Snowflakes

One of my favorite holiday pastimes is making snowflakes online.

I enjoy experimenting with negative and postive space. This also brings back childhood memories of looking at snowflakes which had stuck to the window and frozen in space.

Better Homes and Garden's Make-a-Snowflake

http://snowflake.bhg.com/

This is as rewarding as cutting out paper snowflakes and it leaves no mess to clean up afterwards.

Texas State Capitol Building in Austin

I go to Austin when the legislature is in session and I run around snapping pictures on my quick trips. Most of these images were shot as a group in under 15 minutes. Photos on the fly.

To view the entire collection
http://janegraf.imagekind.com/TexasStateCapitol

Update: November 2009, a photo from this series was selected for the 9th edition of the Schmap Austin Guide.

Selling Prints

I've recently started selling prints of some of my photos online.
I currently have Japanese images available.

http://janegraf.imagekind.com/

Online Store

You can buy a T-Shirt or Mug with this frog on it.

Please visit my online store at http://www.cafepress.com/JaneGraf

Thanks You,

Jane Graf

Photographing My Art

The day got away from me, so I only photographed a few old paintings. I ventured outside set up my portable easel tripod and camera. I got everything level and strait. Hauled out some artwork and began shooting. However, the light began to fade as sunset was approaching so I had to keep moving away from the shadow of the trees. That meant rechecking everything, to make sure it was still level and strait. It was hot outside and when the mosquito's started to bite, I gave up and turned off the camera.

I'm convinced this project can be completed at a later time with optimal conditions.

Artist Trading Cards

Mixed Media on Paper Copyright © Jane Graf

This weekend, I attended an Artist Trading Card (ATC) workshop hosted by the Visual Arts League in Lewsville, TX. The instructor was David Mask and his blog is Texas Art Trading Cards.

I learned how to create an ATC and that "the only rule is that they must be 2 1/2 X 3 1/2 inches". David and Wanda Grice showed us there vast collections of ACTs and shared materials and knowledge. I highly recommend this workshop, it was a lot of fun and the VAL members are very friendly and thoughtful. It was a very enjoyable and pleasant experience.

I created several ATCs at the workshop but came home and made many more and I've already started sharing them. I'm very excited about the endless possibilities for my ATCs.

Where I Begin

Works on Paper Copyright © Jane Graf

I decided to start my blog, where I start my art.

I have many life distractions and therefore, find it difficult to break away from the madness to engage my creative side. The real world demands order, has a lot of rules and restrictions, and in contrast art requires creativity, spontaneity and no boundaries.

At a seconds notice I can drop the paint brushes and be back in the real world, however, I find it much harder to flip on the art switch. Therefore, I've had to learn to bridge that gap to effortlessly transition back to creativity.

I do this by going strait at the problem and engaging it fully. I don't pick up a pencil and doodle, I don't stare at a blank canvas, I don't write in a journal..., which I consider all step one moves, instead I jump strait to active work, that has a fast end result and that becomes a piece of art.

I self-start with ink blots. These are not the black messy ink blots found in the Rorschach Test. I've added color, creativity and experimentation to achieve a more sophisticated ink blot. I've been making ink blots since 2005 so I've had some time to improve my methods.

I sincerely admire the works of Max Ernst and I only aspire to reach his level skill using his decalcomania technique.

Artist Resume

Education
Tarrant County Junior College - NE, North Richland Hills, TX 1989- 2004
University of Texas, Arlington, TX 1997-1999
FWCAC “Making Public Art”, Fort Worth, TX 2004

Honors and Awards/Grants
Ft. Worth ISD - Pastel Landscape, Honorable Mention 1984
AVAA Monthly Member Show - Exhibited at Arlington City Hall, 3rd Place Sept. 2005
Jerry's Artarama Junk Mail Challenge Winner, January 2011
Koh-I-Noor Merit Badge Contest Winner, April 2011

Professional Affiliations
Arlington Visual Arts Association, Arlington, TX
Greenville Art League, Greenville, Texas
Gateway Neighborhood Association, Fort Worth, TX, Founder
Relative Exposure Artist Co-Op, Founder

Related Experience
La Hacienda Ranch, Pumpkin Carving Contest, 1st Place, Colleyville, TX October 2004
10th Annual Greater Riverside July 4th Celebration T-Shirt, Fort Worth, TX May 2005
Photo Texas Capitol, Pub. 9th Ed Schmap Austin Guide, 2010
Graphic Artist for a National Political Organization, USA, 2006 - 2011
Chart Pack Art Instructor - Michael's Instruction Program 2010 - Present

