Rachel Jackson's Art Blog

red

2012-01-07T14:25:00.000-08:00

Gut Feeling

Acrylic, colored pencil on wood panel

18" x 14"

new smaller pieces

2012-01-07T14:17:00.000-08:00

Untitled

Acrylic, colored pencil on wood panel

8" x 10"

A Codependency Drawing

Acrylic, colored pencil on paper

roughly 4" x 4"

2011-12-29T07:51:00.000-08:00

Safety, Safely

Acrylic and colored pencil on wood panel

24" x 24"

a nice surprise today..

2011-12-22T18:41:00.000-08:00

I was so flattered to see that Amanda had featured me in her holiday wishlist on the New Brahmin blog. Thank you so much Amanda!!

If you followed the link here from the blog post be sure to check out more pictures of my work here: http://rachelajackson.sharemyartwork.com

some little drawings

2011-12-01T05:32:00.000-08:00

Some little drawings from my friend Stina and I's weekly get-together (art-together? draw-together?) The second one has TEXT in it.

some little collage/paintings

2011-11-22T06:40:00.000-08:00

My friend Stina and I had art night last night- it was really great! Here are some pieces I made. (Both collage, colored pencil, acrylic, on paper 15"x 11")

orange

2011-11-22T05:00:00.000-08:00

(detail)

Your Ghost, Your Color

Acrylic, colored pencil on wood panel

40" x 40"

drawing with friends

2011-11-13T05:50:00.001-08:00

Some drawings I did last night at Katie's Drink and Draw party. It was just what I needed to get out of this minor creative rut, so thank you!

pushing scale lately

2011-11-13T05:33:00.001-08:00

Big Reward

Acrylic, colored pencil on wood panel

30" x 40"

Glovebox Fundraiser Piece

2011-11-13T05:21:00.001-08:00

Ruptured

Acrylic, colored pencil on wood panel

18" x 24"

This piece will be available as part of a silent auction to benefit Glovebox at their Fundraiser for the Arts. The event info is here - but basically its going to be a really fun party at West End Johnnies with art, djs, dancing, cocktails etc.- all to benefit an organization that constantly strives to help artists get their work up in Boston. I'm looking forward to it!

in a period of productivity

2011-10-03T18:51:00.000-07:00

To Expel You

Acrylic, colored pencil on wood panel

24" x 24"

2011-10-02T08:47:00.000-07:00

Temper, Temper

Acrylic, colored pencil on wood panel

18" x 18"

2011-09-06T04:54:00.000-07:00

Familial

Watercolor, colored pencil on wood panel

18" x 14"

This blue is new for me

2011-09-05T19:00:00.000-07:00

Ties That Bind

Acrylic, colored pencil on wood panel

24" x 24"

hurricane doodles.

2011-09-05T18:57:00.000-07:00

Just one of the little drawings I was working on while trapped in my apartment during the hurricane. This one has a stormy feel to it.

Update

2011-09-05T18:51:00.000-07:00

Blog updates have been sparse this summer; fortunately it is because I have been very busy teaching art classes and making (lots of) work. Here is a little dry point plate I was wiping/printing a few weeks ago in the printshop where I teach my summer high school printmaking class. As always, the class was so inspiring and so much fun. More updates and work coming soon!

dreamy

2011-08-15T04:58:00.000-07:00

Not That Kind of Idealist

Mixed Media Drawing

Dimensions TBD (fairly small)

From darkness...

2011-08-15T04:23:00.001-07:00

Just some new drawings I've been working on lately...photographing work on black backgrounds is really difficult..I want to try to take pictures that are truer to color...

Artist's Book

2011-08-04T14:10:00.000-07:00

"Only Good Things"

Unique Accordion-Style Artist's Book

(Roughly) 7" x 30" (unfolded)

Mixed media (Inclu. drawing, collage, intaglio)

collage/drawing

2011-08-02T03:06:00.000-07:00

Out of My Control

Mixed media drawing

14" x 11"

mixed media collage drawing

2011-07-09T15:25:00.000-07:00

powered by insomnia, new 14" x 11" drawings

2011-06-13T06:54:00.000-07:00

collage

2011-06-12T07:44:00.001-07:00

The Brain that Would Not Stop Screaming

Mixed Media Collage

9" x 11"

2011-05-21T05:33:00.000-07:00

Light and Power Series

Watercolor, colored pencil

14" x 11"

A series of drawings inspired by Juventas New Music Ensembles 2011 Opera Project, "Light and Power." May 19, 20, 21, and 22 at the Central Square YMCA, Cambridge MA. These drawings are on display outside of the show. Info HERE

2011-05-02T03:45:00.000-07:00

I love Sundays in the printshop.

new sketchbook pages

2011-04-29T02:20:00.000-07:00

I have been so busy lately with some exciting new projects, collaborations, even getting back into the printshop and working on new etching plates...pictures to come as I finish everything up..for now here are some drawings from my sketchbook.

