I am happy to announce.....

I am so excited to announce my affiliation with Jennifer Harwell Art Sudio and Gallery, located in the Soho area of downtown Homewood, Alabama. jenniferharwellart is a local gallery, showcasing art forms of many different media, with work from over 80 local, regional and international artists. The studio also offers art classes for adults and children, and hosts many special events, like the 3rd Annual Valentine Paint Party (February 13th and 14th), during which you may browse the gallery, enjoy music and a delicious menu, and each create a masterpiece to take home with you.

The jenniferharwellart's interactive website is the most visited art-related website in the state, and is growing every day with new features and artists. The website features online galleries, featured artists, videos, and event and class information.

Several of my photographs, ACEO's, photo greeting cards, magnets and pendants are now available at the gallery. Here is a peek at what you can find there....

little red shoes



ruby red




Mr. MacGregor's Garden



sweetheart scrabble tile pendant



I'm calling Jazz Mizzell ACEO



Please take a moment to visit jenniferharwellart - you will like what you see! Stay tuned for announcements of additional events and news from Jennifer Harwell Art Gallery and Studio.

Signs of Spring

Yesterday was clear and cold, one of my favorite kinds of days. Bright blue sky, light breeze, really nice. Driving along, we spotted these pretty pink flowers. As I am taking photos, I am thinking...what is it's name.......quince! Flowering quince! So delicate, a hint of Spring, just around the corner.

A Terrific Opportunity for ACEO Artists

ACEO - Art Cards Editions and Originals - Tiny pieces of art of any style or type. They may be mixed media, painting, photography, really any medium, with the only "rule" being that they measure 2.5"x3.5".

Those of you who create ACEO's (Art Cards Editions and Originals), should check out Create.Collect.Trade, an incredible collection of ACEO's contributed by artists and school children, in a beautiful coffee table book. The driving force behind this project is Nicole Hanley, of art2theextreme. In addition to being a ceramic and printmaking artist (her etsy shop, art2theextreme, has something for everyone), Nicole is an elementary art teacher. Nicole has written numerous grants to support this project, and has worked tirelessly to promote, organize and produce these beautiful books.

The Fall 2008 edition will be shipped any day now (I can't wait to receive my copy!), to schools in 15 U.S. states, Nova Scotia and Australia. What an incredible way to expose children to this interesting and collectible art form!

For more information on contributing your ACEO's to the Spring 2009 edition, to purchase a copy of the Fall 2008 edition, or to donate a book or money to support subsequent editions, visit Nicole's blog, Art2 the Extreme or her Create.Collect.Trade blog, about the book itself.

Now for a peek at the Fall 2008 edition (which I am so excited to be a part of! Look! Jazz is on the cover!).........










So take some time to read about this incredible project. Create ACEO's of your own to contribute to the Spring 2009 edition. Purchase a book for your local elementary school, or for that young (or that not-so-young) artist in your life! Discover a fun, affordable and interesting new way to collect the art you love!

My Favorite Holiday Card

We received a Christmas card from a dear friend made by Kathy Davis Studios, with the most incredible message. I loved it so much that I wanted to share:

The Greatest Gifts

May we break boundaries, tear down walls, and build the foundation of goodness inside each of us.



May we look past differences, gain understanding, and embrace acceptance. May we reach out to each other, rather than resist.

May we be better stewards of the earth, protecting, nurturing, and replenishing the beauties of nature.



May we practice gratitude for all we have, rather than complain about our needs.



May we seek cures for the sick, help for the hungry, and love for the lonely.

May we share our talents, give our time, and teach our children.

May we hold hope for the future very tenderly in our hearts and do all we can to build for bright tomorrows.



And may we love with our whole hearts, for that's the only way to love.

You may read more on Kathy Davis' blog. All of my photographs included here are available in my etsy shop. Enjoy!

2 New ACEO's in my etsy shop!

New in my etsy shop , two new ACEO's! I have listed two of my popular prints as ACEO's. ACEO's are fun little pieces of art (2.5x3.5 inches) to collect, trade, or give. A few ideas to display your ACEO's - a special photo album for them, a little basket of them on your coffee table for your friends and family to flip through, tuck them in a card as a sweet little "thinking of you," or matte and frame them to display in your home.

