Holidays are approaching!

The entire summer passed without me writing so much as a "hello".  Explanation: I was very busy this summer and keeping up with the blog is not something that comes naturally.  I'm happy to say that the summer shows all went very well.  Second place again at Peddler's Village. (Can't pretend I wasn't hoping for first this year.), the birth of a new show at the Camden Waterfront that coincided with a craft beer and wine festival (nice combination), and Jenkintown Arts Festival where I was confronted by a judge who told me I was very close to winning first place (story of my life, apparently!).  That's okay because all the shows were successful, held on beautiful days where I met lots of great people.

Meantime, I made a lot of trips to Promised Land (very inspirational) and spent time with my grandbabies, so all is good.

With the holidays approaching, I've managed to get myself into one more show in a brand new marketplace for me.  I'm pretty excited to be part of the Holiday Arts Festival at Skytop Lodge in the Poconos!  It's happening on the weekend after Thanksgiving - Saturday and Sunday, November 28th & 29th.  Hours on Saturday are from 10 to 5, and Sunday from 10 to 3.  Maybe all my Promised Land paintings will find their perfect homes.  Not to mention the Bee Boxes.  On that note:  I'm fresh out of new bee boxes to find & paint.  If anyone knows of any that are interesting looking, let me know.  Five paintings isn't nearly enough for a healthy obsession.  And if you know any bee keepers looking for some great bee art, well, you know where to find them !

If you're looking for a great escape on the Thankgiving holiday, head on up the Poconos.  If you're looking for some great art to give as Christmas gifts, scroll through the images at the top, check out www.ArtWanted.com/jbroden or shoot me an email for the newest images at jeanbrodenart@gmail.com.  I do commission work too, (But remember they take about a month a piece.)

Hope to hear or see you soon!!

An Artist is Born!

This past weekend was the Trenton Art All Night Exhibit at the Roebling Wire Works building.  It's always a great time; twenty-four hours of continuous great art, great music and great food.  What more could you ask for!  The show is open to absolutely anyone, but each artist can only submit one work.  After years of trying to convince my husband Tim that he should enter something, he finally decided to give it a try.  The piece he entered was a re-purposed work; a grouping of old handles and all-thread made into his Industrial Garden, dropped into a box made from reclaimed wood.

What's the best news about this? His piece sold!!!  I couldn't be more proud of the newest artist in the family.  It's about time he was recognized for how creative and skilled he is! 

 Oh yeah, I entered a piece too: Yale Trio.  It did not sell, so if you're interested, let me know. (It's the painting in the center of the photo below.)  Meantime, take advantage of all the great art venues in and around the city this summer. My next show is Saturday, August 1st at Wiggins Park on the Camden Waterfront. It's a first time for this Wine, Beer and Arts Fest, so it should be interesting to see how it goes. 

Peddler's Village Fine Arts Festival

This weekend, June 6th and 7th, I'll once again be part of the Peddler's Village Fine Arts Festival.  If you've never been there its well worth the trip.  The whole green is full of vendors selling everything from paintings and sculptures to jewelry and pottery.  Peddler's is always one of my favorite places - so much better than a mall - and on festival days its really special.  Besides all the vendors, there's plenty of food and music all weekend.

Last year, I was working on the Winter Bee Box at the show, and was very proud to be given 2nd place in the Fine Arts division.  I'm hoping for good things again this year.

I'll be set up down by the Country Accents store, so come by and say hello.  I expect to be working on my newest bee box painting - Burke's Bees.  Hope to see you there!  Show runs Saturday and Sunday, 10 to 6pm.

Spring Festival Season!

Spring is here and so time to start hitting the streets and showing (and hopefully selling) my wares to an unsuspecting public.  Next weekend kicks off the season at the Glenside Arts Festival.  The show is Saturday, April 25th from noon until 6pm.  Besides all the great art, there's plenty to eat, good music, and wine tasting.  It all takes place along Easton Road, starting at Glenside Avenue and heading toward Arcadia University.  It's a great way to spend an afternoon. 

It won't be long after that show that the Peddler Village Fine Arts and Contemporary Crafts Show will be coming around (June 6th & 7th), Moore College of Art Alumni Exhibit will be opening (June 6th), and Trenton's Art All Night will take place (June 20- 21st).  More about those later!  Hopefully the painting of the hellebore will inspire you to seek out some fresh art this spring, and maybe do some gardening, too.

Winter Once Again!

I just finished this painting for Saint Hubert High School to raffle off for their Faculty Scholarship Fund.  If you're interested in the painting, or planning to attend the Alumnae Tea coming up on March 8th, you can still buy some chances.  The theme was frozen, so I think it fits pretty well.  (Disney fans may not agree.)

The view is heading into Jim Thorpe when you get off the turnpike.