About me : Jill Berry Blog

Lust for Letters

Posted on March 4, 2010 - Filed Under 2010 Workshops, About me, Creative Exercises | Leave a Comment

I love inventing alphabets. Quirky hobby, I know, but it is fun. This is a page in my journal of Mexico Letters, which were inspired by a book I have on Pre-Hispanic Stamp Designs.
This one was inspired by the work of Joan Miró. I did this in a workshop that I was not enjoying very [...]

Becoming an Artist

Posted on February 10, 2010 - Filed Under About me, Being an Artist, Uncategorized | 5 Comments

This gal, I call her Grammy, clearly lives in de Nile. Her epidermis had turned to leather, which she continued to bake daily. I drew her on the beach in Mexico a number of years ago, then came home and painted this. What I love about Grammy is that she reminds me that despite being [...]

Ta Ta till 2010!

Posted on December 17, 2009 - Filed Under About me | 1 Comment

This week I have run all over Colorado in the name of charity, Christmas, puppy delivery, school, Jr. Thespians and the US mail. I am fried. The house has been filled with children, and one set of them did this.
Two giggly ten-year-old boys dressing up the world’s most Zen puppy.
The puppy is with my dear [...]

I am Here

Posted on December 12, 2009 - Filed Under About me, My Work | 1 Comment

I am once again tinkering with maps, navigation and figuring out a precise mental GPS for my whereabouts.

This is a canvas, painted with plaster and stamped with metal letters. I painted it with sumi after it was dry, then sanded and scratched back some areas. Meanwhile, I painted and stamped art tissue, then collaged that [...]

School Vacation

Posted on November 29, 2009 - Filed Under About me | 4 Comments

The kids have been out of school for nine days. Here are some of the adventures we have had.
Tattoo parlor games, the day before the annual photo appointment. Sydney was very creative and careful, and Sam was so quiet I should have known something was going on. What was I thinking? Quiet in our house [...]

30 Years Ago

Posted on October 4, 2009 - Filed Under About me | 1 Comment

On Friday I received an email from my friend Bob, now Robert, who was having a birthday that day. He reminded me that 30 years ago we were in Australia celebrating his birthday. Bob and I went to Australia and New Zeland after we graduated from San Diego State University. In May, just a week [...]

The End of Elementary

Posted on May 28, 2009 - Filed Under About me | 2 Comments

My girl (in blue) and her friend Sadie (yellow) graduated today from the fifth grade. The gym was filled with graduates and their parents, most of whom I have known since kindergarten. We are a small town. It was so moving, so profound, to think this journey at this school with all of these kids [...]

Mama’s Day

Posted on May 11, 2009 - Filed Under About me | 1 Comment

Yesterday I had a gourmet breakfast: egg strudel, grilled grapefruit with toasted coconut, fresh coffee and flowers. My girl made me a book of poetry, the dedication page is here. Steve made a beautiful slide show of our parenting history. Those sweet fat baby legs, I miss those! Beach days, hiking days when our dogs [...]

My Flash Point

Posted on April 13, 2009 - Filed Under About me | 6 Comments

After Artfest I went into Seattle with my brother Andrew and his girlfriend Susan. We had a lovely lunch overlooking the sea in Port Townsend, then crossed on the Bainbridge Ferry towards a stunning, sparkling Seattle. What a vision that was! Andrew and I had a couple of wonderful days, including a jaunt to Pike [...]

Spring Break

Posted on March 21, 2009 - Filed Under About me | 1 Comment

Steve took the kids on a five day trip for Spring Break. I am alone in the house. This is so weird. How often I have longed for this, craved it, and here I am in this big, big silence. The air even seems different to me.
My computer ate everything this summer, even my backups, [...]