Mintini, 6x6 Inch Original Oil Painting by Kelley MacDonald

$100 & $10 S&H
This painting is being reserved pending admission to a show - temporarily unavailable

I'm trying to figure out something to submit for my upcoming Challenge post on the topic of 'glass'.  I have a few other ideas I'll work on, but this is what I came up with today.  Thin glass, starlight mints inside - AND a nice little shadow.  I love thin glass, unfortunately it's fragile (duh!).  Who knows?  Maybe I'll get someone to make me a Hendrick's martini with a twist for New Year's! I guess that's really what I'm thinking...

OH! And under this painting is a wish for:

Three Kisses 5x5 Inch Original Oil Painting by Kelley MacDonald

Not For Sale

These are a Hershey Kiss Trio I painted last season.  Thinking of you all and wishing you Merry and Bright days.....

Taking a couple of days to recharge MY batteries - hope you can do the same!

Pepe's Pizza, Original 8x8 Inch Painting by Kelley MacDonald

SOLD

I can't even believe I forgot to photograph this when it was finished.  This was a commission that was due about two months ago and I finally dropped it off December 23rd.  AND to top it all off I forgot to photograph the finished piece!

It was a crazy day... I was also dropping off my 24x48 inch commission of the Provincetown Pier - yup, forgot to take that photo, too.... And I had on the first new coat I've had in FIFTEEN years, and guess what - it was WHITE.  And I got blue 'sky' all over the right side and arm.  The coat wasn't even 2 weeks old!

My buddy Nancy Colella was right - crazy for an artist to buy a white coat!

Anyway, THIS painting was so fun to do - it was a loving gift from a wife to her husband, and it had his favorite 'pizza' food - Pepe's Pizza from New Haven, CT  (if you haven't gone, it's worth the ride, believe me), and Faxon Park Soda (also a New Haven treat) and clam-shaped Italian pastries - which can be purchased within walking distance of Pepe's.

My husband and I took a drive there and had a wonderful lunch - and got the soda and pastries.  

I got an email yesterday saying the recipient loved it, and there he is, on Facebook, with the Pepe's baseball cap on, holding the pizza painting, which was in a pizza box.

Made my day...

I hope all of you had a wonderful holiday!

Cheers! 6x6 Original Oil Painting by Kelley MacDonald

On Hold

Here's to you all, all my buddies in Blogland, who support and follow my journey!  Don't you just love the golden color of beer?

I attended the Holiday Brunch today at the Providence Art Club - my first year as a member, and it was just lovely.  And I saw so many people I knew - all dressed up (no paint in the hair, etc) and looking fabulous!  And I found a just-my-style (no contortions) yoga class that I will go to on Monday!  AND I saw fellow bloggers Libby Gilpatric and Jo Ann Elig there, too!  What a day.  I'm just basking.  And baking.  Peanut butter/hershey kiss cookies!!!

Holiday Greens Plus

I began this painting the day I did a demo for an art association, and did the same subject for them.  It's so different when I can control the light, have unlimited time, and there are no questions to answer!  I was able to make a more finished piece.  The demo I did for the East Greenwich folk is below:

I just couldn't do things like the ribbon in the time it took to do the demo, answer questions, explain about blogging - as it was I put the poor woman right in front of me to SLEEP!  Riveting, that's me! ;)

Mister Snowman, 6x6 Inch Original Oil Painting by Kelley MacDonald

$100 & $10 S&H

This little guy has my heart.  He's made of frosted *glass* (read: plastic), and I like him so much I keep him in my studio year round. The background is Caribbean Blue... like tonight's sky...  Underneath this painting is the message/wish below:

Peace of mind.  Peace in your heart.  Peace in your life, your relationships and on your path.

Now... off to paint!

Orange You Sweet! 6x6 Inch Original Oil Painting by Kelley MacDonald

SOLD

These adorable oranges are pear shaped, and they came with beautiful leafs and stems.  I have no idea what they taste like, because I saved the ones I got for painting.  I'm going to post my progress with my commissions on my Studio Blog.  That's been taking a lot of my time.  In our house we celebrate Christmas, but you'd be hard pressed to tell it was approaching by looking at my house, inside or out.  I have a lot of decorations, and they are firmly ensconced in the attic.  My tree is still at the tree farm.  I have a wreath IN MIND to decorate, but it's not on the door.  I did take a day off to go to the dog show, but I've just been painting like a mad woman.

My middle name is 'over-committer'... but hopefully it will all come together.