Event!

2011-04-13T02:24:00.000-07:00

This Friday at Out of The Blue Gallery in Cambridge- cool group show, music acts, BBQ..the weather in Boston has been so nice lately...time for a barbeque! I'll have a bunch of new pieces up.

Collaboration

2011-04-13T02:19:00.000-07:00

Fantastic

Collaboration between Matt James and Rachel Jackson

Acrylic on Wood Panel

36" x 36"

personal

2011-04-11T06:00:00.000-07:00

Story with Holes

Watercolor, colored pencil on paper

cooler palette lately..what does it mean?

2011-04-10T05:06:00.000-07:00

No Te Necesito

Watercolor, colored pencil on wood panel

24" x 18"

kind of a jumble

2011-03-30T04:56:00.000-07:00

Twisting Uncertain

Watercolor, colored pencil on wood panel

18" x 18"

Thanks to everyone who came out to my reception at The Savant Project, I had a great time and, as always, am amazed by the support of my friends!

2011-03-23T04:05:00.000-07:00

Physical Conversation

Acrylic, colored pencil on wood panel

24" x 24"

brighter these days

2011-03-20T15:32:00.000-07:00

The Open Door

Watercolor, colored pencil on paper

10" x 10"

Exhbition at The Savant Project

2011-03-18T02:21:00.000-07:00

This month, I am a part of UnStandard's "Saturdays at The Savant Project." Next Saturday (March 26) there will be an opening, complete with musical acts. I'm putting up all new work and the show will be up for one week after the opening.

The reception is from 9 to 10:30 pm.

catharsis

2011-03-15T06:47:00.000-07:00

Mass Exodus

Acrylic, colored pencil on wood panel

30" x 40"

some sketchbook pages

2011-03-07T03:49:00.000-08:00

new england winter is rough

2011-02-26T16:54:00.000-08:00

Like A Sudden Rush
Ink, colored pencil on wood panel
18" x 18"

New Drawings

2011-02-23T04:38:00.000-08:00

My reception for my show "Apparitions" was fantastic, thank you to all my friends and family (including my grandparents!) who came out to celebrate with me. The show is still up until the first week in March.

I've been really busy making all these new drawings. I have some new exhibitions coming up in the next few weeks. I'm going to post some here and type the information when I have a little more time!

Anxious Days at Twist Gallery

2011-02-20T16:28:00.000-08:00

I just sent some prints to Nashville TN to be a apart of "Anxious Days" - a group printmaking show that looks like its going to be awesome! Here is the statement and press release from curator Brady Haston:

ANXIOUS DAYS CURATOR STATEMENT

Curator: Brady Haston

Included Artists:

Douglas Bosley

Luca Cruzat

Elena Grajek

Rachel Jackson

Ben Moreau

Lauren Pakradooni

Mark Rice

The printmakers in “Anxious Days” seem to share a sense of dread as they contemplate this new millennium and make their art. Douglas Bosley’s dark fantasies show a world where government control and regimentation offer the only hope for survival after an unspecified disaster. Luca Cruzat’s ghostly prints suggest full body scans and her images of rodents imply a possible vector for the plague or a pandemic. Ben Moreau’s representational self- portraits radiate internal unease as he contemplates serious concerns. Both Lauren Pakradooni and Mark Rice work with figures that could be mutated survivors attempting to navigate an apocalyptic worldwide event. Elena Grajek and Rachel Jackson both use abstracted images and forms that suggest a neurotic anxiety as they try to come to grips with irrational fears and insecurity.

“Anxious Days” showcases the work of Douglas Bosley, Luca Cruzat, Elena Grajek, Rachel Jackson, Ben Moreau, Lauren Pakradooni, and Mark Rice. The artist in this exhibit, come from across the United States and are committed to continuing the traditions of printmaking as we move forward into the twenty-first century. The show reflects the anxiety present in a world where terror alerts, possible pandemics, and full body scans are a growing part of our daily experience. “Anxious Days”, captures this dread with subject matter that illustrates an apocalyptic possibility through both representation and abstraction. Ultimately, the viewer is included in this contemporary psychosis as they pause to enjoy the printed images.

