Extra Chocolate Frosting, 6x6 Inch Oil Painting by Kelley MacDonald

$100 & $10 S&H

Click HERE To Purchase

LOTS of stuff going on.  Really.  Yesterday's painting was selected as a Daily Paintworks Pick of the Day!  This past weekend I had a couple of paintings in the Pembroke Arts Festival, and I did a donut demo there on Saturday.  Got interviewed on a local cable show there too.  I painted 4 donuts, below:

Today's donut is part of the plethora (now, haven't you always wanted to USE that word?) of donuts I'm painting for this upcoming weekend's Open Studio at my home/studio.  Ah-cha-cha!  The craziness here!  I tell you it's astounding!

If you cut this invitation out and bring it to my Open Studio, write your contact information on the back, because I'm GIVING AWAY a painting if you come because of my blog or my Facebook invitation!  Tomorrow I'll publish the painting I'm giving away.  Gonna be FUN!

Yellow Bouquet, 6x6 Inch Oil Painting by Kelley MacDonald

  Getting ready for Open Studios this year has been more of a push up than usual. In the past I tidied up, brought bins of paintings from my studio, hung the signage, and VOILA!  This year I still had boxes I had yet to unpack form moving my studio into my LIVING ROOM, plus I had 3 easels, 3 mediums, all my art supplies... all that needed moving.  Oh, and stacks of paintings against the walls, on the walls and on the shelving, which needed to be relocated, too.  WAH!  What was I thinking?  I should have been getting ready for this for MONTHS.

Well, what happens when you're under the gun and the clock is ticking, and you know you should have started waaaaaay earlier?  You become exhausted, you fall down the stairs, you miss deadlines because you were not looking at the clock, you accidentally let the cat out one day and he disappears (no worries, he did come back) and the dog out another day and he runs down the middle of Main Road leaving you NO choice but to chase him in your NIGHTGOWN and flip flops, you argue with people you love, UNTIL it's all done.

Happy to report it's all done :)  And we can be normal now - I mean, as normal as we ever were.  Some nice Facebook friends have suggested that if this art thing doesn't work out I could write sit-coms from my life.  We'll see how it goes.  Anyway, I'd SO love to see you, and have you see what I've been working on.  I love meeting people who follow the blog - so be SURE to introduce (or re-introduce - I have a brain like a sieve) yourself if you decide to take a ride to one of the most beautiful areas in New England!  

Dreaming of Maine, 8x8 Inch Oil Painting by Kelley MacDonald

SOLD

  Deceptively simple.  But like a dream, there are many layers of paint on this painting.  It has a solid 'structure' but then the paint just glided on...fluid and in ... well, 'dreamy' colors.  With a hint of what we call 'calligraphy' on the little islands, where I've carved through the paint.  I was going to save this for my Open Studio, but I though, ... no.. I had to share it.  Feel free to zoom in, you find all sorts of interesting things going on in this painting.  I don't say this about many of my paintings, but I love this piece.

Busy getting ready for my Open Studio next weekend!!!!!  I am inviting you all.  This year I'm leaving up a Work In Progress, and you can see my palette, my favorite brushes, and my colors.  I'd like to say I'm cleaning and organizing but I can't stop PAINTING.  You may show up to my usual disarray of stacks of paintings I'm working on, a table with acrylics set up, my oil paint set up, my colored markers - all in the midst of being used!

Box O Donuts, 12x12 inch oil painting by Kelley MacDonald

Ahhhh... We had a session and these were the 'runners up' that didn't get picked for paintings... so I gave them their own 'crowd shot'...  A bit of glare on the photo, but... hey, it's too late now that I've noticed it to take a new photo. I loved painting these donuts - I let myself be a bit more expressive than normal, and you know what?  It felt great!

I am ready!  For the Open Studio this weekend.  I have a number of new paintings, both in the 'Studies At Reasonable Prices' area, and the 'New Work for Shows, etc.' area. :)

I'm so looking forward to seeing everyone!  Good weather is predicted.  Donuts will be available (till they run out!) on Saturday!  Paco, Harry & Isabelle have promised - NO PET DRAMA this weekend!

Chocolate At The Beach, 18x24, oil, and a correction by Kelley MacDonald

Now you call know why I never did well in clerical jobs - how they kept me on as a legal secretary in my younger days for 3 years is totally beyond me!  Yesterday's little collage said my Open Studio was on Sunday and Monday.  No.  The South Coast Open Studio Tour is SATURDAY and SUNDAY, the 20th and the 21st.  I think my brain is not working right because of the heat.  Which I am trying desperately to avoid!

But the doggie, above, will be hanging this weekend at the Little Compton Art Show at the Community Center.  Friday night, Saturday and Sunday.  It's a great little show, and if you're in the mood for a ride, it's a beautiful ride from my house.  You can't miss my Open Studio - I've got art EVERYWHERE.  On the house, in the house, on the porch, the side porch.....  it's a good thing, though.  And I have two FUN friends helping me out this weekend, I feel so blessed, and lucky..... really lucky.