Lovebirds

$100 & $10 S&H

These two little lovebirds were are special to me because they were a gift from a good friend.  I got an idea from a wonderful painter, Dreama Tolle Perry, to write a message underneath the painting - kind of a wish, for whoever ends up with the painting.  Something good.  Here's my wish, underneath this painting:

Underneath this painting is my wish for you of Joy.

And the blue in the foreground is my *favorite* Horizon Blue.

I went to the Dog Show this past weekend, so you can be sure there are some adorable pup paintings coming!

And... for years I thought I had a link to Suzanne Berry on my blog list.  She's amazing... and she and I both got Pugs around the same time, AND we're both married to guys named Tim.  We are also alike in that we are neat-freaks and completely organized (not!).  Check her out.

It's For You, 6x8 Original Oil Painting by Kelley MacDonald

This little guy is hanging, for sale, at the Providence Art Club.  Don't tell my husband, it's one of his favorites!  If he goes to a new home, all my holiday themed paintings will have sold, and I'll have to start a new group!

I just LOVED painting this... because despite it's simplicity and childish charm, it was a real study in darks and light, highlights, drawing and composition.  Go figure.

Anyway, he's from last December, but is in the Art Club's Holiday show.  Enjoy your day!

Blast From The Ghost Of Christmas Past

Reserved

This is from last Christmas.  I couldn't part with him.  Still not sure I can, thus ... Reserved!  I do have a new snow globe and will be working on that one!   I'm so busy completing my commissions, but the good news is that I'm down to 2.  Big ones, but it's going to happen on time!

I have actually not started to enjoy the 'Season'.. yet.  Powershopping is my forte these days!

Beach View, 6x6 Original Acrylic Painting by Kelley MacDonald

This was inspired by a walk in the dunes at Rexhame Beach in Marshfield, MA.  Such a chilly, windy day today I had to post a memory of a sunny, warm day!  Did the last drop off today of paintings in Dedham, MA at this wonderful shop called "Nest".  Yeah, OK, I shopped while I was there!  And, in theory, the things I bought were for other people.  It remains to be seen if I have the fortitude to actually give them away as gifts - I loved everything in the store!  Hey, I don't get out a lot to shop.  When I find a cool shop I'm in HEAVEN! 

So... if you're in the area, check it out: 622 High Street in Dedham, MA!

Pretty Jelly, 5x7 Inch Original Oil Painting By Kelley MacDonald

SOLD

This little jelly donut will be under the tree of some special lady!  I had to wait till that thick sugar coating dried, and the jelly - reds seem to take a long time - to send it out.  But it will arrive in time to make someone smile!

I just want to say that in this Season of Lights I'm so lucky to have friends who are like 'lights' to me.  Beacons to guide me.  My Blogging friends and long distance friends warm my heart every time they contact me, by comments on my blog, email, phone calls and Facebook posts.  My friends that I can VISIT are so supportive, funny and encouraging, I don't know how I'd get along without them.  My Challenge Group met last week, and it really struck me how lucky I am, to have this group of women who are fun, generous, and damn good artists to walk this road with! 

And my 'friends' who subscribe to my blog - who know me even if we've never met, and come to my shows and just share my journey -  

thank you all.  You mean so much to me!

Spirits, 6x6 Inch Original Oil Painting by Kelley MacDonald

SOLD

My Challenge Group this month had the topic of "Spirit".  I've had a tough time getting reference images from my old computer to my new one to print out.  I first thought of "Holiday Spirit", and I have a photo of a really cool antique red truck, absolutely covered in white lights.  Also I have a nice photo of a heart shaped cloud in the sky at the beach, it showed up on a day when I had a 'spiritual' question.  However technical difficulties left me in my studio today, the day the painting is due.. with nothing.  I DO have, in my studio, these bottles, left from when I was painting cocktails!  They're 'spirits' of a sort.  I had a BLAST painting the 3 colors of glass (in my mind 'clear' is a color), and let's toss in a martini glass just to make it harder!  

Well, it certainly does ignite a craving of sorts for a perfect martini!  I'm going to see if I can get anyone to make one for me tonight.... :)

Cupcake III, 6x6 Original Oil Painting by Kelley MacDonald

SOLD

Here's the final of the cupcake trio.  I guess I've been really intent on the cupcake scene - because today was my husband's birthday, and what did I do?  Bake cupcakes!  

Mine were white cake with light chocolate buttercream frosting.  We took them to brunch in Boston and shared with our grown children after a nice brunch.