“Anxious Days” opens March 5 at 6:00 pm until 9:00 pm during the first Saturday art crawl. The show will be in the Twist Gallery, space 73 Arcade, Nashville TN
http://www.twistartgallery.com/

romantic

2011-02-10T06:25:00.000-08:00

Own Two Feet

Cloud

Ground-Up

Ink and colored pencil on paper

15" x 11" (each)

It's almost Valentine's Day, so I am celebrating my ongoing love for Rives BFK paper.

New drawing...

2011-02-09T05:40:00.000-08:00

Light of Day

Ink, colored pencil on wood panel

18" x 14"

My show is all hung and I'm very excited about it! My prints are en route to Music City USA. I'm drawing like crazy for some other things that may be going on. Also in work yesterday we starting building a giant octopus out of papier mache. Things are crazy but very good.

musings...

2011-02-05T06:16:00.000-08:00

Yesterday at work two of my third graders approached me and asked "Can we do those fun things...blind contour drawings?" I was impressed by their knowledge of terminology and of course obliged them. So we drew blind contour portraits of each other for about a half hour before I was needed elsewhere. It's no secret to anyone that works with kids that their lack of inhibitions and self-consciousness allows them to create miraculous things all the time, and I was certainly impressed with the technical aspects of the drawings these kids did. But what is much more meaningful to me is how much fun art is to them. When you are trying to make a living as an artist sometimes it seems a lot more like...equal parts existential torture and plotted strategy. I feel very lucky to have a job that allows me to enjoy the fun of it all for at least four hours a day.

At the end of the day the kids presented me with a book they had made of all our drawings. The last page of the book wasn't a blind contour drawing, but a drawing of a puppy, added "because we know you". I was touched, to say the least.

I'm finishing all the preparations for my show "Apparitions" (see previous post). I'm hanging it on Monday...so until then its wiring up pieces, typing artist's statements and price lists, etc. and etc. I'm also sending some of my etchings to Nashville TN this week for a group show at Twist Gallery...but that will definitely get its own post later...

Also a special thanks to Jeff Bartell Design for my postcard and also being generally amazing, and to Kate Castelli for all of the framing help!!

Exciting !

2011-01-29T08:36:00.001-08:00

I'm having an exhibition of new drawings! It will be up at 1369 Coffee House in Inman Square, Cambridge MA, for the month of February. The Reception will be on February 21 at 7 pm. I'm so looking forward to this and I'm so thankful to Out of The Blue Gallery for arranging this. Check it out: http://outoftheblueartgallery.com

2011-01-21T10:16:00.000-08:00

Something About Honey

Ink, colored pencil on wood

36" x 36"

2011-01-15T04:59:00.000-08:00

Press for "All Together Now" - a group art show, music concert, all around party that is happening this Sunday January 16:

From The Weekly Dig

From The Boston Globe (editors's pick!)

I will have several pieces (including brand new, never before seen drawings!) hanging up in the show. The artists reception will be from 7pm to 8pm, and then the party continues with bands, DJ's, fun, etc. I think it will be a blast!

Arsenal Center Small Works Show

2011-01-13T05:02:00.001-08:00

(click to see full image)
I have two drawings in this show, which, from the postcard, looks fantastic!
The show is up from January 12 to February 26, and the opening reception is from 5:30 to 7:30 on January 20.

2010-12-28T09:17:00.000-08:00

Concurrent Progress
Ink, colored pencil on wood panel
24" x 18"

teeny tiny

2010-12-28T07:05:00.000-08:00

Nexus I
Ink, colored pencil on wood panel
10" x 8"

Nexus II
Ink, colored pencil on wood panel
10" x 8"

Impossibility
Ink, colored pencil on wood panel
8" x 6"

Massachusetts has been in a state of snow emergency (or as I like to think of it, snomergency) and so I have been holed up in my apartment making tiny drawings and watching DVDs for at least the last 48 hours. Liking the productivity, but hoping to get outside at least once today...

In a few weeks..

2010-12-27T06:31:00.000-08:00

I will be participating in this event. It promises to be a really fun evening of art and music at one of my favorite clubs in Cambridge. More info coming soon..

Juventas Re-Cap

2010-12-20T05:21:00.001-08:00

Juventas New Music Ensembles's Winter Solitude was amazing. I felt so lucky to be a part of it. From the very first rehearsal I was so amazed by the talent and innovation of the Juventas musicians. We had two performances this past weekend and they went really well. I created a painting (start to finish) during a 7 minute piece (that was a challenge!) A lot of my friends and family attended the concert and that was really nice (thanks guys!)
The piece I painted to was Passacaglia Zero, composed by Polina Nazaykinskaya. I really loved the cinematic quality of the piece, and felt really connected to its frantic energy.
Here is a shortened sample version of the piece:

And here are my final pieces:

Passacaglia Zero (I)
Ink, acrylic, pastel on wood panel
40 " x 30"
(from 12/17's performance)

Passacaglia Zero (II)
Ink, acrylic, pastel on wood panel
36" x 36"
(From 12/18's performance)

My friends and I (middle) during the gallery reception

It was such a unique and wonderful experience for me!

