Jenny Doh

The Getty Interview

Many thanks to The Getty for publishing the interview that their writer (Allison Ramirez) conducted of me on their online magazine: The Getty Iris. You can read the entire interview here if you want to. I'm really happy with it ... especially with the fact that the interview brought out my views about my exhibitionist tendencies, along with my frequent desire to hide, which is opposite of exhibitionism. :-)

Thank you also to The Getty for featuring my painting on their Instagram! What a thrill. Have you been to The Getty? It's quite magnificent ... not only the art within but the art that is the actual buildings that make up The Getty ... buildings that were designed to celebrate the beauty of Los Angeles. I plan to go again in 2016.

As a fine artist, how do you feel about sharing your work on social media?

Sharing my work on social media is a great release for me. I feel there is a part of me that I describe as “exhibitionist.” I mean, I really love expressing and sharing and showing snippets of my work and my life, and engaging with the world that way.

Ironically, I go through moments when I want to shut it all down and crawl under the sheets and hide from everyone and everything. Same thing with the studio. As much as I enjoy interacting with actual humans who come through the studio either for a workshop, private lesson, or monthly art walks, there are times I want to say “everybody get out,” and shut the doors and leave. But I don’t do that of course. Or at least I haven’t yet.

I have a feeling I’m not alone in these types of feelings. It’s just much too much at times, you know? And sometimes it feels so phony, and I wonder to myself, am I phony? I don’t want to be. I want to be creating from a sincere place. So then the day goes by, I connect with my family at the dinner table, read some, think some, and the sun rises again, and it feels right again to create and share with sincerity as much as possible.

- See more at: http://blogs.getty.edu/iris/talking-art-and-whimsical-angst-with-painter-jenny-doh/#sthash.1snw7cZ4.dpuf

As a fine artist, how do you feel about sharing your work on social media?

Sharing my work on social media is a great release for me. I feel there is a part of me that I describe as “exhibitionist.” I mean, I really love expressing and sharing and showing snippets of my work and my life, and engaging with the world that way.

Ironically, I go through moments when I want to shut it all down and crawl under the sheets and hide from everyone and everything. Same thing with the studio. As much as I enjoy interacting with actual humans who come through the studio either for a workshop, private lesson, or monthly art walks, there are times I want to say “everybody get out,” and shut the doors and leave. But I don’t do that of course. Or at least I haven’t yet.

I have a feeling I’m not alone in these types of feelings. It’s just much too much at times, you know? And sometimes it feels so phony, and I wonder to myself, am I phony? I don’t want to be. I want to be creating from a sincere place. So then the day goes by, I connect with my family at the dinner table, read some, think some, and the sun rises again, and it feels right again to create and share with sincerity as much as possible.

- See more at: http://blogs.getty.edu/iris/talking-art-and-whimsical-angst-with-painter-jenny-doh/#sthash.1snw7cZ4.dpuf

Top 10 Things I Learned form Mary Beth Shaw

I learned so much today from Mary Beth Shaw ... but here are the top 10.

10. I love wood icing.

9. Mary Beth likes to drink skinny vanilla lattes.

8. You can stencil almost anything.

7. Limiting the number of colors you work with results in extraordinary results.

6. Blending colors isn't as scary as I thought, and learning Mary Beth's methods has opened up a whole new universe in terms of painting.

5. Inktense colored pencils don't reactivate with water.

4. Mary Beth likes to eat beets.

3. Tinted gesso is great for building layers.

2. Mary Beth is an official Golden-certified color expert.

1. Mary Beth will be back in 2015 to teach in Studio CRESCENDOh. (Sorry, can't reserve your spots ahead of time. Please just stay tuned to our master calendar. Thanks.)

 

Announcing :: Lettering & Art Journaling Workshops with Pam Garrison!

I'm happy to announce two of Pam Garrison's upcoming classes in Studio CRESCENDOh!

• On Saturday March 8th, she will offer a 1-day workshop titled For the Love of Lettering. Enrollment for this class is open and you can enroll here.
• On Sunday March 9th, she will offer a 1-day workshop titled Art of the Page. Enrollment for this class is open and you can enroll here.

