Jenny Meehan AKA jennyjimjams self portrait 2021 ©Jenny meehan
Art Journal Post October 2021 by Jenny Meehan
Moltmann, Jürgen
Sounds Make Paintings
Well, kind of!?? I make paintings and all the elements of my life I take into myself make paintings. Sounds don’t make paintings as such… And paintings don’t make sounds.. Though wonderfully, nowadays, with all the amazing digital technologies available to us, they quite possibly do! I love digital technology, and yet, I like to keep my paintings silent. A slight exception to this may be where I use my work in combination with poetry, as I do on many of my video poems on you tube and some of my experimental artworking in video and short film form.
What I do, do, though is a lot of listening as I paint. Mostly the sounds from my garden, and mostly, therefore, the birds. The movements of leaves and foliage, the occasional sound of traffic, the wind, an occasional dog barking; all fleeting moments which I take in. I also sometimes listen to music when I paint, and if I really like it and play it alot, I will sometimes title a painting with the name of the song. This is because it captures my imagination and I’m kind of exploring it at the same time I paint. I’m not seeking any conscious awareness or connection. It’s part of the environment I’m working in. I work from home, either in my kitchen studio, the garden, or my studio tent. The music is part of the present time and I’m contemplating it as much as the painting!
I named this “In a stone circle” after the beautiful piece of music I was listening to when working on it.
(Ian Anderson Divinities: Twelve Dances with God)
I trained in ballet for ten years from the age of 5 and I often incorporate music and dance into my painting process. Physically moving through space, in addition with playing with it as I use colour, geometry and composition in the flow of a painting session, seem complementary and the handprint in this artwork is a motif I started to use in some of my work many years ago. The handprint speaks of body awareness and making contact with myself.
As a person whose life story ,and hence narrative, includes processing high levels of trauma, the art I create has an important healing function in my life, and while that’s only one dimension of it, its one I value and embrace.
Image is low resolution only… Contact me for more details and detailed image if its not sufficient for your viewing objectives here.
Substrate is grey board
Unframed
Paint is Keim Soldalit for main areas with small applications of acrylics in places.
Not selling quite yet as it hasn’t been exhibited yet and I prefer to wait til I’ve shown in person before selling, but feel free to contact me if you want first “innings”.
Price range of my original fine art is between £400 and £900. Larger original paintings (up to around A1) are at the top end with smaller original paintings being around the £400 mark.
You can also buy unsigned open edition prints on various substrates and sizes via my jennyjimjams Redbubble artist profile on the well known print on demand marketplace Redbubble. Prices approx £10 – £200
Spring Dance Abstract Painting Jenny Meehan
And here is another recent painting. I was interested to think about why I should be thinking about spring at this time of year, as I was working on this one around September time, but I think as I spend a lot of time in the garden, seeing the beginnings of decay, and yet the seed pods and seed heads of flowers and plants, along with the activity of planting bulbs, does impress upon me an awareness of the coming Spring even in this time of gradual death.
Chris Whitty “Next Slide Please” Gifts Art Prints for Christmas
Delighted to have sold another unsigned print of this artwork via redbubble, the well known print on demand marketplace. They do Mugs and other products too! Great gifts!
When you buy via my pages on redbubble I get an artists margin which helps sustain my fine art practice. Much needed at this time when I haven’t been able to do my usual Artists Open Studios participation in the last couple of years.
I’m a big fan of Chris Whitty and I wanted to create something which had humour, was a bit of a coronavirus pandemic memento/souvenir, (not that we will forget it easily – it’s still very much ongoing!) and could be a fun gift encompassing these “uncertain times”.
Initially I created it just for myself, as I wanted a very unique facemask design.
My favourite use for it that I’ve received feedback from a customer on was that they had it printed by Redbubble on a T shirt which they wore when giving covid vaccinations at a vaccination centre. That kind of thing really makes creating worth while. It brought smiles to many faces!
I’m finding the phrase “Next Slide Please” resonates with me in more than a viewing of the UK Government’s Coronavirus Pandemic Updates.
To be honest I am wishing for the next few years, like slides, to quickly come and move on from, however I think much patience will be needed as it won’t be as straightforward as a slide show!
