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Tuesday, September 30, 2014

Selfie, 6x8 Oil Painting by Kelley MacDonald

Here we are at the 1st of the month again!  WHERE did September go?  This month the Girls Just Wanna Paint Group chose "Expression" for our topic- I could have painted the whole MONTH on just that topic!  But I chose to take a selfie of me making a face.  Started out great, but I overworked it.  Anyway, there are some truly amazing paintings posted this month and you can see them HERE!.

Friday, September 26, 2014

Close Up, 5x7 Oil painting by Kelley MacDonald

I love the deep soulful gaze of a pug!  

I'm having a yard / y'art sale this Saturday - come on by for some extra specially priced older paintings both large and small, or for wood frames, gold, dark brown, black... etc.  I have downsized my studio and simply cannot keep everything.  I also have assorted occasional furniture items, kitchen stuff - hey, while I'm at it why not de-clutter a LITTLE! :)
Good time of year to start thinking of the Holidays, too.  

In the studio I'm working away to clear up my commissions, because I want to be ready for the October influx for the Holidays.  I'm also playing a bit with abstraction.  Trust me, a good abstract is HARDER to paint than a good realist painting!

Wednesday, September 24, 2014

Stand At Pardon Gray, oil painting by Kelley MacDonald

This 8x8 in painting will be hanging at the North River Arts Society's Members Show opening this Friday night.  I won't be able to attend the Opening Festivities, unfortunately.  I have posted this painting before, as it was the Girls Just Wanna Paint submission for August.
If you DO go - how's about taking a photo of it - and you - and sending it to me? kcareymac@hotmail.com.  Muchas gracias.  Enjoy - this opening is FREE to the public!

I'm a bit off my game today - my husband was invited to attend an event Tuesday night in NYC, and he didn't want to stay over, and asked me to take the drive with him, and keep him company (have I EVER turned down an opportunity to go to The City? No.).  Should have been 3 1/2 hours or so each way.  Try FIVE and a half, each way.  We made a speedy trip to Manhattan, then as soon as we got off the highway (brilliantly coordinated with the UN letting out of their Climate Change event) the many blocks surrounding the UN were all blocked off - and you KNOW that's where we needed to go.

Coming home, every city in CT closed down most of 95N, resulting in a lovely slowdown - especially in New Haven at midnight, sitting stock still for 1/2 hour.  I wanted to get out of the car and pave the road myself - I think I could have been quicker.  Anyway... just a little sleep deprived (in at 3 a.m.) and cranky - off to bed now.... a deliriously happy day of painting tomorrow!

Sunday, September 21, 2014

Toast... To You, 4x4 inch Oil Painting by Kelley MacDonald


Sometimes you just don't need any reason to celebrate your friends.  You know... they are with you to share your happy times and there to hug you and support you through tough times.  I have to say I'm a pretty good Cosmo maker.  If you ever stop by ... ask for one.  I'm happy to share.
This little painting was doing while I was doing a 'Cosmo Commission' for 2 very good friends who have good stories to share.  Festive. Fun.  Like our very best friends.....

Thursday, September 18, 2014

Weeeelcome Back!


A lovely little island just west of Martha's Vineyard, part of the Elizabeth Islands in Massachusetts... Cuttyhunk is the place to go if you want quiet.  Off the grid, mostly (you can stand on some crests of hills and catch a signal for your phone).  I left with my friend Susan Medyn out of New Bedford Harbor into the spray of the water taxi... into the blue blue water & sky and finally saw little Cuttyhunk.  An Artist's Retreat.  Heaven.  And I did a fun little workshop on Plein Air for my group and the Islanders (it was open to all EIGHTEEN full time islanders).  

We were pampered with gentle, nourishing yoga on the front porch overlooking the ocean.  During the days we foraged for inspiration and the muse.... at night, under the gloaming sky, we toasted each day's fruit of our labor with wine & bites, then were presented with fabulous meals in the shingle style Inn, called the Avalon.  

This afternoon, I braved the whirling wind, and explored the Fisherman's Club, settling near the bluff that overlooked the old Coast Guard Station (red roof), and the spit of beach that pointed towards Nashawena (now... I may have spelled that wrong, but it's the next island).  I started out 'normally'... (you know, blue sky, greeny water), but then it was as if I heard my dearly departed teacher, Ros Farbush in my ear.  "ANYONE could paint that!  Put some color into it!"  So I let my brush dip into the purples and aqua... and ... here it is.  I do hate to part with it.  I'll share more paintings soon.

Where we had yoga every soft morning.

Monday, September 1, 2014

Ripple Effect, 6x6 Inch Oil Painting by Kelley MacDonald


It's that time again, Girls Just Wanna Paint Challenge!   This month our topic was rather loose, "Water", very open for interpretation.  Thoughts I had included a glass of water at a place setting on a table, a very realistic painting of a glass of ice water, a painting of someone watering their flowers or garden, a pot of water ready for pasta on the stove, a kitchen sink, aside from all the usual beach/boat/swim paintings I could do.  

I settled on this one, because it's from a photo session I did in Maine in June, early morning in the cove we stay at.  I have always been intrigued by the broken mirror image of the trees, the boat, the buoy, the sky in the water.  I thought to myself "I'll never get this, it's too complicated."  But I started early and s-l-o-w-l-y did one refection at a time.  It looks even better in person, and I'm quite happy with it. I can hear the lapping of the water at the dock I stood on to shoot the image.  Happy Labor Day weekend, and, unbelievably, it's SEPTEMBER!
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