Each Galaxy started with a bucket of Keim Mineral Paint! I then took the initial image and worked my magic digitally!
Buy the “Keim Galaxies” as printed products on the print-on-demand website “Redbubble.com”
Yes, I am gradually putting up the rather large series of work on my Artist’s page on Redbubble! It takes some time so they are not all up there. I am basically adding them at the same time as I have Skype meetings with my fellow artists at Kingston Artists’ Open Studios each week. We cannot meet in person, but Skype is just fine, with the added advantage of being able to work on the computer, or whatever we are currently working on at the same time!
This is my WordPress Artist’s Journal, so I am going to ramble on on my usual meandering course for the rest of this post. If you would like to see the beautiful “Keim Galaxies” I put most of them up in a previous post, so either skim down to that, or follow the link to my Artist’s Page on Redubble.com where I have posted some of them already!
Here is the link to the “Explore” designs section at Redbubble.com. It displays the image as a simple, flat, square, as the example below. When you find a design you like and want to see products in the shop, there’s another link to follow! Then another whole world opens. Maybe quite a useful one at the moment, with the shops being in the situation they are in. There is stationery, soft furnishings, wall art, greetings cards, prints, posters, home furnishings, accessories, and much more.
Note: images are low resolution and don’t reflect full sized image quality.
Deaf, deaf, Hard of Hearing, Lipreaders, + Face Masks
I have been very busy designing many options for reusable face masks! Inspired by a past career as a Dental Nurse, in which I wore a surgical face mask every working day, the mask topic has always been on my interest radar. I do wish we were wearing them indoors in public spaces earlier in greater numbers, but, well, we are finally here in face mask time.
This is not very good for communications though…particularly for those who are Deaf, deaf, Hard of Hearing or have special needs which mean they really do need to see your face when talking. There are many, many ways you can help make things easier, and the most important thing is to be kind and understanding. Ask the person you are talking to what you can do to help, and what they prefer. Everyone is very different. Some people are comfortable with you lowering your mask at distance, others may not be. There are speech to text apps, pen and paper, good lighting, reduction of background noise, making sure you face the person directly, re phrase and repeat if necessary. These are just a few suggestions.
Here are some of my designs, but I create a few each week, so do take a look at my redbubble portfolio for more!
I have made the text very bold and big, so that the words can be read clearly at distance. I am creating some more designs at the moment with slightly less bold text too, and also creating slogan masks for special needs. There are pin badges and other products available with most of the designs on. I am open to any suggestions as to options which may be helpful to people. Feel free to contact me with suggestions. I have consulted with several people who are deaf/Deaf Hard of Hearing and who have experience of hearing loss to try and get a good picture of a range of experiences and preferences. I hope it helps.
jenny meehan surrey artist london contemporary female artist
“Offer these words on love from the Reverend Carter Heyward, a feminist and lesbian woman who was among the first women ordained as an Episcopal priest.
Love, like truth and beauty, is concrete. Love is not fundamentally a sweet feeling; not, at heart, a matter of sentiment, attachment, or being “drawn toward.” Love is active, effective, a matter of making reciprocal and mutually beneficial relation with one’s friends and enemies. Love creates righteousness, or justice, here on earth. To make love is to make justice. As advocates and activists for justice know, loving involves struggle, resistance, and risk. People working today on behalf of women, blacks, lesbians and gay men, the aging, the poor in this country and elsewhere know that making justice is not a warm, fuzzy experience. I think also that sexual lovers and good friends know that the most compelling relationships demand hard work, patience, and a willingness to endure tensions and anxiety in creating mutually empowering bonds.
For this reason, loving involves commitment. We are not automatic lovers of self, others, world, or God. Love does not just happen. We are not love machines, puppets on the strings of a deity called “love.” Love is a choice — not simply, or necessarily, a rational choice, but rather a willingness to be present to others without pretense or guile. Love is a conversion to humanity — a willingness to participate with others in the healing of a broken world and broken lives. Love is the choice to experience life as a member of the human family, a partner in the dance of life, rather than as an alien in the world or as a deity above the world, aloof and apart from human flesh.”
