JAMIE L. LUOTO
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  • about
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Free Printable Coloring Pages

3/19/2020

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Like so many others, I am currently under orders to shelter-in-place due to Covid 19. As an artist and introvert, this practice doesn't greatly impact my typical day-to-day, but I am aware that as much as I am content being alone, others are not. These are strange and uncertain times and it's in my heart to help lift spirits and alleviate some of the stress faced during this time of extreme change. With that, I would like to share an activity I made for you and the children in your life.
 
I've made two of my animal portraits into coloring pages 
that can be printed at home, colored and enjoyed. I hope these provide a little joy and entertainment. And I'd love to see what you create! Please share with me on instagram @jamie_luoto or use #ColoringWithJamie.
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No Holes, No Problem; Artwork Hanging Solution

12/29/2019

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I value opportunities to exhibit my artwork, both in traditional and non traditional spaces. Over the years, I've encounter a number of venues where they do not allow holes in the walls. This is 100% fine, however it puts a slight wrinkle in a fine-tuned hook and hammer system.

When "no holes" has been the case, the venue typically supplies some sort of hanging contraption or at the very least a suggestion for how to hang the work. However, using unfamiliar methods can cause mild worry because one always wonders things, such as 'will the work stay up?' and 'how much extra time will this new method take?'

Cut to my most recent "no holes" venue. The venue provided stationary hooks within light sconces and a suggestion of hanging the work with fishing line. Fishing line is a very fiddly material that stretches and bounces and requires special knowledge of knots, else they undo themselves. Also, one can't count on accurate measurements when tying knots -- just imagine trying to get all of the pieces the same height and level. Sounds unnecessarily nightmarish, which brings me to my discovery of STAS Picture Hanging Systems. 

For my purposes, I purchased clear cords with loops and adjustable zipper hooks that hold up to 30 lbs. weight. Hanging the show (pictured below) was literally a breeze! STAS has many hanging solutions with various lengths and weight allowances, so if you find yourself in a "no holes" situation, I highly recommend checking them out. 
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2018 BP Portrait Award Exhibitor Shortlist

3/24/2018

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From blank canvas to a semifinalist in consideration for the 2018 BP Portrait Award; this is the journey of my piece from creation to London and a behind-the-scenes look at my artist life. 

​Last year, I specially made time over the summer to explore new themes in my portraiture. One hot June evening, I glanced at myself in the mirror and something about the lighting, angle, and mood  created an intense inspiration to paint a large self portrait related to my experience as a female. So began my two month journey creating  Reduction (Self Portrait).

 As I began work on my portrait, I had two goals in mind:

  1. Create a work representative of my experience as a woman and artist.
  2. Create a portrait I felt was worthy of submitting to the BP Portrait Award.
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Scale. © Jamie L. Luoto, "Reproduction (Self Portrait), " oil on canvas, 48x36 inches (Detail in progress.), August 2017.
This piece was challenging to create because its meaning existed within me as a collection of memories, experiences and feelings, rather than something easily articulated. In the early stages of my portrait, I came across a poignant quote by John Berger in Ways of Seeing: "Men act and women appear." My mind went to years spent studying art history and the lack of female representation in Western art as it is taught in school and books. Most nudes are female, but most painters of them are male. The male gaze has dominated our understanding and formed our conception of not only the female form, but of a woman’s value, role within society and view of self. I wanted to challenge this.
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In process at my studio in Healdsburg, California. ©Jamie L. Luoto, "Reproduction (Self Portrait), " oil on canvas, 48x36 inches, August 2017.
My self portrait presents myself in many ways, including: one view of me looking outward directly at the viewer, and another, my reflected figure contained in an antique gilded mirror. My face, turned out to confront the viewer, is active; my reflected figure is passive. My piece takes on the complexity of subjectivity and objectivity, suggesting and provoking many layers of understanding of the relationships between viewer, artist, and object.
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Winsor & Newton Artists' Colour: titanium white, cadmium lemon + cadmium yellow, alizarin crimson + cadmium red, french ultramarine + cerulean blue
I used a limited palette of colors because I wanted to focus on the subject matter. This created simplicity and harmony on my canvas. I used warm and cool representations of each primary color, plus titanium white for tinting and toning. 
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glass palette covered in oil paint
From more than 7 weeks I obsessively toiled over my painting. Translating my gut feeling into a composition that articulated my experience both as a woman and an artist proved to be a difficult journey that consumed my every waking moment. Furthermore, I had never painted myself at such a large scale, and the concept was complex. It was hard to put my brushes down finally and declare it done because I am a perfectionist and I knew this was one of my most important paintings to date.