Also this lovely lady at the Little Compton Show: 

I've been awol lately.  No excuse except I haven't been painting many little Daily Paintings!  I've been working on bigger pieces and trying to get organized (a Herculean effort for me) for my first Open Studio weekend of the Summer - this weekend!

As a member of the South Coast Artists Open Studio Tour, I'm excited to show you my work!  I'm emptying out my living room and porch to hang paintings, so if it's too hot we don't have to deal with it - I'll have the a/c on! ( I figure this is a great excuse to do work in my living room after the Tour.... heh heh heh!)

You can download a brochure, or pick one up at my house first!  I'm easy to get to:  from ANYWHERE! 

•  Take Route 24 in RHODE ISLAND.  
• Exit 5 (again, in RI) which is Tiverton and Little Compton.  
• Head South off the exit for about a mile - I'm 1888 Main Road - right past Coastal Roasters (best coffee anywhere).  

You can download the brochure HERE, and you will see I am #9  on the map - but I am the FIRST artist on the Main Road.  A great place to start, and I can give you easy directions to any of the other great artists on the Tour.

Message In The Clouds, 30x40 Inch Original Oil Painting by Kelley MacDonald

30x40 inch oil painting. (LOOK how tiny my initials on the right look!)

One of my favorite scenes, which I personally witnessed and can produce the photo - I have painted this before but never this big.  The paint is thick especially in the cloud area, and when I look at the water it brings me right back to the beach I was walking that day.

It was a difficult time.  I didn't know how I could manage more... more... more.. you've been there?  Well, in a prayer, I asked for a sign... a sign to help me gather strength, a sign of love and support... and I looked up, and no kidding....  It looked impossible.  All of a sudden the beach was empty (it was September, but there had been other walkers besides me) and I stood, slack-jawed... and thought... "Yup, I can do it..."  and I did, and came through it.

This will be at my Open Studio - along with fun little paintings which are inspired by the foam edges of the gentle laps of the water nearby.  They are coated with resin, which makes a rock-hard-glassy barrier.. and makes the colors just sing!

If you follow my blog, and come to my Open Studio - TELL ME or the person at the 'desk', and I will enter you in a raffle for a FREE resin-foam/bubbles painting! (you'll just have to put your address on your entry so I can ship it - also free - to the winner, hopefully YOU.)

Example of Foam/Bubble painting before the resin coating:

Last year I had Blog friends from every state in New England, and more - it was such a great thing!

Good LUCK!

Coco's Best, 12x12 Inches Oil Painting of Chocolate Lab by Kelley MacDonald

This is the 3rd in a series of dogs swimming, this one being at a Dock Dogs competition.  I thought Coco was a pretty cool name for a Chocolate Lab, and I certainly am enjoying painting the pool water! This, along with the other two, will be available at my Open Studio this weekend, on the South Coast Open Studio Tour!

From anywhere: get to Route 195 and take exit 8A, Route 24 to Newport.

Take Exit 5 and take a LEFT off the exit onto rte 77 South.  This is Main Road, follow to 1888 Main Road! 

 I am called #8 (there is no rhyme or reason for the numbers, I know) on the MAP.  Just follow the easy directions above, you'll find me!

I'm preparing something new and exciting to show you.....

Teaser For Open Studio

This is a 30x30 Inch oil painting on canvas that took me, quite literally, months to do.  Sometimes I just can't help doing something like this, quite different from my usual contemporary realism.  I can stand for hours in front of the canvas, in a kind of meditative state, just thinking 'Shape' 'shape' 'shape' 'color' 'color' 'color'.  I'm quite sure there are thousands of brushstrokes.  I don't know where it comes from, or if it's 'legitimate', it just makes me happy, and I find myself putting important things off (go home, eat lunch, walk the dog) to do just one or two more colors.

So, no, I was not thinking of Klimt or any other artist when I did this, perhaps subconsciously, but not actively.

WHATEVER!  It's fun for me and I'll have it at my Open Studio this weekend, from 11-5, Saturday and Sunday.  1888 Main Road, Tiverton, RI.

*This will be for sale, contact me for info

Ooeey Gooey Stack of Jelly Donuts, 6x6 inch Oil Painting by Kelley Macdonald

SOLD

Today was Donut Day in my studio.  While yesterday I labored over 4 large sky paintings, today I bought a box of donuts and set about to getting some inventory for my Open Studio.  While the Donut War has wrapped up (both sides winners), I found myself diving into this painting and just having a ball withe the drippy jelly and the powdered sugar.  And, no, I don't paint the 'dots' of sugar one by one! :)

My second donut painting needs more work before I show it to you.  It was a victim of ungodly humidity in the studio.  While the overall temp was mid-high 80's, the humidity was raging.  My hands were sopping in my gloves, and I was getting cranky, I tell you!