Some words and sayings are never going to be the same. It’s interesting the way life and experiences change meanings!
Links are in bio/comment to buy on my social media posts. Please contact me if you have any problems locating what you want of my art and design on redbubble as it’s a massive marketplace thousands of artists use to help support their creativity.
Link to my redbubble shops
https://www.redbubble.com/people/jennymeehan
https://www.redbubble.com/people/jennyjimjams
Jenny Meehan/jennyjimjams are both Redbubble artist portfolios of British contemporary Artist Designer Jenny Meehan.
Discover Jenny Meehan via my Art Journal Blog https://jennymeehan.wordpress.com/
Help for my writing…
Dorothy Allison: The Power of the Writers Voice
Dorothy Allison (born April 11, 1949) is an American writer from South Carolina whose writing focuses on class struggle, sexual abuse, child abuse, feminism and lesbianism. Allison has won a number of awards for her writing, including several Lambda Literary Awards. In 2014, Allison was elected to membership in the Fellowship of Southern Writers.
Very Wise Words on Leadership
Inclusive Church Annual Lecture 2021: Ellen Clark-King ‘Who Should We Follow? Leadership from the Margins’.
Ellen Clark-King is the first female Dean of King’s College London in its 191 year history. She has degrees in History and Christian Spirituality, and specialised in Practical Theology and Feminist Spirituality for her PhD, with a thesis on Feminist Theology interrogated by the voices of white working class women. She trained for the Anglican priesthood in Oxford. She spent time in parish, cathedral and higher education settings in the UK, Canada, and the US, before starting as Dean of King’s in December 2020.
Do you need exciting, engaging, images for a book cover design?
My artwork is particularly suitable for themes of: faith, religion, philosophy, Christian, church, all faith traditions, inter-faith, spirituality, the subconscious, psychoanalytic themes, mindfulness, contemplative practices, healing, health, both physical and mental, trauma recovery, metaphysical and psychological focused writings, the devotional life, and many other subjects.
Indeed, pretty much any subject matter or theme which benefits from a more abstract graphic image; one which also conveys basic feelings and ideas in an open and experimental manner; would benefit from it’s clarity of communication being enhanced by one of my art images.
From the lyrical abstraction of some of abstract expressionist style textured paintings, to the geometric abstraction clear edged imagery, which I also produce, the value of non representational imagery in book cover design which is both colourful and interesting, and stimulates the eye with colour and striking composition, cannot be under estimated.
If you are looking for something particular, do contact me, because I only display a small amount on the internet and may even be able to create something specific to your needs, or be able to locate something from my extensive archives which meets your need.
Twitter: jennymeehan@jennymeehanart
https://linkedin.com/in/jennymeehanart
Follow Jenny Meehan! British Contemporary Artist’s Online Art Journal. Artist’s Blog/Art Journal. Posts published every two months.
TO FOLLOW THIS ARTIST’S BLOG SIMPLY GO TO THE RIGHT HAND COLUMN, LOCATE THE “FOLLOW” BOX AND POP IN YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS. You can select your preferred frequency of updates.
Who is Jenny Meehan? (Well… I’m still trying to work that one out…)
Jenny Meehan (Jennifer Meehan) is a painter-poet, artist-author and Contemplative (Christian faith tradition) based in East Surrey/South West London. Her interest in Christ-centred spirituality and creativity are the main focus of this artist’s journal, which rambles and meanders on, maybe acting as a personal (yet open to view) note book as much as anything else. Trauma recovery, mental health awareness, and psychotherapy/psychoanalysis are all very interesting. And yes; it’s me writing this. Feels odd… But it’s fun.
If you would like to give money to help support my creative practice I can accept it quickly and easily through the Paypal.me process. Simply put the following in your browser:
paypal.me/jennymeehan
and follow the prompts. Please consider supporting my work in this way if it strikes a chord with you and you are able to do so. Unfortunately there isn’t a system in this facility for me to send a thank you. But if you do use it, then understand that I am grateful!
I do need financial support.
Another way you could support my participation in the visual arts could be by praying for me, if that’s part of your daily life. I’m a progressive Christian in faith focus, but prayers from any religious tradition are ALL VERY WELCOME! Creativity is a gift from God, and if you believe in a LOVING Creator, and you feel my creativity reflects and connects with your sense of the divine presence expressed in the world, then throw in some prayers for me. I need strength and encouragement in many ways.
