Two New Commissions by Janet Fons

I recently delivered these two custom paintings to Grafica Fine Art who commissioned them for a designer client for delivery to a residential customer. Word is designer and client are very happy! It is always a pleasure to create custom artwork.
Many thanks to Lynn and Lary Bozzay at Grafica Fine Art & Custom Framing. 

Before Dark, Oil, 27x27 by Janet Fons

After Dark, Oil, 27x27 by Janet Fons

A New Home for 9 Paintings by Janet Fons!

I recently had a whopper of a sale through my gallery, Grafica Contemporary Fine Art (Webster Groves, MO). Their client was an architecture firm re-doing an entire floor at the St. Louis Club in Clayton Missouri. The client bought EIGHT of my current available paintings and commissioned a NINTH piece to be painted to a custom size (30x48 inches). WOW is all I can say. One sale is exciting enough...this one is thrilling.

My paintings feature in the Louisiana Room if you ever get a chance to visit this beautiful space. I wish I had taken some photos of the bar/lounge area that you walk into off the elevator...the place is stunning. However, having tunnel vision at the time, I only took photos of my paintings in the room they were hanging in which I will share below. If I haven't said it enough already: many, many thanks to Lynn and Lary Bozzay at Grafica Contemporary Fine Art. BTW, the framing was also done by Grafica. Enjoy!

Check out the News Articles at the right side of this blog to read "Decking The Walls" in the Webster Kirkwood Times.

Cloudscape #9, 30x48 oil on canvas

Grouping of four 16x12, oil on panel

Grouping of three 24x24, oil on canvas

The Louisiana room

Cloudscape #5 30x30, oil on canvas

If you'd like to look at more of my artwork, check out my online portfolio at http://janetfons.com/works

How to Warm Up a Commission by Janet Fons

Cloudscape #5, oil 30x30

This square painting (at left) was the inspiration for a commission. The client loved this painting but wanted to make a bigger statement in their space.

We decided upon a horizontal, 30x 48 inch canvas. In addition, they wanted a slightly warmer tone overall, one that made the clouds look at little less ominous.

If you look at the two paintings, the difference in tone may be subtle but its definitely there.
I used a wide range of grays for both paintings
My favorite mix for gray is Burnt Sienna and French Ultramarine. More blue than brown in the mix will yield a cooler gray and more brown than blue will give me a warmer gray. The additional difference in the commission was adding Naples Yellow which really warmed up the painting.

Cloudscape #9, oil, 30x48

If you'd like to look at more of my cloud painting series, check out my online portfolio at http://janetfons.com/works

I also send out a short quarterly newsletter...if you would like to sign up go to http:/janetfons.com and scroll to the bottom of the home page.

Thanks for your time!

Janet Fons is celebrating! Six new custom prints created for a corporate installation.

Six of my original oil paintings have been recreated as custom prints on canvas for a commercial installation by Grafica Contemporary Art in St. Louis. These relatively small oil paintings have been re-imagined at a much larger size. The 6x6 paintings are reproduced at 36 x27, and the 12x9 paintings are reproduced at 30x30. The identical sizes will hang as groupings of three in separate offices. All six paintings were created using a palette knife.

Little Stream, Oil, 6x6

Field and Stream, oil, 6x6

Water and Grasses, oil, 6x6

Marsh Waters, oil, 12x9

Rocky Overlook, oil, 12x9

Secret Stream, oil, 12x9

Cottonwood in Winter

Cottonwood in Winter, oil, 12x9 by Janet Fons

This painting is a stroll down memory lane for me. The image is from Prospect Park in the Denver area. I took the reference photo during a plein air class I was taking with Doug Dawson through the Denver Art Students League in March of 2005. Spring was just around the corner but the landscape was still pretty bleak with dead grass and bud-less trees. I just decided to paint this image this month (March in St. Louis).

One Day Show this Saturday at Greenscape Gardens in Manchester, MO

Janet Fons, Little Stream, 6x6, oil on canvas

Join me for ECO-ART IN THE GARDENS, a one day show at Greenscape Gardens Nursery featuring the area's best nature inspired artists. The show will be inside so we will be open rain or shine!

I will be showing lots of new work, new fine art limited edition prints and raffling off something fun just for coming by my booth!

9am to 4pm Saturday, September 26, 2015
2832 Barrett Station RoadManchester, MO 630211 mile west of I-270 at Dougherty Ferry Rd.

For more information:
www.greenscapegardens.com

Landscape reproductions sell to a new collector!

Large Trees in Autumn Color (24x16), Curve and Water's Edge (12x12)  

Happiness is an email (or three) from Fine Art America letting me know that I sold three fine art reproductions to someone in Columbia, MO. Since the sales are always anonymous, I do not know who to thank. SO if you happen to read my blog...this is a big thank you! Feel free to sign up for my newsletter.

These three oil paintings are very complimentary in color, with very warm tones dominating and feature vibrant brush work on canvas. The originals artworks are available and can be found on my website: janetfons.com

Forest Park Landscape: Looking Upstream

Looking Upstream, 14x11, oil on panel by Janet Fons

This Forest Park (St. Louis, MO) landscape in oil is painted using a palette knife which builds up the surface quickly and establishes an interesting texture.

If you are interested in purchasing this painting, click here.

To see all my artwork, click here.

New Landscape in oil: River Rocks (Forest Park, St. Louis)

River Rocks, oil on panel, 12 x16 by Janet Fons

This close up view of a stream flowing over rocks in Forest Park (St. Louis, MO) is one of my favorite subjects. I used a mix of warm and cool tones to convey a feeling of tranquility. This scene is painted with a palette knife which allows the surface to be built up quickly and establishes an interesting texture. To see all my artwork, click here.

