Penelope's Origin Story

When I was a kid I loved animals...

Now days, I am constantly struggling against my urge to be on a farm with my love of the city. 

Not only do i want all the animals and grow all my food, i want to make all my clothes and do all the crafts. obviously this isn't possible. One of the millions of crafts i do to minimal ability and doneness is spinning yarn.

 one day i had a rush of ideas that went something like this : i barely spin wool so i NEED an animal that makes wool. i could have an urban farm and treat the with animals love and we could take the wool and spun wool and things i've crochet and sell them at the farmers market. We could have chickens and grow our own food.  We'll just convert one of those empty lots. 

Of course none of these ideas are practical.
but not being a practicable person i had to look up all the cute wool animal pictures. That 's when i came across angora rabbits. 

Which led me down a whole other set of illogical bad ideas, like turning my basement into a rabbit farm. eventually i found out about house rabbits. Things i had assumed about rabbits were wrong. lots of things. (check out binkybunny.com for rabbit info) Even after i had worked with rabbits in a children's museum. One thing leads to another and i end up on petfinder.com. where i saw a photo of a tiny long haired rabbit named 'snow white'

I went through maybe a week or two convincing myself i could not have a bunny. We have four cats. and a fish. I'm busy.... we'll not as busy as i should be. It's a huge responsibility.

One day I realized, because we have four cats, we can't travel without getting a sitter anyways. I researched that rabbits and cats actually do get along pretty well.

 And then i realized i was an adult, we have the space and funds and i could have a rabbit if i wanted one.

 

I think i was feeling particularly confident that day. 

 So i filled out the application and was pre-approved for adopting 'snow white'. The whole time getting ready for her and doing more research i kept having doubt and telling myself  'it's not responsible'. 

Lucky for me Nick was cool with me adding to our fur babies. He helped me feel more confident about the decision to rescue her. 

When i say 'rescue' i mean 'rescue'. well, sort of. the real person who rescued her was an animal control officer who didn't want her to be 'put down'. 

We now call her Penelope but before she was even 'Snow white'  she was '240'. I know this because there is a prison style tattoo in her ear.

 She was owned by a breeder who instructed her boyfriend to drop 240 and it's kit off at the Gloucester County animal shelter to be euthanized. This is because she had a cold. Often breeders cram too many animals together and if one gets sick it can easily transfer threw the whole herd. Her baby was weened and was adopted out before i met her.

 

Penelope working before she retired as a breeding rabbit. Female rabbits drop their eggs after they have been fertilized. They can get pregnant the same day they give birth. There is no way to know how many litters she had or how old she is.  Penelope is now spayed.

I can't believe the amount of emotions I've had around my bunny. i suppose it has something to do with not having children of my own. my fur babies have been dogs and cats and i have never felt so protective as i do with Penelope.  She is getting along with the cats... either they are frightened of her, have a mild curiosity of her, or lick her like she's a kitten.  I just love to sit and watch her hop around and nibble her food.

 Penelope. About a week after we got her.

It's ok to change life goals.

A change in life plans...

I'm not as sure of where I am going in life as I used to be. I used to have a very sketchy plan of how to live life as an artist. With the very secret plan that i would become known enough not to have to move my own works of art, push for sales, or worry about paying rent. Part of that dream included being known a little bit.  people would want to talk to me at parties. I'd have to choose between what parties i went to. folks would stop by the house to chat. I'd get a gallery in NYC if it killed me.  Every little scrap of paper i scribbled on would be precious. Except... I don't really like going to a lot of parties. I like to be in bed by 11. I really like Philadelphia.... And the art world has changed so much does NYC matter all that much?

I've become even more lazy. I don't have to fight for time in my studio anymore. Whether with a loved one or with splitting studio time with work. Or maybe what I have been doing in my studio isn't very exciting. I don't need gobs of people praising my work. But what am i working towards? Another show at Rodger's? and don't get me wrong I am very grateful for those opportunities. But I do a show that i think is very thrilling and it's a tiny blip on the radar. Do i need to change people's lives and have them talk about my work?  

I was paper-making the other day and i fell in love with doing a processes. that rhythm you need to gain to make it work and the all most mindlessness combined with problem solving aspects of it. Maybe I need to do more print making.

