Large Classical Still Life Oil Painting Peonies, Pair of Wrens, Double Happiness Ginger Jar, leather bound books, pink stationery, cherry drop leaf table

Peonies in Double Happiness Jar with Two Wrens

30x24 inches / oil on canvas

SOLD

...and here's the second painting to which I'd referred in the prior post, a loose arrangement of old fashioned peonies in a Double Happiness jar symbolizing good luck.  Tucked amidst the casual arrangement of antique leather books and pretty pink stationery, are two tiny little Wrens, one of which is holding a fly in it's beak.  As always, the porcelain is chipped and cracked, water droplets randomly scattered, dense blossoms display a heavy burden on their stems with fallen petals, and leather books are torn and frayed...all revealing my trademark signs of age.

Large Classical Floral Still Life Painting with Birds, Antique Roses, Hollyhocks, Bluebirds, Butterflies, Bees, Porcelain Bowl, Raspberries, Round Mahogany Table

Antique Roses, Hollyhocks, Bluebirds, Butterflies and Bees in Porcelain Bowl with Raspberries

20x16 inches / oil on canvas

SOLD

Just going through some old photos to backup on yet another hard drive, my third now, as I have tens of thousands of files, most of which are pics, and came across two paintings I'd created quite a few years ago which I thought would be nice to share with you, the second to be posted tomorrow.  So many of my paintings never even get posted to my blog with my schedule, but if this one is already here, I think it's beauty and appealing subject matter warrant being presented again.  I do wish I'd taken a photo of the painting when it was completed, but there just wasn't enough time as the client was getting impatient for it, so this is actually prior to completion.  This was also painted prior to digital cameras so the details are quite a bit blurry.  Just looking at my painted rosebuds, I could nearly feel their rounded shape, hard packed with petals, the outermost barely beginning to peel open.  I'd subsequently worked those Bluebirds even more to the point where I could almost reach out and grasp them and hear their feathers flutter!

cheery cherry pink chocolate cordials valentine's day oil painting

cheery cherry pink

Chocolate Cherry Cordials

4x4 inches / oil on panel

email to purchase

Another version of an all time favorite, here's a trio of luscious, chocolate cherry cordials...a calorie free temptation just in time for Valentine's Day!

peach hollyhocks in oriental vase, vintage leather books, goldfinch bird figurine, hand painted torn oriental screen

Peach Hollyhocks in Oriental Vase

24x12 inches / oil on canvas

Layaway Available

email jeanneillenye@sbcglobal.net

burgundy peonies on cherry gooseneck chair colonial williamsburg cotton check fabric a little touch of country

Peonies on Gooseneck Chair

6x6 inches oil on panel

email to purchase

Burgundy Peonies resting on a cotton check upholstered gooseneck chair. The slight touches of blue in the highlights of the glossy leaves and the lovely cherry gooseneck arm are delightful. 

silver spoons front & back ribbon engraved antique sterling on rustic aqua painted wood table trumpet flower a little touch of country

s i l v e r w a r e

Silver Spoons on Blue Painted Wood Table

7x5 inches / oil on panel
SOLD

This is actually an example of both the front and back of the same spoon.  Note the ribbon and bow on the back as well as the engraved "K" on the front just above the inverted trumpet flower.  ...And yes, that's me by the south facing window in my studio where the snow provides a pure, cool reflected light...my favorite time of year to paint!

feathered nest blue eggs

n e s t

5x5 inches / oil on panel

SOLD

A classically painted twiggy nest with fluffs of feathers and three precious blue eggs.

I was going to number this nest but rather than count them all, I chose to search my nest category and came up with 53 paintings that included nests...so far...more to come!

Shades of White - Brilliant New Series for 2012 white peonies lace crystal

Shades of White

24x24 inches / oil on canvas

Over these past few years I've vowed to pursue my new direction and my true heart's desire, but my schedule would never permit.  However, this past year I was able to at least begin with this painting, "Shades of White".  After decades of painting various still life subjects, I've refined my preferences and plan to make a more concerted effort to paint my favorite things:  billowy white blossoms, silver, lace, teacups, nests, country cottage style and more from my gardens and antique collections.  Not only does the new year provide a fresh start, but it's also a time to reflect and bid thanks to all my wonderful art collectors!

Best wishes for a healthful, prosperous and joyful New Year! 

"An Enriched Life: It has been said that collecting original works of art is a luxury, but considering that it provides nourishment for one's soul, it is indeed a necessity." --ILLENYE

old world style oil painting dripping juice, oranges, grapes, pears, cherries on rustic ledge

Oranges on Rustic Ledge

20x24 inches / oil on canvas

SOLD

Once again harkening back to an old world classical style oil painting, featured here are luscious oranges that appear to have burst forth in an artistic arrangement with other fruit on a rustic ledge.  All are accentuated by reflective puddles of dripping juice.

