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, September 25, 2013

First Baptist Summer Art Gallery closing

The Summer Art Gallery I set up at my church, First Baptist Hackensack is closing to make way for the church's school art student displays. It was a very successful first year and I look forward to next year. May even have an opening reception. I posted this "Press Release" on the church's FB page.

First Baptist Hackensack Summer Art Gallery
Press Release – 9/24/13
Subject –  closing of the 2013 sessions
From – The Curator
For immediate release

The Curator is pleased to announce the closing of a very successful first year of the  First Baptist Hackensack Summer Art Gallery on Sunday Sept 29th.  The final exhibition was myself and Don Maitland. We have seen many of the members of First Baptist Church come forward and show the artistic talents God has given to them. We wish to thank Walter and Rosalee Glemann, Wayne and Meghan Cahilly, Donna Prendergast, Beverly Orwig, Roly Medois, Don Maitland and Carol Tripp for sharing with us. The Curator’s particular favorite is Roly Medois’ picture of First Baptist Church surrounded by musical symbols. The Radiator Galley will also be closing.
We will re-open, God willing, the Sunday after Father’s Day in 2014. I hope those who expressed interest in exhibiting, but never did, will do so then, You have 9 months to think about what you want to show. Thank you all for a successful 2013 season. We now return control of  the control of the board in Leach Memorial Hall to HCS, so their students can display their gifts.

Your talent is God's gift to you. What you do with it is your gift back to God.                    Leo Buscaglia

1 Peter 4:10 - As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace…. :

Thursday, September 19, 2013

My cousin Sharon Guynup is co-publishing a book - Tigers Forever

My cousin is a photographer and writer, traveling the world , many times with her son Nicki.

She is co-publishing (Sharon's text and Steve Winters photography) a book. Tigers Forever, which comes out Nov. 12th from National Geographic Books. Sharon's work as a journalist and photographer has taken her across the globe. She has contributed to Smithsonian, The New York Times Syndicate, Scientific American, The Boston Globe, BBC Wildlife, Popular Science, nationalgeographic.com and Audubon, and other publications. She lived in Turkey for a year as a Fulbright Scholar and is a NJ State Council on the Arts Fellowship recipient.
Sharons webite 
Tigers Forever
Tigers Forever lecture 
 

Monday, September 9, 2013

New Painting: Vacation's Last Sunset- Curacao. 11 x 14 oil on canvas board

One of my weaknesses is painting ocean sunsets. I get the sky okay, but I need to work on the ocean part of it. This is from a friend's (Laura Jaarsma) photo from her last vacation. I have a lot of other sunset paintings I want to do.

 

Wednesday, September 4, 2013

I'm entering the Art In The Park exhibition at Van Saun County Park

The Art In the Park and Concert at the Van Saun County Park in Paramus has been going on for quite a while. I did not enter the past few years because of other commitments but I'm planning to do so this year. I just called in for the basic info. Its October 12th. If anyone in the area would like to do so, call 201-336-7292. Here's the web page for the show Van Saun Art in the Park