Blog: Jersey City

Good Vibes Only Mini Painting

Here is the mini version of my Good Vibes Only painting I showed you a couple days earlier.

I was inspired by my Strolls through the Hood in Jersey City for this little mixed media painting. The classic brick apartment facade is given energy and life with a series of colorful murals – something that is common in my hood where a renaissance of development and hope is happening. That energy is also reflected in the sky and ground – with layers of buzzing pattern.

Good Vibes Only Mini” is an original painting made with spray paint, markers, acrylic paint, gouache, and stencils on canvas board and measures 8″x8″ and available now :)

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Stroll Through the Hood – February 2020

Strolls through my hood get me out of my studio, they help me get unstuck and often I get inspired by what I see and get new ideas to create something. It is part of my philosophy about Artful Adventures in Mixed Media – which is the subject of my book. Here are some photos that I gathered in the last couple weeks.

This furniture store has been having “last sale” ever since I moved here 6 1/2 years ago-but now that they sell these paintings it looks real. LOL. I am amazed by the amount of stock of this painting and have even thought of buying one …could be a good surface and the frame is fun :)

our secret beach – clear statement- we do not need a bigger golf course for the people that can afford half a million dollars annually for their membership here.

What we need are rusty boxes that make our phantasy spin …hahah- I love this one it looks like a face sticking out it’s tongue.

It is just so beautiful out here- I really love coming to Liberty State park with my bike-

I love these red thingies (no idea what they are actually called)

I had some wallpaper made with my fan designs – which I really love. The one on top is at the entrance wall to my studio

And this one is one a wall in my studio bathroom – We didn’t renovate the bathrooms yet – that has to wait for some other time when we are recovered from our initial renovation but this was a cheapish way to oomph it up for now a little bit.

I am so happy to see this house in my neighborhood being renovated- This house was on the market many years ago and it was in the saddest state you can imagine ( I am sure i snapped a picture but couldn’t find it) and now it is back to it’s glory!!

Love the beautiful ceilings you find all over the neighborhood stores.

Fun Mural with cat :)

Hope you enjoyed this little stroll – let’s see what I discover for next month :)

Comments (10)

  • marshavalk

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    I love your strolls through the hood! They seem so much more interesting than strolls through my hood. Which probably isn’t true. And, I do miss taking random photos. I should probably take this as a cue to pick it up again! <3

    Reply

    • nathalie-kalbach

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      yes- I would love to see your strolls through the hood!!!

      Reply

  • Cathy

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    I love your strolls through the neighborhood! Thanks for sharing all the interesting things that catch your eye.

    Reply

  • Caroline Mach

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    The “red thingies” are the “fruit” of staghorn sumac – it is very common in southern Ontario where I live.

    Reply

    • nathalie-kalbach

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      Oh thank you so much Caroline- Now I learned something!!!

      Reply

  • ARHuelsenbeck

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    When I was growing up, I went to Catholic school, and almost all the families had The Last Supper in their dining rooms.

    Reply

    • nathalie-kalbach

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      I remember my grandmother in Italy having one up too in her bedroom. But Dining Room makes perfect sense!

      Reply

  • Robin Seiz

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    I love the gratefulness you feel for the little things.

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    • nathalie-kalbach

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      Awe- thank you Robin – I think I have always felt that it makes life just go easier if you embrace the little good things :)

      Reply

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Good Vibes Only Painting

This painting is inspired by my strolls through the hood. 

The back of this brick apartment building has this gorgeous colorful Mural by Zeh Palito – He called it Good Vibes Only and that is exactly what this mural oozes into the neighborhood.

The painting was created with spray paint, markers, acrylic paint, gouache, and stencils on canvas. and measures 10″x10″ on extra deep 1.5″ canvas. It is available for sale now here.

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Push & Pull Mini Painting

Another Painting with the same theme that I did at the same time as the bigger canvas here

This painting is on a 8×8 Canvas board – and I loved exploring different line qualities along with different stencil work as well.

I was inspired by my Strolls through the Hood in Jersey City for this little mixed media painting. This historic area and some of its beautiful vintage homes are undergoing the familiar transformations caused by gentrification.

Here I was trying to capture this transition in action with a looming visage of victorian architecture, wearing with age but still proudly dominating the landscape.

This painting is now also available in my store here. I would love to have someone give it a new home :) 

Comments (2)

  • Sue Clarke

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    Gorgeous but out of stock already.
    Sad for me but happy for the person who bought it!

    Reply

    • nathalie-kalbach

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      Awe- Sue! It went super quick but hey- hopefully one of my future paintings will catch your eye- I am making more time for painting this year for sure :)

      Reply

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Push & Pull – Painting

This victorian building in my new neighborhood has seen quite some changes.

The push and pull of old and new keep fascinating me and expressed this through color and pattern and the layers to recount this story of change.

What could this building tell?

Push & Pull is made with stencils, stamps, spray paint, acrylic paint, and markers on 10″x10″ on extra deep 1.5” canvas.

It is available for sale in the store here and is looking for a new home :)

Comments (1)

  • gunvor

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    This is a fabulous piece of art! The background looks like fire works

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Worship – Painting

This painting is inspired by a beautiful wood church in my neighborhood. 

I just recently was inside the church as it also showed some artwork of local artists during the Jersey City Art and Studio tour.

I am not easily taken by church buildings anymore …don’t get me wrong, but as a European I have had my share of stunning and OLD churches- but this one is breathtaking and unique – I had to paint it.

I used Acrylic paints, Markers, charcoal, oil pastels for this painting. I am right now painting a series of paintings inspired by my Strolls through the Hood – and I am having a lot of fun with it. 