Pears on Rustic Ledge

20x24 inches / oil on canvas

SOLD

A companion to the oranges above, this beautifully voluptuous painting of pears is  casually arranged on a rustic ledge with grapes, cherries and strawberries which are all accentuated by the tiniest white blossoms and reflective puddles and droplets.

May Blessings Abound at Christmastime 2011 Christmas Card

view all Christmas cards

Robin's Egg in Nest Amidst Wilting Pink Roses

Nest Amidst Wilting Roses

8x8 inches / oil on panel

SOLD

There’s something so intriguing about the backside of a flower...where the magic of the bloom emerges, unfurling it’s complicated and delicate splendor. Here I found that very same excitement in my roses and chose to paint their velvety petals just as they were, softly wilting and bruised as a gentle reminder of nature’s transient beauty. 

glistening fruit in cracked spode blue italian bowl, torn floral tapestry, cherries, red grapes, bruised blushing pears

Glistening Fruit in Spode Bowl

12x12 inches / oil on panel / copyrights © jeanne illenye 2011

SOLD

This chipped and cracked Spode Blue Italian bowl sets the stage for a luscious painting, rich with glistening cherries, blushing bruised pears and a cascade of ripening red grapes set against a torn, antique floral tapestry.  You can see that the inspiration for this was from an older painting of mine entitled "American Goldfinches" which is shown in the following post.  

For Spode Collectors blue transferware, fruit, birds

American Goldfinches in Cracked Spode Bowl

16x20 inches / oil on canvas

SOLD

     If you're a regular visitor to my blog and website, you've no doubt seen a good amount of blue & white porcelain and Spode Blue Italian transferware.  It has been the single most popular subject requested by clients, and I love painting it, particularly since it's my everyday set...well, except in Winter when I switch to another Spode pattern in one of their Victorian Christmas collections...and my brown transferware, and various mulberry transferware patterns, and two patterns of the Autumnal Game Series.  I digress, as my purpose for reposting this painting which I'd completed and sold many years ago, is to chat a little about Spode in general and introduce you to two fabulous sites. 
     Recently, I was introduced online to Pam Woolliscroft who began collecting at an early age and confesses that she'd even purchase cracked or chipped pieces that were priced more appropriately for a teenager to begin collecting...a great idea.  Of course I agree with this concept as a thing of beauty is not destroyed by what I've always referred to as the "kisses of time".   (You've seen how often I even paint cracks in my bowls for interest.)  Pam's early interest in Spode guided her toward a career as curator of the Spode Museum Trust as well as authoring a marvelous new blog which has been met with an overwhelming response,  Spode History:  Snippets of history relevant to the Spode pottery manufactory in Stoke-upon-Trent.  It's a tremendously informative site with wonderful images and links.  Additionally, Pam has begun Spode A-Z featuring a history of Spode patterns, no doubt a huge undertaking but one that will be quite enjoyable to watch grow.
     Another fellow Spode enthusiast whom I also met online is David Hoexter, web administrator of the Transferware Collectors Club which shares a passion for antique British transferware from 1760 to 1900.  It's a truly vast site in which one could spend days at a time browsing the endless array of beautiful transferware, and even buy or sell to enhance your own collections.  Another wonderful site which is a joint effort by the TCC and others to create an online Spode Exhibition.
     For those of us who are collectors, it's always delightful to make new acquaintances who share our appreciation of history and these beautiful wares, so I invite you to pop over and visit these wonderful sites and enjoy the tour!

Sustenance and Thanksgiving wine fruit nuts torn velvet humble gratitude

"Sustenance"

16x20 inches oil on canvas

email to purchase

This beautifully serene painting depicts a sparse meal of nuts, fruit and wine on a frayed and torn, velvet cloth.  It's humble setting bespoke the thought of grateful thanksgiving hence the title "Sustenance".

nest with sand cherry pod feathers moss blue eggs broken egg 8x8 in

Nest with Sand Cherry Pod

8x8 inches / oil on panel

SOLD

 Chabot Fine Art Gallery

orange glow smaller version rustic wood ledge juice droplets

Orange Glow

8x8 inches oil on panel

SOLD

Smaller than my earlier versions of this subject and minus the cherries, this cropped composition still retains a wonderful drama with the fruit painted lifesize and a thin film of reflected light hovering above, hence the title.

Available at Chabot Fine Art Gallery

Sterling Silver Olive Spoon with Stars

Sterling Olive Spoon with Stars

7x5 inches / oil on panel

Available at Chabot Fine Art Gallery

A companion painting to Sterling Bon Bon Spoon (scroll down), this is quite intricate with the tiniest little pierced stars and engraved starbursts within the bowl of the spoon.

framed size 11.5 x 9.5 inches

 

English Roses in Spode Blue Italian Teacup honeybee dewdrops pearls embroidered lace cloth 8x10 in.

