Things I'm Thankful For

Happy Thanksgiving to all my American friends!  And Happy Hanukkah to all my Jewish friends!  I have so many things to be thankful for, and every single day as I open my eyes I recite to myself the ever growing list.  I'll share some today - 

My husband, and his health**my children, Rory, Conor and Molly, and their health** my sister and her family, and their health**Paco the Pug, Harry and Isabelle, my kitties**my safe home with the beautiful view**my own health**my friends (yes, I name them)** my work, and the ability to buy the painting supplies I need**enough food, clothing and a working car**peace in my country**

And I am also very thankful for all of you, who comment, write, or even just tell me when you see me that you enjoy my work and my blog.  Happy Thanksgiving to all of you!

***this 6x6 painting of "Home Tree" has come home from the Edward Hopper Museum and will be at South Street Gallery in Hingham for their Holiday show!

My Little Chickadee, 6x6 inch Oil Painting by Kelley MacDonald

$100 & $10 S&H

Click HERE To Purchase

Today I woke up feeling like I just jumped off a spinning carousel … 2 weeks of frenetic shipping, delivering, setting up, etc. and going to Openings - not to mention the 6 weeks prior of fast paced painting!  I told myself that I would just take it easy today, do what flowed, read a bit, walk with the dog without hurrying him along, meditating, etc.  Well, the morning kind of drifted, but then I walked into the studio, saw my sketches for some upcoming commissions, and the pull to the easel was irresistible!  

I wanted to paint something that I just had been dying to paint…. little birds.  I love the shapes of the little birds - kind of round as we head into winter.  And in doing this I found out that the chickadee is the state bird of Massachusetts!  Yes, the Wild Turkey is the state 'game' bird, but the chickadee is the regular one.  Voila!  I think there are more chickadees in my future.  Maybe yours, too. :D

One striking thing floated to my mind today… at two different openings two different people (so, doing the math, now 4 people in one week) told me they felt my paintings were painted joyfully, that they also brought joy to people who enjoyed them.  And I heard about one woman who bought one of my paintings and is taking it everywhere she goes as she fights a courageous battle with cancer, saying that the little painting makes her smile and she thinks that's good for her healing.  Moves me more than I can say!  And well, I've said enough for today.  Thanks for listening.

Starry Starry Donut, 6x6 Inch Painting by Kelley MacDonald

$100 & $10 S&H

Click HERE To Purchase

After pushing 41 small paintings out of my studio last week for all the various holiday shows, believe it or not I could not WAIT to paint something I wanted to paint today.  So I told my husband not to eat breakfast, and hopped in the car and drove to Bristol, RI to get some donuts.  Mind you I drove by at least 2 Dunkin Donuts to get to the downtown Bristol shop.  They take great pride in generously filled and frosted donuts, and they are very artfully decorated.  I know, I know, they all get the same donuts, but (trust me on this, I know) some owners/franchises are waaaay better than others.  So I was disappointed to see the 'star mania' already.  I mean, when you want a filled donut you want a ROUND donut, right?  But these bismarks were winking at me.

So this series I'm doing of donuts won't probably be out in the world till December, and maybe not even then.  But it was very freeing to just go with this shape, this filling and of course, the jelly!

My good friend Patti Gray (former teacher and Maine-r friend) came to the Opening of Girls Just Wanna Paint at Thayer last night and snapped this photo of my husband, Tim, and I.  We both have our eyes open!! (and by that I mean me!)  Thanks, Patti!

NOW.  To get ready for Sunday, when my gallery, The Art Stable Gallery, is having our Holiday Open House!  We're roasting marshmallows and serving Champagne.  I dare you to stop by!  We've had recent renovations, and new work, and a POWERFUL spirit among us!  Really.  Champagne and marshmallows…..

Thursday 5-8, Be There Or Be Square

It's finally here!  Our Girls Just Wanna Paint show at Thayer Academy has it's Opening tonight!  The glitterati will be there, I hear.  Here's part of the wall where we posted our topics and our paintings in response to those topics. What a beautiful space.

Here's a close up of 'Ritual'.  I think you'll like seeing the paintings in person - we sure do enjoy getting together each month and seeing them after looking online.  

Here's one of the walls where each of us got to put up a few of our larger paintings, things not on our GJWP blog.  

We would surely love to see you.  My husband, Tim, has rearranged his schedule so he could be our bartender.  We will have wonderful sips and nibbles.  We truly enjoy meeting all of you, or seeing you AGAIN (this is, you know, our 3rd show on the South Shore).  So, if you're thinking 'maybe', I say this to you:  Go ahead, make our day!

xo

Are You Free Thursday?

Beyond the fact that everywhere you look there are Holiday Art events, my Challenge Group, Girls Just Wanna Paint, have been very fortunate to have been offered a show at the Thayer Academy Art Gallery In Braintree, MA!

It was hung this weekends by GJWP girls Pamela Copeman, Lisa Daria Kennedy and Tori Chesley Brega.  They did a phenomenal job.  They hung a HUNDRED of our paintings!

