About Me

My photo
Paramus, New Jersey, United States
No, this in not a blog about gardening in any way, but a journal of my journey to become a professional landscape painting artist. For years, I’ve given my paintings as wedding gifts without thinking of profiting in some way from it. I worked for 18 years at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in NYC as a computer programmer. I have been a painter since 1990, coincidentally, when I started working at the Met. I watched Bob Ross do his thing on Channel 13 in New York and decided I could do this, too. I have no formal training. I incorporate Bob's wet-on-wet technique for sky and water. My subject matter is covered bridges, lighthouses, fishing village scenes, barns, etc. Maine, Nantucket, Martha’s Vineyard, Nova Scotia and Spain are some of the places I have painted. My style is detailed and sometimes people think a photo of the painting is an actual photo of the scene. I hope to continue and grow in this medium. I also like to cook & dance. I am also a committed Christian. I am taking commissions - painting your landscapes style photos or your vacation home. Prices on request. contact me - Jackmck@juno.com my website is www.artofjackmckenzie.com

Wednesday, December 29, 2010

Blog reorg

I am striving to make this a blog a more enjoyable experience. I've changed the title picture to what I consider my best painting. I've added several by-category slideshows to my blog - Lighthouses, Fishing Village, Covered Bridges, Paramus Show and other, this replacing the down-the-side photos. I've also taken new pictures of the paintings in my possession. I will be working on some barn paintings, so that will separate into another category soon. I've asked people I've give paintings to send me better photos, so that will be coming, too. This Saturday I am submitting my Tarifa Fishing Boats painting in the Ridgewood Art Institute juried show. Lets see if I'm accepted.

Tuesday, December 28, 2010

Got a landscape or house photo you want painted? - contact me!

A couple of services as a painter I would like to provide.

1) Doing paintings of your favorite landscape type photos. I did one of of those a while ago, but that was when I did not think of making this a business. We can discuss the price of this, but I would charge 100 dollars per photo, negotiable of course. Generally it takes me a 3-4 weeks to do a painting, doing 3 or 4 at a time. Email me at Jackmck@juno.com.

2) Doing a painting of your house. I've heard of this being done and a friend asked me about doing a painting her house. I told her to take a number of photos of her house and get back to me. Prices negotiable.

Sunday, December 26, 2010

Blizzard in New Jersey - great time to paint row boats

Well, it seems we are in the middle of a blizzard in the NY/Northern NJ area. My sister is watching the local snow reports intensely. I listen occasionally, but what comes, come and it will be gone by Friday (temp in the 50s). Cant go anywhere, great time to paint. I'm 3/4 thru a covered bridge paintind and sections need to dry before I can continue. I'm starting a row boat series. You go to any fishing village and the docks or full of the row boats fishermen use to get to their boats. I have a great photo I took of them on Menemsha Pond in Martha's Vineyard that I want to start. Nows the time.

Friday, December 24, 2010

My Google search ranking

Much is made in business of the position you come up when people do a search on Google. Its called Search Engine Optimization (SEO). At least in Google, I come out on top with the search string "jack mckenzie landscape artist". I checked MSN and Yahoo and I don't even appear in the listings.
Google will do for now. The rest will come in time

Process of discovery - Getting those note cards printed

One of my intentions is to get note cards printed once I get decent photos of my paintings. I was attending the Jacksonville Chapel Singles tonight and Angelique was giving everyone a Christmas present bag. In the bag were a pack of 4 note cards with her photos on front she had made via Vista print. We talked about the process and its rather easy. Vista print gives you generic white envelopes. For Angelique, this was not good enough, so she searched E-bay for envelopes that match the colors of each card. Vista Print is good for all sorts of things like this, as is the Kodak site, which can make mugs and other things. We discussed pricing, etc and she wants to partner with me when I start going to art shows. I encouraged her to go to craft fairs with her card packs.
I've been signing up on a number of artist oriented websites and newsletters. Gotta keep informed! Stay tuned

Friday, December 17, 2010

Entering The Ridgewood Art Institute Jury Show and other stuff

The days of my Paramus Library showing are coming to a close with little feedback. A little disappointing , but I'm just beginning this venture. My next one will be to try to be accepted in the The Ridgewood Art Institute Regional Open Jury Show in January. This requires an entry fee of 35 dollars and that does not guarantee I will be accepted. If I am accepted, that will be a notch up in my artist career.