Winter Solitude

2010-12-11T17:42:00.001-08:00

This month, I will be participating in Juventas New Music Ensemble's annual Winter Solitude-an event comprised of composers, musicians, visual artists and performers that is happening December 17th and the 18th at the Boston Conservatory. I will be doing live painting to music. Following the performance on the 18th, there will be an exhibition for all the visual artists works. It should be an amazing evening and I am so flattered to be a part of it. (If you click on the Juventas link you will be lead to their website for time, location and ticket information.)

And so that this entry is not text only, here is another picture from my sketchbook. I will be mailing it back to the Art House Co-op this week. Its been such a fun and inspiring project, and honestly in all my years of keeping sketchbooks its the only one I've ever completely filled, cover to cover (More pictures coming soon!)

2010-12-06T19:57:00.000-08:00

The Pervasive Statement
Colored pencil, ink on wood panel
24" x 24"

explosive

2010-12-04T05:00:00.000-08:00

Time Eater
Colored pencil, watercolor on wood panel
24" x 18"

sketchy

2010-11-21T15:36:00.000-08:00

I haven't posted in a while -but I've been drawing lots. This year I am participating in The Art House Co-op's Sketch Book Project. It's been really great to get back into the habit of carrying a little Moleskine everywhere and drawing on the fly (I've been shamefully out of sketchbook practice). I have about a month and a half to finish it, and so far its only half full. Here is a sneak peak of what I've been up to...

new little drawings

2010-11-08T06:09:00.000-08:00

brand new; titles have yet to be determined!
11" x 10" (all)
ink, colored pencil (all)

new drawing series- sneak peek

2010-10-14T04:19:00.000-07:00

You, Imbued Series
Ink, colored pencil on paper (all)
15" x 11" (all)

just a little something...

2010-10-04T19:21:00.000-07:00

5 minute drypoint sketch, brought to you by scrap copper and boredom.

Moving right along...

2010-10-02T10:58:00.000-07:00

In Ascent
Watercolor, colored pencil on wood
24" x 18"

2010-09-28T07:13:00.000-07:00

Underneath, Magic
Colored pencil, ink on wood panel
18" x 18"

Colors, yipes

2010-09-28T06:51:00.000-07:00

L.F.
Colored pencil, ink on wood panel
30" x 20"

2010-09-25T07:49:00.000-07:00

I am an incredibly lucky artist in that I have a job that:

Is steady.
Affords me a remarkable amount of time to work on my art.
I love on top of the other great things about it!

I just recently started this job and my productivity is at an all time high; which is good because I have some deadlines coming up.
Here's a new drawing and hopefully will be posting at least one a day for the next few weeks.

Wrest
Ink, Colored Pencil on wood panel
18" x 18"

cacophony

2010-09-04T18:51:00.000-07:00

Eve of the Sixth Year
Ink, colored pencil on wood
20" x 30"

3 days of sideways rain+vacation time+dvds = drawing marathon

2010-08-25T11:01:00.000-07:00

Her Triumph
Pencil, acrylic on wood panel
20" x 16"

I've been trying to include more written content here...

2010-08-13T03:25:00.000-07:00

I haven't updated this blog in a long time. I've been busy- teaching a Pre-College printmaking class, moving, getting some work together for exhibitions (news coming soon!)..All in all a relatively productive summer.
Teaching my class was an amazing experience, especially given the fact that I was introduced to printmaking through a similar class that I took when I was in high school. I had a really great, really talented and inspiringly motivated group of kids. We covered monotype, relief and basic intaglio (whew!). It was interesting also because our printshop was averaging about 110 degrees for the entire month of July. Also our cd/radio broke, so we had to listen to the same Talking Heads tape (Little Creatures) on repeat all afternoon, for the whole month. They were good sports though. We ended the class with an exhibition of work. It was a great way to conclude an intense "semester"..and I was so proud of their work.
Now that the class is over, I am feeling a little bit sentimental...

I am typing this from my new (empty) living room. Must unpack! Coming soon: new drypoints, handcoloring, messing with monotypes (?!)

