Cozy Under The Eaves - 2nd try, 6x6 Inch, Oil

SOLD

Here's my 2nd run at that interior I posted yesterday.  When I showed it to my husband, his comment was "But it's like just blobs of colors next to each other. No lines."  OK, I'm STILL trying to figure out what that meant - but I dreamed of the painting last night :) and I thought - maybe it's more the colors are competing and the values need more definition!  So for the class today I did it again (with feeling, of course!).

Here, below, they are, side by side...yesterday's left, today's right.  Your thoughts?

                             

Cozy Under The Eaves, 6x6 Inch, Oil

SOLD

This morning my class will work on making a painting with a photograph as their reference.  I don't want them to copy exactly, rather to make a good painting out of what they see in a photograph.  As a girl I wished I had a bed tucked under an eave. When I saw a photograph of this setting in a magazine I knew I had to paint it.  The colors remind me of the artist Carl Larsson.  Wouldn't you like to take the book from the nightstand and curl up against those pillows?

Wrap Up Of Atlanta Workshop

This was my attempt in Leslie Saeta's Workshop class to do a painting strictly with a palette knife.  Success, failure - whatever.. I learned a few tips on how to wield one of those knives.  Maybe I won't change from brushes to palette knives, but I do view them differently - as a tool that you need to develop a skill with to use effectively.  And even using brushes for most of the painting does not mean that the knife cannot come in really handy at the end.

And below, we had a really fun exercise in class on the 3rd day... we got a photo, and started the painting - and listening to the Black Eyed Peas we switched easels and just had to take what was in front of us and make headway on that painting till we were told to move to the next easel.  Eventually we ended up at our own easels - and below, this is the result on my easel. 

 It was fun. I feel like I tried new things, I loosened up, I got some fabulous tips on blogging/marketing/social networking.  Leslie and Dreama are very generous, open and fun.  I bought an Artists Helping Artists Painting Apron and Dreama's book "The Artist's Toolbox" on marketing tips.

Fabu!

North River Members' Show 2011

What the Juror, Joseph McGurl, said upon bestowing an Award Of Excellence:

"Lively brushwork is interesting to look at in its own right.  Great color choices.  Nice, careful observation"

Honestly, I am thrilled.  It is my very first award at North River, where I have been a member for most of   20+ years.  Not that I can bring myself to believe what he said, being 1/2 Irish.  But since I had my sons over for dinner that night, I couldn't make the Opening, and found out about my prize via Facebook.  So you won't hear ME slamming Facebook!  I also got the hours the show was open via FB, as it wasn't readily evident (to me, anyway) on the website. 

So my friend (and fellow award recipient) Jody Regan was kind enough to re-enact the Awards Ceremony, and I had my Sally Field moment:

I do want to thank all of your who share my artistic journey, which is so very important to me, by reading, following, subscribing to and commenting on this blog.  I never knew when I started it 4 years ago how much of an impact it would have on my art career, my friendships and... really, my life!

Muchos gracias...

Chocolate Frosted, Chocolate Glazed and Glazed, 8x8 inch oil

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This is a commission that I just finished.  I love how it came out!  I was a little nervous, never having painted these kind of donuts with bites taken out.  Well, it's just like everything else - you just have to look at them.  And I am very, very fold of painting those styrofoam cups!  I have this new color - Ice Blue that really works for the white cup where it's in the light, but not reflecting the direct light.  I guess it's true - America Runs On Dunkin!

And I got this hat - I think it says it all...

Single Rose, 6x6 Inches

I did this as a demo for my class today.. seems the internet is a-buzz with red roses - have you noticed?  Well they are very difficult to paint!  My students did an EXCELLENT job - these ladies have been painting for a month and are really learning the language of paint.

My husband reminds me (a lot) that I don't like red roses.  Which, maybe once was true, but now I'm older and appreciate everything in this world a little more.  And I absolutely love the 'glow' when light hits the red petals.

I'm posting tonight with the laptop ON TOP of the dog.  He insists on being in my lap, under the laptop. And it's his birthday today (he's 2) so I am letting him....
*my 700th post!*

Red Roses For A Blue Lady, 8x8 Inches, Oil

My son made this round - ball-like vase for me.  He remembered I said I wanted one for roses - and it's creamy white - perfect for reflecting the roses!  I got some red roses to put in it and I just love it!  Do you remember that song in the 60's "I want some red roses for a blue lady... send it to the sweetest gal in town...."?  I'm old, I know.