Ophelia Poem by Jenny Meehan
It was
an unfinished poem
who took
her hands and led her
to the river spring.
Who invited her,
held her,
cried with her.
Who even laid her body out,
as she willed it;
to face her grief.
In her vulnerability
she was
too fragile
to speak, even –
yet, intent
to trust the universe,
her painting pressed
into a tiny pearl,
the love which
first formed her.
I’ve made prints available for ‘Save our Souls/Distress Signal’ on redbubble. It’s got the Distress Signal as an addition in the title because I altered the image for the medium of print and as part of the refinement of my thinking on the painting, which always happens with time.
(video doesn’t seem to work on my phone…sorry! looking into why!)
“Timetable” by Jenny Meehan 2020 to music by Kevin MacLeod “Screen Saver” (sourced from freepd.com. CC0 1.0 Universal (CC0 1.0)
Public Domain Dedication)
I made this video a while back, before the Covid-19, Coronavirus, UK lock down and all that has brought many more people to a situation of working from home. It seems odd looking at it now!
The video was made last year, in 2019. At the end of last year I was experimenting with making short video clips, just for a change. My very short piece “Time Table” was selected for screening at an event in Manchester. Info below:
screening shown on 3rd December 2019 at STRETCH – Reel Time event. Held at Mirabel Studios 14 -20 Mirabel Street Manchester M31PJ
My statement:
“As an artist, writer, and home-maker, I manage my time by working in a completely piecemeal, and often spontaneous, way. I integrate my creative practice within my domestic life and utilise the flexibility inherent in this way of life. I used my work space, (AKA kitchen) as the setting for the film “Time Table”. I often produce work on my kitchen table is the object in the room which best represents the interrelationship between my artistic work and the other work I’m involved in.
Both forms of work are mostly unpaid, and it becomes a challenge to maintain a sense of self and a sense of value in our capitalist society which measures value by status and money.
The planner in the film has blank pages but rapid movement, because in both dimensions of my work sphere; the domestic and the artistic; I’m extremely busy. However, I find the reality of my work is non existent in many people’s perceptions; it’s blank; because they do not recognise what I do as being work. In our culture activities which take place in the domestic sphere are often side-lined and artistic creation is at risk as being thought as being a “free time” pursuit. I frequently get asked “What do you do all day?”
In reality, “work” reflects more to purpose and perception, than a context.
Like the table, the water in the film is a crossover subject too; from the water in the kettle (tea for a break time), the repetition and rhythm of a dripping tap (associated with labour and maybe monotony) and the water of a swimming pool (swimming being a “free time” activity for me). The pool is also a place for reflection: interestingly contemplative space for an artist swiftly re-orientates itself into a place of purpose for a reflective art practitioner.”
Made in the Pre-Covid 19 era…!!! Since making it, a HUGE number of people previously working in buildings which are not their domestic setting, currently work from home. It’s so odd looking back at this video I made now!
I hope that one of the outcomes of this challenging time is that the work of those so-called “economically inactive” (mainly women, and anyone involved in various unpaid caring activities) has a stronger sense of presence in our awareness of work activities, and even in the way we think about what makes us valuable human beings. The equation of money and status with worth is being shaken at the roots right now.
I’m so glad we have drawn our attention to appreciating the caring profession. And let’s remember, that “professions” are not professions due to the amount of money someone earns, but are an expression of a person’s values, investment, and focus.So many activities, not formally recognised as “professions”, though low paid, unpaid, and regardless of relative status in society, are ALL work, all valuable, and all vital to a healthy society.
