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When Words Get Attitude: A Little History Behind “Shut Up,” “Smokin’,” and “Sick”
There’s a funny thing that happens when you spend your days painting in Colorado — surrounded by mountains, soft winter light, and the gentle chaos of creating whimsical guinea pig paintings that somehow make people smile before they even know why. Folks will look at one of my furry little muses or a Colorado landscape and say, “Jill, this is sick,” or call me an “epic painter.” At first, I laughed and thought, What does this even mean? I grew up with “sick” meaning the opp
Jill Farrington
3 days ago3 min read


A Nighttime Otter, a Studio Full of Magic, and a First Friday to Remember
There’s a special kind of electricity that fills the studio when a new character comes to life on the canvas. Over the past few weeks, my easel has been home to a little nighttime wanderer — an otter with a coffee cup, a backpack full of art supplies, and a story that seems to unfold with every brushstroke. What began as a simple pencil sketch quickly grew into a full urban scene. The earliest lines captured the otter’s posture and personality: upright, curious, and ready for
Jill Farrington
Feb 52 min read


Painting the Flatirons Through a Window: A Winter Studio Journey
There’s something magnetic about the Flatirons — those sharp, iconic slabs rising above Boulder, shifting personality with every season and every hour of light. This winter, I found myself returning to them again and again, not just as a landscape, but as a feeling: the sense of standing indoors on a cold morning, coffee in hand, looking out at a world that feels both wild and familiar. This series grew from that moment. Where It Begins: A Blank Canvas and a Quiet Idea Every
Jill Farrington
Feb 52 min read


A Tiny Canvas
Three phone cases, three tiny canvases—each one a portal into a world of imagination and care. These hand-painted designs transform everyday objects into miniature masterpieces, blending functionality with storytelling. A Starry Night with Friends The first case invites us into a whimsical night scene. Beneath a swirling blue sky dotted with stars and a crescent moon, a brown otter and a white-and-brown guinea pig sit on a patch of green grass. Their gaze is fixed upward, sha
Jill Farrington
Jan 291 min read


Full Circle at Pinot’s Palette: From First Cup to First Friday
In 2022, I dipped my first brush into a go-home paint kit from Pinot’s Palette. I still remember that clear plastic cup—splattered with dried paint, sitting beside my first palette of colors. It was just for fun, a cozy escape into creativity. That little kit became my gateway to something bigger. Since then, Pinot’s has become my go-to place. I’ve painted owls in masks, moonlit dragonflies, lakeside landscapes, and whimsical pumpkins. I’ve watched strangers become friends ov
Jill Farrington
Jan 281 min read


Mini Masterpiece: A Mountain Escape in Your Pocket
Who says art belongs only on walls? This hand-painted iPhone case transforms everyday tech into a canvas for imagination. Rendered in rich acrylics with expressive impasto brushstrokes, the scene invites you into a tranquil mountain retreat—where a snow-capped peak watches over a cascading waterfall, winding stone path, and lush greenery dotted with vibrant purple blooms. The tactile texture of the paint adds depth and movement, making the waterfall shimmer and the flowers po
Jill Farrington
Jan 271 min read


Through the Winter Doorway: My First Landscape on a Round Canvas
There’s a particular kind of quiet that only winter can offer—the kind that settles over mountains, softens the edges of pine trees, and turns a simple path into an invitation. That feeling is what inspired my newest painting, a circular winter landscape framed by a doorway that opens into a world of snow, stillness, and mountain air. This piece is especially meaningful to me because it’s the first landscape I’ve ever created on a round canvas . Working within a circular shap
Jill Farrington
Jan 262 min read


Why I Support Cavies & Canines: The Work They Do and Why I Paint Their Stories
My art studio filled with cozy guinea pig scenes — where advocacy meets creativity. Small-animal rescue work is unpredictable, emotionally heavy, and often overwhelming — and Cavies & Canines faces that reality every single day. As a supporter and artist who has watched their work up close, I’ve seen the dedication, the heartbreak, and the relentless commitment it takes to keep saying “yes” when the animals need them most. Recently, the rescue prepared for an intake of 40 gui
Jill Farrington
Jan 184 min read


Awaken Your Creativity with 'A Morning Moonlight' Painting Class
Imagine starting your day surrounded by soft brushstrokes, warm coffee, and the gentle glow of moonlight captured on canvas. On March 14 at 9:00 AM , join us for a serene and inspiring morning at the A Morning Moonlight: A gam Painting Class , hosted by Paintings By JF . This cozy, community-centered class invites artists of all levels to explore the magic of moonlit landscapes through guided acrylic painting. Whether you're a seasoned painter or just curious to try something
Jill Farrington
Jan 161 min read


A Little Whimsy, A Lot of Heart: Guinea Pig Painting Returns to Fort Collins
There’s something magical about watching a room fill with color, laughter, and the unmistakable charm of a guinea pig muse. Over the past year, our community has embraced these tiny, furry art ambassadors with such enthusiasm that the Guinea Pig Painting Class is officially back — and bigger than ever. What began as a simple idea — a playful painting session inspired by the gentle spirit of guinea pigs — has grown into a joyful tradition. Each class brings together families,
Jill Farrington
Jan 162 min read


