This shaded cafe in Aix en Provence is full during lunchtime. Even though it is sweltering outside, people would rather be outdoors than in a dark cafe. The cafe interiors are a welcome sight on a rainy day, of course. But it is always nice to look at the effects that the sunshine creates on the stone walkways, buildings, and awnings from a shady spot. Oil on 18" x 24" stretched linen.
Jan 17, 2024
Sunny Cafes in Aix en Provence
Mostly everyone was searching for shade on this hot day in Aix en Provence. Everyone except the couple walking toward me as well as myself, of course. Only the hearty dared to walk in the sunlight in search of the next cafe serving Aperol spritzes. Pro tip: everyone in Aix serves them! Oil on 24" x 20" stretched linen. SOLD.
Jan 8, 2024
Weird Years
There have been many life changing events during the past several years, which impeded my artistic productivity. I haven't been posting to my blog as much as in the past because blogging seems to have been replaced by social media or other websites. I plan to do a mass upload of all of my newer work in the near future. I also plan to have a couple of studio cleaning sales to clear space for new work. I haven't been as happy with my work during the past couple of years. Stress inducing occurrences seem to have affected my style. I feel that I am finally becoming myself again and I plan to share the new work that reflects that soon. In the meantime, this is one of the paintings that I completed in 2023. It was inspired by adventure on the Camino de Santiago. It is said that the real Camino starts after you have completed the walk. This has turned out to be a massive understatement. I believe I flew from Europe into a parallel universe.
This painting shows that you can take two different roads. One is the correct "way" the other will get you lost. It seems that I have been lost for many years and the Camino has put me on the path that I should have taken all along. There were many strange coincidences that have illustrated to me that things will happen when they are supposed to and that you should always trust your instincts, even if it makes you seem difficult. Oil on 14" x 18" stretched canvas. Available at Latrobe Art Center.
Aug 4, 2023
A Stroll Through Luxembourg Gardens
The Luxembourg Gardens in Paris was already in full bloom in early May. The park was empty when I was there, making it feel like it was all mine. Oil on 16" x 24" stretched canvas. Available at UGallery.com
Jun 28, 2023
Beach Haven Afternoon
This was painted from a reference photo that I took last year while visiting Beach Haven, NJ. My mother and I participated in the local Art Walk to try to branch out into new territory. We stayed a few nights and really enjoyed the perfect sand of the beaches and the slightly retro vibe of the town. On this particular day, there was rain. In the afternoon, the clouds cleared to reveal the pthalo blue and pthalo green sky. Oil on 9"h x 11"w stretched canvas. Available on my Daily Paintworks gallery page
Jun 27, 2023
Sleeping Seuss
Seuss the cat loves to nap in a sunny window. In this case, she was sleeping with our calico, Stella, who was basically acting as a blanket. Oil on 8" x 8" stretched canvas. The edges are painted raw umber and the painting comes ready to hang. Available on my Daily Paintworks gallery page.
Jun 20, 2023
View From The South Kaibab Trail
This is one view from the South Kaibab Trial of the Grand Canyon. The steep grades on each side of the trail can be disorienting, but the visual rewards were worth the anxiety. Just bring ample water if you ever do the hike! Oil on 18"h x 24" x 1 1/2" stretched canvas. Available at Latrobe Art Center, Latrobe, PA
Jun 9, 2023
Airport Mesa Trail Of Sedona
This is one of the many spectacular views one encounters while walking the Airport Mesa Trail in Sedona, AZ. It was my favorite trail while visiting the city. Oil on 14"h x 11"w cradled masonite. Available for sale at Latrobe Art Center, Latrobe, PA.
Sunbathing
My cat, Tiny, is great at multi-tasking, as she can bathe while also sunbathing. Oil on 11"h x 14"w stretched linen. SOLD.