Progressive Christianity
I often include this term on statements and information about my art and work but I appreciate its a new term for some people who may not have any sense of its meaning. So I’ve included a good bit of clarification here and also a link to the source of it. I worship with and am a member of the Church of England, which after being in many different churches seems to be the place where I feel most at home.
I’ve copied this from a website (I’ll put full link in too… Its not from my church but it gives a good idea of what progressive Christianity is about)
“We embraced a movement that began in 2006 called Progressive Christianity. The movement was a part of a larger movement called “the emerging church.” At the heart of these movements was the desire to articulate a way of being Christian that was an alternative to the Christian faith portrayed in the public realm. The leaders of Progressive Christianity had grown weary of defining their Christian faith in negative terms: “We aren’t fundamentalists. We don’t believe theBible is the inerrant or infallible word of God. We don’t agree that Creationism should replace the science of evolution in public schools. We don’t believe that God hates gays. We don’t believe that people of other faiths are going to hell unless they convert to Christianity. We don’t deny the right of women to choose what happens to their bodies.”
I find working with three dimensions very interesting and it makes a nice change from working on paintings, drawings, and prints. I was pleased to have my sculpture “Articulation” accepted for exhibition at this year’s MADE at Menier Gallery. It’s an exhibition for students at Morley College. HOWEVER… then this email arrived (extract only cited) Not a surprise in the current Coronavirus Pandemic!
Dear all,
Due to the escalation of the Coronavirus pandemic in the UK, we regret to inform you that we have made the very difficult decision to postpone this year’s Made exhibition at Menier Gallery. We are very sorry about this, but there is nothing else we can do.
Not a surprise.
Indeed, though signed up for a six week term, in the end I only attended two sessions of the course in the second half of the Spring Term. Morley College is based in Southwark, which was at that time the London Borough with the second highest number of confirmed cases of Covid 19. As I watched the figures rise – from 8 in Southwark on the 10th March and then 28 confirmed cases of Covid 19 on the 16th March – I grew uncomfortable with travelling to Southwark on the train. The journey there wasn’t too bad, but on the way back on the jam packed train… It was obviously a bad idea to continue. The last time I went up to London was 10th March, and then on the way home in the rush hour I wore a specially made scarf… made by myself! It was lightweight woven fabric with a couple of layers of polypropylene folded inside it. Perfect! Polypropylene is actually the main component in the manufacture of surgical face masks. I really didn’t want to buy myself a surgical face mask… Feeling they should be kept for the settings for which they were designed. However, I felt very strongly that people travelling in crowded trains should be wearing face coverings of some shape or form. At that time, no one, well, hardly anyone, was wearing face masks or face coverings. But I felt so much better for doing so.
Ah, I have meandered…
Where was I? Morley College.
Yes, the exhibition cancelled, and then later this email:
“We are pleased to announce that we will present your work in a first-ever online MADE exhibition in May 2020!
As you already know, Morley has taken the difficult decision to cancel MADE at Menier Gallery (previously scheduled for 29 April – 7 May 2020). Although the physical show has been postponed, we are excited to inform you that we will present the exhibition digitally and we are currently working on a new Instagram account for MADE 2020 (@MadeAtMorley) that will feature all the selected works of art for each of the four disciplines involved – please, start following!
Well, that will be one way of seeing the work. I am looking forward to it.
Here is the selected work “Articulation”. Also the accompanying text. Like a lot of my work, it was started some time ago, and then I have reflected and reviewed, refined and developed it. I value the process and value contemplation. A contemplative practice is the backbone to any art works I produce. I don’t stick to a time schedule, unless I am producing something which is a commission for someone else. It’s finished now, and I am very happy with it.
Above; Various images taken during the process of making “Articulation”.
Below; Information/text submitted to the Morley Online exhibition.
“Articulation” What is it?