Susan Roden is preparing a retaliation I think... so we'd better duck!  I've got frosting all over the walls here......  I think tomorrow it will be non-food items - I need a long walk!

Cupcake II, Original Oil Painting by Kelley Carey MacDonald

SOLD

6x6 inches

This Dunkin Donuts cupcake is possibly going to live with the first one I did.  I've done a couple for the collector, and she gets to choose today's or tomorrow's cupcake.  The other one will be for sale after she decides. I used to dread painting the frosting, but now I luuuurve it!  And the paper cupcake cup... I love making the edges, the folds and the glow.  I guess what doesn't kill us makes us stronger!

Hey... Susan Roden!  Lookie here - flinging the frosting at you in California!

I'm hoping you all had a warm and happy Thanksgiving.  We sure did here, and are pretty much all healthy again, which, .... hey, we were thankful for that, too!

Here's something I'm grateful for that I never, ever thought I would be.  I went out and bought a new recliner today - something else I never thought I'd do.  But lately my 4 o'clock 'power nap' has turned into a circus, with either or both of the cats, plus Paco and me on my Dad's old recliner (think Frasier's Dad's..).  The spring on one side was shot, so you leaned waaaay to the left, and you had to kick wildly to get the foot rest down.  We won't mention the cat 'decorations' in the beige (lovely color) upholstery.  Anyway, you know what I realized?  I bought the same... the SAME recliner, only about 20 years newer.  Same color.  Size.  Feel.  Me and my Dad are connecting, I guess.  

And I'm thankful for that, too.

Three More Jellies, 6x6 In Original Oil Painting by Kelley MacDonald

SOLD

Look familiar?  A very nice customer asked for a donut painting, and liked the 'Three Jellies".. so I got 3 more jelly donuts and here it is.  I have to admit I like the stack of three. These were just luciously full. Every batch of donuts comes out a little different (yeah, I would notice that) and some are darker, some powderier, some fuller, etc.  This was also the subject of the commission I lost due to tardiness, and I hope someday to meet THAT customer and make her her own!

OK, in this post I made up TWO words.  

And heads up - I will be doing some fun giveaway the first week of December, AND have a couple of announcements!  It's all good!

And did you see Carolyn Finnell's portrait of my little Paco?  TDF!  Yup.  I bought it!

Pair Plus One, 6x8 Original Oil Painting by Kelley MacDonald

More of these Asian Pears... mmmmMMmm...  I painted this one on a canvas board- the one from yesterday was on a smooth Gessobord.  In other words, this surface had more 'tooth'.  I find I like the way the paint glides onto the surface of the smoother board.  Just a nice feeling when I'm painting.  It's funny, when I first started oil painting I had this great teacher, Valerie Vitali, who made you believe you could achieve anything you wanted with paint.  She would gush about painting on hard surfaces, like paper, and I would try and imagine how I could love anything more than a springy, textured canvas.  Now I know.  It only took me years to get there, but I agree!  One of my goals for next year is to try to buy some large sized wooden panels to do bigger pieces on.  I don't have the patience for framing paintings on paper, although I do love painting on it as well!

Kind of out of it today, as a cold kept me up almost all night. Between the wheezing and the 2 cats and 1 pug on top of me, I barely slept!  But one good thing I found out - I had a painting make it into the Best And Brightest Show in Scottsdale!  It'll get rotated into the huge 10 week Celebration Of Fine Art Show in Scottsdale Gallery area! 

Happy Birthday to my lovely daughter, Molly!

One Pair, Original 6x6 Inch Oil Painting by Kelley MacDonald

SOLD

The only thing about painting with a glossy black background is it is a bear to photograph.  Suffice it to say I'll get a better shot and substitute it!  

These Asian Pears were SO beautiful I bought a bag full.  Examining each one for a graceful silhouette, I'm sure I looked a bit (to say the least) odd at the market, holding each huge pear at arm's length and squinting at them, putting some aside, some in the bag right away.  Some were more golden orangey and some more yellowy-green. FULL of personality.

At the end of this painting session my dear husband said "Are you going to leave it like that?"   "Like WHAT?"  I (kind of) nicely asked.  "Well, all stroke-y..." he said.  And I must have looked at him like a grizzly, because he said "Of course you are!  They look great.  I was just asking..."

Ask away.....

Moonrise Over Wellfleet, 6x6, Original Oil Painting by Kelley MacDonald

SOLD

Viewed from Provincetown, the moon coming up over Wellfleet is breathtaking.  It's a visual meditation.