Apr 30, 2023
View From The Crane Estate
In the summer of 2021, I drove to Massachusetts on a solo trip. I sometimes travel better alone, as I don't have to worry that my subject-matter-gathering isn't getting in the way of what would normally be a relaxing trip. I feel free to explore, change plans on a whim, and eat less than impressive meals on the run. On this trip, I was in search of small towns near Marblehead and Rockport, and everything in between. I drove toward Ipswich and loved all the food stands and the sights of families enjoying their vacations. I noticed a sign for the Crane Estate, which sounded impressive, so on a whim, I toured the grounds. I hope to go back and tour the inside of the estate as well as the connected beach. Oil on 12" x 16" stretched canvas.
FYI, I am currently working on my website. If you have visited and gotten a "Private Site" message, that is why. It will be live in the near future. I will post on here and on social media.
Between Storms
This family enjoys some play time between storms in the Outer Banks, North Carolina. During September of 2020, we took a trip with friends, happy to be able to travel again. We made the most of all the nice weather, even if it was just a small amount of time between storms. SOLD.
Mar 16, 2023
Misty Stream in Yellowstone Park
"Misty
Stream in Yellowstone Park" captures the liquid light rolling off the
hill into the water, and then evaporating into mist. I painted it from a
reference photo I took near the Grand Prismatic Springs. Oil on 14" x 18" stretched canvas. Click Here To Purchase from UGallery.com
Mar 3, 2023
Baltimore Boats
We visited Baltimore last autumn and had a great time exploring the Inner Harbor and The Walters Art Museum. There are great meals and sights to be had in the city. Oil on 16"h x 12"w stretched canvas. Available at Latrobe Art Center.
Feb 19, 2023
Ready for Battle
This painting was inspired by a sparring session at Broken Plow Western Martial Arts in Creighton, PA (near Pittsburgh.) The school hosts many classes, including German longsword. This is a link to the school's website. SOLD.
Jan 30, 2023
The Last Ones On The Beach
A mother and daughter are the last ones on the beach in Corolla, SC. This was painted from a photo I took during a 2020 trip to the beach. Oil on 12" x 16" stretched canvas. SOLD.
Dec 12, 2022
Raspberry Dessert and Teacup
The minty, almost lime green shade of this antique teacup complements the berry pink of the raspberries of the Gaby et Jules dessert well. It was difficult to paint this without taking a bite. But, I made sure to buy extra macarons to help me resist. Oil on 6" x 6" stretched linen. SOLD.
Nov 21, 2022
Red House in Indiana
The third painting in my "Around Town with Joplin" series. I distinctly remember taking the reference photo while walking my dog on July 4, 2020. I woke up early to go to the farmers' market and the day was supposed to be very hot, so I brought the dog with me to walk while the weather and sidewalks were still cool. We walked past this house that I had never seen before. The painting is available at The Artists Hand Gallery in Indiana, PA. It is 12" x 16". SOLD.
Nov 16, 2022
Springtime in Indiana
"Springtime in Indiana" is part of my "Around Town With Joplin" series of paintings that preserves scenes from my walks around town with my dog. She wanted to walk forever, but she also took frequent bathroom breaks. During her stops, I couldn't help but notice the scenery and take some photos. Oil on 11" x 14" stretched canvas. Available at The Artists Hand Gallery in Indiana, PA. Click here for more information on the gallery.
Nov 11, 2022
Alley in Indiana
This painting of an alley in Indiana, PA, was inspired by one of the walks I took with my dog. She was a husky and would never get tired, though she walked very slowly as she aged. We have probably walked on every street in town, and many of the alleys, such as this one. After she passed away, I walked in the same places as a way to remember her. Oil on 11"h x 14"w stretched canvas. Available at The Artists Hand Gallery in Indiana, PA. SOLD.
Nov 9, 2022
First Trip to the Beach
I realize that my subject matter is all over the place these days. Some of the paintings, including this one, were painted early in the year for special events, and I just never added them to the blog. In other cases when my subject matter seems random, it is because places I've visited will pop into my head, and outside of teleporting there, painting them is the best way to revisit them since teleportation isn't possible (yet.)
