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Thursday, November 29, 2007

Jake's Shake, 5x7 Acrylic


So much for doing a little landscape from last night's sunset! I found this little guy (I think his name is Jake, so it's Jake's Shake) in Jamestown, RI, a lovely island off Newport. Anyway, I take photos of animals wherever I go and he was hamming it up for me, then all of a sudden he had to SHAKE-SHAKE-SHAKE his head! More dogs coming, I'm afraid, because of next week's Bayside Colony Dog Show in Boston http://www.baysideexpo.com/eventDetail.php?id=1143472192&pages=1 (Thursday and Friday - I wish I could spend BOTH days there!). If you go to their website you can get a discount coupon, too! I'd say get there early, because it's a real full day!

Just Had To Share This With You


No, this is not a Daily Painting, but this is the view from my porch as I arrived home from the studio last night. I haven't gotten to painting yet this morning, but thought I'd send this out - amazing, isn't it? This little piece of the Nanaquaket peninsula which used to be a Summer home for the Sisters of the Holy Union, is going to soon be filled with 7 McMansions... :( Oh, well, I'm taking lots of photos before the neighborhood goes 'down' :)
Also you might want to check out my Studio Blog http://welcometomyartworld.blogspot.com to see what I've been working on instead of a Daily Painting today.... Thanks for visiting, and I do appreciate every comment!

Wednesday, November 28, 2007

Holiday Mug, 6x6 Acrylic

On Sunday evening Tim & I went to Newport and stopped in at Starbucks (hey, Coastal Roasters was CLOSED!) and they had these cool metallic mugs that I thought would be a challenge to paint. I was right! But I forged ahead, letting the paint get really thick, and letting the lights emerge from the shadow. The only huge question was whether to include the 'seam' on the wood that the cup sat on (that diagonal going from the center to the mid-right side). See, in real life there's a refletion on the mug, so I was thinking 'yes', include the reference for the reflection. I'm going to try painting it in the daylight, see how that works.
And many thanks to all who have visited my blog. I very much appreciate your presence, and your comments, it makes you feel less 'alone' in the work, knowing people are viewing.

Monday, November 26, 2007

More Coastal Roaster Coffee Stuff ! :)

This is just what I'm up to these days. Dropping off paintings at Holiday Shows (55 were 'at large' this month alone!), packing & shipping Daily Paintings that have sold (will update the 'solds' on the blog SOON I promise!) and painting little acrylic paintings about my favorite coffee shop, Coastal Roasters, in beautiful Tiverton, RI. The photos did not come out as clear as I wanted, and rather than wait for tomorrow's light (today's light was gray and dismal) to get better images. Suffice it to say that the paintings are clearer, that you can read the signs, and the colors are richer. OK. The first one, below, is "The Coast Is Clear" (8x10), and it's about the gauntlet you have to endure to cross this Main Road to GET to the delicious, full bodied coffee (Starbucks, eat your heart out....). The speed limit is 25, but one day I was 'passed' by a truck going 50 (yes, I zoomed after him to see JUST how fast he was going!). And that would be me, saying 'SLOW DOWN!' to all the zoomers going by.... :) Below is one of my Holiday Dreams for a Coastal Roaster Cup!


Forgive me for being a little irreverant... but I think both Mary and Joseph would have been THRILLED to receive some nice hot Coastal Roasters coffee after their travails. The text on the bottom right reads "How thoughtful! They've come bearing Coastal Roaster Coffee!" Seriously, the Magi are very dear to me, my favorite symbol of the season, and I can't help but think that if they'd been able to, they WOULD have swung by Tiverton to bring some delicious java to the Holy Family....



Friday, November 23, 2007

It Happened In Hull, 6x6 Oil

This is a painting of a Hull sunset, for a nice woman who is commissioning a series. So this one is not for sale. Hull is one of those places where every night the sky is a brilliant illumination of a design that can only be Divinely created. Where I live now is a similar light - all reflected off the water, in color combinations that are jaw-dropping. In real life the water is a bit darker and richer, but as far as photos go, it's pretty good.

Monday, November 19, 2007

Coastal Roasters

After a very intense week/end what with all the Holiday Shows and their preparations, the Open Studio I participated in in Bristol, and my visit to the Boston Fine Art Show, I was hungry for painting! Just having a little fun with my favorite coffee shop, Coastal Roasters. Outside in the seating area is a little Budda and after I painted it Tim suggested it would be appropriate for Buddha to be nursing a Coastal Roasters Travel Mug (not that he's actually travelling, but it gets cold on the water there!). So... fun, and still framing, dropping off, etc., AND trying to put myself in a mindframe to shop/cook/clean for Thanksgiving.



Wednesday, November 14, 2007

Pomegranates, 6x8 Oil



The top one is from today, the bottom one from yesterday. I'd been itching to get back to Daily Paintings, and pomegranates are such a challenge because of the many different colors of red the skin has. THEN when you open them... there are more! I apologise for the bad cropping job, I'll try to clean them up later. I just loved spreading this creamy paint around, and liked the simple subject. This is one fruit that always reminds me of the holidays. Let's hope I don't delay savoring this treat till it's gone by - done that many times... :}

Sunday, November 11, 2007

I promise, no more workshop photos after this!