Individual Online Art Tuition and Artist Mentoring
Jenny Meehan (Jennifer Meehan) BA Hons (Lit.) PGCE
I’m a trained teacher (PGCE in Education) and offer individual or small group daytime art tuition. My specialism is abstract painting, however, I can also teach a range of general art and design techniques in a friendly and accessible way. My emphasis is on your finding your own personal direction. Current students include beginners as well as experienced artists.
Since the Coronavirus Pandemic hit us I’ve changed my teaching practices and moved to online art tuition and Artist mentoring. This is now individual art tuition over Skype or Zoom. It needs to be booked and paid for at least two weeks in advance. The fee for a 50 minute online art session with me, be it artist mentoring, online art tuition or a bit of both, is £35. Please contact me for further details.
Buy Original Fine Paintings by Jenny Meehan
If you require original fine paintings in the lyrical abstract style, then contact me!
Why read “Jenny Meehan – Contemporary Artist’s Journal: The Artist’s Meandering Discourses – poetry – painting – spirituality (mostly!)?
This artist’s blog is probably of most interest to artists, art collectors, art lovers and basically anyone who is interested in fine art, poetry, creativity, spirituality and psychology (and their related areas). Art curators and art collectors interested in British 21st century female contemporary artists, women and art, religious art, spirituality and art, and psychoanalysis and art, I imagine will probably enjoy dipping into this Jenny Meehan Contemporary Artist’s Journal. Skimming is vital… It is a “Meandering Discourse” after all, written for my benefit as well as hopefully other people’s!
Art collectors are often interested in the processes, techniques, interests and influences of the artists whose work they collect, and sharing my thoughts and perspectives through a blog is an important dimension of my creative practice.
I describe my painting as being romantic,expressionistic, abstract and lyrical. Art collectors interested in lyrical abstraction, abstract expressionist, and essentially romantic art, are likely to find my paintings an interesting and exciting addition to their art collection.
I am a self-representing artist, whose aim is to ensure I continue to develop my painting practice in an innovative and pioneering way, rather than attempt some kind of commercial success, and whose aim is also that my work is historically relevant, rather then celebrated in that so called and illusive “art world”. I hope to add to the number of people who value, collect, and develop an interest in my paintings and to thereby sustain and develop my practice over many years. Bit of blurb from past website:
“Jenny Meehan is an established artist who has been exhibiting for over ten years, mostly in the UK. Notable exhibitions include, most recently being selected for the Imagined Worlds touring exhibition of artworks inspired by the poem ‘Kubla Khan’ and inclusion in “Building Bridges, the Female Perspective” at Tower Bridge Victorian Engine Rooms in 2016. Jenny has been a keen supporter of various charity art exhibitions over the years including the National Brain Appeals ” A Letter in Mind” at Gallery@oxo, South Bank, London and the “Anatomy for Life” Exhibition for Brighton Sussex University Hospitals Trust in 2015
Selected by a wide range of judges in open submission exhibitions, her work appeals to the aesthetic and emotional discernment of many, and has been displayed in many prestigious galleries. These include the Dulwich Picture Gallery, London, in 2015, as part of their Open Exhibition, and the Pallant House Gallery, Chichester, West Sussex, as part of the Pallant House Gallery/St Wilfrid’s Hospice Open Art Exhibition in 2010.
Jenny Meehan’s work has been included in several academic projects and and publications including “Speaking Out – Women Recovering from the Trauma of Violence” by Nicole Fayard in 2014 and the ongoing “Recovery” Exhibition project – Institute Of Mental Health/City Arts, Nottingham University, also in 2014. While her romantic, lyrical, expressionistic, abstract paintings offer a contemplative space free from cares and concerns, other strands of her practice engage with subjects ranging from violence, trauma recovery, psychoanalysis, and mental health.”
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COPYRIGHT INFORMATION FOR OTHER IMAGES
Permission is always sought before use. When I include images, I do so in the belief that this will not cause commercial harm to the copyright holder. I believe that this is fair use and does not infringe copyright. Images are used in order for me to comment and reference them in relation to my own creative and artistic practice. When I include extracts of text, I also do so with the understanding that again, this is permissible under the widely accepted fair usage terms with respect to copyright.
