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

4x4 Inch Oil Painting: "Toast - To You"

$65 & $10 S&H

Click HERE To Purchase

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.....

Mine, 6x6 Inch Oil Painting by Kelley MacDonald

SOLD

There are few things as fun to paint as whiskey and ice.  There.  I've said it!  Glass, ok, that too.  Now... I want to reassure everyone that I have NOT quit my blog.  I simply have had an avalanche of things to do for my painting career.  I'm teaching 2 classes... getting things in my gallery, the Art Stable Gallery in Westport, MA, entering and picking up paintings from shows and Festivals... yeow... not to mention family things and pet things and house things and.... and...  well... recently I DID take another day off (I think one a month is allowed, no?) and had my friend Mary Sheehan Winn (check out her blog!) over to my new studio in Warren!  Below you can see how enchanted she was with this big cow on our walk from the parking space to the delectable lunch at the Providence Art Club. (the meter maid saw us park her car, and we timed it perfectly for the 1-hour zone - 57 minutes!)

I've missed this girl!  She's back from a warmer clime, and came all the way to Warren to visit me.  We later had pizza on my porch, with a poor excuse for a sunset, but she was a good sport anyway.  

Also....

I'm going to be doing a "Painting Safari", where we have a plein air class once a week in the East Bay RI once a week, with a demo, and a critique (if wanted)... details coming soon.  I will also travel for a one-day plein air lesson - within an hour's drive of Providence, just email me.  It's almost summer, we might as well!!!!

Cocktails For Two!, 8x10 inch oil painting by Kelley MacDonald

8x10 inches

$200 & $10 S&H

Click HERE To Purchase

In my painting classes last week we had a 'cocktail party', and I was totally inspired by the colors and set ups that my students selected.  So I thought - I MUST have something to celebrate, and it will come to me as I paint.  So... *tick*tick*tick* (time going by)... I found out my painting Maine Chicks won an Honorable Mention at the upcoming North River Arts Festival.  I'm honored just to get IN that show!  So... Cheers! (And yes, I ate 2 cherries just setting this up...)

(and even though I always HATE to put a $200 price on a Daily Painting, this is 8x10, and that is a fraction of what it will go for at the gallery - if it doesn't sell this week, it goes on the Art Stable Gallery walls!)

Here's the little Maine Chicks...

Manhattan, 5x7 Inch Oil Painting by Kelley MacDonald

SOLD

Hey, TGIF, right?  Apparently there are a few people out there who like the Mad Men cocktails... Manhattan!  This was fun to paint - I could almost smell it as I painted it.  It's the weekend, and I am stacked up - Class on Saturday (we're having a 'cocktail' party - and we have a couple of slots open due to travel, so.... you're welcome!), then the Spring Bull opening, where I have 3 Gull paintings, then the Girls Just Wanna Paint will meet at my studio on Sunday.  All good things.  I am grateful for all my peeps, and for the art in my life!~

Two Dirty Martini's, Coming Right Up, 6x6 Inch Oil Painting by Kelley MacDonald

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Girls Night Out, right?  2 Dirty Martini's and an appetizer to split.... if this makes it to Thursday, it will be part of the 'cocktail collection' at the Sea Rose Cottage at Bristol Art Night, in Bristol, RI.  I will be the Featured Artist, and will have a fun group of paintings to share.  There will be the Cocktails, the Donuts, the Pugs and the Flowers, all small, around 6x6 inches, as well as a few larger pieces I've done over this past Winter.  I thought painting the 'dirty' liquid would be the hardest part of this painting, but it wasn't bad at all!  And olives.  I love my olives. :D

(I'm noticing the tiny edge of the painting at the bottom needs to be cropped a little better, you an see the tiny line of the panel holder.  Will shoot another photo tomorrow and replace it on the blog!

All's well here.... hope you all have a fabulous week - and stop by Bristol on Thursday form 5-9 if you can!

Here's To You, 6x6 Inch Acrylic Painting by Kelley MacDonald

Just fooling around today, on this 2nd snow day of the week.. and thought I'd have some fun with my acrylic paints.  This has layers and layers of fun colors, and the green martini is a real Girls Night Out kind of drink!

I'm reaaaaallly getting sick of winter, the pretty snow has lost all it's appeal to me as I try to get my little pug to walk in belly-deep snow.... we both need a blast of sunshine!  Hope you and yours have been safe during this latest round of storms...