As promised.... the Belly Dancer! Here I'd first like to send a BIG 'THANKS' to the TSA personnel in Phoenix for untaping all my wet canvas boards (all held aprart so you could actually see in the spaces between the wet paintings), smearing the wet paint all over the paintings packed face-to-face) and effectively ruining every single canvas. I feel so much SAFER now! Seriously, there was an explanatory letter on top of them, with only my empty easel also in the suitcase. Apparently there's a threat of EXPLOSIVE paintings - now there's something I never thought to worry about! Anyway... learned my lesson, and forever more will 1) use only Galkyd paints when I travel, and 2) ship via UPS!

Enough ranting. These belly dancer paintings were only FIVE minutes long, each, so don't be too harsh! They were fun to do, because with just 5 minutes you can't get fussy! Our model really got into it, and she was so strong and fluid it was a pleasure to paint.












Then this last one was from an earlier day, with the most beautiful shawl and dress...


Things to remember from the workshop:
#1 - Be A Designer (don't let reality get in the way of a good painting)!
#2 - Title First (when you give your painting a title first, you are more likely to stick to the focal point!)
#3 - Separate the dark and light pattern with clean, interesting shapes! (and not only things in 'shadow', but things that are actually dark go into the dark area).
#4 - 1/3 - 2/3 rule , keep 1/3 of the painting light, 2/3 dark, or vice versa, to keep a rythm and interest in a painting.
Thanks to all who checked in on the blog, and DOUBLE thanks to everybody who commented - it made me feel like you were right there with me!

Friday, November 9, 2007

It's A WRAP! End of session



Today was the last day **sniff, sniff** of our workshop. Athena posed as a ballerina in the afternoon. It was very challenging (I love that word, don't you?) but fun. Tomorrow look for the belly dancer (YEAH - you'll check in now, won't you?), that was a blast to paint. I am so sorry for the double post (AND the idential post placed in the Daily Marketplace Blog - DUH - special needs in technology I am...) yesterday. MSW said it wasn't only me. Off to dinner with my new buddy Yvonne and PKR, to thank her for a wonderful week. Thank all of you, too - I miss my 'dailies' and will be back this week!

Thursday, November 8, 2007

SORRY!

I've tried 3 times to upload another group of photos from Kinko's in Scottsdale, to the tune of $12, and nothing will upload from this computer, although it looks like it's actually happening. Will try the library tomorrow... Sorry everybody, it's going quite well, and Peggi is an awesome teacher I wish you could all be here!
:) Kelley

*Ooops, Double Post Deleted....

Mid Week With Peggi (correct spelling) Kroll Roberts

These paintings are Peggi's, just to give you some reference. She's an awesome instructor. I apologise for monopolizing my Daily Painting Blog with this , I really should have put it in my Studio Blog. I'll try to move it when I get back. This work is from Wednesday. Thank you, everyone, who posted comments at the bottom - it's great to read them and feel like we're in touch!
In the morning, Athena posed in a dark green (bad photo) evening gown indoors
We had to paint this in HIGH KEY - that's what I wrote on my painting, although I seem to be the only one who can read that... Our beautiful model then posed in front of the School in a kimono & parasol (it was 95 degrees...)
My version:
And I happen to be here for the 'Best and Brightest' show - featuring none other than our friend Tatiana Sink, see below! YAY Tatiana!
Tonight is the Art Walk, where over 100 galleries will be open late, and it's gorgeous weather at night to stroll around - should be amazing! Thanks for checking in... let me know what you think! :) Kelley

Tuesday, November 6, 2007

LIVE! From Scottsdale, AZ! PKR workshop!

Hello, Everyone! I'm in Scottsdale at Peggi Kroll Roberts' figure workshop with the Scottsdale Artist School this week! We are painting FIENDS! I feel like we are empty vessels, and PKR is STUFFING us with information on how to paint figures. (Feeling very, very full right now...) She's working us very hard, but it does actually feel like something's 'clicking'!
This is the last one of the day, done outdoors.

Our first outdoor piece, this afternoon...


Sorry, no Photoshop here! No cropping!



Our lovely model, Athena (what a cool name,huh?)
Well, I'll try to check in tomorrow night. I'm missing everyone but am working very hard. It's HOT here, and clear and wonderful. Thanks for checking in! Put any questions/etc. in the 'comments' section on the blog, OK? Thanks, all!





Thursday, November 1, 2007

In Memory of Salty Dog, Acrylic, 6x8

This past weekend a friend of mine lost her best canine friend, Salty. My friend Nancy nursed her beloved Yellow Lab with tenderness and compassion throughout the dogs' old age. In return, Salty was enthusiastic and full of love to the last. A faithful friend, and part of all our 'artist girlfriend' parties, you will be missed, Salty Dog...

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