But for fun, here's a slew of works-in-progress, where I am inspired by the foam at the tips of the small laps of water here on the river.  I have decided I am just going to play with colors, matching them up as I like, just favorites of colors.  I still have some to do on each, but this is the general gist.  And THEN I'm planning on trying to cover them with resin for a glass-like finish.  I am so excited about these.  They'll be on a table of their own at my Open Studios on the 18th and 19 of this month.  Enjoy the colors...

  

  They are all 6x6 or smaller.

Dusk View, 8x24 inches, Original Oil Painting by Kelley MacDonald

Another new one at the gallery.  I have been painting a LOT lately - yeah, I know, a lot of you think I paint a lot because I do a lot of Daily Paintings (small format paintings).  But since I got back from Maine I have been working on bigger pieces.  The dogs recently were two that came out of it but I have a couple of 36x36's coming...).  But I have been thinking a lot about color and texture.  This painting, simple as it looks, took days to complete.  I very much wanted this particular sliding scale of the orange and the pink/lavendar.  You see colors like that around here after the sun sets - the water leans to lavender, and the sky orange.  Also just before the sun rises.

So!  Hoping I can paint enough so that my INNER painter can come out and play, and she's coming up the driveway - I can see her but she's not here yet.  But paintings like this are getting me there.

This is at the Art Stable Gallery.  865 Main Road Westport, and will be open from 11-5 Saturday and Sunday, and should be well attended!  I'm going to be there around lunchtime (probably 1-ish) on Saturday.  Should be a blast :)

Yep, more dogs coming - but not for a few days!!!!  I'm hooked on that series!

*and yes, that's a piece of grass on the lower edge - I just noticed it!  I took the photo in the grass!)

Good Dog, Bailey!, 12x12 Original Oil Painting by Kelley MacDonald

"Good Dog, Bailey!"

On our way to our painting retreat in Maine last month, my buddy Sally Dean Mello and I pulled off the highway to take a break.  In a shopping center parking lot there was this huge tank of water with a ramp, and a lot of dogs (mostly, but not all, retriever types) in line.  Turns out it was some kind of competition for the dogs to run and leap as far as they could, pick up their toy that had been tossed, and swim back.  To say that these dogs had a blast was an understatement.  They could NOT get their turn again soon enough!  I've gotten 2 of my 3 painted, on 12x12 gallery wrapped (no need for frames) canvases.  They are now at the Art Stable Gallery at 835 Main Road in Westport, MA.  

The South Coast Open Studio Tour for July (I'm doing the August tour at my house and I would LOVE to see you!) happens all around our gallery.  Here's what I suggest, on this lovely weekend.  Stop by the gallery around lunchtime.  The shop next door, called Partners Village Store, has fabulous lobster rolls, $19, and worth every penny, with fresh local lobster, and a lovely patio to eat on right in front of the gallery!!!!  Now, here's the tip:  call your sandwich order in ahead (they also have great ham, turkey and veggie sandwiches) because it's a half hour wait.  Then come, devour, and stop in to the Gallery.  I'm going to try to be there around lunchtime at least on Saturday.  I'd be so happy to meet you!   Anyway, clicking on the link HERE, will get you the downloadable Tour Guide.  Email me if you'd like the insider's guide to some really cool artists....

And a *shout out* to Margaret - (friend of Maria Hock's!) for stopping in the gallery last week while I was there.... SO great to meet you!

SOLD

Sorry, sorry to Susan Roden, that this photo is full of glare!  She has to set up something to deflect this triple threat in the Donut War!  These babies were literally oozing wonderful jelly!

These sold on the first day of my 2 day Open Studio weekend. 

Let me just say I was slack-jawed AMAZED at the people who drove and drove and drove to visit!  CT, VT, NH, ME, South Shore of Boston, North Shore of Boston, all around RI - I was simply floored.  These guys just know me from my blog and are awesome!  I met some people who I never knew, but who 'know' me from this blog.  People were so familiar with the Daily Paintings and pointed out their favorites.  Some people actually brought ME treats - and among the most fun were a donut T-shirt and a pound of Dunkin Donuts Coffee (Ivy!  Thank you!)  

On another subject, the new camera was GREAT.  Nikon P7000.  36 zoom AND a viewfinder.    This photo, the only one I have since I just got the camera on Fri and this sold on Saturday, was taken in sub-optimal conditions, as it was literally going out the door.  I'm trying to keep up and mark the 'sold' ones on the blog, and this week I'll add them to the 'Sold' page.  Fabulous weekend, thanks to all who stopped by!