The Spark of Dissent: A Candlelit Tribute to Courage
In a world where rebellion often conjures images of battlefields and fiery speeches, "The Spark of Dissent" offers a quieter, more intimate portrayal of resistance. This original 10×10 acrylic painting captures a pivotal moment in the journey toward independence—one born not of violence, but of thought, conviction, and ink. A flickering candle casts dramatic shadows across an unfinished parchment, where the words “We the…” begin to take shape. It’s a scene steeped in tension
Jill Farrington
Jan 152 min read


Winter Quiet: A Wyoming Landscape
There’s a particular kind of stillness that settles over Wyoming in winter — a quiet that feels both vast and intimate, as if the land itself is pausing to breathe. This acrylic painting, created on a long 10×20 canvas, captures that moment of calm with a sense of depth and atmosphere that invites the viewer to step right into the scene. The composition stretches horizontally like a window into the mountains. Jagged, snow‑covered peaks rise sharply against a soft, cloud‑brush
Jill Farrington
Jan 112 min read


First Friday Art Walk at The Welsh Rabbit: A Cozy Night of Art, Community, and Connection
Sharing the stories behind each piece during the First Friday Art Walk — my favorite part of the night is always the conversations that unfold around the table. The first Art Walk of the year at The Welsh Rabbit was everything I love about sharing art with the community — warm conversations, curious visitors, and that unmistakable buzz that fills a space when people gather around creativity. Nestled inside the cozy brick‑and‑wood charm of The Welsh Rabbit, my table filled qui
Jill Farrington
Jan 42 min read


Miss Lavender Brown’s Cozy Quietude
Miss Lavender Brown’s Cozy Quietude is a work that invites a contemplative pause through a scene both intimate and expansive. Framed by rich brown curtains, the window serves as a boundary between two worlds: the quiet warmth of an indoor nook and the calm vastness of an outdoor landscape. This framing device draws the eye inward while extending the gaze beyond, creating a balanced harmony between shelter and openness. Inside, a guinea pig with soft brown and white fur reclin
Jill Farrington
Dec 312 min read


Cabin Lights Through Snowy Pines
Cabin Lights Through Snowy Pines invites you into a moment of quiet reflection set deep within a winter forest. The composition places the viewer just behind a horse, its head and attentive ears framing the scene ahead. This perspective creates an intimate connection between observer and subject, guiding the eye through snow-dusted pine trees toward a modest log cabin nestled comfortably among the frosted branches. The cabin’s windows emit a soft, steady glow, a visual anchor
Jill Farrington
Dec 24, 20252 min read


Over The Highlands
Over the Highlands is a recent addition to my exploration of winter scenes, this time focusing on a landscape that blends historic architecture with the quietude of a snowy environment. The painting captures a stone castle perched atop a hill, its sturdy form resting against the crisp winter air. A stone bridge extends over a still body of water, linking the castle to the snow-covered banks and inviting the viewer to consider the passage between place and environment. The sky
Jill Farrington
Dec 21, 20252 min read


Fireside Tranquility with Restive Watch
Fireside Tranquility with Festive Watch is a circular acrylic painting that invites viewers into a distinctly intimate winter interior, where quietude and seasonal comfort converge. At its center, a stone fireplace radiates warmth, the flames rendered with nuanced gestures that suggest both motion and steady glow. The hearth’s soft illumination spills outward, gently embracing the surrounding objects and deepening the room’s sense of calm. Above the fireplace, a garland of gr
Jill Farrington
Dec 20, 20252 min read


Glassbound Winter Wish
Glassbound Winter Wish is a piece that emerged from my desire to capture a quietly hopeful moment in winter, presented in an unconventional format—a hand-painted scene on a glass bottle. This artwork invites viewers to explore a compact world where light and cold coexist with intimate balance. At the heart of the composition sits a log cabin, its roof thickly carrying freshly fallen snow. The structure feels grounded and sturdy, detailed with subtle strokes that suggest weath
Jill Farrington
Dec 13, 20252 min read


My Callie and the Cardinal
*My Callie and the Cardinal* is a new acrylic painting that explores the quiet dialogue between interior warmth and the stillness of a snow-covered landscape outside. Through a window divided into six panes, the scene presents a layered composition that balances calm and color with thoughtful restraint. Outside, a winter panorama unfolds: snow blankets the ground and clings to the branches of trees, extending toward a distant mountain softened by the cold light. The subtle va
Jill Farrington
Dec 12, 20252 min read


A Festive Night of Creativity and Connection
On December 9th, the Cheyenne Rotary Club hosted a heartwarming Christmas party that blended holiday cheer with artistic flair—and I had the joy of leading a painting class that brought smiles, laughter, and a splash of color to the celebration. 🎨 Painting Class Highlights The room buzzed with energy as attendees gathered around tables covered in festive tablecloths, each equipped with palettes, brushes, and canvases. From abstract swirls to serene landscapes, every particip
Jill Farrington
Dec 10, 20251 min read
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