"Blue, Blue, My World Is Blue", 12 x 12 acrylic painting by Kelley MacDonald

"Blue, Blue My World Is Blue" 12x12 acrylic by Kelley MacDonald

Title is from one of the first songs I learned on my guitar in 7th grade.... this is a demo from my Intro To Intuitive Painting Zoom class.  What we were about in this day's class was to layer, after making marks on our canvas, all kinds of any one color.  I chose blue because it seems, from looking at my paint collection, that I LOVE this color!  So so many colors of blue - ultramarine, pthalo, cerulean, cobalt, prussian, blue violet, blue gray, etc. Kind of goes with the mood of the country right now, pre-election too, in that as Americans we are different, but more alike than different.  

 

Fog Lifting, 16x20 Acrylic by Kelley MacDonald

"Fog Lifting", 16x20 Acrylic by Kelley MacDonald

Done at the South Shore Audubon Society off 3A in Marshfield Hills, MA.

Leading a painting Safari on Boston's South Shore again, one of my favorite things to do.  The air is invigorating.  The light is gorgeous.  The birds, the breeze, the sounds of leaves rustling.... even though my plein air paintings are not my primary work.... Every painting I do or even begin outside informs the rest of my paintings. 

I hate that term, actually... "informs".  Sounds so pretentious.  Well, I couldn't think of another word... wait... INFLUENCES!  yes.  Every painting, even abstract work, must be conscious of thick and thin lines and passages, contrasts in values, and color harmony.  Does that make your head spin?  I'm thinking of putting together a couple of online classes for after the new year.  One is Beginning Painting in acrylics, the other "How to Transition To Acrylic from Oils or Watercolor".  What do you think?  The second one would be just a 4 part class.  But it is a real struggle, and rather than give up... you can learn the little things that will make your acrylic paintings look like the oil paintings you love, but maybe do not want the health risks of anymore.