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Stroll Through the Hood – January 2020

Strolls through my hood get me out of my studio, they help me get unstuck and often I get inspired by what I see and get new ideas to create something. It is part of my philosophy about Artful Adventures in Mixed Media – which is the subject of my book. Here are some photos that I gathered in the last couple weeks.

Mingus is still hanging out with me when I work at my computer -he is a total rascal and he and Bobby Pretzel are ganging up on us and they steal ANYTHING that has remotely to do with food.

I just discovered this house in the neighborhood and I think it is really cool – all the different textures and materials -it does look like it should be in a forrest though, don’t you think?

super cool and colorful Mural –

I love the photographic quality of the people with the colorful shapes and patterns.

On an unusally warm day we did a little bike ride to Caven Point – I love this beach at the park – which the stupid golf course wants to turn into 3 additional holes. I hope it doesn’t go through and the rally and more to come will prevent this.

It is so beautiful out here- makes you almost forget that you are in a city.

We need spaces like these.

Oh brother- hahaha- I am not a fan of those blow up holiday “decorations” – and this one makes me every year especially snort …

The Wave – always love this one !

Comments (4)

  • ARHuelsenbeck

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    Hi Nathalie! I always love these strolls. Thank you for sharing your photographs.

    Reply

  • Sue Clarke

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    Yes to open spaces (and that’s from someone who lives in a rural area).
    I highly suggest getting people to speak loudly about keeping that space. The golf course will have money on their side.
    Love love Love that house. It reminds me of the ones that I enjoy taking pics of in Boston.

    Reply

  • jamcam2022

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    Enjoyed the stroll. Thank you for sharing. And I am loving CJS2020 – every one is special.

    Reply

  • Diane T

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    Love each and every picture. Thanks for sharing.
    And, a happy and healthy new year to you and yours.

    Reply

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Stroll Through the Hood – December 2019

Strolls through my hood get me out of my studio, they help me get unstuck and often I get inspired by what I see and get new ideas to create something. It is part of my philosophy about Artful Adventures in Mixed Media – which is the subject of my book. Here are some photos that I gathered in the last couple weeks.

Our first tree in the new house – I am sad to see it go soon.

And I had to buy this stick of butter ornament- it made me laugh !

I know technically this is not yet a stroll through the hood but hey.. it is really cold outside. I love decorating in wintertime – I always wanted a garland down a stair case. Well – while I love how it looks like I learned my lesson – dries out super quick…and makes a real mess and attracts cats ;)

I love the different facades and materials of those buildings and while the balcony needs some love I find this stunning.

I walked by this house number on an art deco apartment complex a lot of time but just now realized the tiles – I love this!

And … meet Mingus- the newest addition to our family. He is adorable …and a handful!

He makes us laugh

and he and Pretzel became friends very quick. They both sleep on me at night …it is kind of nice and really uncomfortable hahahaha.

Yours truly played two songs at a Holiday party with her music school …very fun -well for us not the listeners hahahaha.

December is the month of holiday parties and this food spread at a friend’s house made me swoon – the colors, the decor- oh my. I think she should do this for my parties :)

Kind of crazy cool and opulent  the lamps around our main post office in JC. I hope you enjoyed this semi-stroll through my hood and glimpse into my home this month. Until next month – well if weather permits ;) 

Comments (2)

  • Jean Goza

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    Always enjoy your strolls.

    Reply

  • Rebecca Buchanan

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    Beautiful photos! I meant to send, when I commented on yesterday’s (?) post,
    my condolensces for your loss of sweet Niles. It is so difficult to say goodbye to these furry members of our families. So very difficult. Minges and Pretzel will help to soothe your soul. Cheers to 2020!

    Reply

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Stroll Through the Hood – November 2019

Strolls through my hood get me out of my studio, they help me get unstuck and often I get inspired by what I see and get new ideas to create something. It is part of my philosophy about Artful Adventures in Mixed Media – which is the subject of my book. Here are some photos that I gathered in the last couple weeks.

What a couple weeks this has been so far! just shortly after we moved in I had the film crew of Sketchbook Skool come over to shoot my part of Mixed Media Journaling – an amazing class with Seth Apter, Kecia Deveney , Mary Beth Shaw and yours truly. Check it out if you haven’t yet. It was so much fun and also weird to see this still new to me studio transformed into a filming studio …As you can see I was just my own goofy self ;)

We are also slowly putting artwork up and I love this piece we bought at the Art and Studio tour in Maplewood NJ. It is encaustic and by Kathy Cantwell. I loved seeing her process and also her transition from her older pieces like this to her newer pieces.

Bobby Pretzel also loves the house -his favorite is a new blanket – especially under the blanket spot ;)

As we are new garden owners we slowly adapt to the chores of having a garden – plus during the construction it was terribly abandoned and the parking ground for all kinds of debris and construction stuff. I like this little oasis a lot and since it is right off my studio I think it will provide me with some inspiration in the warmer months :)

I never get tired of this view from Liberty State Park – each time of the day and season change it ever so slightly.

Those views always make me realize how lucky I am to be able to see this every day if I want to – we often take things for granted after a while and it is good to hold on and think about the blessings in our life.

I love this massive sign on this store. Also …Cosmetics and Drugs ..I mean LOL- common!

I know I have been posting so many houses around my new neighborhood. There are all these little cute places …well some are massive – and it is funny how just a couple blocks away everything is quite calm all of a sudden and it is still a city but feels less like a city.

I love the facade of this apartment building and I actually already turned the arched brick part into a stamp. I have been carving a ton of stamps lately inspired by all kinds of little architectural elements in my neighborhood. It feels good to have more time in the studio again and to be able to turn some of the inspiration from my strolls through the hood into art. 

 

I hope you enjoyed this stroll through the hood and I hope I see you next month for the next one :) Have a gorgeous day

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