The New Fall Set of Cards!

"Forestiere Underground Garden, Fresno, in November"

by Julie Jacobsen

All Rights Reserved

A set of 4 cards is $12.00 plus postage.  You can email me at skoobit@msn.com if you are interested.

The first card of the set is definitely not what you would normally think of when you think of late Autumn.  But in California, at this time, the trees are loaded with oranges, lemons, and grapefruit.  I saw it for myself as we were there for Thanksgiving.  If you're in Fresno you've got to see the Forestiere Underground Garden.  An underground paradise built by one man, Baldassare Forestiere, in the early 1900's with only hand tools.  Beside the gardens he built a home for himself and little shrines as he was very religious.  The fruit all came from Italy. It's absolutely beautiful!

"1,000 Peaks Ranch in the Uintah Mountains"

by Julie Jacobsen

All Rights Reserved

This actually is a scene that we look at whenever we drive to our cabin.  It's so beautiful all year round.  We love it!

"Small Cottage in Holladay, Utah"

by Julie Jaocbsen

All Rights Reserved

My friends and I used to walk by this little tucked in house and we thought it was so cute!  It brings back wonderful memories of when we used to all live in that neighborhood and walk together-rain or shine.  This particular area is especially desirable.  So, it's fun to look at the houses but definitely out in our price range!

"Golden Aspens in the Uintah Mountains"

by Julie Jacobsen

All Rights Reserved

It's so weird but there are aspens all around our cabin but we've not had any grow there.  Last year Chris and I planted a small group on our property.  We're keeping our fingers crossed that they will take.  I love the sound they make when the wind blows through them. It reminds me of our old cabin in Brighton, Utah.  We called them the money trees because the leaves were round and we picked them so we could play store on the front porch.  We found lots of rocks with fools gold and turquoise colored veins.  So, we sold those to whoever would play with us.  It's a fond memory that I have of my sister, Carrie, and I just playing out in nature.  We loved it!

A GREAT MULTI PURPOSE CARD!

"Mourning Dove at Capital Reef" by Julie Jacobsen

All Rights Reserved

I just knew when we were at Capital Reef-a national park in Utah-and my husband took some pictures of these beautiful massive trees that there had to be a painting in there somewhere.  I love the negative space between the trees.  It's so interesting!  Also it really did look this way:  massive dark trunks, snow, and a peach shaded sky.  Beautiful.  It gave me a feeling of out of darkness can come hope.  I thought this could be a great sympathy card.  The bird was an after thought.  It seemed appropriate and correct that there should be a mourning dove hovering over it all.  It's not necessarily female in flavor, either.  That's why I say it's a good multi purpose card.  It could also be used for birthdays or whatever, since it's blank inside.

I only have 1 set left but if I get 2 more sets ordered it will justify a new printing.  I've had to have these printed 3 times.  That's 75 cards!  It's a popular one.  Anyway they're $12 a set plus postage.  Just email me at skoobit@msn.com.

The New Summer Set of Cards!

"Honey Bees at Longwood Gardens"

by Julie Jacobsen

All Rights Reserved

"Bzzzzzz and Ouch!"

by Julie Jacobsen

All Rights Reserved

"Lazy Yellows"

by Julie Jacobsen

All Rights Reserved

"Just Looking You Over!"

by Julie Jacobsen

All Rights Reserved

Okay!  This set is just squeaking in just in time for your summer card giving needs.  I hope you can feel that summery feeling that we all get at this time of year.  You know!  Like when you hear lawn mowers and smell fresh cut grass.  Too bad we don't get to see the sprinklers going with squeals of laughter that we used to hear before water became more than precious!  But we can still get that laid back mood when we look at the Summer Set of cards.

Just $12 for a set of 4 plus postage and handling.  Email me at skoobit@msn.com if you'd like to gather in some refreshing summer!

The Eyes Have It! New Card!

"The Eyes!" 

Original Art by Julie Jacobsen

All Rights Reserved

I'm getting behind here!  I only have 1 set left of "The Eyes!" as the rest are sold but I can print more for anyone that would like to experience "The Eyes!"  This is a card that I made, originally, for my son in law, Dave, for his bday.  Dave is an ophthalmologist.  So this seemed quite appropriate.

"The Eyes!" is a great card for almost anything.  I like to think of it as saying "Eyes Wish You a Happy Birthday!"  It's a fun play on words but it has many other uses and is another one that would be good for both male and female.

Please email me at:  skoobit@msn.com if you're interested in ordering them.   It's $12 for a set of 4 plus postage and handling.   

Eyes think you would really like them!

My New Card and WOW!