English Roses in Spode Teacup

8x10 inches / oil on canvas

SOLD

Thoughts of a leisurely afternoon come to mind with an antique embroidered, lace edged cloth, pearls cascading over a leather bound book, and fresh from the garden with dewdrops and honeybee are soft English roses gently tucked into a Spode Blue Italian teacup.

To read about Spode history visit http://spodehistory.blogspot.com/2011/10/spode-and-paintings.html

Sterling Silver Teaspoon

Sterling Silver Teaspoon

7x5 inches / oil on canvas

SOLD

Always a joy to paint, this particular sterling teaspoon shows the autumn foliage outside my window as well as me leaning forward toward my easel to see the details while painting.  From the Seven Flowers pattern, this charming “Little Gem” is offered on ebay auction.

Pears on Rustic Ledge 20x24 inches oil on canvas

Pears on Rustic Ledge

20x24 inches / oil on canvas

SOLD

A companion to the oranges above, this beautifully voluptuous painting of pears is  casually arranged on a rustic ledge with grapes, cherries and strawberries which are all accentuated by the tiniest white blossoms and reflective puddles and droplets.

estate sale silver engraved flatware ladles, fork, bonbon, olive, spoons, victorian

Estate Sale Silver

8x8 inches / oil on panel / copyrights © jeanne illenye 2011

Available at Howard / Mandville Gallery

A painting I’ve been planning for over a year, it has finally gotten on my easel. This seemingly casual yet precisely placed arrangement brings it’s abstract qualities to the forefront, similar to my very first silver spoons painting several years ago. However, this one has a touch of whimsy with the pricetags directly from an estate sale. You can also see the engraved initials E.B. as well as W on two handles. Several spoons, a fork, large ladle and tiny ladle are featured here.

burnished silver gilded hardwood frame / boxwood leaf & berry edge approx. 14x14 inches

sterling silver bon bon spoon on rustic dinged wood

Sterling Silver Bon Bon Spoon

7x5 inches / oil on panel

This is the first in a set that will be heading out to the Chabot Fine Art Gallery for their holiday show in November. The companion painting, still in progress, is an olive spoon pierced with tiny stars.
framed size 11.5 x 9.5 inches

The Wedding Dress - a very special gift from mother to daughter

The Wedding Dress

20x16 inches / oil on canvas

SOLD

This commissioned painting of a gorgeous wedding dress will be a very special gift from mother to daughter on her wedding day.  It was delightful to paint these billowy layers like feathers on a swan.

Nest Amidst Wilting Roses Oil Painting

Nest Amidst Wilting Roses

8x8 inches / oil on panel

SOLD

Available at Howard / Mandville Gallery

There’s something so intriguing about the backside of a flower...where the magic of the bloom emerges, unfurling it’s complicated and delicate splendor. Here I found that very same excitement in my roses and chose to paint their velvety petals just as they were, softly wilting and bruised as a gentle reminder of nature’s transient beauty.

burnished silver gilded hardwood frame / boxwood leaf & berry edge approx. 14x14 inches

butterfly perched on spires of white hollyhocks set against periwinkle blue sky

5x5 inches / oil on panel

email to purchase

A periwinkle sky provides the foil for luminous white hollyhocks and butterfly delicately perched amongst the spires. 

broken blue egg in mossy nest with blue feathers

Broken Egg in Mossy Nest with Feathers

5x5 inches / oil on panel

SOLD

A delicate branch holds this soft, mossy nest which contains a single broken blue egg and delicate blue feathers.  It's often easy to find nests at the end of the season, but to find eggs is much more rare.

pink roses in lady carlisle teacup with love letters

Pink Roses in Lady Carlisle Teacup

5x5 inches / oil on panel

SOLD

This painting tells a story of perhaps some love letters...a gift of roses...a sentimental moment.

Delightful Anticipation Teacups Tea Party Antique Sterling Silver Spoons Cake Moon and Stars Pedestal Cake Plate "Let them eat cake" Show

"Delightful Anticipation"

20x16 inches / oil on panel

This painting will be available in the upcoming "Let 'em Eat Cake" exhibit at Crooked Tree Gallery.  At first I thought to paint the expected subject, cake or cookies.   Then I thought to paint my mischievous kitty when she tippy toed across the buffet table, navigating through the crystal and silverware to sample one of my homemade cakes. (See the bottom on my pets blog.)   However, that was too sentimental as I'd never want to part with it, so I finally landed on the idea to paint some of my favorite things with the teacakes playing a supporting role.  I especially enjoyed painting the antique sterling spoons featuring  Orange Blossom and Bridal Rose with all their lovely reflections including my red dining room.  The cakestand is an old favorite in the Moon and Stars pattern.  Most of my teacups feature flowers...no big surprise to those of you who follow my work!   :o)

