later be edited and produced. It was fun!!

"Grandfather's Cottage" sold!

Jennifer Vranes — Sun, 23 Mar 2008 02:32:00 +0000

Tom and Cindy Dewar are the new owners of my 24 x 24 "Grandfather's Cottage". They are from Fort Worth, TX, and have a perfect place in their breakfast room for this lavender piece. It was a pleasure meeting them at the show!

"More Family"

Jennifer Vranes — Sat, 22 Mar 2008 06:26:00 +0000

This is Yvonne Vranes. Her brother found my website, and wanted to know if there was any familial ties. With a name like "Vranes" we all are related somehow! The family tree only goes back to my husband's great grandfather "George" when he showed up at Ellis Island having traveled from Yugoslavia via Austria. We believe the name "Vranes" was originally "Vranesh", but it got 'lost in translation' at Ellis Island. The interest thing is, Yvonne's side of the family pronounces "Vranes" like "Vran-es", while we say it like "Vraines". Yvonne lives in Phoenix so I invited her out to the show. When I first saw her, I couldn't believe the family resemblance to my husband's sister, Sara. We are most definitely related!

''Celebration of Color''

Jennifer Vranes — Fri, 21 Mar 2008 17:34:00 +0000

Michael and Karen Jones commissioned a large "statement" piece with lots of bold color and great texture for their home in Scottsdale. We decided to do a 96" x 48" triptych of aspens with tons of bright yellows and vibrant reds with a hint of blue! This is the result. I can't wait to see it hanging in their bedroom!

''Hills of Chianti'' tuscany poppy painting by Jennifer Vranes

Vranes — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 04:41:00 +0000

The region of Chanti is known for its wonderful vineyards and vintage wines. The countryside is speckled with rows of vineyards and fields of wild poppies.

Hills of Chianti
acrylic on canvas
48" x 48"

''Autumn Fiesta'' aspen birch painting by Jennifer Vranes

Vranes — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 22:01:00 +0000

This is the left half of a painting that I finished up this afternoon. What is unique about this piece is that it can stand strong on its own, even though there is another half to it. This particular piece is a wide 8 foot by 4 foot scene, with two 4'x4' pieces. I titled them separately (I and II) so they can be sold individually if Royal Street Fine Art chooses to do so.

Autumn Fiesta
acrylic on canvas
48" x 48"

"Sunlit Forest" New Diptych Aspen Painting by Jennifer Vranes

Vranes — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 01:11:00 +0000

Here is a new Aspen piece I just finished up. I love the colors, and the size (60"x48").

More tomorrow!

"Laura"

Jennifer Vranes — Mon, 17 Mar 2008 02:11:00 +0000

This is Laura Leonard. She came back three times to watch me paint. Finally, I proffered her my palette knife, and she excitedly took it, and painted some autumn leaves. What a special gal! I think she was a little shocked at my prices, though. She thought "seventy-nine-fifty" meant $79.50!!! Oopsy. So she tried to think of something she could trade me, and came up with a month's stay at her house in NY this summer. She's only a 45 min. train ride to the city. She said my whole family could come, too. I'm really thinking about it...

"Golden Memories"

Jennifer Vranes — Fri, 14 Mar 2008 01:22:00 +0000

I titled this piece, "Golden Memories" because we all can relate to the time when we played in the autumn leaves. I remember how fun it was to bury myself entirely beneath a pile of leaves--with not even a toe or finger visible to the eye! This painting is a sweet reminder of those times not long gone by.

"Young Masters"

Jennifer Vranes — Wed, 12 Mar 2008 01:50:00 +0000

Sean Elcock was an old college friend of mine--one whom I haven't seen for over 10 years! He and his wife, Jana, and their two darling girls live in Phoenix...not too far from my Scottsdale art show. I sent them a couple of passes, and they came out to the show! It was great seeing Sean again, and meeting his beautiful family. His two young daughters were delighted when I handed them each a brush and told them to paint me a masterpiece. Oh, the inhibition of youth!

"Golfing with the Fam"

Jennifer Vranes — Mon, 10 Mar 2008 19:26:00 +0000

Since the show lasts for 10 weeks in Scottsdale, AZ, I missed two of my kid's birthdays! So, on one of the weekends home, we celebrated Jayden's and Colton's birthday at the Family Fun Center.

Home with the Kids

Jennifer Vranes — Sun, 09 Mar 2008 19:05:00 +0000

On the weekends I fly home, spend Sunday and Monday with the kids and then fly back to Scottsdale. It's a hectic schedule, but it's working out. When I'm home, all my time is spent with the kids (no painting allowed!). The boys are finally old enough to play real board games! It's so much fun. They were whipping me pretty badly at Monopoly, so Jayden (6) told me to close my eyes for 10 seconds and tried to slip me some of his own money! Colton (4) gave me tons of comforting hugs and said, "Oh Mommy! I don't want you to lose!"

"Tolula"

Jennifer Vranes — Sat, 08 Mar 2008 19:59:00 +0000

This is Rolande. She is an amazing jewelry designer. Her booth is directly across from mine. I must say she has opened up a new world to me with her beautiful pieces. I've never been much of a jewelry type of gal--but some of her creations have made me want to change my mind. We have a "trade" arrangement in the works! That's what I love about Art. I even do trade with my Dentist! Rolande is also an avid Dog lover. Here she is with her baby "Tolula"--a hairless Chinese Crestant. What they say about doggies and their masters looking alike is true in this case! Tolula has a whole wardrobe of clothes and accessories I'm told!