Reflecting On Reflections

Today, our last workshop day, was about reflections.  All kinds of reflections.  Carol did a wonderful demo, and then did her raffle where people could buy her demo's - always a fun part of the workshop.  If there was a word to describe my fellow students here, besides 'talented', which they overwhelmingly are (a little intimidating really) is 'warm'.  By the end of the week, it felt like family.  Indeed we shared so much information about our painting lives AND family lives, we all felt like OLD friends by the end.  

We felt totally cared for and were in a safe, comfortable and comforting environment, and the food was so good (and vegan, or gluten free or anything-you-need-free) that the photography students took photos of it.  Well, our class started it, I'm just going to say that...

The courtyard had beautiful statuary and fountains and gardens.  There were walking trails behind our building.  No.  I did not take advantage of those, and, by the fit of my jeans I think I should have....

And to top it all off, Nancy Hartley's husband Brian, brought each of us a beautiful rose at the end of the workshop.   Besides being the person who tackled the division of the dinner bill each night, he was our go-to-guy for medical advice concerning scary rashes, and Chief Advisor for choosing our nightly feasts.  Thank you to Nancy for all her hard work setting up the workshop, and to her and Brian for opening their home on the first night here to welcome us!

Santa Fe'in....

I've been in wi-fi 'lockdown' since I got to Santa Fe. For some reason our side of the building does not have working wi-fi.  's OK.  I'm loving it here.  Loving the scenery, loving spending time working with Carol Marine, and having fun with her and the 'super group' we've gathered here in the hills around Santa Fe.  We're practicing painting white, painting metals, painting bigger, painting glass, and reflections.  The group, who are painters who have painted with her before, for the most part, just give ourselves over and keep an open mind about learning.  

Don't believe the rumor that I TRIED to set the room on fire.  It was small, and the wall-to-wall rug was completely covered with thick plastic sheeting that was REALLY easy to melt.  So, in the words of Mary Sheehan Winn, I also cannot be trusted with Clamp lights (begins with 'c' so fits in her theory), and of Kathy Cousart (nobody was keeping an eye on me...) we all survived... the people who run the school and the monastery are very understanding..... and here, below, is an evening shot...

AND some man who was at the beach last week when I was walking Paco was intrigued by his wrinkly forehead.  "Is he worried?"  he asked.  "Well, yes,"  I said "about everything... and nothing..."  and this man just found my email address somehow and mailed me this cutie photo of Paco (whom I miss very much!)

Ready For The Cocktail Hour, 8x8 Inches, Oil

Last one I'll post from the Nest show!  This is so cool, that a couple have sold via the blog before the show is even Open!  This is the most fun I've ever had doing a show!  Saturday, 4-7 is the Opening.

But life is sure not fair, and that's for sure.  If you are aware of Daily Painters on the Blogsphere, you've heard of our friend Carol Marine.  She and her family lost their home to a wildfire on Sunday.  Many, many of us want to help, and you can follow this link to make a donation to her family.  Like the trooper she is, Carol is planning on still coming to Massachusetts to teach a workshop in a week.  She is an amazing young woman, please remember her in your thoughts and prayers.

Fiesta, 6x6 Inch, Oil

SOLD

This is in response to Carol Marine's Daily Paintworks Challenge.  I used a triad color combination: blue/green, orange and red.  And speaking of 'challenges', Linda Popple responded to my own challenge to paint the Eiffel Tower from my photo.  She did a fabulous job!  Here it is, below!

Carol's Challenge 5x7 Oil

$100 & $!) S&H

This is my entry for Carol Marine's new Daily Paintworks Challenge.  I've only painted a car a couple of times before and I find them so difficult!  My very first painting workshop was with the late, great, Charles Sovek, and when I told him I was not fond of painting boats he said "Then you should paint cars - a LOT of cars!"  Very funny.  But he was, of course, right.  There are some very, very fine submissions to this Challenge, which was only posted a couple of days ago.  It will be very exciting!

Also, my very own, Boston-based Challenge group has posted our monthly response to the topic of... WINTER.  You can imagine we had a lot of reference materials....  check it out!  Below, my submission for that!

Always Responsibly, Original Oil Painting by Kelley MacDonald

SOLD

Last week Carol Marine came to my studio and gave a workshop. Today's post was trying to incorporate her lesson on the color wheel.

We had an amazing time! She's an artist who knows her stuff, and knows how to teach it to you as well. She's organized, thoughtful, generous and she gives each student attention. We had kind of new artists as well as seasoned veterans. But everyone was so friendly and nice - I've had such great feedback from them! Here's a shot of what I managed to do during the workshop:

Four paintings of the same subject, 10 minutes each  - on a 6x6 panel, and

Three paintings of the same subject, 24 minutes, 12 minutes, 5 minutes!

And here we are:

Leftovers, 5x7 Oil

The last of the candies (for now... you know Valentine's Day is just around the corner!). I've been really stretched for time lately, getting ready for my workshop, and also planning a trip to Austin for a Carol Marine Workshop Women reunion! We'll be visiting with Carol one evening, then we (no slackers here) have booked Laurel Daniel for a small 2 day workshop! Don't worry, Paco will be hanging out with my son Conor in Boston - a short walk from Boston Common, so he'll think he's on vacation, too!