This scene was painted from a photo that I took in Cape May, New Jersey many years ago. I often worry that people think I am a creeper for taking pictures of random families at the beach. But, it is for the purpose of preserving happy moments on canvas that I witness. I painted this for the Beach Haven Art Walk in New Jersey, but the painting did not sell there. It is on 10"h x 8"w stretched canvas and is at Latrobe Art Center.
Nov 8, 2022
Pale Sunflowers
I loved the uniquely pale tone of these sunflowers that I purchased from a local farmers' market during the summer. Their dramatic looked seemed to match the tall vase that I also acquired during the summer. The painting is oil on stretched linen, approximately 16" h x 9" w. It is available at Latrobe Art Center in Latrobe, PA.
Nov 3, 2022
Farmers' Market Sunflowers
Over the past few years I have started to shift from painting fleeting moments from photos to painting still lifes in my studio. I still paint from photos, but with all of the cameras trying to do us favors by making everything look unrealistically perfect, I would rather record subjects with my own eyes. I sadly didn't measure this painting before delivering it to Latrobe Art Center, but I believe it is 16"h x 12"w oil on stretched linen.
Oct 30, 2022
Yellow Creek Sailboat II
I'm not sure if Yellow Creek Sailboat II is actually the title of this painting, but it is available at the Southern Alleghenies Museum of Art in Ligonier, PA. You can contact the gallery for price and shipping information. It is oil on 7"h x 5"w stretched linen. It was inspired by a colorful sailboat that I spotted while kayaking at Yellow Creek State Park in Pennsylvania.
Oct 29, 2022
A Fountain in Aix en Provence
After dinner in Aix en Provence, we would take advantage of the cool night air and walk around the city. Some of the squares were bustling with lively cafes and people walking from place to place. Other long and winding alleys were quiet, as they were probably inhabited by locals rather than tourists. Some of the alleys led to lively yet hidden squares, such as this one, which included a picturesque fountain. The 24" h x 18" w oil on linen painting is available on the UGallery website.
Oct 28, 2022
Marseille Harbor
I finally had the chance to paint one of the photos that I snapped in Marseille, France from my 2019 trip. It sometimes takes me a while to figure out how I want to tackle a subject, especially if it is a new place to me. I am often challenged by figuring out what size a painting should be. I determined that 18" x 24" was the optimal size for this painting. It is available on the UGallery website. This is a link to my page on the site.
Marseille felt different than other European towns. It was quiet in the morning and afternoon, but at night, the sidewalks were lively, hosting crowds of people at outdoor cafes who watched soccer games on TVs. We sometimes had to walk onto the street to continue on our way to the harbor. At the harbor, families, individuals, locals, and tourists mingled together. Kids had entertaining toys, including sparklers, while vendors sold their wares. We enjoyed the scenery and the abundant seafood. Visit UGallery for more photos of the painting.
Oct 26, 2022
Rowboats in Rockport
The rowboats in Rockport, Massachusetts are just as mesmerizing as the lobster boats and the famous Motif Number 1 building. This 8" x 8" x 1" oil painting is on cradled masonite board. It is available on my website Jonellesummerfield.com
Oct 24, 2022
Lobster Boat in Rockport
Despite the fact that I have not posted to this blog in a long time, this is not the only painting I've been working on. I have many new paintings available on UGallery.com, Latrobe Art Center, Southern Alleghenies Museum of Art in Ligonier, PA, and at The Artists Hand Gallery in Indiana, PA. In the upcoming days, I plan to update my blog with my new work. This is the newest. It was painted from a photo that I took in Rockport, MA, in 2021. Boats are among my favorite subjects, and I acquired so much subject matter in recent trips, that I have developed analysis paralysis, and can't decide which one to tackle first. I loved the vibrant colors and clockwise direction of this composition. It is available on my website. 8" x 8" x 1" cradled board.
