Blog

Each year during the month of May,, I paint out at the Overland Park Arboretum during the Stem Plein Air Event. This event is a fundraiser for the Arts and Recreation Foundation of Overland Park. This year the weather was absolutely beautiful. A few showers here and there but lots of sunshine and mild temperatures made it a delightful outdoor painting adventure. There are other locations where you can also paint for the event but my favorite location is always the arboretum. Painting among the flowers with all the activity of the hummingbirds, butterflies, bees, frogs and other garden creatures makes for a deliteful painting experience. Several opportunities are available to purchase the paintings chosen from those submitted by the artist. If your painting(s) are selected they can be chosen to show and sell at the private pre-sale event for Stems VIPS, a month long Art at the Center feature show or the Stems Plein Aire Paint sales tent during the "Garden Soirée ". I have submitted three paintings this year and am hoping that one or all get chosen for one of the sales opportunities. All three paintings are on my website and currently "on hold" pending the judging event. The wonderful thing about painting at an event is being able to see all the wonderful works being created by all the artists. This year was exceptional, in my opinion. Meeting up with fellow artists and friends all creating and enjoying the commarardiere was heaven. There is going to be some beautiful art available to the patrons this year if what I saw being created is any example. I also love that as people walk around the gardens, they stop and inquire about your art and ask great questions about the creation of it. I especially love to answer questions and comments from the children. With many schools doing away with full time art as a subject, it is a venue for children to see art in action and hopefully aspiring to create their own masterpieces or look for an artist to take lessons from in the future. I love how an artist's vision can transform how a person looks at a scene or a flower. Art can transport you from your everyday life to a place of beauty and serenity that no other medium can do quite as well. (In my opinion). It's a glorious feeling to transport someone to a place or scene with art and one of the many reasons I paint, as it also does the same for the creator of the art. So, wish me luck with my submissions and definetley make a trip to the Arboretum as it is well worth the drive. Happy Painting, See you in the gardens, Jennylynne Gragg

Michael and I share a lot in common, music and art being at the top of our lists. I am a full time artist and Michael is a part time artist. We shared many great times together playing music on the road for several years before we settled down to corporate jobs but still kept our hand in both music and art. When I retired from the corporate world, I took up art full time and Michael took up art part time. He is still working but has started to think seriously about joining me as a full time artist. I have convinced him to start showing his drawings(which are unique and beautiful) lately. We are part of an exhibit at the Lakewood Country Club in Lee's Summit, Mo. which runs through June 30, 2017. I have attached the image of his piece which is hanging right across from mine at the Lakewood Gallery . Hope you can get up to see it and all the wonderful artwork there.

Through June 30, Michael and I will be participating in the Lakewood Artists Exhibition at the Lakewood Country Club. This group showing is an exhibition of the artists who live in our community. The art is in the corridor outside the Argyle Restaurant. It is up now and will be till the end of June. We love living and working in Lakewood. Our community is an awesome place to live with loads of amenities and beautiful scenery to paint and enjoy. Hope you will get up to see all the wonderful art and stop in for dinner at the fabulous Argyle Restaurant too while you are there.

The lilacs have been spectacular this year and with the blooms of mine, friends and family they were just screaming to be painted. My studio has been filled with the intoxicating fragrance of lilacs for weeks. I love painting from life especially when the air is filled with such a beautiful scent. Painting lilacs could easily become a passion! I also tried a different techniques that lended itself well to this subject. So all in all , it was a lovely day in the studio!

This is always a fun event. First because I get to see a lot of my artists buddies and paint with my daughter-in-law, Chrystal. Each year, depending on the season and weather, is a new adventure and you are always surprised at what's blooming and how the gardens have changed since the year before. Plein aire painting is always a challenge due to changing weather conditions, bugs, snakes, and even people sometimes but whatever the challenges, it is always interesting and fun. Stems plein aire starts on May 19 and runs thru June 1 this year so come out and see all the artists creating their work among the flowers.