700 Sculptures, 10 Days...

In February, I was privileged to receive a residency at Ronald Reagan Elementary, in New Berlin, WI. With Cindy Hollbrook and Mrs. Burg (RR's art teacher) we used found objects, recycled materials as well as plaster, clay, floral foam, and balsa foam to create abstract sculptures with all 700 students. It was exhausting and magical. Below you will find some photos of my favorite pieces and a short video chronicling our final art show!

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Reacting to Color...

A little more than two months ago, I was packing up my things and heading to the northern part of France to Chateau Orquevaux. Painting there was magic, if you follow my social media pages you probably saw images of a place that belongs in a Disney movie. It wasn't that far off. While there I had a new mantra, one that had I have quite literally never used before. Slow Down. I repeated it to myself constantly, and it worked. During the two weeks in France, I rediscovered painting, rediscovered color, as well as reinvestigated my own reason for making art. I don't have any answers to anything really, but I did slow down. I did create. I am proud of what I have made. Take a look and let me know what you think, it feels good to share it. Each painting is on Arches watercolor paper and is 24x36 inches. I used acrylic paint, ink, spray paint and oil sticks in a variety of ways to build up layers, patterns and color.

Introducing Artsy Fartsy Podcast

If you have spent any length of time with me, you know I love podcasts. If I was Oprah, podcasts would be on the list of My Favorite Things every year. If you also have spent time with me you know I love to talk. Put these two great loves together and add a splash of artist and designer, Taylor Barstow, and you have a podcast in the making! I am super proud and excited to announce the launching of the first season of the Artsy Fartsy Podcast! In this pod, Taylor and I will dig through our art school toolbox and share with each other (and you) bits of literature, art history, and processes of art every other week. I hope you will join us art nerds on a plethora of tangents, diatribes and great art talk. Our first episode will be release on July 14th, you can find our podcast wherever you listen to podcasts! Feel like the name Artsy Fartsy is cheesy? Yeah, we do too. Growing up in the Midwest, this term has been used to describe each of us our entire lives, by family, t

Looking Back to Haiti...

Per the norm, this post is late and inconsistent. However, this time it is for good reason. As some of my friends and family know, I have gone to Haiti a few times working with an excellent organization called Healing Haiti. In an effort to make sure I am not relegating my work in Haiti to something akin to "poverty porn" I felt I needed some distance from my time in Haiti to make sure my own motives are right when sharing my time in Haiti with you. Healing Haiti is a christian organization, most organizations in Haiti are. I feel like it important to let you know that I have not gone to Haiti as an evangelist, my own motives were focused on art being a resource to people who are in desperate need of confidence, dignity and love. Healing Haiti is an incredible organization that is focused on the heart or Haiti- unemployment. 70% of the population in Haiti is unemployed, with unemployment come poverty, the decay of familial relationships, poor healthcare and nutrition and

Jaymee Harvey Willms Artist

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