So here is a bit more about this work, which I have been working on for several years. I believe its a great mistake to rush a piece of artwork. They have their own timing, and something like this will be taken out, worked on for a while, and then put away again. The process continues. The work is not just the artefact; it is the thinking and feeling it represents. It needs to evolve. Like all my work, it comes into being in a piecemeal fashion, bit by bit. I like the way that the form of this work reflects this. It’s a very accurate expression of my working process, which I like very much for that very reason. For this reason, I would call this a signature piece. It includes a poem which can be read if you look closely around the rim.
Untitled
Words are power;
this is why
I stumble and trip.
I try to find them.
For mine are hiding;
cowardly.
They left me helpless;
stuck themselves all over a tree –
becoming harder -soft tissue
into paper
Then,
as you see…
A wooden bark
which
soundless sits
in its own
quiet
dignity.
To find your voice as a person sounds easy, but it’s one of the hardest things in life. Maybe for me, with a lot of childhood trauma and adversity, those formative experiences make “articulation” more a a challenge? I’m not sure, but I do know that in my second half of life, I have needed to do a lot of personal work through ongoing psychotherapy. This has proved transformative, and vital in locating a stronger sense of myself, and in finding my voice. As an artist and creative, this “Articulation” expresses the heart of why I work with materials in the way that I do. It’s part of a regeneration and growth; An expansion and exploration.
On the materials and making dimension of “Articulation”
Process
I took some digital photographs of trees/branches in my garden. Photocopies of these were used as the final layer of papier-mâché. They were the beginning, and end of this process led, instinctive piece.
The galvanised steel wire framework took off nicely. I wanted a sense of control/structure but also spontaneity. Playful rings in the centre invite a childlike exploration. I included suggestions of fluidity/water flow in the outer form using parallel areas of curved wire. I wanted activity and life suggested in what was gradually emerging as a tree stump type form.
The paper parts skim around the form, almost as if being blown by wind; a metaphor for the Holy Spirit of God. My acknowledgement of a life giving, creative, divine influence; inspiration; is key.
The negative spaces and shapes are there to unify the sculpture as a whole; they let you into its structure and in doing that, present a sense of unity to the superficial brokenness. The newspaper and photocopied paper “bark” was sprayed brown paint, then varnished. In one section there is an inner and outer wire wall which have separated from each other. The inner energy of the trunk is pushing the old bark away.
My experience of psychotherapy is integral to my creative output.
This is my main portfolio on redbubble.com. My focus isn’t on selling online, but accessible and affordable art prints enable people to own and view selected examples of my work and its a great way to share it.
There is only a limited selection of work I’ve posted on redbubble.com. It’s a “print on demand” site. If you purchase something with my art/design on it, I get a royalty payment while redbubble.com manufacture the product or print.
Any art prints are unsigned. It’s an excellent way for me to make my work more affordable and available. And easy to buy.
The SHOP section shows my work on different products. When you start clicking around it also offers an option “See Similar Designs” but this will show designs by ALL artists on redbubble.com which are similar. I mention because this can be confusing. If you just want to see additional designs by me on the shop section, then you need to make sure you scroll down to my profile picture and name and look there. It’s further down.
Interior designers looking for specific formats and substrates for large scale artwork for corporate, office and business environments or other public spaces may wish to contact me directly for custom made, large scale, interior wall art, prints, etc. Enquiries most welcome.
Which “Keim Galaxies” have I put up on Redbubble.com so far?
Here are some images of the “Keim Galaxies” up at the present time. I will be adding to them, of course.
Images are low resolution on the internet. On Redbubble.com it’s possible to have them printed on prints and furnishing, and many different types of merchandise at a very large scale. This is perfect for interior designers, for both domestic and home settings and is quick, safe, and affordable.
Note: The edges where colours meet are diffused, giving a gentle, organic feel when viewed at very close range. This softening is deliberate, and not a printing fault. The combination of flat solid colours and softened edges on printed substrate is part of my aesthetic and characteristic of all of my flat colour designs.