Here are my new ACEO's:


Ruby Red




Starfall

You may learn more about ACEO's and see some beautiful examples in this etsy thread. View all of my ACEO's here.

Have fun, and enjoy getting to know this fun little art form!

POE Team tribute to lovely and amazing birds

"I was always a lover of soft winged things." Victor Hugo

This quote captures perfectly how I have always felt about birds. I remember looking with my mother at two sparrows huddled together under the eve of our apartment building on a cold morning when I was about six years old. At that moment I fell in love. Walking through a garden or a park takes me forever, as I try to spot and identify each bird I hear. My husband has caught me more than once crouched down on our back porch, binoculars and camera close by. Thankfully, he is amused, instead of being concerned.

Birds amaze me with their strength and fragility, and their beauty, both in appearance and in song. They lift my spirits and are a comfort and a joy to me. They are ever-present companions, reminding me to keep looking up.

As always, I am in awe of the talent of my Photographers of Etsy teammates. Clicking on the highlighted words will take you to each artist's etsy shop. Enjoy these delightful and amazing photographs.

My inspiration to post a POE bird feature came from this beautiful barred owl portrait by JMcGuinness. The expression in the owl's eyes is so touching. You may see more of Jen's incredible work here.

These lovely feather photographs are by Pam Hardy of alwaysartistic. The feathers are from her sun conure, Jesse James, who may be seen here. The texture and colors in these are amazing. There is a softness and gentleness that is comforting.

This dramatic ttv is by Donna of gothicrow. I was struck by the contrast between the bright orange sky and the dark silhouettes of the birds and the angel. This hauntingly beautiful photograph hints at a connection between birds and the heavens, which really makes sense to me.

This incredible tufted titmouse portrait by RobertSocha demonstrates so well both the fragility and incredible strength of birds. The colors and composition in this photograph are amazing. Titmice are also one of my favorite birds.


This lovely portrait of a swallow by SharonKayDesigns is very striking. The lighting allows you to truly appreciate the details of the swallow's beautiful shape. The starkness of the bird and rope contrast well with the soft beauty of the water.

This beautifully composed portrait of an American Goldfinch is by Holly of orioneclipsed. The alertness in his eyes and his round little body are enchanting.

This is a lovely Eurasian Tree Sparrow portrait by PastPerfect. I love his beautiful brown feathers against the magenta background. There is also a bit of humor in this photograph. It is as if this little one is overseeing the activities below.

This beautiful "Bluebird of Happiness" by Roberta of uncommondepth has such an ethereal quality, it immediately caught my eye. The dreamy background is perfect to highlight this incredible mountain bluebird portrait.

Cardinals have always been very special to me, so this photo by Amy of ara133photography, is one of my all time favorites. I love the muted colors, and the way her feathers are fluffed out to keep her warm. There is an incredible tenderness to this portrait.

This incredible ttv is by Ellen of theeye. I love the blue and black, and the silhouette of his round little body is absolutely precious.

This final incredible photograph is by Jenn of jennsphotography. I think it is romantic, and the colors are absolutely lovely.

Thank you, so much Jen, Pam, Donna, Robert, Sharon, Holly, PastPerfect, Roberta, Amy, Ellen and Jenn for sharing your incredible talent with us!

And now, a few bird quotes that I love....

A leaf fluttered in through the window this morning, as if supported by the rays of the sun, a bird settled on the fire escape, joy in the task of coffee, joy accompanied me as I walked. Anias Nin

I once had a sparrow alight upon my shoulder for a moment, while I was hoeing in a village garden, and I felt that I was more distinguished by that circumstance that I should have been by any epaulet I could have worn. ~Henry David Thoreau

When nature made the blue-bird she wished to propitiate both the sky and the earth, so she gave him the color of the one on his back and the hue of the other on his breast. John Burroughs

"Do you know," Peter asked "why swallows build in the eaves of houses? It is to listen to the stories." Peter Pan