100 Days Wild and Free

March 31, 2023 | jennifer barrile

Participating this year in the 100 Day project. This may be my 6th or 7th year participating (lost track). Only twice have I completed all 100 days of a project.

The 100 Day Project is a yearly global art project online, anyone can participate in creating something for 100 days. The type of project is all up to you. This challenge began February 2023, but you can still join in anytime. Many people share their process/project on Instagram which gives you some accountability to keep going but you don’t have to share something everyday or at all.

My project this year is 100 Days Wild and Free, it’s about creative play, experimenting with old artwork and new. My goal is to stretch the imagination, to create and be messy without the need for perfection. All in all its about having fun with the process!

Day 1/100

(mixed media, ink doodle paired with an old watercolor landscape)

This is what I have accomplished so far:

The last three images days 22-24 was a study of one image done three different ways.

* Anyone participating in this project too? If so let me know.

Find out more about the project visit: The100DayProject.org

I’ve been posting the project occasionally, grouping the images together in a post or video.You can find my project videos on Instagram @ Jensimaginings

Thanks for stopping by!

Connie Mack Stadium painting

March 23, 2023March 23, 2023 | jennifer barrile

This commissioned painting of Connie Mack Stadium was an interesting request and a fun challenge for me.

The ballpark was located in Philadelphia, originally named Shibe Park it opened in 1909, later in 1953 it was renamed Connie Mack Stadium. The ballpark was home to The Philadelphia Athletics and Phillies. A few years after the stadium closed the building was finally demolished in 1976.

Research on the history of the ballpark began my process. Family members including neighbors old enough to remember the stadium filled me with interesting stories, and fond memories. The painting became even more special, as I grew to know the history, and the stories this building held.

The beginning, drawing stage.

Painting begins: Acrylic paint on cold press watercolor paper.

Close up view: this building held many many windows!

My dad had a few memories at this ballpark, one in particular occurred on the day he attended the last baseball game played in that stadium on October 1, 1970. He amusingly recalled the last play of the 10th inning, ( Phillies defeated the Montreal Expos) the seat he was sitting in began to move abruptly. My dad surprisingly looked around, noticed the fans in the stadium removing the seats and grabbing anything in reach to take home a souvenir. The fans that day won a little piece of sports history.

The history of Shibe/Connie Mack Stadium

The Philadelphia Athletics history

Bleacher houses watching the game from outside the stadium. (loved looking at these old images!)

Under the boardwalk

September 29, 2022 | jennifer barrile

This artwork was inspired by a day trip with family to Atlantic city, New Jersey in July.

Recycled packaging cardboard was used to create two small works of art. I enjoy the challenge of working small and painting on different kinds of material.

The beach theme worked well with the ripple texture on the surface of the cardboard, it created a dreamy underwater feeling. The paintings measure 3 x 2.5 inches. The brown hue of the cardboard was the base color for sand and boardwalk, graphite was used to define edges including shaded areas. The sky and ocean is painted in shades of blue, green and white. The entire cardboard (front, back & sides) was sealed in a clear matte finish.

I was excited about the results of this creative exploration, the painting worked well on this material.

The images that inspired the paintings

You can view these paintings along with 11 of my other miniatures exhibiting at Off The Wall Gallery at Dirty Franks in Philadelphia.. The 2022 MIDSUMMER INVITATIONAL continues through October 7, 2022.

Explore Atlantic City, NJ

Thank you for visiting!

Life in miniature

August 17, 2022 | jennifer barrile

My “Life In Miniature” series is about daily observations, working on a smaller scale with limited color and using recycled material. It was my natural curiosity to utilize the everyday materials I had on hand; these include chipboard, packaging cardboard and watercolor paper.

My small works of art, 15 in total are currently showcased at Off The Wall Gallery @ Dirty Frank’s in Philadelphia alongside 5 very talented artists. The Mid Summer Invitational (A Passion For Painting!) Opening Night is Thursday, August 18th the show will run until October 7, 2022.

The art was inspired by my surroundings, my neighborhood, road trips, and walks in the Wissahickon Park. The smallest painting in my collection measures 1×2 inches.

Working on gesso chipboard, with a raw exposed edge

Manayunk 5″x2″(view from Main Street Post Office) Acrylic paint on recycled cardboard with wood backing.

In my studio preparing the art for display.

Solitude. 4″x2″(Acrylic paint & graphite on recycled packaging cardboard with wood trim, top/bottom edges exposed)

There is something about creating art with recycled materials—and elevating it to something special that just makes me happy.

Thank you for visiting and taking the time to view my art!

** To view the art in person, visit Off The Wall Gallery @ Dirty Frank’s -( NE corner of 13th & Pine) in Philadelphia or view all the works online:

Jennifer Barrile, Life In Miniature, art collection online

I’ve been away from WP and blogging for awhile, but I hope to get back to posting again on a regular basis.

