About Me

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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

Friday, February 25, 2011

The Maywood exhibit – an interview amongst friends

My paintings are now up at the Maywood, NJ Library and a friend – Denise Frawley, a photographer, is having her photos up at the same time in Maywood. She has a blog where she is doing a Photo a Day - http://denisekeeganphotography.blogspot.com/
We've shared what each has learned in our pursuit of this career - me all the websites I've found and how we need to be in many places and in all the social media. Denise checked out all the libraries in the BCCLS system and a few other things. This after her husband, Tom, made us a nice dinner of pork loin and brussel sprouts. Ive never been a fan of the sprouts, but his were delicious.
Susan Clark, a mutual friend is a writer and reporter for the North Jersey Media Group and one of the towns she covers is Maywood, so Denise and I became eligible to be interviewed by hew for the publication/website. We met each other at the Hawthorne Gospel Church singles group 10 years ago and have maintained a friendship despite a noticeable age differences , own artistic tendencies being the binding force. At various activities, you’d find Denise and I taking pictures of what was going on and whatever struck our fancy. Susan (under the name Susan Joy Clark) has written a book “And The Violin Cries”

http://www.amazon.com/Violin-Cried-Susan-Joy-Clark/dp/1424160987

and is working on the sequal.

Her father is creative also & has a thing for numbers. He created a Fibonacci T-shirt on Zazzle - http://www.zazzle.com/golden_spiral_and_fibonacci_spiral_tshirt-235765739168422667

Susan knew of both our attempts to publicize and make a dollar or two off our talents but could not do so unless it was in a town she covered. The Shows in Maywood provided that opportunity. We met at the Fairlawn Panera Bread and had a great time together. It seemed like an informal conversation until she brought some specific questions and even then there was a natural flow back and forth. We talked of how we approached our craft and what were things we liked doing. I mentioned covered bridges and how I like to show them at unusual angles and lighthouses , barns and fishing village scenes. We talked of how we got started and other topics. Nice time together. I mentioned that this seemed to be the set up of a joke – "A painter, a photographer and a writer walk into a restaurant...". Susan brought up the idea of our own art club. Who Knows! I sure it will be a fine article!

2 comments:

  1. Thanks for the plug, Jack, although the title is "And the Violin Cried." : ) We really did have a nice talk. : )

    Mom wants to know what you are charging for your paintings. I'm sure it varies, but maybe you can give a range? We may go out to Garden State Plaza tomorrow to see "Grace Card" at the theater, if it's showing there, and to check out the "going out of business" sale at Borders. So, maybe I can stop by the library with Mom and Dad to look at your paintings and see if Denise's photos are up.

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  2. I also blogged about the interview yesterday on my blog as well and linked your blogs on your names!! great bloggers think alike!!

    Susan, I checked out your father's zazzle store, very interesting patterns, my favorite was the phrase meter 2 one, cause it was colorful of course lol

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