Did I tell you that I'm making my Saturday class more of an 'ongoing' thing, rather than 8 weeks here, 10 weeks there?  Yup.  $25 for the day - and you don't have to reserve a spot, but it's nice for me to know how many to set up for.  People bring snacks, and we have a break where we look at work we've done between classes, for critiques - or just to show.  Come on down! :)

10-1 Saturdays, 32 Cole Street, Warren, RI

Cosmopolitan, 6x6 Inch Oil Painting by Kelley MacDonald

$100 & $10 S&H

Click HERE to Purchase

Well, this weekend I fell down on the job and missed 'our' cocktail.  So today I thought I'd sneak one to you.  I have a strong preference for Cosmo's.  they must be pale, pale, pale - it's NOT a Cape Codder, for Pete's sake!  It must have a nice piece of citrus - lemon or lime (I like them both), you must use a good quality vodka (at least Absolute quality) and Cointreau, not Triple Sec.  Shake, pour into chilled martini glasses - aaaahhhhhhhhh.  

I see that my cropping failed a bit here - on the left side there is that dark edge that I need to crop out, apologies.

I am busily painting as well as packing up my studio, and will catch up on my two still short in my 30 Paintings in 30 Days!!!  Going to do it!!!!~

Tomorrow... another pug!

Vodka and Bitter Lemon, 6x6 Inch Original Oil Painting by Kelley MacDonald

$100 & $10 S&H

A really cool drink, and not too sweet (but certainly not bitter, as the label describes) is Vodka and Bitter Lemon over ice.  Kind of like lemonade only bright and lemony- -very refreshing!  Having fun with my glass in the SKYY vodka and the bitter lemon bottles (yes, bitter lemon is carbonated), and then there's the infernal lemon!  I find yellow anything a challenge to paint for some reason - and to also have light pouring through the fluid filled fruit is enough to make you crazy some days!  You see, the 'white' of the lemon is DARKER than the light filled fruit (lit from the side).  I love making myself crazy with this stuff.

And if you're around, I'm just mentioning it again, I'll be in the Framing Concepts (105 South Street) in Hingham from 12-4 on Sunday. Come to the virtual cocktail party!  And, yes, I have 3 new jelly donut paintings I'm bringing!  YAY Hingham Arts Walk!

Waiting For Tonic, 6x6 Inch Original Oil Painting By Kelley MacDonald

6x6 Inches, Oil

First, let me just say that if you haven't tried Hendrick's Gin.... y'oughta!

This weekend marked the (belated) push for the Little Picture Shows.  I can hardly believe how many I've committed to.  This weekend I did 4 'cocktail' type paintings.  My first thought is to do 3 cocktail and 3 donut paintings for the Providence Art Club Little Picture Show, like last year.

Since taking Carol Marine's Advanced Workshop a couple of weeks ago I'm all excited to do glass and reflective surfaces... so look forward to more!

Also - as a balm to our hectic world, with all our anxieties and conflicts (think politics - and then DON'T think politics...)  I offer to you a recent sunset from my front porch.  Maybe someday I'll get brave enough to tackle them again!

Donut War Day! The End Of An Era!

All good things must come to an end, so the saying goes.  Susan Roden and I have had a wonderful time with the Donut War.  I would like to toast Susan, and wish her every success, and thank her for her friendship and sense of fun throughout our war.  Now... Peace in the Donut Zone!

No, this doesn't mean I'll stop painting donuts, don't worry!   And if you've wondered if I fell off the face of the earth last week... no... I was teaching wonderful artists at a workshop in my studio. We had SUCH a blast!  They produced some beautiful work!  See below:

 

There's more on Facebook - 'Friend' me, and take a look!

Got Vermouth? 5x7 Inches, Oil

SOLD

OK, for now... an end to the Olive series (some of you are going "YAY", I know!)  No, I'm not done with cocktails... I have a few more - ahem - in mind.  I love the blue in this Bombay Sapphire bottle.  And - what's more fun than green olives and red pimento's?

I get into the label, too...  maybe in another life I'll be a sign painter.  OK, tomorrow I'm headed to Maine for a painting week with some awesome painters.  My household will miss me, and I them... but I will be in a happy (but not internet connected) place.   

Happy Anniversary Toast, 6x6 Inches, Oil

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Lots of people (me included) have anniversaries this month.  We've been so busy that we're putting off the actual *celebration* (read: Al Forno's for dinner) till July, but I can be sure Tim will make me one of his Signature Martini's on the 24th, which is our Day.  I want to say Happy Anniversary to all you out there who also celebrate this month.  Hey, I'm so into painting the olives this week I just couldn't help myself.  Next week it'll be the rocks and wilds of Maine.  So.... Cheers to ALL my blog readers!

And.... remember I did the 'giveaway' of the Kelley's Jellies T-shirt? Here it is!  Sheila from CA won it, and I was thrilled because I've been a fan of HERS for a long time!  Check her blog out!