I've been exploring other artist websites and blogs. I see many of them doing what I want to do: their art on note cards, tiles, mug, prints, and t-shirts. I have a few friends who are photographers and my next step is to get high quality photos of my paintings to use for prints,etc. Stay tuned!

Wednesday, December 15, 2010

Halfway point in the Paramus Show

Its Dec 15 and so far little in the way of reaction to the Paramus Show. A little disappointing but I just starting this journey.

Good news is I've finally got past my painters block and the paintings are progressing. I'm doing two Jackson's Mill Bridge paintings. A touch obsessive, but we all have our likes and dislikes

Check the link below for one of the pictures

http://www.flickr.com/photos/jackmckenzie/5263931325/

Monday, December 13, 2010

The photos are up but no paintings coming out!

I have not started on my new paintings yet. I have the photos lined up to paint, but I can't seem to get things going. They are not speaking to me yet, but I'm sure they will soon. I have many other things going on: Christmas prep, seeking part time unemployment, running the Hawthorne Gospel Church IMPACT singles group amongst other things, so my muse is being drowned out for now. I will have to just stand in front of the easel and just start, hoping I can give this thing a kick-start.

Saturday, December 11, 2010

New paintings and the Paramus Show.

I'm going thru my photographs trying to come up with my next group of paintings. I've decided on another Jackson's Mill Bridge, a Sussex Barn, and the Brandt Point Lighthouse in Nantucket. I also have one from Nantucket - A Lobster store right on the water with a fishing boat in front. Stay tuned.
I've heard nothing much from the Paramus Library except that one friend from the Ridge Diner Network group has seen it and likes my water pictures. The staff of the Library seems to a appreciate my bright colors. One said it makes the place feel a bit Summer-y. Nice to hear. I finally made up some business card and left them there.

Friday, December 10, 2010

Paintings in the Paramus Library show

I am posting the paintings currently in the Paramus Library show. There are 10 paintings and I discovered I don't have picture of one of them. That will come later. So enjoy them and hopefully you will go to see the actual show. They make great Christmas gifts!

Thursday, December 9, 2010

Favorite Things to paint - 12/09/10 - Lancaster Covered Bridges

This for any of my fellow artists who have a thing for covered bridges. Lancaster County in Pa is full of them and Jackson's Mill bridge is my favorite. Its the south eastern part of the county, far from the usual Amish Country hangouts. Its worth the trip. There is a three silo barn 100 yards from it, so its picturesque-ness is off the charts. And get a picture of a Amish buggy coming thru, as I did,(I now have to learn how to paint horses) and you have as perfect a picture as you can get. There is a hill on the other side from the barn, so can get above the bridge views, too. Check the site below for details. I've painted this 4 times and will continue to do more


http://www.padutchcountry.com/members/jackson_s_sawmill_covered_bridge.asp

Paramus Library Show

I will be displaying 10 of my paintings at the Paramus NJ Library - Main Branch for the month of December. They have a minimal program, but it is my first show. All you artists in the area come by and check them out. I may even be there!

Wednesday, December 8, 2010

Thus it begins

Thus begins my entry in to world of  art blogging.
I am Jack McKenzie,  a landscape artist specializing in covered bridges, lighthouses, fishing village scenes, barns and whatever strikes my fancy. My preferred method is photographing a scene then painting it. I've been giving them away as wedding gifts, but have decided to try and sell some. I''ll start by posting a slide show of my works, then get into the regular posting. I currently have a show at the Paramus, NJ Main Library