Beavertail State Park View, 8x10, Oil

SOLD

Today the Painting Safari went to Jamestown, RI.  This is a view from the rocks on the side of the lighthouse.   What I loved painting was the changing colors of the water, and those gorgeous puffy clouds!

To clarify something - this is the weekend for the South Coast Open Studio Tour -  but I am not participating this July.  I WILL, however, will be open in August - and it will be fanTAStic.  This weekend, however, I will be visiting as many studios that I can! 

Also, below is a commission I just finished for my daughter's boyfriend's birthday:  It is he and Molly last Derby Day:

Same, But Different, Original Oil Painting By Kelley MacDonald

NFS*

This weekend I was part of the South Coast Open Studio Tour.  I was overwhelmed with the number of people who follow my blog who stopped by!  One gentleman came specifically (drove an hour) for a donut painting he'd seen on the blog that had 'pre-sold' (the purchase was just before the open studio, but I got to put the painting out to show it anyway), and he was very disappointed.  I promised to work on another one for him and would make sure he had one in hand by the end of Sept (I am hosting a Carol Marine Workshop in my studio AND spending a week on the Cape painting Ptown), so here I am, not only firing a SALVO to Susan Roden in our Donut War, but working on his piece!

I'm humbled by the sheer number of people who came and supported me this weekend - people I hadn't seen in YEARS, people I'd never met in person - it was great.  And now I have to try to catch up to mark my paintings sold on the blog that went to new homes!

*Not For Sale

Evening Song, 6x8 Original Acrylic Painting by Kelley MacDonald

SOLD

This is one of my favorite sunsets from my porch. Last time I used a taller canvas... this time more rectangular. I still think I'm going to do a HUGE one of these! I hope everyone had a wonderful weekend. I enjoyed my time off and am 'off to the races' now. I have more plans for my 'donut war'... so I hope you don't mind!

Getting ready for my Open Studio on my front lawn this weekend - 11-5 ... you can see this view from there... I've heard from so MANY of you saying you were taking a girlfriend on this tour - I think they should call it the 

"Open Studio Girlfriend Tour"! So fun!

Pug Dreams, 6x6 OIl

SOLD

Feeling a little guilty that I haven't updated Paco's Blog in over a month. I am just wayyyy overcommitted at this point. Trying to pare it down, but still have a lot of fun and paint daily. This is my view of Paco on a daily basis, because watching me paint is... just boring! I hope everyone has a great weekend, and if you're in the area, stop by at my Open Studio on my lawn in Tiverton! It Exit 5 off rte 24 -one mile south of the exit. It's the smaller Open Studio - I gear up for the August one, on the lawn as well. Part of the South Coast Open Studio Tour!

Red & Ready, Oil, 6x6

One of the last few red roses, this flower is much more beautiful than depicted here. I remember Qiang when he was 'struggling' with roses (THAT's how long I've been blogging!), and I see where he's gone with it. Maybe I'll get there, too. I felt like I should paint a flower... after all, it's Summer! Wish me luck on the Studio Tour tomorrow!

*+*+*+*+*+ If anyone is planning to come by, you can download the brochure Here , BUT there's a zillion artists spread out over a large area. To stop by my studio first (it's very convenient and right on the way to a ton of other really cool studios) just take rte 24 South INTO Rhode Island, Get off at Exit 2, Take a LEFT and I'm about a mile or so on the left, at #1888, right after the gas station (there's only one). I'll have lemonade & iced tea & munchies, too, so get refreshed!

Outsider, 6x6 Oil

SOLD

Taking inspiration from my friend Mary Sheehan Winn, I decided to paint some of these yellow cherry & mini plum tomatoes. But for good measure I had to add one of the red ones from my garden. It looks like the red mini plums are the only kind we're going to get, outside of a couple of Roma's. The Big Boys succumbed to the blight (that sounds tragic, doesn't it? But really, they are tomatoes....)

I'm getting excited about this Open Studio Tour on Saturday and Sunday... I've decided to really clear out my studio, and have TONS of paintings for $50 and $75 as well as the 'old' Daily Paintings for $35. I'm going to display my newer work, but I know that this year anyway, the sales will be from the 'Bargain Boxes'. That's fine - I really need space in my studio, so... Bye Bye paintings! Let's hope the weather's good!

Come On Down!

You Are Invited!

To my second Open Studio
As part of the South Coast Open Studio Tour

This Weekend, August 22nd and 23rd
11-5 p.m.
Held at 1888 Main Road
Tiverton, RI

To get directly to my house, where I've got my work, just get to Rte 24 South in RI, take Exit 2. Take a left, and we are a little over a mile on the left, at #1888. There's a lovely coffee shop just before our house called Coastal Roasters, with great coffees, for a comfort stop. We have the same view. Come on by!

Forgive me if you've already received my email blast (half the addresses failed!), or seen this on Facebook!

Also, I have updated my Studio Blog with the above image in a larger size, with close-up photos!