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

Thursday, October 30, 2014

Art based Halloween costumes - Starry Night and more

People who seriously dress up for Halloween use anything for inspiration. I love watching the Kelly and Michael Show's Halloween show ( the tradition going back to when it was just the Regis show) with some really creative and wild get-ups.
Many art based costumes are popping up everywhere, on Facebook, Pinterest, etc.   Here are a few I've found. Enjoy and maybe this will inspire you!





New painting: Peggy's Cove - Nova Scotia.

I done several paintings of Peggy's Cove in the past, and here's another one. Peggy's Cove is the basic Nova Scotia fishing village that had become a mecca for artists. Check out Peggys-Cove-Area-Festival-of-the-Arts FB page The lighthouse and the harbor have been painted many times and I'm adding one more. As usual I'm offering a mug via Zazzle with this image on is
 
 

Wednesday, October 29, 2014

artist spotlight: Layered Glass Sculptures By Ben Young

I saw this on the Architecture and Design FB page. They always show the work of various artist in many genres. I really enjoyed this one. Layered Glass sculptures by New Zealand's Ben Young. A surfer and boat builder by trade, the beauty of the ocean and waves inspired him to begin sculpting. Check out his site and enjoy some of his work

Tuesday, October 7, 2014

My painting is cover photo on The Artistic Blog FB page

The The Artistic Blog Facebook page is using paintings of people who are regular visitors to their page as their cover photo for a week. They asked all who wanted to appear to email several paintings we would want seen and they'd pick one. I got an email telling me my Hilton Head Sunrise painting (which I painted from a photo by a friend Tammy Ingis)  was their cover page for the week (I'd post that, but I seem to have deleted it :-( ). It went up Sunday and should be there the rest of the week (most likely 10/10/14)
Here's the painting

and here's the caption that went along with it

Featured Artist: Jack McKenzie
'Hilton Head Sunrise' 11 x 14 oil on canvas board
Email: jackmck@juno.com
Blog: http://www.landscapesbyjack.blogspot.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Art-Page-of-Jack-Mckenzie/266037300075753
The Art Page of Jack Mckenzie

Wednesday, October 1, 2014

Beautiful - Kinetic Rain mobile sculpture

There is always some thing new and beautiful to see in art works around the world. Here is a kinetic sculpture called Kinetic Rain (video) installed at the Changi Airport in Singapore. Really beautiful
Check out a full description here