This painting came about, again, from my Saturday Morning Painting Group. Last December we went to Descanso Gardens to paint together, thinking perhaps we would paint the Christmas decor that they tend to put up around the gardens at that time of year. We didn’t realize that a week or two before the great windstorm had happened and Descanso had been closed because there was so much damage.
Consequently, there was not much in the way of Christmas decor to paint, but we did all settle in to paint the Japanese Tea House in their small Japanese garden. I found this scene to be challenging because of the multiple colors of green, to represent all of the different trees, bamboo, etc. that surrounds the teahouse. In my opinion, realistic greens are the hardest to capture in watercolor painting. Much more so when you are using a rinky dinky travel watercolor kit with very limited color options. But — on the whole — not too bad. This en plein air painting is tough, but I think that I get a little bit better every time I do it.
About jenny
Jennifer Smith Greene is originally from and lives currently in Burbank, California with her husband Gavin Greene.
Jenny completed her undergraduate degree from Woodbury University in Graphic Design. She has worked as a graphics & web designer, both as an in-house and freelance designer. She also has completed a Master of Divinity (MDiv) degree from Princeton Theological Seminary. She has worked as a hospital chaplain and in support roles in various churches.
In her spare time, Jenny enjoys watercolor painting. She has taken classes and workshops under Joseph Stoddard, Tom Fong, Danny Gregory and Jane Friend.
Additionally, Jenny is active in the community and volunteers her time on the Board of Family Promise of East San Fernando Valley, a social service nonprofit dedicated to helping homeless children and their families by providing shelter and support services to help the families find jobs and housing.
Jenny enjoys reading (and highly recommends the site Goodreads), watching movies, playing softball and tennis and taking walks with her husband.
Otherwise, Jenny is always curious to find out about those people who come to her site and would love to hear from you!