Hip hip hooray! Pam and I look forward to seeing you in the studio as we have fun with letters and art journal pages. :)

I See Boat People :: Paintings & Other Works

When I learned of my brother Jinil's untimely death this past November, I started folding boats. As I was folding them, I could hear the sound of my daughter's voice in my mind, singing the song, Falling Slowly, which has lyrics that go like this "Take this sinking boat and point it home we've still got time ..."

I was also thinking about the hymn that my large extended family sang in the airport in Seoul, Korea back in 1974 as we made a large circle, holding hands, as my mom, dad, brothers Jim and Jinil, and I were ready to board a plane that would take us from Seoul to Los Angeles.

The verses of the hymn when loosely translated go something like this:

The grace of my Lord God is deeper than the ocean,
Anchors away, and travel toward the middle of the sea.
Leave the shore, take your boat over the waves,
Sail through the ocean of grace, my Lord Jesus.

This hymn. When I think about it, when I sing it, brings me to tears and brings me to my knees.

Though we were boarding a plane, it felt similar to boarding a boat as we would indeed be leaving the shore to cross an ocean to embark on the biggest journey that the five of us as individuals and the five of us as a family unit would experience.

Asian immigrants ... whether they travel by boat or plane, are referred frequently as "fresh off the boat" or "boat people."

This past December, one of the best things that happened to me was a visit to the Brooklyn Museum. During this visit, I was able to see the famous permanent exhibition by Judy Chicago: The Dinner Party, which celebrates women's contributions to society by celebrating, respecting, and honoring the very essence of femalehood. During this visit, I also saw the phenomenal works of artist Wangechi  Mutu whose multi-faceted narrative embraces the intersections of nature, sex, and culture. I know that these works have influenced me greatly and encouraged me to lose my inhibitions as I explore similar themes in my art.

So the boats have naturally evolved into boat-like people at times, or parts of people ... mostly women ... as I seek to explore the facets and folds of what it means to be the woman I am, and how it feels to hold onto a string of the boat that symbolizes people, places, and things I don't want to lose and don't want to forget.

This February 1st I'll be showing my paintings and other works that have been created as part of this journey. It'll be an imperfect show that may be shown again as works continue to evolve. But even with its imperfections, I'm happy to have the time and space to share my story.

You're invited.

Studio CRESCENDOh
207 N. Broadway St., Suite L
Santa Ana, CA 92701
email: [email protected]

I'll be there from 5-10 but the two hours when most people will be there during this art walk night are the hours from 7-9PM. Look forward to seeing you there and having you witness my story.

Top 10 Things We Learned in Julie Balzer's Workshop

We had a blast with Julie Fei Fan Balzer. We learned a whole lot too.

10. Opacify.
9. Let it go.
8. People who think collage is easy don't know what they're talking about.
7. Master the stencil. Don't let it master you.
6. Comparison is the thief of joy.
5. Q: Do you need to apply medium in two directions before adhering paper to paper? A: Who the hell cares? Just get it on there.
4. If you don't like wrinkles in your collage, do something about it.
3. Life is too short to clean your stencils.
2. Make what you want to make.
1. Kill the pretty.

Congratulations to Julie and all attending students for a truly magical time. Julie will be back in 2015! Same time as always ... the Saturday/Sunday after CHA. Save the date!

Falling Slowly

Falling Slowly
by Kris Allen

I don't know you but I want you all the more for that
Words fall through me and always fool me and I can't react
And games that never amount to more than they're meant
Will play themselves out

Take this sinking boat and point it home
We've still got time
Raise your hopeful voice you have a choice
You've made it now

Falling slowly eyes that know me and I can't go back
Moods that take me and erase me and I'm painted black
You have suffered enough and warred with yourself
It's time that you won

Take this sinking boat and point it home
We've still got time
Raise your hopeful voice you had the choice
You've made it now

Falling slowly sing your melody
I'll sing along

 

Art is Life

Thought I'd share some photos from last night's Art Walk Studio in Santa Ana. Right outside our studio door, I put up this question ...

