JJ Worden

Sometimes you think your work is All That And A Bag of Chips. And sometimes, it isn't.

I know this is going to be controversial particularly where I am seeing SO much pushback on anything Art and AI related. But. Read on a bit. I have things to say and maybe this will make you rethink your position.

I often worry...well, at least wonder...if other folks see what I see when they see my work. I mean. Does it really matter? After all, it's the viewers VIEW that decides whether they want to take a piece of art home with them. But. Maybe. My reason behind the artworks makes them more interesting or more relatable or more, I guess, palatable? Or not. I have no idea, to be honest with you.

WHY DON'T THEY LIKE ME?

I haven't done a process post in a while and I thought this painting might be a great example. At first glance, this photo may give the illusion of calm, maybe even happy but it was the reflection of his glasses and that squint that made me take a second look.

 I can still say that, right? It's only January, after all.

So what does 2026 have in store for me? Well, as I mentioned in my 2025 wrap up, I won a place in the Let's Face It year long course and to be honest, I'm still very much loving portraits. That became abundantly clear whilst I've spent the last few weeks honing my website...new artist statements, revamped look, new sections etc...I was just so jazzed to see how everything looked and sounded.

Greetings Friends. Just a quick recap of Let's Face It 2025 as well as to mention that whilst I hadn't planned on doing another round, I won a place so I guess it'll be another year of portraiture for me.

Some changes.

I'll be focusing on making the lessons, the paintings MINE. My own reference photos, my choice of medium and substrate but trying to stay true to the intention of what the amazing instructors are offering. And to that end, these may actually go up for sale as my DH has decided to become my art agent. Kind of a dream come true...I can make art and let someone else do the promotion and footwork to get them seen. As long as we don't kill each other.*

So the finale of 2025.