MAREN JENSEN

Pink x3005,50555

2012-02-14T13:57:00.000-08:00

Since I've embraced Pink as my favorite color, I thought I'd make some valentines this year. I'd been wanting to try out this scalloped look using watercolored paper

A Forest Creature obsessed with fine dining...

2012-02-09T13:59:00.000-08:00

Often loathe to partake in any at-home dining experiences, Gastro-Gnome was predictably disappointed at his neighbor’s novice excuse for a second course.

Episode 5

2012-01-29T17:08:00.000-08:00

Pancho's Bullet

Cora met Pancho Villa when she was eight years old, at a party with her father, somewhere near her childhood home and the site of a great battle between his army and the Americans. The reason for her attendance, and more importantly, her father’s, a long unsolved mystery.

She often wondered if she’d dreamt it all, the funny Mexican with a larger than life mustache and hat. Were it not for the bullet, taken directly from his bandoliered chest, she’d have no reason to believe otherwise. But there it lay, cool in the palm of her hand, exactly as he’d placed it, so many years ago.

Spied from a distance, she became curious and stalked the great character, stealing glimpses from behind broad legs and skirts, and anything else capable of concealment. Though she never saw him take a drop of liquor, he ate and talked and laughed more than her father, which was quite a feat.

Despite these obvious distractions, the surveillance did not go unnoticed, and he turned and surprised her, facetiously asking if she was an assassin. She tried to flee, but could not, and he charmed her like all the ladies, mustache wriggling like a caterpillar. Before releasing her from his grasp, he ceremoniously removed the bullet and said it would protect her, as it had him against the backstabbing Americans. She didn’t dare tell him she was one of them, born and raised, before running off, quick as her legs could take her.

Since then, it had never been out of her possession, for twenty-five years a talisman and her greatest secret, kept hidden under her pillow, in a pocket, or the folds of her purse. She even brought it into the bath, afraid some calamity would befall her if it wasn’t within reach or the lead pressing firmly into her palm.

Then she met Clement, raven haired and handsome, a dazzling smile wide as the sky, and eyes wild for her, a spinster and hopeless cause, or so she thought. But there he was, smiling and joking at the library, eager for her help, eager for a word to spill from her lips and into his heart.

He was a crop duster, a daredevil of the sky, swooping in craven low loops and up, up again, and more at home there, curls whipping like wings, than nearly any place, save where Cora was.

They quickly found themselves married, and ecstatically so, with warm days spent on bicycles or their naked bodies tangled in clear lake water. In the cool of autumn and winter, she brought home books to read together before listening to records or their favorite programs on the radio. He sometimes took her out in his plane, sharing a glimpse of the world from God’s eye, despite her fears and a sincere belief that only birds were meant to fly. It was at these moments the bullet soothed her most, and, quite possibly, kept them both alive.

Then came The War and Clement’s fidelity to a certain ideal and his beloved country. He would be a paratrooper, and his body, not a cloud of chemicals, raining onto a faraway land.

She hated the thought, hated the epic distance it would take him, and worse still, what might happen. As his departure drew nearer, she wished for an answer, for something to keep him safe, the lead of Pancho’s bullet digging deeper into her skin, and for the longest time not realizing that it was the solution.
Then, on that fateful day, she said her goodbyes and pressed it into his palm, the story of it’s presence and a multitude of tears soothing her like a balm. He stood, at first mystified that she could keep such a secret, then grateful for all it meant, and hugging her with all his might.
On the day of Clement’s first mission, as the plane climbed higher and higher, Cora rode her bicycle down a favorite country road, missing him terribly. A crow, swirling high above, caught her eye, and as it swooped down, there was Clement, hand firmly over his breast pocket, a magic bullet, and a photograph of his beloved.

SNOW?

2012-01-16T19:56:00.000-08:00

White Christmas is the best ~~Christmas~~ movie in the world. Here's to you, ma!

A Forest creature obsessed with fine dining...

2012-01-14T12:02:00.000-08:00

Well on his way to becoming a bona fide 'cicerone,' Gastro-Gnome was more than unimpressed with his latest selections of craft brews.

A Forest creature obsessed with fine dining...

2012-01-06T17:08:00.000-08:00

Unfortunately for his less-than-sophisticated hosts, Gastro-Gnome was belligerently outspoken about the hor d'oeuvres circling the party he attended to ring in the New Year.

LOOK!

2012-01-05T16:53:00.000-08:00

I recently finished 29 drawings for my Art and Letters cohort, Colleen Sohn, who has written a novel (!). She asked me to create some illustrations for her story and is publishing it all early in 2012.

I'm so happy to see all of this coming to completion.

Information on pre-ordering coming soon!