Jenny Meehan Contemporary Fine Artist Original Fine Art Paintings for Sale
If you prefer to buy affordable, original paintings, directly from me, I have plenty available and do please contact me letting me know what you are looking for.
The majority of my original fine art paintings can be described as following the style of abstract expressionism and lyrical abstraction. I paint in either oils or acrylics mostly.
A rough price guide for my original paintings is between £300 and £700 when purchased directly from me. The cheapest way to by my original paintings is directly through me. I am not represented by an art gallery.
When you buy a painting or any art work from a gallery setting, there is normally a commission of between 30% and 50% added to the price due to gallery costs and the purchase being made through a business. This is also the case when you buy artists work from art exhibitions of other kinds, for example, those which have been organised in response to competitions and artist call outs. If you see an artwork on this blog you would like to buy, just use the contact form and enquire if its available for sale. I do sell my work on a regular basis.
I regularly exhibits my art working (paintings, prints, and poetry) in the United Kingdom. This is normally as a result of being selected in Open Submission Artist’s Call Outs. My work has been exhibited in many notable galleries, including Pallant House Gallery, Dulwich Picture Gallery, Stanley Picker Gallery, and Kingston Museum Gallery. My work is featured/included in many publications, University and Hospital projects/settings.
Kingston Artists’ Open Studios 2020 Cancelled!
Yes, another cancelled exhibition. Here are some images from last year to look at instead!
kingston artists open studios 2019 jenny meehan artist designer artists open studios events in surrey, artists open studios london, outer london artists studios, lyrical abstractions, geometric abstraction, fine paintings, prints,
“With great reluctance we have decided to cancel #OpenStudios 2020 because of the #coronavirus situation. We will be back as soon as we can. In the meantime do look at our website & links to our artists’ websites. Do support them by ordering online!”
This is an early painting of mine when I was first experimenting with representational painting. I’ve picked this to share because of the “Staying at Home” message we are all hearing. The painting is my neighbours front garden. The tree isn’t there anymore, as it was sadly cut down. The pathway leading to the shut gate evokes some kind of memory for me from my childhood. You shut gates in gardens to stop children from wandering out, in to possible danger. The paintings has shade, on the right hand side, from the walls of the house, and also sunlight which catches the bushes on the left. Young flowering plants grow in the shade, enjoying the protection of the wall from the early morning frosts no doubt. The strong branches of the tree outside the garden are quite a contrast.
I am finding great enjoyment from my garden at this challenging time, and it is certainly therapeutic! A good way of relaxing. Nature is very comforting at times. I said to myself recently, as I looked at my small tomato plant growing “As long as the plants keep growing, we are OK!”.
The Art of Caring
Well, ANOTHER cancelled exhibition. Which has become an online exhibition for the time being.
Here is some information about it, copied and pasted from the “Art of Caring” website.
“Introduction to “The Art of Caring” Online Exhibition
“We are delighted to participate in the Art of Caring 2020 exhibition, the year which the World Health Organisation designated as the International Year of the Nurse and Midwife and the bicentennial year of Florence Nightingale’s birth. Any year would have been timely to celebrate the attributes of our highly skilled, multi faceted professions, which make up the largest proportion of the NHS workforce. But with the world facing a global pandemic, it is apposite that in this, of all years, we pay tribute to the contribution and sacrifice made by our colleagues worldwide and offer them our sincere thanks and gratitude.
The theme for this year’s exhibition, ‘Ingredients for a healthy life’ takes on new meaning and poignancy in such unprecedented times. Many images in our exhibition reflect this, appreciating the gifts of comfort and kindness which bind us together. We are indebted to our Artist In Residence, Alban Low in organising our first ever ‘Virtual’ exhibition and hope you enjoy it as much as we have.
Keep safe (and wash your hands),
Prof Karen Norman (On behalf of the School of Nursing, Kingston University and St George’s, University of London).