Feb 9, 2022
Sunny Side of the Street
This sidewalk cafe is located on the sunny side of the street in Aix en Provence. In the heat of summer, visitors sit under the awning for a bit of shade. Oil on 12" x 12" stretched linen. Available at UGallery
Jan 13, 2022
Marblehead Sailboat
The last painting I posted to this blog in 2021 was of a Marblehead sailboat, and I decided to also feature the same for my first post of this year. This colorful vessel enters 2022 with an optimistic color, hopefully a sign of some travel. In the meantime, stay tuned for a variety of new paintings, including scenes from trips I have taken during the past four years. I have an abundance of reference material from France, Budapest, Scotland, New England, and Yellowstone Park to work from that I can hopefully record on canvas. This painting is approximately 9" x 13". SOLD.
Dec 31, 2021
Marblehead Sailboat
This is the last post of the year, though there are still quite a few paintings from 2021 that I have not yet uploaded to my blog. For the past three years, there has been constant uncertainty in life, not only because of the pandemic, but also for personal reasons. Though it has gotten me down at times, I searched for ways to stay optimistic, continued to push myself to work hard and to also travel whenever and wherever possible. I loved and am grateful for all the trips I've been able to take in my life and am especially glad to have had some travel opportunities in 2020 and 2021.
This boat painting is a good representation of the last few years. I was able to set sail, find beauty and appreciate it though there are storm clouds overhead. The show I had at the Southern Alleghenies Museum of Art with my mother, Jolene Joyner, was called Looking for the Light in Dark Times, and that is what I still aim for, though it does take effort at times. This painting is from my solo trip to Marblehead, MA in August. I rented a kayak one day to get a closer look at some of the anchored sailboats that you can see from the main beach. I loved the feeling of freedom of biking through town, visiting the beaches and driving to the small towns along the coast. The painting is approximately 9" x 13". SOLD.
Dec 7, 2021
The Welcome Committee
My husband and I were looking for a trail near Bozeman, MT when we passed a llama farm. I had to get out of the car to get a closer look. Many of the sweet faced creatures came running over to greet me, and reminded me of my cats at home that do the same thing. Oil on 6"h x 4"w stretched canvas.
Dec 1, 2021
Farmers' Market Flowers
I painted these from life during the summer after acquiring them from our local farmers' market. You can see so much more from life than from a reference photo. You can purchase actual bouquets from the flower vendor (when in season) as well as this painting at The Artists Hand Gallery in Indiana, PA. SOLD.
Nov 30, 2021
Hidden Lake
I had focused on European travel for much of the last 20 years because the old buildings, art, and landscapes of Europe seemed to have more history than our country. At least the recorded history. I loved the old buildings and streets compared to the ones we have, which often seem disposable and too new. Also, oddly, trips there were more cost effective than traveling to the west coast of the US from the east. With the events of the last year, traveling to Europe seemed much more difficult and I've gained more of an appreciation for home, so we took the opportunity to visit Yellowstone, the Grand Tetons and Bozeman with some friends.
I've always respected nature, but now that has been amplified after seeing bison, deer, elk and bear (at an uncomfortably close range) living in the old forests of Yellowstone Park and the Grand Tetons. I loved seeing the tall pine trees and mountains together. I especially loved the budding baby pines who's tops were barely a foot off the ground, and will someday be over 200 feet tall. As much as I appreciate the age of Europe, I appreciate the life of these parks. Oddly, while I felt so happy witnessing it, I felt simultaneously sad that it is fragile and often subject to the actions and attitudes of people. Every animal seemed to have a soul of its own and deserves to live its life in peace. I'm sure braving the unpredictable weather there is difficult and the animals don't need us to make it even more difficult. I hope to capture the feeling of life and beauty that didn't seem real in this and future paintings. Oil on 16"h x 20"w stretched canvas. Available at UGallery
Nov 28, 2021
Wine Club
For my birthday this year, we went to Greendance Winery in Mt. Pleasant, PA. Of course, even on my birthday, I am at work and in search of subject matter. This group of ladies enjoying their wine reminded me of my wine club that enjoys wine-centric outings a few times a year. Oil on 16"h x 20"w stretched canvas. SOLD.
