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

Sunday, March 9, 2014

Sold a painting - Portland Head Light at Sunrise

For me, selling a painting is a rare event. I just sold my most recent painting - the Portland Head Light at Sunrise that I it from a picture from the FB page Michael Blanchette Photography to a couple from my church Bob & Sue Blumenstock. A bit of a story here:

Last summer I ran the 1st annual  First Baptist Summer Art Gallery at my church. This was to try and draw out the artists of many different types and styles to show their talents and it was very successful. I, of course, showed my paintings as well. Bob and Sue Blumenstock are long time family friends and church members and expressed interest in buying one of my paintings but could not decide which one. No rush! The decision making went on until my church's recent mission conference, where several of the missionaries we support come and we have 4 days of meetings and a banquet to get re-aquainted with  them and hear what they've been doing. The theme was Fisher's of  Men, so there were nautical decorations around the church, including a small sailboat on stage with various types of fishing gear and my nautical paintings (lighthouses and fishing boat) on the window sills - 16 in all. As soon as Bob and Sue saw the Portland Head painting, they knew that was the one. 
       what it looked like on the church window sill                 and Bob and Sue with the painting

Tuesday, March 4, 2014

prepping for 2nd FBH Summer Art Gallery - registration

Last Summer I started the the  First Baptist Summer Art Gallery at my church First Baptist Hackensack NJ. calling myself The Curator. There is a large display board in the hallway leading to the gym where usually the the Hackensack Christian School art class displays their work. Its empty during the Summer, so I got permission to use it to display the wide range of  artistic talent in the congregation and it was a success. We had photographers, painters, needlepointers, sowers and others coming forward to display their talents. Each person's display was given a museum like description and I posted " Press Releases" on the church's FB page, website, Twitter, the weekly bulletin. and this blog.

We will be having a second one this year from May 22nd to the end of September. This year we have an Summer Art Gallery Registration on the church's website. They click on  the "Signups and contacts" button which shows a drop down menu of several different signup possibilities and click on the "Summer Art Gallery". There they fill in their name,email, phone, media type and message to the curator. That message should show a brief bio and description of their art. That get e-mailed to me and I start scheduling. Already have one person with some crochet art.

God has  given all of us a gift that benefits others. Art gives us time to pause and enjoy.