Kindly direct purchase inquiries to gail@crookedtree.org

Studio Update

Crooked Tree Gallery, MI Sept. 17

Howard Mandville Gallery, WA Oct. 15

Chabot Fine Art Gallery Nov. 15

American Society of Traditional Artists due Oct. 15

sterling silver spoons demitasse teaspoons antique angels flowers whiting lily grande baroque watson cherub

Sterling Silver Demitasse and Teaspoons

16x12 inches / oil on panel

SOLD

This was a commissioned painting with spoons from my client's collection which included a set of demitasse spoons she'd later regretted selling. Therefore, I added them into this composition so she'd still be in possession of them. What makes this set particularly unique is the engraving on the back, "Father". In all my years of collecting I've never seen this. Also, I added the letter "C" on the Whiting Lily patterned teaspoon to personalize it for her last name. The other two patterns are Grande Baroque and the darling angel is Watson Cherub.

Red Raspberries in Spode Teacup

Red Raspberries in Spode Teacup

6x6 inches / oil on panel

SOLD

Always refreshing, this red, white and blue color combination brings a smile along with thoughts of summertime. Tender red raspberries punctuate this charming Spode teacup.

Baseball Well Played at 60 oil painting sports theme

Baseball Well Played at 60

5x5 inches / oil on panel

SOLD

It’s been a couple of years since I’d painted a baseball, so it was particularly delightful to revisit this subject. This painting was personalized with the addition of “60” no doubt commemorating a very special day! 

Cherries in Spode Blue Italian Bowl red white blue oil painting still life

Cherries in Spode Blue Italian Bowl

6x6 inches / oil on panel

SOLD

A luscious subject so often painted, this red, white and blue theme is my most popular! Feel free to browse my website to see a larger sampling including several pages of paintings utilizing this most cheerful color scheme.

Fulfilling my heart's desire with new, fresher, more mature still life oil paintings on the horizon

For many years I've painted from memory, something I've not liked to share too much as many folks don't quite understand what that means.  It's simply been a vision in my mind's eye that I quickly wash onto canvas or panel, continuing to build refinement while sometimes referring to subjects in life or images for final detailing.  However, as my inner voice has been calling me toward a new direction more representational of my true spirit, I've been impatient to fulfill this urge. Therefore, in the past two or three years as my garden shares it's bounty, I've been capturing nature's transient beauty in digital photographs to be referenced at a future date as time permits.  In the midst of a photo shoot when creativity abounds, my desk becomes a cluttered mess of freshly cut garden blossoms, an array of vessels and other miscellaneous props. My photo shoots take a minimum of several hours as every nuance is adjusted frame by frame resulting in hundreds if not thousands of photos from which only a few will be selected as reference for oil paintings. These spectacular images are being reserved for larger, more refined paintings with a new freshness -- more mature work than you've seen from me in the past. Three of these new works will be included in the prestigious American Society of Traditional Artists National Museum Exhibit. These newest oil paintings are my true heart's desire.

white Phaleanopsis Orchid stately elegant rich classical setting

10x8 inches / oil on canvas

SOLD

Larger than I've painted this subject in the past, a white Phaleanopsis Orchid is stately and elegant in a rich, classical setting with a moss filled blue and white Oriental bowl.  As always, a nod to Nature's transience is evident in one bruised leaf.

Hummingbird's Nest Small Oil Painting Little Gems

Hummingbird's Nest with Blue Feathers

4x4 inches / oil on panel

Painted larger than life

SOLD

...to show the details better, these tiny Hummingbird nests are actually made of the teeniest, tiniest things from the garden, such as spider webs, moss and lichen and as one client has observed, even a bit of pet fur.   I'm sure one day I'll attempt to paint this nest lifesized, which will mean considerably smaller than this painting! I also paint nests larger than life such as 24x24 inches if you're interested in commissioning a uniquely beautiful oil painting. jeanneillenye@sbcglobal.net

Sneak Peek...something totally new for me! Showing small detail of newest floral oil painting.

Detail

24x24 inches / oil on canvas

Here's a tiny sneak peek showing a small detail of my latest floral still life oil painting.  I rushed to complete it for submission to ASTA (American Society of Traditional Artists) a prestigious new group of truly spectacular realist masters.  The founder and famed Ed Copley had seen my work online and invited me to apply.   Happily, I've been accepted and this painting is one of many featured on their website under new members.  I'll write more later, but since I'm backlogged with commission orders, I've been working overtime at my easel doing both still lifes and pet portraits so clerical work has been on the back burner.  I'll be sharing more new work with you as I prepare for ASTA's upcoming National Museum Exhibit.  Also as a little aside, I'd been invited along with several other Daily Painters, by Diana Botkin to contribute toward her recent article in "Artists" magazine.  I'll post more on that, too along with links to everything!  Cheers!