A Forest creature obsessed with fine dining...

2011-12-30T10:10:00.000-08:00

This Christmas, Gastro-Gnome was more than pleased to see a contemporary take on the traditional holiday cake served after his second over-cooked turkey of the season.

CHRISTMAS GIFTS

2011-12-27T09:51:00.000-08:00

Christmas portraits I gave as gifts. Kanbun Uechi, Founder of Uechi Ryu Martial Arts, and Nelson Mandela laughing.

Forest creatue obsessed with fine dining...

2011-12-08T09:06:00.000-08:00

After a life-changing experience at the local charcuterie stand this week at the farmer's market, Gastro-Gnome upped his standards for the American palate.

S N' P

2011-12-04T09:01:00.000-08:00

This is my one-frame comic that actually reads as one (see sandwich related post below).

A Forest creatue obsessed with fine dining...

2011-12-01T07:37:00.000-08:00

Gastro-Gnome was furious after finding out that the slab bacon garnish on his first course had been factory made.

SAND-WHICH?

2011-11-28T10:24:00.000-08:00

Click to enlarge!

I made this for a one-frame-comic zine, but then realized it's not really a comic. I still like it.

Episode 4

2011-11-23T08:14:00.001-08:00

The Fine Print

You stop in your tracks,

Thinking you know me.

I do not have another half.

No soul mirrors mine.

I have scratched and clawed and bitten for this tenuous grasp.

I cannot let it go.

Your confidence.

Your smile.

The way laughter spills easily from your mouth.

How did you arrive at that place?

No border

Nor barrier

Pulpy heart beating for all to see.

If I remove this thin veil,

My nakedness will show

And perhaps that I am a fool

And lived my days

Yearning

For the me I’ve only just discovered in you.

Hello.

…

Episode 3

2011-11-13T10:04:00.000-08:00

Colleen sent me this piece:

The Worry Jar

Fretting, on the verge of worry, she walks slowly to the library, really a glorified office, but possessing more books than anything, she feels justified in the label. There, on the highest shelf, it waits. The Worry Jar. A beautiful apothecary glass, it holds, quite literally, a lifetime of worries, or at least the significant, remembered ones, worthy of writing in her finest hand on a slip of paper.

The whole endeavor was her mother's idea, a method to quell the anxious heart of an overly nervous child. “We'll write whatever is worrying you down, put it in the jar, and that will be the end of it, okay?” Though it didn't exactly work as promised, the hope it offered soothed her like a balm, which, like so much in life, was enough. As a result, the jar had never once been emptied, and moved, along with its owner, contents lovingly swaddled in a towel and carefully packed in a box, nearly a dozen times, even crossing several international borders.

They were positively crammed in, and she remembers now, after writing her last worry (what was it?) and masterfully packing it into the jar, that there was not a millimeter more space. What to do? She carefully takes the jar from its high perch, holds it before her eyes and peers in, wondering what harm there could be in letting just one go. A simple one, from the bottom, and childhood? Yes, she thinks, she could definitely step on a crack and not break her mother's back. How silly she had been!

She carefully sets the jar down and begins to unscrew the lid. As she does, something unexpected happens, for it begins to vibrate, gently, at first, but then with something nearer to violence. She tightens her grip and brings the jar back to eye level, realizing the worries are moving, spinning, gyrating, like bees? Yes, bees!

Though she doesn't understand the alchemy, she most certainly understands the desire for freedom, so she hurriedly sets the jar on the desk and turns the lid. She closes her eyes, and the bees swarm, humming and fanning her like a queen before disappearing into the ether.

In the quiet of their absence, she opens her eyes, heart aflutter, and glances about the room. Had it really happened? The jar lay on its side, empty, save a glossy slick of honey and a single slip of paper, written in her mother's hand, that reads: Don't worry, sweetheart. I love you.

And I made this:

TOO EW CUTE

2011-11-12T18:51:00.000-08:00

A PWETTY BUTTERFLY

Please Meet...

2011-11-11T18:33:00.000-08:00

gas·tro·GNOME, \ˈgas-trə-ˌnōm\

: a lover of good food; especially : one with a serious interest in gastroGNOMY.

This week Gastro-Gnome was not pleased with what the chef opted to serve alongside his grass-fed corned beef and pickled bok choy reuben.

Do not piss off Gastro-Gnome.

Episode 2

2011-11-01T10:00:00.000-07:00

It was my turn to prompt this time for Art and Letters; a depiction of the three gods Eros, Thanatos, Dionysus and of course the fish, searching always for it's other half.

Click on images for detail.

