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

Monday, December 31, 2012

Happy New Year to all my followers - a review

Well its been a about a year since I started my attempt to become a selling artist. I've tripled my inventory of paintings. I've done a number of local library shows with lots of good comments but few sales (3 in all). I've sold a few products mugs, bags and postcards) on Zazzle with my images but nothing spectacular, except for someone in France buying a refrigerator magnet with a picture of my Spanish Cafe - Gaucin painting on it. My attempts to enter some juried shows at the Ridgewood Barn and the Art Center of North Jersey cost me the entry fees but not a place in the shows. Hopefully the New Year will turn out better. I have a new painting in progress of the Menemsha fishing port in Marthas Vineyard. As soon as I get a new camera, I will get that on.
In the meantime, I came across this image from the http://abcitsme.wordpress.com blog that is a nice represenation of the year 2013. So happy new year to everyone -

Thursday, December 13, 2012

on 12/13/12 support your local artist - Buy your Christmas gifts from us!

I know, I missed posting this on the 12s, but 12/13/12 has a cool look, too! And, the 13th makes Christmas is 12 days away! I should have done this weeks ago, but there is still time to purchase gifts based on my images and the images of my other artist friends. For me, check out my merchandising area on top of this blog. You may want to particularly look at my  Mugs and bags stores on Zazzle.  

I have several artist friends, besides myself, who would appreciate you buying from them. I am probably missing a few here, but I'm sure I will hear from them and will do a part 2 if necessary.
For painting - Check out Anne Piombino. She's had great things happen in the past year
Anne Piombino

For photography friend, Denise Keegan Frawley, you can shop for printed framed photos including metal prints at Fine Art America:http://denise-keegan-photography.artistwebsites.com/?tab=artworkgalleries

For printed photography items  such as mugs, bags etc. please visit her Zazzle storehttp://www.zazzle.com/denisekphotos

You might also want to check out Amy Salter
Amy Salter Photography

For Graphic Design Art please visit my friend Laura Snith's website: Images by Laura Smith

& shop http://www.zazzle.com/imagesbylaurasmith

For Music, here are several of my friends who do it very well
Mary Taylor - Mary Taylor for both Christian and Standards and makes a great DJ and is a fabulous paiuter.
Mark Caplan - Oracle - for some great Christian Music
Terry Boch - Terry

Monday, December 3, 2012

My paintings as wedding gifts - Mark and Kristin this time

When I started getting good at painting, I did not have the thought of going professional, so I would give them as wedding gifts. Since I was working at the Met Museum at the time, I would hang them on the wall of my cubicle for a week so I could say they hung in the Met. When the Met had employee art shows, I submitted mine which made it even more true.  Now, despite my attempts to sell them, I still so this. The last wedding i went to was a couple of weeks ago for Mark Miyamoto and Kristin Willis.
Each of my paintings has a business card size id card that I stick on for library shows. When I give the painting, I add a line, in this case - Collection of M & K Miyamoto. The paintng is my Smiling Barn - Maine
work. Hope they enjoy it!