I became interested in Osprey earlier this year in the spring. I began to do a little research and found they are in my area of Florida year round. Did you know that Osprey mate for life? And that they have an extra eyelid which can be compared to the swimming goggles swimmers sometime wear? They use those ‘goggle-like’ lids to protect their eyes when they dive for fish and so they have visibility under the water. There are so many cool facts about them. If you are a bird fan you might want to look them up on the internet. You can just ‘Google’ them.

Once I knew they lived in my area, I went out to hopefully locate several nests. I took my camera and went to see if I could get some good reference photos. I was so surprised as less then a few miles from my home there were at least 12 nests! And it was spring so most of the nests had baby or juvenile osprey! I had a great time taking photos at sunrise and sunset as often as I could make time. And these photos are what I am using to compose some interesting paintings. I found I could not just do one painting…..very interesting birds and lots of great shots to choose from! So I am doing a series of Osprey Paintings!

Doing a little research and being willing to be outdoors usually can create some great experiences for yourself and your family. Sometimes just taking a walk along the waterways or beaches or nature preserve areas will result in some really nice nature experiences. And I love Frodo’s line to Sam in the Lord of the Rings: “… Remember what Bilbo used to say: “It’s a dangerous business, Frodo, going out your door. You step onto the road, and if you don’t keep your feet, there’s no telling where you might be swept off to.” I encourage you to go out your front door!

I recently had the pleasure and challenge to create a stained glass mosaic for a master bath wall. The design was based on an Erin Hanson painting that my client loved: Texan Sky. My client was given the permission to have this piece created. I was given the opportunity to create it!

Having designed and created large stained glass panels for doors, entryways and bath windows for about 25 years, my initial thought was ‘how different would creating a mosaic be?’ Aside from the cutting of the stained glass, every other aspect was very different. I was thankful I had another stained glass artisan pro to take over the engineering aspect of creating an 8 foot wide by almost 9 foot high mosaic that had to be created in sections so that it could be maneuvered up a narrow staircase and through 2 door ways to arrive at it’s final home: the newly renovated master bathroom of my client’s craftsman-style home.

The project took about 18 weeks and I had the help of 2 additional stained glass artisans to help cut the more than 3500 pieces for this panel. Working as a great team we got it done. It was created in 3 panels, with all glass cut and thinsetted down onto hardieboard, which through expert engineering, went together seamlessly in the final installation. It was grouted in place with navy blue grout which brought out all the colors in the glass used for this piece. Schluter edging was created to frame the piece in a simple contemporary manner. It is a masterpiece and the client loves it as evidenced in the following letter:

“We recently had our entire upstairs remodeled. In the planning I decided I wanted a cut glass rendition of a painting I loved on an entire wall in my new bathroom. Jeanne had done our home’s windows many years before so I reached out to her for help. Originally my idea was that I would do the project and she would help me LOL – what a joke!! This project required professionals of the highest ranking. That’s Jeanne!!! She took this project on and delivered a stunning product that is the best part of our entire remodel. Plus, she got done on a tight deadline. She was the ONLY vendor on this project that actually got done in the specified time. She is a talented professional that is a DREAM to work with. The photos could never do justice to this work – the feeling in the space is amazing because of this piece!!! We love it!! Thank you Jeanne!!! xoxoxo

Joy Gendusa, CEO Postcard Mania

I think being up for a challenging project is energizing and part of the fun of being an artist. Never doubt your abilities! So in closing…You dream it and I will paint it or in this case, create a stunning mosaic!

I want to share with you a small part of my journey thus far as an artist and why I am now painting Fly Fishing Landscapes. 

I was raised in Arizona in a ‘Scouting” family mostly because my Dad loves the outdoors. He was born and raised in the northeast and often went deep sea fishing with his Dad and brother. After moving to Arizona, when I was 5, the years progressed and our family grew to 5 boys and 2 girls. He and my mom became involved in Scouting. This meant camping and fishing and spending lots of time outdoors.

As I grew, I learned to work through the ‘competition’ of my brothers and was able to snag my Dad’s attention to take me fishing with him. I loved our time together. And he taught me to cast, fish, row a boat, clean the fish and take the time to ‘unsnag’ my line when I ended up with my pole’s fishing line hopelessly caught in the weeds where I was sure there must be a big fish just waiting to be caught by me.  So many adventures to share but for now I will say that growing up ‘outdoors’ with my family participating together in these adventures created in me a love of nature.

I have always been an artist. I loved crayons and coloring books. I also loved learning to sew and made both ‘Barbie’ clothes and ‘G.I Joe’ clothes as well as my own. I loved helping my Dad do woodworking in our basement.  But more than anything, I loved the ‘paint by number’ oil painting kits I would get as birthday and Christmas presents. I would choose to do those above almost anything. These taught me so much about color, oils, lights & darks and patience.

After I was married and we had our son, my husband and I took him hiking and fishing and camping. And I was again back in environments I loved! I took a class in oil painting at a community college and began painting as an adult. I found I loved painting on wood and favorite subjects? Anything having to do with nature! 

Move forward to the last decade and a half and having not painted for many years began again after we sold our stained glass companies of almost 25 years and moved to North Carolina. I journeyed through taking several classes with brilliant artists and began painting birds (which I love and will continue to paint) and so many aspects of nature: flowers, bears and other animals and fish. It was when I began painting fish and fishing flies that I began to realize how much I enjoyed the process of putting onto wood or canvas some of my memories of fishing. And today I have evolved that into painting Fish and Fly Fishing Landscapes. I paint them mostly on Live Edge Wood. There are so many beautiful wood species! These are so much fun and I get to be so creative with them. When doing commissioned pieces, I am asked to include subjects personal to my client that really makes the paintings unique and special and an heirloom for their family. I am thrilled to paint pleasurable moments of fishing and the outdoors that my clients fondly remember every time they look at their painting.

I paint to inspire the viewer and each of my clients to remember those pleasant memories they have had of the outdoors and fishing. I also hope to motivate people with my art to create memorable adventures for themselves and their families, doing and participating in those outdoor activities they love.