Nov 27, 2021
Teatime
A painting of an antique teacup and some macarons from Gaby et Jules in Pittsburgh, PA. Oil on 6" x 6" stretched linen. The painting is at The Artists Hand Gallery in Indiana, PA.
Nov 26, 2021
Yellow Creek Sailboat
After returning from a kayaking workout one day this summer, this sailboat was getting ready to set sail. It was photographed at Yellow Creek State Park near Indiana, PA. In all my travels, I have not seen such a robust color scheme on a boat. Oil on 16"h x 12"w stretched canvas. SOLD.
Nov 5, 2021
Hayden Valley Bison
My husband and I recently visited Yellostone National Park and the Grand Tetons with some friends. One thing that surprised me was the amount of driving involved. I had read about it, but it did not sink in. I really wanted to visit the Lamar Valley, but to see it when there is peak animal activity, you have to arrive early in the morning or late in the afternoon. We couldn't see it at either of those times because it was simply too far from where we were staying. One day, my husband and I explored the northern loop near the Grand Canyon and saw a sign for the Hayden valley only a few miles down the road. We didn't expect to see much, but when we arrived, there was a herd of bison in the distance. They approached all the parked cars in order to cross the street, and soon, they were weaving among the cars. They had sad faces but are probably happy exploring nature and roaming freely. Oil on 6.5"h x 9.5"w linen. Click to purchase directly from jonellesummerfield.com
Oct 27, 2021
Rockport Marina
I was fortunate enough to take two trips to Massachusetts this summer and made sure to stop in Rockport both times. The first trip was with my husband when I acquired the photo for this painting. The famous Motif No. 1 building is in the background and has been the star of many paintings by many artists. For me, the boats took the main stage. There were rarely ever people on the boats except for weekend nights when locals were getting ready to relax after a week of work. Oil on 24"h x 18" w stretched linen. Available at Artists Hand Gallery in Indiana, PA.
Oct 20, 2021
Dinnertime in Trouville
One of my favorite trips was to Normandy in 2014. My mother and I were walking in Trouville in the late afternoon, after spending the day in Honfleur. I wanted to see the beaches that inspired Monet. Some of the houses are the same ones that existed when he painted. One of my favorite areas was near the fish market. I really wanted to stop for oysters, but we had the need to explore and take photos. This painting depicts the energy of the evening with people eating towers of seafood while others took their evening walks in the sun, either before or after dinner. As you can tell by the jackets, it was cool outside, but everyone wanted to be in the sun. Oil on 16"h x 20"w stretched linen. SOLD.
Oct 19, 2021
Book Stands in Paris
A lady peruses the books and magazines in the stands that line the promenade along the Seine River. The contents of the green stands are sometimes as eye catching as the architecture, probably because it is a tiny piece of the landscape that you can actually take home with you. Oil on 16"h x 12"w stretched linen. SOLD.
Oct 17, 2021
Snowy Night in Budapest
In 2018, my husband and I took a last minute trip to Budapest after I was offered an opportunity to have an exhibit at a gallery in the spring. I wanted new subject matter, especially of cozy cafe interiors. We arrived in wintry conditions, which made it the perfect time to frequent the cafes and bath houses. After emerging from a cafe in early evening, we walked onto snow covered streets. Warm lights from the businesses, traffic and park in the distance mixed with the cool atmosphere. We had to stop for some whiskey shortly afterward to warm up. Oil on 24"h x 30"w stretched canvas. SOLD.