Karen Norman is Non Executive Director, Queen Victoria Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and Visiting Professor, Business School, University of Hertfordshire
This exhibition is supported by the School of Nursing, Kingston University and St George’s, University of London. Thank you to the arts team at St George’s Hospital and our long term artist partners The Arts Project (Peter Herbert/Marius Els) at St Pancras Hospital.”
“The Art of Caring” Online Exhibition will be running over May 2020. Each day there will be the work of four artists on the Art of Caring blog/website, and on some social media platforms too.
My day…
Jenny Meehan 06/05/2020
As May has started already, on publishing this blog post I have already started to look at some of the artworks and statements online, and they are amazing! Can’t wait to see more!
My contribution:
Here is my submission. Title “Eating Greens” 🤣
Sometimes self care is difficult! It feels unpleasant when we are not used to it!
The thinking behind this submission is that for those in the caring professions, or anyone fulfilling a caring role, it’s so easy to neglect ourselves. Neglecting to eat healthily is one obvious way to neglect yourself, but there are many others. The model in the photo is my daughter, who loves cabbage now… It just took some getting used to. Often self care feels hard… It doesn’t feel right, but it gives us nourishment which we need.
Jenny (I need to remind myself of this all the time!)
One of my prints has been shortlisted for this art exhibition at Kingston Museum. Another one which will have to wait, at this Covid 19 Time we inhibit. No online exhibition happening for this one. It will be titled: Climate KAOS: Kingston Artists Open Studios present works about climate change. Was due to happen in June.
About Jenny Meehan
Jenny Meehan – UK based painter-poet artist-author
Any persons discovered to be reproducing, copying or using images by Jenny Meehan without prior consent, authorisation or permission will be put on notice that Jenny Meehan is the copyright owner and asked to immediately cease and desist the infringing activity. If a satisfactory response and / or compliance is not forthcoming promptly, the matter will be pursued. For clarification of the laws of copyright, please contact the Design and Artists Copyright Society (DACS). http://www.dacs.org.uk
Copyright for all visual art by Jenny Meehan is managed by the Design and Artists Copyright Society (DACS) in the UK. If you wish to licence a work of art by Jenny Meehan, please contact Jenny Meehan in the first instance to clarify your requirements.
Licencing an image is quick and easy for both parties and is organised through the Design and Artist Copyright Society. It can be done online through their request form:
Please NOTE: the “Quote” suggested is a proposed fee in line with the industry standard. While I do stick broadly to the industry standard with respect to fees, I appreciate the need to stick to a budget in publishing, and the quote is a proposed amount. I normally have some flexibility!
DACS will automatically propose a licensing fee in line with the industry standard. However, please note, this is a negotiable fee. I am happy to be flexible about the initial fee proposed, and it’s not a problem if the initially proposed fee is outside your budget. Administration of the licensing process is facilitated through DACS, who liaise between us with respect to the exact fee agreed. Depending on circumstances and the nature of your project, I can offer fee reductions for a certain percentage of licensing arrangements.
If you use their online form and attach the low resolution image of my artwork which you have found on the internet, they will know which image you seek permission for. You can also contact me directly in the first instance if you wish to, of course. Any arrangements will need to be made through the Designer and Artists’ Copyright Society, but I can often offer the opportunity to alter images, for example, putting in different aspect ratios or colourways, so it’s really helpful to communicate with designers and clients first with respect to the actual image required.
So, feel free to contact me if you are looking for a particular type of artwork image, as I have a large archive of images. I will also be able to let you know the maximum size the digital image is available at. If you then wish to licence the artwork image, you would then contact the Design and Artist Copyright Society to arrange the licencing agreement according to your requirements. Once paid and agreed, I then supply the high resolution image directly to you.
My images can be licensed for use easily and quickly. DACS have price lists on their website for different types of use, which should be used only a guide for a proposed fee. It’s a starting point. I can normally be flexible.
Jenny Meehan - Art Journal 