Spirits, 6x6 Inch Original Oil Painting by Kelley MacDonald

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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.... :)

Commission of Jack & Coke, Oil, 6x8

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I have one brushstroke left on this - the center-right part of the rim - as it stands it looks like the glass has a chip in it... actually there was a light reflection along the dark bit of background that shows through the glass.  I'll put it in tomorrow - the paint was so wet and slippery nothing would stay down!  I was tearing my hair out over the Coke, and thought I had it (ice and all) and I asked my DH to come look (I wanted him to say "Great!  You're done!"  But instead, to my surprise he said "You got it!  Except you need to put in the bubbles!"  Huh?  I said, then I looked, and yup.... there were tiny bubbles coming up in vertical streams!  If you're wondering why the whiskey bottle is still full, yet this is supposed to be a 'Jack & Coke' - I'll admit... I used a nip so I could leave the bottle full!

Jack Is Beautiful! 6x8, Oil

I have a commission to paint Jack Daniel's, Coke and lime... and so I set it up, sketched it in, poured in the whiskey, and.... couldn't pour in the Coke - the color of the whiskey was so beautiful.  This is from someone who can hardly stand the smell of it!  I refrained from adding the Coke for this one painting, just because the liquid in the bottom of the Waterford Crystal glass was like a golden jewel. 

 First I was saying "AUGHHH!  Crazy woman - how on earth can this be painted!"  Then the OTHER voice in my head showed up saying "Oh, calm down.  Anything can be painted.  What do you SEE?"  And my breathing slowed and I just concentrated on exactly what I saw, without over-thinking or actually even drawing all those 'cuts' in the glass.  And the liquid in that bottle was so FUN to paint!

$100 & $10 S&H via PayPal

Virtual Cocktail Party, various artists

A couple of weeks ago I sent out an invitation to any blogging painter who wanted to come was invited to a 'Virtual Cocktail Party', BYOB.  Well, here we are,  an intimate cyber gathering with our choice of beverages (for today, anyway)....

Cheers, everyone!

Me - Cabernet Sauvignon, MontGras Reserva 2007

Pam Holnback's Wine

Amy Hillenbrand, Cocktail

Gwen Bell,  Kaluha & Cream

Nancy Colella's Chardonnay

Kim Remple's Ceasar

Dana Cooper's "After The Party"

Sally Dean's Cosmo

 Margarita by Page Railsback

Martini by Page Railsback

Mary Sheehan Winn's Virtual Martini

Also, if anyone's having trouble with my blog loading, would you let me know?  I heard from someone who had a problem - only with my blog.  It could be because I have a rather large amount of images on each 'page', but I do that because I found people don't usually go beyond the first page (do you blame them?).  

Mojito! 8x8 Acrylic

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I set this up in my house and worked in acrylic - more difficult for me with the things like glass, etc., but easier with layering of the limes!  If anyone wants this please email me very soon ($100 & $10 s&h via PayPal), because next weekend I'll be giving it to my daughter to auction off - she's still only halfway to her fundraising goal for her Boston Marathon Run.  I'll post a link to her site, too, because people have been asking about it.  Anyway my favorite Mojito is made with sake (ooooh, so smooth!) but this one is traditional, with rum!    Hot lights & ice.... equal rapid painting!

Martini & 3 and a Cocktail Party Invitation!

NFS

OK, I won't apologize for the photo, but bear in mind that it is nighttime and I finally found my camera (hidden in plain sight, of course!).  Well I promised my daughter another couple of 'drink' paintings so she can auction them off because they were so popular, and that's how this martini came about.  My friend Janet Kingan asked for 3 olives last time, so here you are, Janet!  I'm always inspired by Shawn Kenney when I paint martini's - he been an inspiration since I started blogging!

OK - I'm inviting all my fellow bloggers to send me an image they paint of their favorite cocktail - and in a couple of weeks I'll post them - lets' say by the 15th of March - so it'll be a 'birthday cocktail party' for me!  I'll post them all here.  It's a non-recurring challenge, and I just need to be able to upload your images, and have your full name and link.  Cheers!*

*My husband asked WHY I needed vermouth to paint a martini - "You can't SEE it..." he said... I guess I just need it to be authentic!!  And I think you can SMELL it....

Hendrick's Gin & Tonic, 5x7 Acrylic

This Gin & Tonic is NFS, it's part of the raffle I mentioned in an earlier post for my daughter to participate in the Boston Marathon.  Since I'm not a big drinker, I splurge when I do, so... it's Hendrick's. If you like gin at all, this is the creme de la creme.  This painting, in acrylic, done at home (with a zillion light sources) drove me batty.  Literally.  I cried.  I threw stuff.  I bent my brush.  This is attempt #3, and I can't bring myself to show you the 1st two - they looked like it was my very first painting.  Not used to painting glass with acrylics - and it's different, and the light... So my husband suggested I shut all the shutters in the room, and turn on my clamp light... now why didn't I think of that?  And really... try, just TRY to paint ice under a hot light!!!!  Suffice it to say that my house looks like a hurricane hit it after all my fits...

Now, I think I'll drink my subject... I deserve it!