"Sneak Attack!"

by Julie Jacobsen - All Rights Reserved

When we visited the Longwood Gardens on the old Dupont estate in Pennsylvania I was amazed at all the beautiful flowers!  We went in the fall and I thought I might not be able to get any good pics of flowers.  I was wrong!  There were so many beautiful autumn blooms.  One, in particular was this beautiful color combination:  gold flowers and purply brown foliage.  The photo itself was not that great but I loved the contrasts of shades.  I knew I could make a nice card out of it but by itself it wasn't enough.  I love cats and my son, Cliff, has 2 beautiful gray ones.  I thought how striking it would be to incorporate a gray cat into this colorful scene.  I'm very happy with how it turned out.  

Of course Cliff was the lucky one to get the original.  It's his 40th birthday today and I wanted to give him a special card.  But I knew this could be a popular one for others to purchase.  So the printed card was born and today I picked it up from the printers.  It far surpassed my expectations and, if I do say so myself, it turned out spectacular!

So, if you would like a set or more:  it's $12.00 for 4 cards plus postage if I have to mail it to you.  The cards are 5" x 7" and easily put into a ready made frame if you want to enjoy it even more on your shelf.  My email is skoobit@msn.com if you would like to get in touch with me for a purchase.

Beautiful Note Cards-----Scroll down a few posts

"Can I have an apple?"

By Julie Jacobsen

All Rights Reserved

If you are interested in purchasing my cards you can email me at skoobit@msn.com.  Scroll down past a few posts and you'll see the 3 sets and prices. 

I will be printing a summer set soon.   I'm working on the images right now and I think you'll like them a lot. 

"Hot Date in New Orleans"

Original art by Julie Jacobsen

I never thought that I would return to New Orleans but I did with Chris last week. What a wonderful place!  Many of you have heard the story of how this painting came about. A friend of mine took this picture in the Garden District. I thought it was beautiful. So he let me use it for my new painting as I had asked if he would capture the feeling of New Orleans for me. 

As I was at the point of completing it Cliff, my oldest son, said, "Mom, why do you always do paintings of Gracie?"  (His little sister). I said, "Get your work uniform on. You're going to be in this painting!"  So he is!

Last week as we walked through this area I wasn't sure which was the right house that was in the painting. But we really enjoyed walking around and absorbing the old charm in the neighborhood. 

Another fun antidote about this painting is that when I showed this painting at an exhibit a man approached me and said he raised Arabian horses and would I trade this painting for a horse. I was flabbergasted!  I had always wanted a horse!  I thanked him but said I didn't know where I would keep it and how would I  feed it.  My one chance to own a horse. Shoot!!!!!

What is my purpose in selling cards right now?

Okay.  This is it, you guys.  This is a picture of Kip and Brandon at our cabin.  We love that place!  Our family loves it but it's so small and in such bad repair.  My main purpose in earning money with my cards is to contribute to improving or building (preferably) a new cabin.  This has been a thorn in our sides for 34 years!  At the beginning of every summer Chris and I have, what I like to call, the official "Mourning of the Cabin".  We sit there and gripe about how this isn't right and that isn't right.  Then we slap our hands and say oh well.  

Top of the list is it's so small we can't have our family stay in it.  I know we could put up tents or rent trailers but we've been through that process for years and years.  2 summers ago Chris and Kip tore off the whole backside of the cabin-which meant the old old shower is gone now.  Something has to be done about that.  Their purpose in tearing it off was to try and see how the mice were getting in.  We've tried for years to get rid of them and nothing worked!  A friend even said that mice hate the smell of Bounce dryer sheets.  So we put them all over and even left an open box on the counter at the end of the season.  The next summer Chris said that it looked like the mice had a party on top of the Bounce box and then partied continually.  Yuck.  They did find out where they got in and so far, knock on wood, they solved the problem.

Last summer we had to chop down all the dead trees and do tons of work outside.  Chris even dug a well.  I was so proud of him.  I don't know how he did it but it works!  

Anyway, I just thought if I can use my talent to make extra money it will really help get things going.  It's not like we can't afford to build a new cabin.  We can but it will drain our finances too much.  

The really good news is the cards I'm selling are working out and I love painting them!  It's not a chore!  It's really good to have a goal in mind and mine is set.  It's also so helpful for me to keep busy and not have to worry about health problems, etc.  This is a healthy distraction.

Thanks everyone that have bought cards so far but I want to keep this going.  I'm reopening my Etsy shop but they're going to be more expensive on there.  If you buy them directly from me it will be less. 

Never a dull moment.  I'm got new cards I'm working on right now!

ALSO!  I will sell prints of these if you'd like!  Just let me know.

 

The Fresh New Spring Set of Cards!

 Stream by Yellow Lake in the Uintahs

Julie Jacobsen

 SPRING FLORAL SET!

$12.00 for a set of 4 cards with envelopes plus postage.

Please email me if you'd like to feel the zing of spring!

skoobit@msn.com

 Bootsie at Wheeler Farm

Julie Jacobsen

 Can I have an Apple?

Julie Jacobsen

Lily Floral

Julie Jacobsen

Just in time for spring when we're all about ready to scream enough! to the sky.  Cards that will remind you of why you want to be outside.  Each one is unique and can be used for whatever you want since they're blank inside.  I think that's the best, don't you?  Then you can write whatever you'd like inside.