Outline of my “Fair Use” rationale, which is applicable to all images from other sources which I include on this blog:
There is no alternative, public domain or free-copyrighted replacement image available to my knowledge.
Its inclusion in my blog adds significantly to my narrative because it shows the subject which I want to refer to and relate to my own artistic practice and is necessary in order for me to communicate accurately my observations/critical appraisal/appreciation/educate my readers, in understanding my perspectives on art and life. Inclusion is for information, education and analysis only. The text discussing the significance of the included art work is enhanced by inclusion of the image. The image is a low resolution copy of the original work of such low quality that it will not affect potential sales of the art work
| Social Media: Jenny Meehan Jenny Meehan – UK based painter-poet artist-author Specialism: Geometric and Lyrical Abstraction Image licensing via DACS Designer and Artists Copyright Society (DACS proposed fees are negotiable contact me in first instance) https://www.youtube.com/user/jennyjimjams https://twitter.com/jennymeehanart Copyright Information – Jenny Meehan Copyright in all images by Jenny Meehan is held by the artist. Permission must be sought in advance for the reproduction, copying or any other use of any images by Jenny Meehan. Individuals or businesses seeking licences or permission to use, copy or reproduce any image by Jenny Meehan should, in the first instance, contact Jenny Meehan. 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). www.dacs.org.uk Copyright for all visual art by Jenny Meehan is primarily 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: https://dacs.secure.force.com/enquiry/ For an overview on image licensing on the DACS website, look here. https://www.dacs.org.uk/licensing-works 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. Sample Price Guide for book cover image: £350, as below: For this kind of use: Distribution: Worldwide all languages Print run: 5,000 printed copies plus 500 e-books Proposed licensing fee: £270 +vat This was below the proposed licencing fee initially suggested to the client by DACS, which was (in that year) £382 +vat, but I had a personal interest in the project therefore was happy to reduce the fee accordingly. I request two complimentary copies of the book for myself, but I make no fee for the supply of the image. 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. |
Original Fine Paintings and Digital Prints by Jenny Meehan
My original artwork has two main strands: Lyrical Abstraction, painterly, fluid, with a lot of focus on light, how it bounces off the surface, textures and finishes, and Geometric Abstraction (created through digital imaging software) in which I focus on flat areas of smooth, solid, and translucent colour; ideally intended to be printed on even, matt or semi-mat surfaces.
While I’m experimenting with the overlap between the two, and make it my practice to regularly try out new mediums, in order to keep my artwork fresh and steadily evolving, identifying the strands in this way is helpful for clarity. I use writing and poetry in my art working and now prefer to use sol-silica paint over acrylics or oils, though I am still known to dabble in many different types of paint, due to their particular material and visual qualities!
If you would like to give money to help support my creative practice, I can accept it quickly and easily through the Paypal.me process. Simply put the following in your browser:
paypal.me/jennymeehan
and follow the prompts. Please consider supporting my work in this way if it strikes a chord with you and you are able to do so. I do need support in order to continue my artworking.
My artwork is particularly suitable for themes of: faith, religion, philosophy, Christian, church, all faith traditions, inter-faith, spirituality, the subconscious, psychoanalytic themes, mindfulness, contemplative practices, healing, health, both physical and mental, trauma recovery, metaphysical and psychological focused writings, the devotional life, and many other subjects.
Alongside my mainly lyrical abstract paintings, there is another important strand in my work which includes more of a narrative. Well, some kind of narrative. Through my writing, and my participation in ongoing psychotherapy, I draw on my subconscious. It’s this process of self reflection, examination, and other contemplative practices which are rooted in my own faith tradition as a Christian, alongside a good dose of yoga and West African drumming, which have created an exciting way ahead for my work with visual art. I think it’s the relationship between my writing and visual work, particularly through poetry, which helps determine the direction in my art practice.
I’m a member of Kingston Artists’ Open Studios: http://www.kingstonartistsopenstudios.co.uk/product-category/artists-m-to-z/
Jenny Meehan - Art Journal 