Just to let you know about our group - we are a 4 + year old 'Challenge' group (we paint our response to a different topic each month and post it by the first of the month on our blog).  We are a dozen accomplished artists who teach and travel and are in galleries throughout New England.  We've had shows at different South Shore galleries and had a write up about us in a South Shore Magazine.  We are passionate, fun and definitely worth meeting at our Opening on Thursday, Nov. 21~

So come join us and have some nice sips and nibbles, see our work all hanging together, and say hello! Fellow artists and friends, we're looking forward to seeing you!

Pulling Out All The Stops For North River

I kid you not.  This year I am offering some of my favorite pieces at the North River Arts Holiday Sale.   We all need to find our path.  Find this at the sale today, Sunday from 10-2.  Have fun!  You will be wondrously surprised at the selection this year!

AND…..  (gosh, what a busy time of year)

Providence Art Club Little Pictures opens this afternoon (Sunday, 12-4, FREE Admission)

And… keep your socks on… because on Thursday, my Girls Just Wanna Paint Peeps will be on hand to meet and greet….. from 5-8 at Thayer Academy in Braintree…

I'll put the directions up  in a day or so.  

You Guys Are The Best!

OK, you really make me smile - thanks for not picking me apart for the typo on my last post!  Huh!  I certainly didn't see that I listed the North River Arts Holiday Sale as being from "20-4" o'clock - until Thursday, when a nice Facebook friend asked me what that meant (Maggie!).  We'llllll it meant TEN o'clock to 4 p.m.    Below is a revised version.  Anyway, this 8x8 painting is in my bin, which you can visit Friday night at the Preview, then through the weekend.  

Is it just me or has this Fall been going at warp speed?

Enjoy the weekend!  

Little Pictures at Providence Art Club is ALSO opening, if you're in RI, it's THE place to be on Sunday afternoon!

Alert - This Coming Weekend In Marshfield, MA~

Every year I participate in the Holiday Sale at the North River Arts Society.  Not only did I study painting here for a long time, I made lots of friends here, and benefitted form various workshops and events.  I usually put out small pieces left from my various sales - not this year.  

You see, I'm taking a class, and recently we've been thinking about receiving - and giving.  So this year I am only including in this sale things I would hang in my own home - and I am including pieces up to 12x12 inches, pieces I have enjoyed, pieces other artists have complimented me on.  I feel like this way, I may be 'receiving' your support, but I am giving as well.  I feel the commission the NRAS takes from this is the LEAST I can give for all they give me and other South Shore artists.

So in addition, this year, I will donate a portion of the North River Sales to the relief effort in the Philippines. I cannot imagine what those poor people are going through.  So!  We've got your cocktails, your donuts, your sea gulls, your Maine views - come 'n get it Saturday & Sunday!  Great art all around that room!  When I dropped off my paintings, I saw THREE other GirlsJustWannaPaint peeps. 

Pug In The Sun, 5x7 inches, Oil Painting by Kelley MacDonald

I did this one a while ago, but kept it as it is a favorite of mine.  Almost abstract, the sleepy pug (yes, it's Paco) has snagged one of the choice spots in the house - on a dining room chair in the sun.  I didn't include it but there's at least one cat in an adjacent chair.  Never happier than when with me, he really suffers when he's alone…. and let me clarify that the cats or my son Rory's dog Charlie DO NOT COUNT.  He is either with me or alone, those pretty much are his two states of being.  We enjoyed a beautiful walk tonight and it was mild and the air was sweet.  It almost ended too quickly….. I think we could have just kept going….

*If you are interested just email me, as I must cull my collection since I moved my studio into my house…"

Miss Chloe, 6x6 Inch Oil Painting by Kelley MacDonald

This sweet girl is near and dear to the heart of someone who lives near me in the summertime.  I am a sucker for the expressive face on a dachshund!  This painting is going to it's home this week, and I am thrilled to have had the privilege to paint her.

Pets make such a difference in our lives.  They lower our blood pressure (although sometimes, I'm certain mine RAISE mine), are constant and nonjudgmental. They're warm and snuggly and they look at us as if we are the best things in the world. They forgive our shortcomings, our mistakes, our foibles. This weekend I'm babysitting Charlie the Klee-Kai, my son's dog (sort of a mini- husky).  And he's just about perfect.  Well, 'christening' the drapes aside, that is.  I'm forgiving him just like he'd forgive me.  (although, truly I've never been inclined to do anything like that to drapery…)

Lobster Twins, 6x12 inches, Acrylic Painting by Kelley MacDonald

I'm in love with the light turquoise vs. the red color scheme.  I also love drawing these babies!  This painting is going to the Black Whale Gallery in New Bedford, MA.  Yup, it's right where Moby Dick hung out.  If you are interested in this painting you can contact Heather Frymark Viera by clicking HERE.

(I SO feel like a lobster now… with melted butter and beer).

In a dead heat painting this week.
* Providence Art Club Little Pictures

*North River Arts Society (Marshfield, MA)

*Fall River Historical Society

*South Street Gallery

and last but not least, the *Art Stable Gallery!