Cocoa & Hearts News...

I love how Monika of The Doctor's Closet - captured a few of her fave things including one of my Cocoa & Hearts paintings! Cute huh? 

I'll be adding 5 NEW 8x10 paintings either today or tomorrow - stay tuned!! 

-image by monika

What's Your Passion?...(Made By Girl)

It's such a nice feeling to see my paintings in someone elses home. For quite sometime I only made original artwork for myself & my family.  

After coming across so MANY copycats of my Made By Girl art, I decided it was time to venture into one of my OTHER passions.... painting.


I admit, at first I was a little SCARED. The thought of NOT SELLING one single painting.... crossed my mind. However, I decided that worrying wasn't going to BENEFIT anyone & that I had to have faith in what I was doing. 
 

To tell you the truth, I have loved painting since........aaah yes, FOREVER.  It is a passion. 
 

I started painting when I was about 7 years old & even painted a landscape scene on my dad's back (with magic markers). That was my dad's idea. He was so IMPRESSED with my ability to draw & paint that he told me to draw whatever I wanted on his back. He has a pretty WIDE BACK, so there was PLENTY of space!  

I ended up drawing an ocean, a few palm trees, a boat & a whale.  I remember the BIG smile my DAD had when he turned around & looked at his back in the mirror! To this day, he talks about it!!
 

In essence, painting has always been a part of me....a God-given gift that I am grateful for. 

So, what THING are you passionate about doing?? Have you ever thought of sharing this passion with others? OR does that thought scare you??

This is one of the paintings I did - it was one of the first few I launched that sold out the first week. Becky Kimball of 'All that I Love' blog purchased it & sent me these lovely pics! Nice huh?

-bottom 2 images by becky kimball

visit Cocoa & Hearts to view a gallery of my work. NEW paintings just added today!

The Ugly Word: Jealousy

What a day it was yesterday. I interviewed several applicants for Intern/Assistant position & also added 15 (8x10) Cocoa & Hearts paintings to the site,  which sold out in less than 20 minutes!  As always, I'm amazed & thankful. 
 

It's been a wonderful experience being able to pick up the paint brush again & actually sell my work at this level. My mom paints as well, she's very creative... in fact, I got my creativity from her.
 

But there's an ugly side to having a business & being relatively successful - people begin to HATE. Certain people you thought liked you or were your friends all of a sudden start to remove themselves from your circle. This has happened to me on a number of occasions in the last few years & it's mind boggling. Even for those who don't know you in person & just share an occasional hello or two online - even some of those people become extremely distant. Heck, I've even had (so called) friends that have been jealous that I have such a wonderful husband. Could this be jealousy in it's ugliest form?
 

I sure hope not, but we all know that this world is broken & so we have people with hidden agendas who have no interest in one's heart but instead what they can squeeze out of you. 

 

Almost EVERY time I launch the newest paintings, I get a hater email. HATER mail, can you believe that? Telling me how my art IS NOT art!  I laugh & don't bother responding. However, today, I'd love to ask them, have you ever been to the MOMA, Getty or The MET? 

It's interesting, some people I know don't consider Cy Twombly's work to be art because of it's sheer simplicity, but I do. I think it's genius. Interesting how that works right?

My point is, art comes in various forms. Sure, not everyone will LOVE my art, but I'm not making paintings for everyone. My art is relatively simple, colorful, modern, vibrant, happy & full of emotion! Again, not for everyone.

On the other hand, I get lots of SUPPORT from some amazing bloggers & readers who have written about my work or expressed their thoughts via email. Someone even asked the other day, 'Jen, why don't you have your work in a gallery?" The answer to that is - I don't know. I haven't had (yet) a gallery approach me about my work, or I approach them. Being in a gallery is a lot of work, and even though I'm not against it, it is something I'd definitely have to think about if approached. Speaking of amazing support, here is a beautiful post that was emailed to me from a reader who expressed what my art meant to her.

And to the HATERS, jealousy is probably the reason you're taking time out of your day to email me. It's that simple. As for me, I will continue to do what I love. 

Have you felt similar feelings of jealousy within the online community? How about in your own circle of friends? How have you dealt with it??

-images by jen ramos

Cocoa & Hearts News....

Hello everyone....it's the middle of the week & we decided to launch the new Cocoa & Hearts paintings today. 

So, for those of you who subscribe to the mailing list, you heard about it first!

We added 14 paintings (1 large & 13  8"x10")  to the gallery & they sold out in about 59 minutes! Yowza!

I'm always SHOCKED at how quick they go! This time we thought we'd try something different & add a timer during the checkout - which gave you 15 minutes to purchase it. When the timer ran out, it would be released to the site again & available for purchase. Not sure what everyone thought of this, but I think next time we're going to shorten the timer to 5-10 minutes. 

For those emailing me if I have anymore pieces available, I should have more next month.

Thank you to all those who have supported my work. Have a great Wednesday! 

-image by jen ramos

My Art Around the Web....

It's super cool to see my Made By Girl & Cocoa & Hearts art in so many places! I'm truly grateful for the opportunities that have come my way & always try to remain faithful. Believing that God guides me and reveals opportunity in each step I take.

In the past few weeks, I was so flattered to see all these amazingly talented bloggers displaying my art in their homes! Thank you girls!

Above: taylor sterling with Love languages print in her bedroom.

Above: Caitlin Brown displays my I Love you Blogs & Coffee print.

Above:
Liz Schneider fashion blogger behind Sequins & Stripes hangs one of my Cocoa & Hearts paintings in her office, love it!