I better figure it out quick. What ever it is. I have a show in June.

Sell Out

The radio told me that there are no 'sell out's' anymore. If you were a musician up into the 2000s and sold a song to a commercial you were a 'sell out'. Despite the difficulty to make a living as an (any) artist. It's even harder to make a living as a Visual Artist. maybe. I guess. I'm not sure. I suppose it mostly has to do with talent and luck in both fields. So I'm going to try and sell out some. Art on mugs, and puzzles etc.

Betsy Cat in Cone Mug Extra Large Mugs by JeanineLeclaire
Look for more mugs at Zazzle

 I know lots of cool folks who can't afford art but would love to own some. It's hard to put hard cash down on something that will hang on the wall because you like it. The artist needs to have a high enough price because they split the price of the work with the gallery. And they might have spent months on something that sells for only a few hundred dollars. Sure we do it out of an indescribable need, but if you appreciate it, there is no reason for you not to pay real money for it. I say that, still being (I think) a reasonably priced artist. I have artist friends who's work I love and I sigh when I see what small prices they can expect for works they've spent long hours or even just a few moments on but with much imagination and talent.  And there are the years that go into all the work and experience leading up to where they are now.  Some will think I'm a sell out just for selling the original work on Amazon. But I also work at a gallery. And when you sit there and realize in a week that 10-20 people walking in the door is normal you must wonder.  Do people not care? They are probably caught up in their own lives. I know when I haven't had much I hated window shopping. Maybe that's it. I was told just 10 years ago. 2003 we would get that many in one day. Is it the economy? The personal electronic devices? I don't know if I'll ever figure out the answer.

Another thought. The work I am adding to products have been sold. Most in private collections. I retain the rights as the artist to the work. The originals will probably not be shown in public again. 

Loving an artist

So you think it would be romantic to love or date an artist? There is one very important thing you must consider. Now I am not sure if this is inherent in ALL artists, or if it has something to do with four years of art school brainwashing. The issue is that we see a naked body and the first instinct is to grab paint/pencil or any other type of mark making device. If you are currently dating an artist you must have noticed little pauses in love making when there is a brief look of confusion on your lover. Zhe is not thinking of another, zhe doesn't even realize those little pauses. Its that instinct rearing it's head to make art. But this is not the worse thing. Oh no. One night while getting ready for bed you decide it is hot and you do not wish to wear anything to bed. Or maybe you always sleep nakked but your artist has been busy lately. When you wake up you find your happy little artist has been busy. drawing your nakked ass. But that would be ok, except there is also this other urge they have. To share it to the world. The drawings might not be that good. Maybe they  want to show off their lover. Maybe they just have that artist need to share. But there it is. Your ass. on the Web.

Gessoing and painting and thinking about Amazon

I've been thinking a lot about selling art on Amazon. It's been up for a little less then a month now. We have sold one small painting and two larger ones. The two larger ones were sold to a previous collector and he talked the gallery way down. still not a decision i agree with but I don't own the gallery so it's not my call. I guess after all the hard work I put into it I was hoping for a little more action. I don't know, folks wake up one day and decide they do want to buy art. But really, I guess, we are just giving those who do more options. I do think folks are looking to have more hand made things in their life. Otherwise Etsy wouldn't be so popular. Right? I have another project for the gallery that I want to launch before winter, but I'm not sure that will be possible. But that's a secret until I get it all worked out. 

Meanwhile: Nick is buying a house. Yay! The person who out bid him couldn't get a loan. yay! well, bad for that guy, but eh he'll find his dream home. The day after the signing for the house we are going to Seattle to see one of Nicks buddies get Wedded. In October He goes to Africa and I go to Michigan to see my Sister. Also, I've started spinning yarn with a spindle. I kindof love it.

I've been working on two paintings lately.  I have the commission coming up and a few ideas. I'm going to paint some cats, because I have four of them and they  are apart of my life and that's what i do. 

here's one of the paintings i'm working on.

It should be a little lighter, but oh well. 

i'm also Gessoing two birch panels. One is for the large commission. I am quite excited about that.

Painting will never change the world

I woke up the other morning and realized painting will never change the world. I can put my whole hart and soul into it, die on top of it, or make sacrifices to it, and it will never ever change the world.