*All rights reserved by me, of course!  I'm the one that stuck my nose to the grindstone and painted for hours.  No one else did.  All images are totally original!

Florals Cards for Spring that's around the Corner!

Floral cards-Julie Jacobsen-All Rights Reserved-Of course!

Well, guys!  This is going so much better than I could have hoped for!  After the 1st set was a huge success I decided to see if anyone would be interested in the florals.  The response was great!  Now they will be going into print as cards.  As the other set was these are $12.00 for a set of 4 plus shipping and handling.  Email me at skoobit@msn.com if you're interested.  Already I'm going to have to double my print order.  I hope I don't run out!

I still have some of the other set but not much.  Let me know if you'd like some of them.  The great thing about that set is that it does have 2 cards that would work well for men-especially the cabin image.

Thanks everyone!

4 card images-Something for everyone!

4 cards in a set $12.00 - does not include postage if they need to be mailed

My email address is skoobit@msn.com

As always for my images all rights are reserved

No copying allowed without permission

I just got the cards back from the printers and they're gorgeous!  So exciting!  You never know how these things might turn out until you do it but this was a good experiment.  The insides for all of them are blank.  I've found from past experience with printing cards that the blank ones are the best.  Do let me know if you would like to order.  If you live in the Salt Lake City area or are coming here you can pick them up.  Otherwise I'll tack on postage.  

Because they've become so popular I had to double my print order and might have to order more.  I'll come out with another set soon that has different images.  I'm trying to put some in each set that will be good for men, also.  You know how you try to buy a card and either the cards for me have bathroom humor or other unsavory subject matters.  Others might be so dull that you wouldn't even want to line the parakeet bird cage with them and bore the poor bird to death.

Very fun!

 

If at first you don't succeed..............It's a real bummer!

Welllllllllll.  I am going to finish this Christmas painting even if it kills me!  Or so I have thought but I don't really want to die over this.  Anyway.  I like so much about this painting but the starring vignette of the whole thing is the one with Joseph, Mary, and Jesus.  It really has been a struggle but I think that's because I've avoided the real work on it.  So, today I admitted defeat and pulled out the rubbing alcohol.  It takes acrylic paint off quite well.  I removed as much as I could being careful not to press too hard and ruin the tautness of the canvas.  At this point I don't care about the under painting at all.  I just want to move this forward.  So, that means a good coating of white paint.

I also sat down and did a meaningful sketch of the 3 of them.  I need a plan and I was trying to wing it just like with my sketches.  Loose and free.  But I had to get tight and spend time on how I want it to basically look.

I'm an artist that's willing to show my mistakes and that gives everyone some hope, doesn't it.  It makes artists that are so much better pat themselves on the back and say to themselves, "See.  I knew I was better than her and this proves it!"  Or other artists that don't feel as accomplished can say, "Wow.  If she really can do lousy work then there's hope for me too!"  I can assure you that there's plenty of lousy work that I've done in the past but as I wrote about a while back it's okay to throw things away!  Yes, you can!  But make sure you really want to because you can't ever get them back.  There are some garbage men that are probably thoroughly enjoying some of my paintings that I felt were duds (why, oh, why didn't I think to cut out the parts that I liked and keep them!?!).  Well, you do live and learn.

This was my main project today and I'm going to make more progress even though I really want to be a slouch and work on something much more enjoyable.

I should, also, say that if you aren't getting the results you want it's a good idea to just turn it to the wall and then look at it at a later date.  You might find that now you know what to do with it.  Just don't throw it away until you've made sure.

Free form painting that creates new ideas that were never in my head before!

"Brandon the Robot" by Julie Jacobsen

I just have too much fun doing watercolor washes and then looking at all the squiggles and splotches to see if I can make anything out of them.  It always happens.  Do you remember in school when your teacher would have you scribble all over your paper with a black crayon and then have you fill in the designs with bright colors?  Well, this is similar in the way that nothing is planned.  The only thing I did ahead of time was to make bookmarks for friends using swirling colors.  I tried different color combinations.  This one I happened to really love.

My main intention with this watercolor was to make a birthday card for my grandson, Brandon.  After I saw all the creatures that popped out I decided to write a story to go along with the illustration. It just flowed right out of me because I really am an illustrator at heart.  It was so fun.  The story and card are safely in the mail and, hopefully, will arrive in time for his birthday.

If I look at this painting I can see some color combinations on their own that really look so vibrant together.  If you look inside the gray snake you can see a light peach and yellow.  Then next to that I love the pink and yellow.  I might do something with that sometime.  I also love the bright cobalt blue band, the golden yellow inside of it, and the purple/burnt sienna underneath. 

It's a very good thing that I take photos of all the art work I do before it leaves my house.  That way I can look back on them for even more ideas and fresh approaches.