Above: Monika from The Doctor's Closet shows off 2 of my Gold Love prints in her modern bathroom!

Above: Ashlina who is the girl behind The Decorista is one of my good friends here in NYC!  I love that she has my Gold Love print above her desk in her upper west side apartment!

Above: Erika of small shop studio has a super pretty office, which I love! She also hangs her Gold Love print on her gallery wall! 

-images via EveryGirl  & Glitter Guide.

Your Weekend

-image by jen ramos

New at Cocoa & Hearts....

I added 2 large paintings & 15 (8x10) pieces about an hour ago. If you subscribed to the Cocoa & Hearts mailing list here, you were the first to get to them. 

What is left - is what's available until....

3/12 update: Paintings all SOLD out.

By the way, did you know there's boxed note cards available now?
 Buy them at MadeByGirl

Thank you for your support...

-images by jen ramos

Coming Soon to Cocoa & Hearts...

We WERE supposed to shoot new stuff for Cocoa & Hearts today, but it's really overcast & not good natural light...

We're hoping to shoot at the end of this week so hopefully you'll see new paintings to the gallery! Here's a peek at what's to come! Keep a look out!

Sorry for the awful iPhone pics....better pics coming soon, promise!

 

If you want to be notified when all this goes up on Cocoa & Hearts, just go to the homepage of the site & subscribe by adding your email.

 If you're on the email list you'll be notified first!

Cocoa & Hearts News....

-image by jen ramos

Cocoa & Hearts News....

New paintings + Cards will be added very soon to the Cocoa & Hearts gallery! Stay tuned! Thank you soooooo much for all your support in 2011! 

Cheers to the New Year!!! 
 

-images by jen ramos

Cocoa & Hearts in a Home....

A reader emailed me these gorgeous images of the super BIG Cocoa & Hearts painting she bought for her bedroom. I love how the turquoise in the painting matches the lamps....don't you?!? Thank you so much Sommer!

A quick reminder that I'll be adding new Cocoa & Hearts paintings tomorrow!  

If you have photos of your Cocoa & Hearts painting hanging in your home, I'd love to see them!  Email me here.

-images by Sommer

Coming this week to Cocoa & Hearts...

The last few paintings (before Christmas) will be posted this week on Cocoa & Hearts! 

6 small 8x10's and one large one. Here's a sneak peek of the large one in this picture! 

-image by jen ramos

New at Cocoa & Hearts!!

Cocoa & Hearts now has two new paintings in the gallery for sale.....& both are large! 

This one below is GOLD & black....although you can't see the gold much in these pictures, in person you will! Check them out here.

 -images by jen ramos

Cocoa & Hearts news....

Hello everyone! Hope you all had a great weekend! Here's a quick update this Sunday night.....I added 2 large paintings to Cocoa & Hearts last night & one already sold! The only one left is this one - a HOT PINK & GOLD beauty called 'Path'. 

This painting is SO much prettier & glam in person...one of my favorites so far!  Available here.

I'll be adding more paintings soon...if you want, feel free to subscribe to the email list on Cocoa & Hearts. You'll be the first to be notified when they're up!

New at Cocoa & Hearts....

 11 new (8x10) paintings added to the Cocoa & Hearts gallery this morning, only 6 left! 

Check them all out here!

  

if you have issues placing your order, pls email me. 

-images by jen ramos

Happy Customer!

Hi Jen! 
Just wanted to share a picture of my cocoa and hearts painting in it's new home at my desk. I absolutely love it. It's perfect. 


Thank You, Lynda Valadez 

Have you purchased anything from Made By Girl or Cocoa & Hearts? Do you have a picture displaying my work & perhaps a few nice words??? 

If so, email me pics & a sentence or two on how you like it. If chosen it'll appear on my blog! 

-image by Lynda

Cocoa & Hearts News....

Hello everyone! Yesterday morning I added 13 (8x10) paintings to Cocoa & Hearts - and then added 2 more (8x10) & a large one today! Wow, that's a lot of paintings!

Anyway, all have SOLD except for 4 of them. Thank you so much to those people who purchased - we'll be sending them before I leave to NYC this wknd!!

Here are some of the ones still available! Enjoy! 
 

-images by jen ramos

Cocoa & Hearts News....

I've had several inquiries about the next round of Cocoa & Hearts paintings that will launch. Well, I decided that I'll be adding a few more to the gallery sometime before my trip to NYC on October 22. 

So, if you want to be the first to hear about it, make sure you subscribe to the mailing list on the Cocoa & Hearts homepage. Unfortunately, I can't hold paintings so if you see it, grab it before it goes!!


I also have a few commissions that I'll be doing as well..... I may have room for one more...but I'm limited in time.  

At this time, everything is SOLD OUT except for 2 paintings, you can go to the large gallery to see the 2 that are still available!

New at Cocoa & Hearts...

NEW at Cocoa & Hearts! 

14 (8x10) paintings added to the gallery a couple hours ago & 3 already SOLD!!!


Perfect to place on bookshelves, over your desk area, in your child's room or where ever you want a splash of color!! All are available in the gallery now! Framing is also available through the site!

-images by jen ramos

Cocoa & Hearts News...

The most recent set of 8x10's I posted to the gallery on Cocoa & Hearts SOLD out completely! I've been getting emails for custom orders as well as when I'll be adding more paintings. 

Sooo.....I wanted to post here & make sure everyone inquiring knows that I'll be adding more next week (I hope)!

Thank you for your support! 

Don't forget to join the mailing list on the Cocoa & Hearts homepage so you can be notified. 

-image by jen ramos