Colleen in turn wrote:

The Borderland

Two halves of every whole, an old idea born every day.
What of that space between?
That lacuna, that absence, that hollow?
In perception, in time, in being?
Two souls, ideas, enemies
Hurtling, spinning, in the infinite space
Between what is and what will be.
Of anticipation, of life, of ultimate pleasure, and pain.
Before change, death, rebirth.
The space between notes, letters, lovers, breath.
I want to go there.
Dwell in the miracle.
Before creation,
Before all is discovered, known, and destroyed.
The place of the gods,
Not mine.

And again, you can find more of Colleen's work at Under A Red Roof.

REALLY THOUGH, HIRE ME

2011-10-13T09:00:00.000-07:00

Click on image for detail.

A portrait I did for my boyfriend's booming drum lesson business. I can make you look JUST as awesome! So please, really, hire me.

Also, Jacob is available for rocking jam instruction at jacobdavidnathan@gmail.com. He's nice and has a big friendly beard, in addition to being very talented at percussion.

BEER

2011-10-11T09:45:00.001-07:00

Click on image for detail.

This is a logo I did for some shirts for the 2011 staff of the Nor'East Beer Garden in Provincetown, MA. Beer Hell was where we went every night to stock beers. It's named appropriately. In other news, the saga of piss-poor picture taking continues.

Epsiode 1

2011-09-09T15:30:00.000-07:00

Welcome to Art and Letters(!), a new collaboration project between myself and my neighbor, Colleen Sohn, begun in the hopes of motivating new work. Colleen is a great writer and friend who can be found, along with her work, at her website Under A Red Roof. For each episode of our collaboration we'll include a piece of her writing along with a piece of my artwork, trading off using the others' piece as a prompt for new work.

Colleen sent me a few poems of hers to choose from for this first run of Art and Letters.

A Little Help From Thom

Forty circles,
Forty lines,

Forty people I wasn't before.
Eyes, mouth, hands, knees:
It's not me.
This isn't happening.
Penning a new story.

Focus in before fading out,

Float down the Liffey and begin again.

After reading I remembered my grandmother's wake where prominently displayed were two large photographs of her--one recent, the other maybe 50 years old. It struck me as odd that we be reminded of who she was and how she looked at two separate times in her life, as if they were different people.

Click on images for detail.

UNCUTE

2011-09-09T13:29:00.000-07:00

Click on images for detail.

3rd Installment of Super Cute Watercolors. Although, Stella can be scary. I started to draw flowers around the edges like the others, but just had to stop.

CANDY CARD

2011-08-19T12:01:00.000-07:00

A birthday card for a friend with an extreme penchant for sour-patch-kids. Happy 31!

WAM (wham!)

2011-08-08T14:45:00.001-07:00

I visited my piece, "Fear Not," in the Worcester Art Museum (WAM) this past Sunday. It was one of the pieces I made earlier in the year for the HomeSpun show I organized. It was nice to see it after awhile, especially when the distance makes work-to-be-done easier to see. More more more! Funny photography strikes again.

CUTEOVERLOAD DOT COM ROUND #2

2011-07-31T11:57:00.000-07:00

For another friend!

DELI, MEAT CUTE

2011-07-29T12:12:00.000-07:00

A watercolor for a new friend!

PRINTING

2011-06-05T11:39:00.003-07:00

Print-face after 2 days

POSTCARD FRENZY

2011-05-02T16:07:00.000-07:00

HomeSpun companion Julie Warchol received our postcards for the event yesterday! Here she is above with excited eyes. Today we are scribbling away. Expect one soon! If you want one, email your mailing address to maren.rose.jensen(at)gmail.com.

In case you were wondering, HomeSpun is an in-home art exhibit featuring my own work along with Julie Warchol's of Easthampton, MA. We raised over $900 for the event via Kickstarter.com.
You can read more about that process and our event at kickstarter.com/projects/homespun/homespun .

In addition to great artwork in the comfort of our own home, there will be home brews, delicious vegan food from Worcester great WooDaddy Waffles, and great tunes!

Photographer Rebecca Moses will be snappin' pics at the show as well.

The show will take place on Friday, May 13th, 6-9pm in Worcester, MA.
For location information feel free to contact me at: maren.rose.jensen(at)gmail.com or Julie Warchol at julie.warchol(at)gmail.com

CREATURETIME

2011-05-02T11:16:00.000-07:00

A while back my dear friend made me this:

I named her Rita!

Then I made this, and named him Denzel

HOMESPUN

2011-04-04T17:26:00.000-07:00

My dear friend Julie Warchol and I are planning an in-home art exhibit for mid-May this spring. We are currently fundraising via the very cool site, Kickstarter.com.
Please support our project!
Visit http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/homespun/homespun to donate and help to make our project happen!