I'm busy in the studio these days doing some fun commissions.  All my holiday paintings except for one set that's going to Newport are delivered and hung.  WHEW!  And in all the mayhem I did lose one commission because I didn't get it done on time.  I'm sorry for that, but mostly because I feel I let that person down.  As my Mom used to say: Live and Learn.  I'm trying, Mom!

Near Rexhame, 8x8 Original Acrylic by Kelley MacDonald

Reserved

Behind Rexhame Beach in Marshfield, MA, is a marshy, sandy area with beach roses and paths in and around the dunes.  I spent some truly wonderful hours there with painter friends this Spring, and enjoyed this little piece of heaven.

Thank you to everyone who came to the Opening at Bella's in Rockland.  What a hoot to see our names up in lights!  Your support and friendship means the world to me!

North River Arts Holiday Sale!!! Sat & Sunday 10-4

Really, there's some amazing art showing up there.

  I've priced mine well, and included very recent pieces this year. 

 It's set up alphabetically, and my standing bin has magenta and lime green pompoms - go have a BLAST!!!

Great kick-off for gifts, or to add to your own collection!

*there's an early admittance at 9 a.m. on Saturday for $15 - very smart!*

Here's their link!  Enjoy!

  

Just Amazing, 4x4 Inch Original Oil Paintings by Kelley MacDonald

This is a sunset that I saw from my front porch, over the Sakonnet River.  Sunsets give me such peace, such hope, such a sense of centering.  If I couldn't see the sunset like this every night, I'd plaster a wall with paintings of them - like my friend Mary's daughter did who lives in NYC.  It just stops you in your tracks and lets you really breathe.  

Bella's Show and American Art Collector 11/10 Issue!

First of all I'd like to invite EACH and EVERY one of you to the Artists' Reception that Sally Dean and I are having for our show at Bella's Restaurant in Rockland, MA.  And I'd like to correct that the hours are daily from 11: 30 a.m.    Reception: 5-7 on Sunday, November 14th.  We'll be there with bells on and would really love to see you!

And yay!  The November Issue of American Art Collector Magazine  has arrived, and in it you will find a very nice article on "Small Works And Miniatures".  It talks about the wonderful online Gallery I participate in, the Daily Painters Originals, and features some samples of works.  My painting below has also been included in the ad, and I am just thrilled.

Yummy Jelly, 6x6 Inch Original Painting by Kelley MacDonald

Reserved

All this one needs is my signature block.  Once again, working from life, Alla Prima with a fresh pudgy donut from Dunkin Donuts, this time it was a demo at the wonderful Furnace Brook Middle School in Marshfield, MA.  This school is lucky enough to have a Parent Organization that subsidizes the children's art education by funding an Artist In Residence Program the first Friday of every month.  Two artists are enlisted to produce work, and expose the children to different types of artistic processes.  My plan was to do my little Daily Painting, and alongside it, let the children paint one slightly larger, 8x8 inches.  They are enthusiastic, curious and polite.  

I hope I am not boring you with this, but here we are at a relatively early stage.  I set up the 'guard rails' of the drawing, so none of us would go 'off the road' too much.

Each child got to put a couple of strokes of oil paint on the panel.

And below - the finished product - I think they did a heck of a job - I better watch out for these guys!

Coffee Cupcake, 6x6 Original Painting by Kelley MacDonald

SOLD

My new friend, neighbor and fellow artist, Susan Medyn, gave me a box of GORGEOUS and delicious cupcakes from a Boston area bakery.  I had trouble painting many of them, wiper after wiper, but then this one got it's turn.  It was creamy, and dreamy and soooo fun to paint.  So I'm flinging the frosting over to California to another Susan, Susan Roden!  Let's see what she comes up with after getting hit with a coffee cupcake!!

Carolina Herrera's Runway, 5x7 Oringial Acrylic Painting by Kelley MacDonald

$100 & $10 S&H

My Challenge Group, as I mentioned yesterday, had the topic of "Fashion".  Now, although I know some people see me as a fashion fiend (NOT!) I am kind of laid back in that department.  Still, I like to know what's what.  I think I'd enjoy going to an actual runway show someday.   I'd love to see the notes the serious Fashion Police take in the first row.  Probably something like "Black and White" or "Sleeveless Blouse" or "Weird Straw Hats"... just so we'll know what will get filtered down to us peon who shop in 'regular' stores!