I documented the work on the day of the eclipse, August 21, 2017, only it was overcast so there was nothing to see in the sky. However, the overcast conditions made for excellent lighting to document my painting. A short while after photographing the work, I applied to the 2018 BP Portrait Award, but I didn't tell anyone I had applied because it's such prestigious competition, literally the show for the best contemporary portraits in the world, run by the UK's National Portrait Gallery.
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Documenting "Reduction (Self Portrait)" behind my studio on our 100+ year old barn
​Fast forward to February 9th, 2018 when just as I was checking my phone before heading to my studio to work I saw the word "congratulations"! It was notification that my painting was one of 215 portraits (out of 2667) selected by the curators at the National Portrait Gallery to travel to London for consideration for the exhibition. I was instantly floored-bouncy-hyper-happy-stunned and then after my brief celebration I realized I had about 2 weeks to:
  • Frame my portrait
  • Acquire a shipping crate made of the right kind of wood (or else bad things happen)
  • Arrange to somehow get my BIG painting to the U.K., through customs and delivered within a 5 day window (or else I'm just straight up eliminated)
  • and figure out the insanely complicated, ill instructed, bureaucratic paperwork required for temporarily exporting/importing artwork
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My first look at my framed painting! ©Jamie L. Luoto, "Reproduction (Self Portrait), " oil on canvas, 48x36 inches, August 2017.
Not long after I received the good news, and by not long I mean that same morning, I was off to my framer, Hammerfrier. We looked at frame options, but there was only one clear choice and by some miracle we were able to do the impossible; frame up Reduction (Self Portrait) in a beautiful custom gilded frame in a week's time (it should've taken 4+ weeks minimum). The frame was made on the east coast, and shipped west in a crate that was perfect for sending my painting abroad as well. Whew! Thank you so much to Charly and Glenn at Hammerfrier for all your work and support!
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©Jamie L. Luoto, "Reproduction (Self Portrait), " oil on canvas, 48x36 inches, August 2017.
After much research I decided to work with FedEx Air Freight. I had a background check for homeland security purposes while setting up my account and then was set to go... filling out a number of forms, applying for licenses, etc... I was both excited and nervous when FedEx arrived - it was scary to hand over my painting, and I had never shipped such a large piece with such a tight window for delivery. Everything was moving along perfectly as I tracked my painting's progress from Healdsburg to Oakland to Memphis and then Stanstead Airport in the UK and then... it just stayed there for hours and then days. I was held up in customs, but after a number of middle of the night calls to the U.K. everything was squared away and my work made it with two days to spare! 
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Preparing to pack my painting with documents
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Sealing my 120 pound crate with some 30+ screws
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FedEx Air Freight arrived to pickup my crate destined for London
I had to wait until March 9th to find out the results, and it turned out that ​I was not one of the 48 works selected to exhibit this year, but I'm not feeling too shabby because it is a HUGE honor to have been a finalist and considered by the museum curators - wow. Byron and I celebrated the news straight away with champagne at 6:30am - I'm really proud of my painting, Reduction (Self Portrait), and happy that myself and my painting had such an outstanding opportunity. 
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"POP" and cheers!
​P.S. I was successful in bringing home my painting too - it just arrived in ship-shape and Bristol fashion on Friday!
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Easy Homemade Holiday Gift Idea - Preserved Lemons

12/6/2014

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PROVISIONS

  • cutting board
  • knife
  • citrus juicer
  • sterile jar
  • kosher salt
  • coriander seeds
  • peppercorns
  • organic lemons
I would say this project took me less than 15 min.

To sterilize the jar, submerge it in boiling water for 5 min. or place in the oven at 250F for 10 min.

Use lemons from your tree or buy organic lemons. Depending on their size, you will need 1 or 2 lemons to preserve, in addition enough lemon juice to completely cover your lemons.
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As I've mentioned before, about once a week I get together with two other artists to paint... whatever inspires us. Recently we've been exploring lemons.