REVERSE PAPER DOLL/WHATEVER YOU WANT

2011-03-11T12:03:00.000-08:00

Mediums: Gouache, Pen, and Whatever you Want.

SUB-ARCTIC

2011-02-28T12:09:00.000-08:00

Meet the family

Angry

and Angrier

Trying to remember I can draw. Ignore poor picture quality!

Oh, and thank you heavens, for the Dixon Ticonderoga #2. You are far better than any $3 pencil.

Also, yes, you can hire me.

WHAT WANT

2011-02-11T10:03:00.001-08:00

Andrew W.K. inspires.

StART THE PRODUCT LINE

2011-02-11T10:01:00.000-08:00

More Venus & David work I did for StART at the Station 2010 back in December. Oh, how she pines. Can't get away

WHEN I WAS ON A REALITY TV SHOW

2010-11-02T13:39:00.000-07:00

Or at least that's what it felt like

Photo by Austin, TX resident Julia T. McKinley

PLASTIQUE

2010-11-02T13:32:00.001-07:00

Been playing with gouache on plastic sheeting I freeloaded from ARTSWorcester.
And trying to get momma's face right

Cold Spaghetti

2010-10-26T10:00:00.001-07:00

Leftovers

OVERDUE

2010-08-17T11:26:00.000-07:00

Peek the last silhouette, hangin' wonky.

FIRST PRINT

2010-07-01T12:44:00.001-07:00

First letterpress print run! Thank you thank you thank you to Tony and Jackie (and babies!) at Worcester Letterpress.

Zach-->Navy and White coming soon

P.s. apologies for poorly taken photographs. My excitement to get this up resulted in hasty photog.

NEW HOME

2010-07-01T12:38:00.000-07:00

Mom and Dad's new hang-out

New bag saved from the basement of ARTSWorcester

OLD HOME

2010-07-01T12:35:00.001-07:00

Jane

DAILY SERVING/EYE CANDY

2010-06-01T18:01:00.000-07:00

A post to hold you off until I am settled into the summer, new jobs, and new apartments: some favorites from Dailyserving, who never seems to let me down.

-Painting-

-Embroidery-

-Gold Leaf-

THESIS OPENING

2010-04-26T21:53:00.000-07:00

Relief!

OLDER

2010-04-01T07:40:00.000-07:00

I love these, and I hope my family loves them too.
Photo credit to the lovely Julia T. McKinley

THINGS AND THINGS

2010-03-18T08:07:00.000-07:00

I never intended for this to be a report of daily goings on, but I felt like a post.

I met with the husband and wife team at Worcester Letterpress of Tony and Jackie Penny the other night for tea and a tour of their letterpress equipment hidden in their basement. They were so kind and I'm excited to get started learning the process. Sneaking peeks at their newborn baby twins was a plus.

I've seen his work in other places, but as I was stalking Melanie Flood and attempting to leech off of ideas from her in-home gallery success, I again saw Ofer Wolberger's work on her blog. I love his Life with Maggie series. A lot. A lot.

COME!

2010-03-14T11:05:00.000-07:00

FATHER/SON

2010-03-02T06:59:00.000-08:00

As you can see, I've been playing with wood and gel-transfers.

RE/BUST

2010-03-02T06:56:00.000-08:00

PHOTOS FROM DAD

2010-03-01T11:02:00.000-08:00

Photos scanned from pop, I liked the accidental composition.

LOGO

2010-02-28T08:42:00.000-08:00

Logo Submission for CAVE (Clark Anti-Violence Education)

UPCOMING SHOWS

2010-02-25T13:21:00.000-08:00

New Again-ARTSWorcester
March 19th-May 1st, 2010
Opening: March 19th 6-8pm

12 Steps Forward- The Goddard House
March 12th-26th, 2010
Opening: March 26th 7:30-10pm

In and Out of the Box- The Goddard House
April 11th-May 9th, 2010
Opening: April 11th 2-5pm

Defining Obsession (Thesis Exhibition)-Clark University
April 28th-May 23rd, 2010
Opening: April 28th 5-7pm

Come one! Come all! Should be a grand time.

NEED BETTER CAMERA

2010-01-24T09:59:00.000-08:00

Sugar Daddy?

HARRY TRUMAN 1/50

2010-01-24T09:58:00.001-08:00

FOR YA'ARA

2010-01-24T09:53:00.000-08:00

Foray into banner-making: The mood ring of banners.

SALLY MANN+EMAIL

2010-01-07T10:54:00.000-08:00

Got an email from Sally Mann a few days ago. Gems: … just take the pictures and print them, look at them, think about them, go back and take some more, repeat.

Over and over again.

Oh, Sally.