What did I ever expect as an artist? Probably the romanticized starving artist. I can now say I have truly been there and done that. briefly. That time between husband and boyfriend when i was doing phone sex and working at a grocery store.

Anyways, the best part is I can now masturbate in my painting. In other words, paint cats and flowers and it doesn't matter. The debate about what is good art has long been settled. Anyone can make art and it doesn't matter if it's good or not.

Here, I'll add an image otherwise no one will read this.

Done over worked it. Better just keep going

Trying not to over work It. Already did

Work in progress

Working on painting

I will not apologize for not posting in forever. Its been May since i last painted.
My show went very well and then Amazon started selling fine Art. That was two months of spreadsheet hell. So here is the painting I'm trying not to over work

The Least Fun Part of Being an Artist

The least fun part of being an artist: self promotion. 

here's a pic of a painting to look at so you don't hate me too much for selflessly promoting my self. 

See the Secret Lives of Humans online! http://jeanineleclaireinprogress.com/artwork/3187466_Waiting_for_the_Cyclops.html

Here is the talk i did June 9th

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5JorJGHOJsQ

I ramble about my art for about 30 Minutes. also, the content is mature in an art kinda way, so if you work at a really conservative job you may want to wait til you get home to watch.
if, like me you are ADD make sure you have a drink or popcorn. sit back, text, tweet and relax.
here are some skip ahead points if you are interested only in certain items.
-The longest slide is 70 seconds long. i added more images then the original talk.
- the first 11 Min are about my early life. sexual adolescences and where i come from
- 1:09.33 there are drawings i did of the opening and the artist talk.
- 11:16.70 post high school i go over my college years
- 12:05.80 Influences
-- 13:08.53 Pafa and i give up on being IN love
- 14:47.63 2005 Buy House, Father Dies, Graduate PAFA, Get Married
- 16:46.70 2006 Start showing at Rodger's and i start talking about my paintings at this point
- 27:28.43 The Secret Lives of Humans - i talk about the current show and some of the works in it.

random sketchbook page of the day 2004

random sketchbook drawing 2004 also used in my recent artist talk

Painting from 'The Secret Lives of Humans'

Woman's Fantasy        24 x 24"       Acrylic on Wood

Random sketchbook page of the day 03

2003skbk drawing. i can post on my bog now that the show is up and the talk done.

Lil Sneak Peak

Wow! it's almost show time.
I'm not going to apologize for ignoring my blog to get my show done. nope won't do it. i'm planing on taking the heart on my sleeve and sticking it on the blog soon. it's gonna be messy. in the mean time. SNEAK PEAK!!!!

Paul's Beautiful Man

Accepting Punishment

Aftermath

Sneak Peak And Card Image

I think this will be the Card Image for 'The Secret Lives of Humans'. Happening in June at the Rodger LaPelle Art Galleries. 

And this will also be part of the show. it's going to be a fun show. I'm working on the artist talk i'm going to have.

Random sketchbook photo of the day

Painting in progress

just ignore the glare. it's a thumbnail.  bellow is the full painting.  im trying to keep things loose. feel free to comment, even if you don't like my art. it's hard to get any sort of dialog about art these days. i mean in art school, sure. all you talked about was art. and now.... crickets. 

here's the whole painting. still not done, just started. fingers crossed for finishing for show. it's big. 

30" X40"

Start of painting. With painting buddy

detail further along

yes, he got paint on himself. 

Pink Silicon Vibrator. Broken.

The connection from the batter to the little vibrator in the bumpy part snapped. 

5.75 x 6.25" Acrylic

What is it? Painting in progress

Random Sketchbook Page of the Day

Here is a sketch I think I did last July. Riley, is now my room mate. and a SnuBu finds a light bulb

Random sketchbook page of the day

This was from xmas

This is my Brother in Law Donovan and my Nephew Theo.

I'm currently making a painting of a vibrator. If I get a enough comments I'll post the progress on my blog. I'm still not sure if Blogger is jerking me around on 'views' 

Day Job, Random sketchbook page of the day, and What is It?

yesterday and today I was at one of my day jobs. I chop fruit and vegetables at Whole Foods Market. Sometimes I'm lucky and I'm in the Floral department. Don't worry, those tops and butts were made into Fajita Mix. I sliced the Bells into rings, put them in plastic containers and put them in the fridge in produce.