As a surprise, this week before painting our friend, Elisa, taught us how to preserve lemons! So simple and so beautiful.

Once preserved, you don't actually eat the interior of the lemon, but rather use the rind. How handy to have beautiful, bright lemon rind available to add a bit of citrus to a salad, a curry or anything really.

I loved the simplicity of preserving lemons and thought it would be nice to share what I've learned because the holidays can be a complicated time and I think it would make an easy, beautiful hostess or holiday gift!
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HOW-TO

On the end where the lemon once hung from the tree, cut a cross into the lemon - almost to the base, but so that the quarters stay together. Liberally pour the salt into/between the lemon segments. Insert the lemon into the airtight jar with the cross facing downward. Toss in 1/2 tsp of each the coriander seeds and peppercorns. Press enough lemons to completely submerge your salted lemon in juice. Seal the jar and store in the refrigerator.

The lemons will be ready after one month of preserving, and will last for about 2 years.

Et voila! Tie a beautiful ribbon around the neck of the jar or pop the jar into a bag with tissue paper - easy peasy.

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My Girl with the Pearl Earring

8/5/2014

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"Girl with the Pearl Earring" Oil on Canvas 18 x 16 inches 2014
About once a week I get together with two painter friends, one of which had the idea that we should each paint Vermeer's Girl with the Pear Earring. I don't paint like the old masters, nor do I know their techniques, nor am I a copyist, but I thought it would be an interesting challenge and a learning experience. I worked on and off on this painting, beginning in summer 2013 and finally saying I'm finished in spring 2014. My greatest lesson learned was the pleasure in keeping a journal of my color palette. When you take a break from a painting, then return to it, it is incredibly helpful to have a little journal with all of your painting specific color recipes in it.  Overall, my painting looks very modern to my eyes and it's not line for line accurate, but I do think it captures some of the spirit of the original work, which truly is a masterpiece! I'll happily hang and enjoy my little painting, knowing it's the closest I'll come to owning a real Vermeer painting.
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Simone, prepping for yet another cat nap. She's so classy :)
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New Gouache Illustrations 12x 12 Inches

7/7/2014

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90 Minute Painting

5/1/2014

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"Spring Roses" Oil on Canvas 20 x 16 inches May 2014
This morning I enjoyed cutting these gorgeous, peony lookalike roses from my garden for a still life. A friend suggested that I try a time limit when painting, so I set up my easel, and gave myself ninety minutes to start and finish this painting. I found the deadline very motivating. It eliminated dillydallying and forced cutthroat decisions. And when the buzzer chimed, I really felt my work was complete.
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DIY File Cabinet Makeover

10/2/2012

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I heard that it's more fun to file your gargantuous stacks of paper when you've got neat-o office storage supplies. Sure, you can find 'fun' folders, but what about a filing cabinet?

Being challenged by a small budget and fussy taste, my solution was to turn my search over to Craigslist to locate and buy a used filing cabinet that I could redecorate. And so I did. For the whopping price of $5 I became the proud owner of a two drawer black filing cabinet that is the perfect size for my space and needs.
To spruce up the eyesore of a cabinet, I simply waited for a sunny day where I could head outdoors to spray the cabinet with white creme, lacquer-finish montana spray paint. For my own personal touch, I used mod podge to affix a beautiful paper to the drawer fronts. And voila, c'est magnifique, non?
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♥ Miss Bojambo
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Animal Portrait Process: Snow Leopard

9/6/2012

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Instead of simply posting the finished painting, I thought I would share the pictorial journey of my new snow leopard painting from start to finish. Medium: Gouache
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Lots of Love to You Today!

2/14/2012

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Paper cutting + tissue paper
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© 2023 JAMIE L. LUOTO ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

Jamie L. Luoto

San Francisco Bay Area
​Healdsburg, California, USA
Studio Visits by Appt.
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  • Home + Recent News
  • about
    • About
    • CV
  • I Believe in Ghosts (current work)
  • Animal Portraits
    • Animal Portrait Portfolio
    • Commissions
    • Work in Spaces
    • Shop
  • Upcoming
  • Press
  • Contact