Above is the last painting of the workshop I just took with Leslie Saeta and Dreama Tolle Perry.  I was going to post the 2nd one I did - with the palette knife, but when I went to select it I realized I hadn't cropped it.  So... next post!  Also next post I'll show you the painting I started when we played "Musical Easels"!

*A* For Atlanta Doughnut! 6x6 Oil

NFS

One of my most special memories of this FANtastic workshop I just took with Leslie Saeta and Dreama Tolle Perry (we're BFF's now, I think I can just call them 'Leslie and Dreama' - and not necessarily in that order!) was when Leslie's sister-in-law and good friend Aileen brought me an "A" donut from Sublime Doughnuts!  Yes, the 'A' is for Atlanta, and let me tell you... they KNOW how to make a donut here!  The donuts have a bit of weight - but not too much, and the outside of the pastry has an ultra thin crispness, with moist deliciousness inside.  My newly found Soul Sister Kathy Cousart - yes you know who she is - and I brought a dozen to the class to eat.  At first everyone was all so "Oh...I don't eat doughnuts.. ", but all I can say is after we cut them into pieces the box was emptied in short order.

ANYway Aileen saw my blog (and Paco's, thank you very much) and drove to Sublime Donuts and brought this in for me.  So I painted it - with help from Kathy - quick before class started today and asked Leslie to give it to her.  She - and this is unbelievable - opened her home and her arms to 24 perfect (in every way) strangers for TWO nights and we feasted on gourmet and comfort food, we laughed, drank, cried - there's a story there... later - and put up with us all!  She and her husband and son (and dog and 2 cats) deserve much more than a little painting in thanks, but this is what I've got... thank you Aileen, and I hope to God I'm spelling your name correctly!

More info than you really need to know, and I'm SURE I'll hear about this from MSW,  and though I originally published this without this last paragraph (how'd I do that?) I am forever indebted to new good girlfriend Karen Rose, who took good care of me when I realized I cannot locate my CAMERA, with this image on it - she sooooo kindly cropped and sent it to me - is she a doll or WHAT?

Quelle Surprise! 6x6 Inches, Oil

$100 & $10 S&H

It's a long story, but, in short, I had a merchandise credit at Tiffany's - and I wanted to use it!  So my husband came with me to the mall, and guess what - I couldn't find the credit they'd issued.  Got a pair of ear rings anyway, thank you, Tim!  And he named the painting because it would sound like "Kell - Surprise!"  Yeah, I get goofy sometimes at the studio!

Anyway I'm here happily painting away with Leslie, Dreama and a couple dozen other wonderful artists!  Here's today's painting of a door in France:

Yummy Jellies, 6x6 Inches, Oil

SOLD

Are these the same two jelly donuts as yesterday?  I ask you ... do they LOOK alike?  I'm kind of a purist that I think each pastry has it's individual qualities.  Even from the same bake shop, some days they're chock full of jelly, others, not.  Some days they are paler, some days darker.  I've even seen them not in a 'rounded' shape, but more octagonal.  Tons of sugar, less sugar, and so on.  

So....  as I fling this one over to the Pacific Coast AT Susan Roden (no, she was not the purchaser!:)), let's see what she fires back at me.. She's killing me with those donuts with the jelly on TOP!

A rest from the sweets next post - not edible!

Jelly Girl's Jellies, 8x8 Inches, OIl

This is a commission that will be a gift for a woman who loves, loves, loves jelly donuts.  I've been having a lot of interest lately in the donuts.. so it looks like the DONUT WAR will resume!  My friend and colleague Susan Roden is ready to meet this challenge.  I'm hurling this one her way, and looking to see the response!

I'm also getting ready to fly to Atlanta for a workshop by Leslie Saeta and Dreama Tolle Perry.  It looks like I'll get to meet some people I've only spoken to via the blogs and Facebook, too, so I am really psyched!  Workshops are a way to explore new things, hone your skills and meet other people who do and love what you do and love.  Leslie and Dreama are also Queens of Marketing their art via their blogs and beyond.  I'm honored to meet these dynamos and will blog my way through it...  Leaving Wednesday!  So... I guess I'd better pack, huh?

AFTER the Superbowl! :)

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!

Pug Hugs, 8x8 inches, Original Acrylic by Kelley MacDonald

$100 & $10 S&H

At the Dog Show last month I got some really good photos, and am in the process of sifting through them.  At the Pug ring, after this pup had his shot in the lineup and did *well*,  and this boy was waiting for him to come out. He flopped on the floor and the pup crawled right in his lap, and they had a nice moment.

Look for some more donut paintings this week!