... and I enjoyed watching people from all walks of life write their answers.

In the studio, it was great to see live painting going on and spontaneously getting people of all ages to collaborate with some of my paintings.

And then there were poets from Orange County School of the Arts.

And singers Monica and Louise.

Laughter, art, life ...

... and some painting with boxing gloves.

Friends new and old ...

And even FangGrrr and Lion showed up to look after all of us.

After we closed up and I was walking down with The Mister, there was this guy painting such a wonderful mural in the shop window downstairs. I can't wait to go back and see how it turned out.

We'll do it again the first Saturday of next month. See you then.

To art ... the thing that helps us communicate stuff that we couldn't otherwise ... the thing that gives us life.

 

You're Invited to Art Walk Studio, December 7th in Studio CRESCENDOh!

YOU ARE INVITED!
To the next art walk studio open house in Studio CRESCENDOh
Saturday, December 7th from 5:00 to 10:00 PM

• Pam Garrison and I will be doing live painting demonstrations and have some of our original paintings available for sale.
• Amy Hanna will have her exquisite original art jewelry pieces available for sale.
• We will also have special live entertainment brought to you by some very talented students from Orange County School of the Arts.

Just in time for the holidays ... art, ambiance, sweet treats, and friendship.

This is a FREE event and everyone is welcome. No RSVP is needed but please know that parking gets to be a challenge during art walks so please plan accordingly. There are many wonderful restaurants in the artist village area including Chapter One, Memphis Grill, Gypsy Den, Lola Gaspar, Little Sparrow ... all within walking distance to Studio CRESCENDOh. A great night to bring the whole family out and soak in all the artistic goodness.

Here's a photo of me with Pam and Amy from several years ago ... my goodness ... how fast time flies and how deep our passion for art has grown within that time.

 

Recap! Of Dina Wakley in Studio CRESCENDOh 2013

On Day 1, Dina Wakley set the tone for her classes by talking about the concept of devotion. It made me ask myself some questions:

• What am I devoted to?
• Am I spending my time on that which I'm devoted to?

GREAT questions. Because sometimes, we squander our time and what we think we are devoted to gets pushed aside. Like if we are devoted to making good art, are we practicing? Are we making? Are we researching? Are we constantly learning?

Dina is a masterful teacher because:

• She has solid skills and knowledge.
• She shares her skills and knowledge with generosity, respect, and humility.
• She is a constant learner.

We had a lot of fun and learned SO much.

On Day 2, we had a slightly smaller group of students and Dina talked about the importance of self-reflection ... and about how meaningful and important and fun it is to make art that incorporates self-portraits.

This group did some major bonding ... and shared a lot of laughs while making awesome art.

Thank you Dina, for your AMAZING classes.

And great news! Dina will be returning to Studio CRESCENDOh in 2014!!! Yipee! See you in Studio CRESCENDOh. :)

Recap of Painting Mojo with Tracy Verdugo

So fab, right? This is a group picture that we took after a weekend of painting with the awesome Tracy Verdugo who traveled all the way from Australia to be with us. Thought I'd share some photos to help capture just a few of the many memories we made during the weekend.

Here's how Tracy's teaching canvas looked at the end of the weekend. So fantastic.
And here are a few more shots of students works during our show-and-tell circle time. Everyond did a great job.

We even had a dude in the group!

At times, we worked on the floor ...

And other times on easels, on tables, or on the wall ...

We used paints, inks, brushes, fingers, skewers ... and other things.

We worked really really hard and each made works that benefitted from all that Tracy taught, mingled with our individual points of view and styles.

Here's the first piece that I did, which I finished. It was also a thrill and honor to have this piece sold to fellow student, Tina.

Here's the second one I did which is ALMOST finished.

It was a joy and privilege to host Tracy. A great teacher and human being. And the best part? She'll be back in Studio CRESCENDOh in March of 2015 to teach again. Thank you, Tracy. Thank you, students. Thank you, life.