Exhibitions
Fine Art Explosion, TCCNE, North Richland Hills, TX April 16, 2003
FWCAC: The 39 Hour Show, FWCAC, Fort Worth, TX April - May 2003
FWCAC Biennial: 39 Hour Show, FWCAC, Fort Worth, TX March 2004
Art Tree Invitational Exhibition, Greenville, TX June 2005
TVAA National All - Media Juried Art Exhibition, Irving, TX July 2005
GAL Annual Exhibition, W. Walworth Harrison Public Library, Greenville, TX Aug. 2005
AVAA Mini Show, Arlington City Hall, Arlington, TX September 2005
AVAA Member Show, Bob Duncan Community Center, Arlington, TX October 2005
Solo Exhibition: W. Walworth Harrison Public Library, Greenville, TX March 2006
FWCAC Biennial: Formerly the 39 Hour Show, FWCAC, Fort Worth March 2006
Choices from the Biennial - Juried Art Exhibition, FWCAC, Fort Worth, TX May 2006
Relative Exposure: Group Exhibition, FWCAC, Fort Worth, TX Aug. 2007
FWCAC Biennial: Formerly the 39 Hour Show, FWCAC, Fort Worth March 2008
FWCAC Biennial: FWCAC Fort Worth, TX 2010

Artist Statement

One fall, my art evolved from realistic oils paintings, into a contemporary style, with an experimental flair. My current body of works are non-objective, include organic shapes and optical interest. This change occurred following a visit, to the Kimbell Museum, to see the Caravaggio to Dali exhibit. The 20th Century masterpieces were inspiring, especially the work by Max Ernst. That exceptional group of paintings evoked an overwhelming flow of creative thinking.

That evening, following the trip to the museum, I was overwhelmed with inspiration, so much so that I couldn’t sleep. One creative thought continually lead to another, forcing me away from a resting state. Therefore, I succumbed, stayed up all night and allowed creativity to take over. In essence, I exploited the muse to its fullest, by entering my studio and throughout the night, I feverishly took notes, experimented and pursued each new idea. I was truly in a creative moment. This submission to the muse, revealed an original technique, which promises to improve and develop into future unique works.

This single trip to the museum profoundly effected my creativity, technique and enthusiasm. You could say, creativity tapped me on the shoulder and I didn’t ignore it, when it spoke to me. I feel fortunate that I’m growing as an artist and I will continue seeking improvement and inspiration. I have whole heartedly embraced the creative and experimental challenge and it has yielded an unique and original technique, which I can call my own. I intend on following this process to it’s exhausted end and I will continue to push the limits of my creativity. My desire is to see my technique evolve into many profound, interesting and attractive works of art.

When you meet the Muse, embrace.

Artist Bio

Jane Graf was born and raised in Fort Worth, Texas. You could say, she is a big city country girl. During her school years, weekends were spent on the family farm in east Texas, where she acquired a strong respect for snakes and cattle. She also learned to fish, to shoot and how to drive a standard on the farm.

Her father was a transportation supervisor, of an asphalt company, which transported materials for building projects, including construction of DFW Airport. He was also a cattleman and owned a heard of registered cattle and the family ranch also supported several oil wells. Her mother worked in a print shop and produced things like the TCU and UNT annuals. However, she resigned from the printing business and raising her children became her full time career. Also, her family religiously attended Christian Temple, an Assembly of God Pentecostal church.

Art was always a part of Jane’s life. Her artistic abilities were recognizable, at an early age. By age 8, she taught herself contour line drawing and to this day, it is one of her strongest abilities. Her cats were some of her earliest models. Her mother taught her how to knit, crochet and sew by the age of 13. She attended youth summer art classes, in the mid 70’s, at the Fort Worth Museum of Science and History. Her elementary school years were filled with piano, violin, ballet, tap and baton lessons. She was active in sports, participating in swimming, softball and cheerleading. In Junior High, she attended art, drafting, wood shop, metal shop and band, where she learned to play the flute. Her high school years were filled with athletics and dance. At that time, a pastel landscape was entered in the local scholastic art contest and she received honorable mention.

She married her high school sweetheart and had three children. However, the marriage ended 5 years later and she became a young, single mother managing to work full time, while attending college classes at night. During this time, she dabbled in photography, cake decorating, floral arranging, textiles and metal. She designed and made clothing and costumes for herself and her children. She took some time off from college, after her father died, suddenly of a heart attack. Soon after his death, her mother was diagnosed with breast cancer and she became her mother’s primary caregiver.

Following the death of her mother, she returned to college, with a new focus on art and she is currently pursuing a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree. Photography seems to come naturally to her, so she is anticipating taking photography classes, which will add another dimension to her artistic process. She is currently interested in figural and abstract paintings, while evaluating subject matter, experimenting with different media and materials. Currently, she is devoting her time to political activism and is creating graphic images for a national political action committee. She is actively exhibiting her artwork and seeking gallery representation.