2010-07-01T09:20:00.001-07:00

Set to Rest
colored pencil, intaglio
10" x 8"

Pervaded
colored pencil, intaglio
10"x8"

I have this ridiculous stack of old proofs, old prints of preliminary states, the dreaded upsidedown print (all night manic edition-ing, anyone?) etc. etc. I kind of keep the stack (and keep adding to it) because it seems like a waste to toss out such nice paper, and also I am a sucker for really great plate tone.
So I've decided my new goal is to recycle all the old proofs by turning them into drawings. Will I be able to work through the stack by the time I have to move at the end of the summer? We shall see (and we shall hope)!

drawing

2010-06-21T08:33:00.000-07:00

Plus or Minus
watercolor, pencil on wood
24" x 24"

another recent drawing

2010-06-14T14:25:00.000-07:00

Interior Space No. 1
Watercolor and pencil on wood
24" x 24"

feels good to be drawing again..

2010-06-07T11:20:00.000-07:00

I Have Found It
Ink, gesso, colored pencil on wood
18" x 18"

Louise Bourgeois

2010-06-01T19:04:00.000-07:00

You will be greatly missed.

2010-05-27T05:33:00.000-07:00

Breach
15.5" x 12"
Pastel, watercolor

Adventures in kitchen printmaking, part 1

2010-05-27T03:18:00.001-07:00

The Happy Spoon, in addition to bringing joy to all that stir pasta with it, also doubles as an excellent barren for relief printing.
My roommates are going to wonder why he's looking a little inky.

2010-05-10T14:31:00.000-07:00

Connect
2 plate etching with sugar lift
Part of "Cognates: A Tribute to Michael Mazur" Group Exchange Folio
Edition of 13

More info soon...

sneak peek

2010-05-05T09:27:00.000-07:00

No posts in a while...but I have been busy...

playin' around..

2010-04-21T07:26:00.000-07:00

The Harbinger
Etching with handcoloring
Unique color proof
18" x 22"

2010-04-14T15:18:00.000-07:00

Her Layers
pencil, ink on wood
6" x 8"

another tiny one for you.

2010-04-14T14:00:00.000-07:00

Proliferating the Wen
ink, pencil on wood
8 " x 8"

a little something..

2010-04-01T20:24:00.000-07:00

In Remission
pencil, ink on wood
8" x 8"

(the tiny drawings on wood continue to multiply. i don't know where they are going yet.. but i am going with it!)

new prints!

2010-03-23T06:07:00.000-07:00

So I just finished cleaning up and curating all my new prints for Southern Graphics, and I posted pictures of them on my website. So, check them out!

Rachel Jackson's Website

I am so looking forward to the conference, especially now that all the work is done. I will be participating in one of the Open Portfolio sessions on Saturday evening, so if you are going to the conference say hi! I will even give you one of my shiny new business cards.

2010-03-18T07:16:00.000-07:00

Wrapped Up In
pencil and ink on wood
6" x 6"

2010-03-11T09:11:00.000-08:00

So while I have been busy "perfecting" my new body of etchings, I have been making these little drawings on all of my torn-off ends of printmaking paper. Constantly making these tiny drawings has been a good way to stay loose and inspired. I thought they looked nice in this little pile and wanted to share.

more sketchbook...

2010-03-08T05:01:00.000-08:00

I've been really busy in the printshop, in preparation for Southern Graphics, so here are some more sketchbook drawings. Soon I will have some new prints finished! But until then, you get these quickie drawings.

2010-03-04T05:36:00.000-08:00

How it was
pencil
14" x 11"

Drawing Marathon

2010-02-22T07:51:00.000-08:00

Yesterday I participated in a Drawing Marathon at Mobius in the South End. It was great- several artists performed while a rotating group of artists dropped in and drew the performances. These two drawings were inspired by what I saw at Mobius. It was a great afternoon and I am certainly planning on going to the next Drawing Marathon, which I believe is next month.

Time, thou must untangle this
pencil
14" x 11"

Enmeshed
pencil
14" x 11"

new sketches and ideas...

2010-02-12T05:38:00.000-08:00

just a sneak peek as I continue to work on some new etchings and drawings...

Pictures from DISCLOSURES opening

2010-02-03T05:25:00.000-08:00

Here are some pictures from my opening for DISCLOSURES, a show consisting of new prints and drawings.
The opening reception was on December 10, 2009, and the show was at The Art Institute of Boston's Porter Square Gallery, Cambridge MA.

Some gallery views

Pictures from the reception.

Since the show came down I have been working on building a whole new body of work...much of which will be posted here in the coming weeks

2010-02-03T05:23:00.000-08:00

Hi! Welcome to my blog. I will be using this blog to post announcements, shows and events, sketches, new ideas etc.
To learn more about me and my work please visit my website -

rachelajackson.sharemyartwork.com

Thannks!

I'm back!

2009-12-02T17:04:00.000-08:00

sort of.
stay tuned...