Digital detox

February 12, 2021February 20, 2021 | jennifer barrile

I am back online after a short hiatus.

The need for change is how I began this digital minimalism.. I was deep into mindless social media scrolling, online searches, YouTube watching and sometimes game playing. Although I began to spend less time using my phone, I felt the need to make a bigger change. The idea began when I discovered Cal Newport’s book, Digital Minimalism. I read the book twice and made a commitment to try a month of detox suggested in the book.. It was a great way to start fresh.

I’m not going to lie, the first few days were rough. I would mindlessly reach for my phone out of habit.

Instead of randomly picking up my phone, I would pick up a book to read. I was prepared with an arsenal of good reads.

As days passed it got easier, I forget about my phone and what I was missing online, it felt like freedom. After the 31 days I re-evaluated how and why I use online sites, social media apps and what was necessary to keep or let go. The digital detox was an eye opening experience.

How I spent my time during the 31 days of digital detox:

I finished 4 books and Digital Minimalism I read twice.
Painted my art studio (spare bedroom) purged items, repaired walls and organized the space
Found my old iPod during a clean up (it still worked!) I used it to listen to music
Early morning walks, and sometimes an afternoon hike with my daughter
Evening stargazing on my deck with the binoculars
Organized every closet, and kitchen drawer or cabinet in the house
Purged and donated many things we didn’t need anymore
Created a reading nook in my living room
Phone conversations and less texting
More daydreaming

When my art space was back to normal I began to create and experiment with my art supplies. Somedays I only doodled, lots of ink doodles.

I highly recommend any of the books above. The Practice by Seth Godin a great read for any creative.

Thank you for taking time to read my journey.

Unlimited one color

November 5, 2020 | jennifer barrile

Limiting the use of color allowed me to focus on the texture and mood of this painting.

Sail into peace. 6 x 8 in., painting on paper, cobalt blue and acrylic white paint with graphite and ink line

This one will stay docked in my personal collection.

Have a peaceful week ahead.

The story behind a painting

October 20, 2020October 21, 2020 | jennifer barrile

A glimpse into my painting process and story behind this commission.

Memories.

A few months ago I received an inquiry for a special painting, the client liked an art print that was for sale on my Etsy shop. The painting would be a bigger version of the print with some additions.

My print was based on a cityscape painting of Green Lane in Manayunk, a neighborhood in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. This particular image, was a feel good memory for the client who grew up near this neighborhood but has since moved out of the city.

The inspiration: Green Lane – A 5×7″ print of my original paintings on paper

Green Lane has changed over the years, with many buildings gone from the street including the closing of St. Lucy’s Catholic School and the demolished Church. Sentimental to the client’s family history, it was important to have St. Lucys Church included in the painting, with views of the Manayunk bridge and train trestle as well.

My creative process began with a visit to the location, I captured the view of Green Lane from different perspectives, high above the street and down below, with help from my lovely assistant (my daughter).

I work from my own photographs when creating a painting, but with this particular project I also had to rely on old street views for the image of the church, which no longer existed.

Thumbnail sketches helped to work out the composition and allowed the client to visualize my ideas. The chosen image was drawn to a larger scale, and approved by client before I began to paint.

Thumbnail sketch ideas – these quick lil sketches help ideas to flow .

short video of my process, the stages of painting

Beginning stage: Since it was a larger painting, I worked on this standing up.

The finished painting, 28 in. x 22 inches, acrylic & watercolor on cold press paper.

It is always a pleasure to create something special for someone, especially when the artwork can bring forth such wonderful memories.

Thank you very much for stopping by!

You can also find my art here:

Etsy shop @ JensImaginings

Instagram

Facebook

Strange days

September 30, 2020September 30, 2020 | jennifer barrile

Caught in a moment

spiraling

falling

into strange days

(Art inspired by song, Where Is My Mind by the Pixies : cut paper on chip board, marker and ink)

The past few months has been an adjustment for me, my time spent on social media slowed down, and I wasn’t creating blog posts. Making art came to a halt during the beginning of the covid pandemic. Over the Summer months I slowly began to paint again. My weekly family outings, surrounding ourselves in nature was a saving grace.

Forever Summer

Side trip to Slaughter Beach in Delaware, before heading home from Summer vacation. Plenty of shells, rocks and horseshoe crabs wash up on this beach.

(Illustration: watercolor, ink and graphite on watercolor paper. )

My sketchbook also accompanied me on my travels.

On the beach in Ocean City, Maryland

(watercolor sketch book, watercolor markers & ink)

Enjoyed many hot Summer days swimming (and sketching) at Garrison Lake in New Jersey. Beautiful scenic cedar lake with plenty of trees to escape the sun.

(watercolor sketch book, with watercolor pencils and graphite)

As a family we spent time walking, hiking and having picnics in various parks in our area. A favorite place to visit is the Valley Forge National Historic Park in Pennsylvania.