The last time I wrote I had just created a mountain of molds and was super primed and ready to use them. The only catch was the resin I’m going to pour into the molds was still on order and wouldn’t arrive for a few more days.
So what do you start doing in an art studio when you have a few days to spare? Experiment!
I’ve been thinking about trying out this particular idea for a while now. It uses my absolute favorite photo of my kids. I mean, I really love this photo. It is one of those surprise photos that just happens in family life, when the kids suddenly start doing something amazing and you have time to whip your phone out of your pocket but can’t run downstairs to get your good camera. Since the focus is just a bit soft and it was taken in low light, I wondered if I could enhance it in another way to make it special.
I retouched it, printed it large, cut the kids out, then started arranging them with all manner of soft natural forms I had on hand. The kids and I gather feathers when we go on walks quite a lot and I had a good store of them. We also gather pine cones, beautiful nutshells, etc. They find them on their own and give them to me too. So many offerings . . .
After gluing it all securely in place I put it in a shadow box frame . . .
And here it is!
The kids were ecstatic about it! It really made them feel special.
As you can see, I live in a log cabin. I actually made this artwork with those rich browns in mind so it would look good on our log walls.
I’m going to experiment more with these and try them out with other colors, objects, formats etc. My next idea is to do one of my boys in a pile of lego. I think they’re going to LOVE it!
The beauty of this is I can make one of your people, involving objects you have gathered or that relate to your interests, and make sure it matches your space or fills a particular area in your house. (!!!) Talk about an artwork that is made for you and is completely one of a kind!
So if you’re out with your children or grandchildren and they give you sweet little bits of things, don’t throw them away. Start keeping them and we’ll see what we can do with them. Children live in a magical world where they see so much beauty in the smallest, most ephemeral things. Let’s celebrate that.
Also, this can be done with pets too. We can put your pet into a magical nature scene, soft comfy cloud, or whatever you think they might fantasize about. Then you will have a gorgeous piece of artwork celebrating your love for your pet right now, in this fleeting and beautiful moment.
If you don’t have a photo to use and can get to Asheville, NC I can also do a photo shoot for you. I am a professional lifestyle photographer, so this is a service I can easily provide. It will only cost $100 extra and I can frame more images for you or produce an album if you like.
This size (21.5″ x 10.5″) will cost $295. I’ll have to work up prices for other sizes since this is the first one I’ve made! I’ll work up some framing options too so you can find something that suits your style. If you’re interested in commissioning a piece email me at jenny@jennykiehn.com or call me at 828-989-2923. Or you can just hit reply to this email!
Here’s to enjoying and celebrating the best parts of our lives RIGHT NOW while we live it! As my mother-in-law so wisely pointed out, “these sticky fingerprints are a nuisance now, but in years to come you will miss them.”
Warmly,
Jenny Kiehn
Having the photos of the process and the kids’ reaction really makes this fascinating.
Thank you! It’s really nice to let you into the process. It’s fascinating for me to make too, so it’s great for everybody! Thanks for commenting 😀
I liked that the artwork kept the same physical arrangement of the kiddos that was so sweet in the original picture. And I thought the black background and black box really brought my focus to the color in the middle. Knowing that these were objects the kids gave to you,or that you gathered with them, adds a whole other special layer. Love it, Jen.
I think it’s ideal that the people are all in the photograph together and that same arrangement is kept. The subtlety of their expressions shows whether or not they are really there together, both physically and mentally. You can composite different photographs together but it’s tricky to get the sublety right. And the lighting can be different. What I CAN sometimes do is composite photographs together from the same shoot. Then it’s easier to get the mood and lighting consistent. I have definitely tried everything to get the right photo of my four together – it can be so tricky! I’m so glad you like the natural forms! It’s all part of the world they construct for themselves. It’s really magical.
Beautiful, Jenny! Just like your children!
Thank you, Susie! I actually thought the whole way along that it was really important that I improved on the original photograph – the kids are so lovely on their own that became an important benchmark! Thanks for commenting 😊