New artwork: "Japanese Bridge" Missouri Botanical Gardens

"Japanese Bridge", oil on panel, 16x12

This original landscape in oil is painted with a palette knife. 

To see all my artwork click here.

Dedicated in 1977, the 14-acre Japanese Garden, one of the largest in North America, represents an evolution of centuries of tradition and a multiplicity of distinctly Japanese cultural influences.

The garden design incorporates the use of traditional Japanese bridges, intended not solely as a means of crossing from island to shore, but to provide points where garden visitors can enjoy viewing the water, the reflections of sunlight on foliage and the fish swimming below.

Marsh Light: new landscape capturing the fleeting light at the end of the day.

This new artwork in oil, is created with a more subdued color range, painted entirely with my palette knife. This allows the surface to be built up quickly and capture the drama and texture of the setting sun. Marshlands are fascinating and present reflections of the sky. The edges of the grassy areas are often dark and mysterious. To see all my artwork, click here.

Marsh Light, Oil, 16x12

New Landscapes in Oil

 The Poetry of Trees.

The subjects of this new series of paintings are trees. Trees are my figures and their forms are prominent in this series.  These paintings depict a favorite area of mine in Colorado. I spent thirty years in Colorado and although I was not born there, I consider myself a native. The aspen scenes I’ve painted here are from the Shadow Mountain area near Grand Lake which is the western gateway to Rocky Mountain National Park. Fall is a magical time in the rockies, you can drive along quiet roads and stop the car at any point to view the spectacle of aspen.

Aspen Trees I, Oil on canvas panel, 11x14

Aspen Trees II, Oil on canvas panel, 11x14

Aspen Trees III, Oil on canvas panel, 11x14

Still Water 2: reflecting on a landscape that has found a new home

Reflection can be an image, a representation or careful consideration.  I love the double meaning.
My series of trees reflected in water shows the physical reflection and my reflecting on these images through my paintings.
These reflections show how colors and shapes change when reflected in water--moving, muted and more subtle than the real things reflected in them. 

Still Water II is 24 x 24 inches, oil on gallery wrapped canvas (sides painted. It delivered to a new home this past December, the gift of a good friend and collector to his daughter.

Large Scale Sunset Series

I am currently painting LARGE sunsets. My friends are sending me their favorite photos.

Add caption

Here is what I have so far.

Sunset at Sandbar, oil on canvas, 30 x 60 inches (diptych)

Sunset Symphony, oil on canvas, 30 x 40 inches

After the Storm, oil on canvas, 24 x 48 inches

How to commission a painting

Have you ever wished for a painting of a special place or imagined a painting on a blank wall? If so, read on...

Many of my commissions are based upon a painting of mine that a client sees and loves but is not the right size for their space.  It's fun collaborating with a client to create a special painting.

←This painting: Julie's House is relatively small (18x12 inches) and was the inspiration for a 30 x 40 inch commission.

How can we make this happen?

First, lets talk, so we can figure out what you want and what I can deliver. If we decide to move forward—great! Call me at (314) 598-7199 or email me at janet@janetfons.com.

If you are local I can start at your home, with the small painting to make sure that the colors would work for your space. In this case, the finished piece was going over the mantle, so I also took a blank 30 x 40 " stretched canvas to place on the mantle to make sure that size would work.

How long will it take?

I am fairly flexible depending on my current schedule. Four to six weeks is an average time frame.

How will I know if I’ll like it?

My starting point is a to-scale painting at about 30% of the final size. After you approve this small scale piece, I begin the final painting.

Commission oil sketch

How much does it cost?

I price my paintings by size and I don’t charge extra for commissions. Tell me your size and I’ll give you your price, unframed. I generally require 1/3 up front, 1/3 upon sketch approval and the balance upon delivery of the final painting.

Final painting: Julie's House II, oil, 30x40"

Miniature oil painting mounted on cigar box by Janet Fons

Beachside, oil on canvas mounted on cigar box, 7x6.5x3 inches SOLD

"Beachside" is a view from Holmes beach on Anna Maria Island on the Gulf coast. The sand is almost white and the grass and trees blow in the constant breeze off the ocean.

New landscape painting on cigar box by Janet Fons

"Beach Grass" by Janet Fons, oil on canvas, mounted on cigar box.
6x5.75x3"

I did a little painting this winter while in Florida. The public beach (Holmes Beach on Anna Maria Island) has areas of tall grass leading away from the water and beautiful trees that have light frothy leaves that blow gracefully in the wind. Plus the beach sand is almost white and very cool to walk on. Did I mention I love the beach? This miniature landscape in oil on canvas is mounted on a cigar box. It can be displayed on an easel, it can stand alone on a shelf or it can be used to store treasures.

Available at Grafica Contemporary Fine Art in Webster Groves, MO

New Miniature Landscapes

Fall Reds, oil on canvas, 6x6", framed 12x12"

I have a selection of miniature landscapes available now. They can be viewed in person at Grafica Contemporary Fine Art  in Webster Groves, MO.

Alla Prima Animation

 I shot stills as I worked on this new piece, painted 'alla prima'. I didn't keep the camera in exactly the right spot and the lighting changed a bit, so I have to get better at lighting and set up but it was fun to do.
Wet-on-wet, or alla prima (Italian, meaning at first attempt), is a painting technique, used mostly in oil painting, in which layers of wet paint are applied to previous layers of wet paint. This technique requires a fast way of working, because the work has to be finished before the first layers have dried.

River Rocks by Janet Fons.

River Rocks, oil on panel, 12 x 16 inches

Rocks and stream (Forest Park, Saint Louis). This is a repaint of an old piece created completely with a palette knife. It really highlights the rough texture of the boulders bordering the stream.