What does this have to do with art? well, first, it's a blog about my secret life, not an art blog and second, day jobs are very important for artists. We all strive to be day jobless, however, it helps keep us grounded and in touch with non artists and the world around us. 

What is it? first person to commet with the right answer gets a free.... erg, happy feeling for getting it right first!

looks like a spaceship. I use it for my day job. 

oh, it's blurry. sorry kids. 

Random sketchbook page of the day

Nick cooking in his old.apartment

Random sketch Book page of the day

Jeanine Leclaire is a Square

Just because I put this on my calendar two minuets ago doesn't mean I haven't been working towards this show for the last couple of months.

On view: February 10, 2013 - March 9, 2013
Gallery Hours: 10am- 3pm

Cheltenham Center for the Arts announces its newest exhibit DownSized featuring artists from A Square Deal, opening from 2pm – 4pm on Sunday, February 10, 2013.

The exhibit features works by painters, photographers, sculptors and street artists who construct work in a format smaller than a piece of paper, all members of A Square Deal, www.artsqs.com.DownSized is an exhibit that demonstrates each artist alteration of their personal vision by thinking small. Each artist created work is executed on a 20cm (7.8) inch square masonite panel. In addition, each artist will have examples of their customary artwork on view.

Participating artists include: (look at all these cool artists!)

Joe Brenman

Justin Duerr

Marybeth Chew

Jeanine Leclaire

Julia Blaukopf

Sarah Hunter

Deborah Gross Zuchman

Philip Zuchman

Colleen Hammond

Anthony C and Karen M

BethMedoway

http://www.cheltenhamarts.org/downsized-featuring-works-square-deal

AND I'll be doing this too.

SUNDAY SQUARE OFF

February 24, 2013 12:30 - 2:30pm

Create your own work of art with A Square Deal artists:

Colleen Hammond 

Beth Medowy 

Jeanine Leclaire  (see. look. that's me!)

Joe Brenman

Paper Mosaic * Multi Media Quilt Blocks * Urban Stenciling EQUAL SIDES=EQUALS FUN

ug.... all these words! need more pics! later later i promis. 

Dirty Old Cyclops

Blogger is playing with my head. It says I've had 8 views on a blog I haven't shared or told anyone about. And they all came from this site. And I haven't looked at it 8 times.

Regardless, I'm at the gallery today. It's hanging day for Reza Ghanad's show. I have just a few minuets before we are technically 'open' but I've opened the door, so we're open. Still no one comes in except the our mail man. I'm not sure why he does it. The weather is niceish today. Last week it was in the twenties. so walking the length of the gallery and stopping at the radiator made since. Not that I mind. He always smiles.

Oh, I should Mention it's the Rodger LaPelle Galleries I work at every Wednesday, which shows my work about once a year and during group shows.

ug, boring words, i'll find some old images to put up. i'm on the gallery's computer so nothing new. And then Rodger and Christine will stroll in, late as always, and hopefully the artist will too and we'll hang the show.

here is 'Dirty Old Cyclops' this image is larger then the painting. Well, depending on the screen you are looking at it with. No one likes it much. It's been sitting on the wall waiting to be sold for a while. It's sort of a favorite of mine so maybe I should just take it home. 

Where do we come from? how did we get here. Etc etc etc

 It's time to try the blog thing. i'm not sure how this will go, but I'll try and keep the words few and the images plenty. I do like to ramble. Now, I know you had to push a button saying you're an adult to get this far. which means if you are easily offended this isn't going to be the place for you. I swear like an art student.

 I have this show coming up in May 'The Secret Lives of Humans'

I have about 15 works ready or almost ready for the show. Never mind they need framing, varnishing etc.
Here's some teasing.

Oh look! a man in a dress... in a basement.....

Another man in a basement....

My naked butt, not in a basement. this one has a tittle 'Sometimes you just have to follow your spirit'

The show will be full of sock puppets and sex and external and internal secrets, not all sexual. My gallery owner doesn't know this yet... I plan on hanging the show myself when he isn't there. It helps being the gallery assistant. Ok enough words.