Stack of Three Jellies, 6x6 Oil Painting by Kelley Macdonald

SOLD

Oh, despite the rain it was a WONDERFUL Open Studio~  Friends old and new dropped by and braved the drippy skies to say hello, see new work, and take new pieces home with them.  I had fabulous friends helping me, Jane Colbath and Carol Zaloumis were in charge of the 'cash wrap' desk - Meelynna Lor was so wonderful both the day before labeling and on Saturday patiently walking Jane and I through the 'Square' over and over and over.  (Got it now, Meelynna!)

Many, many of you came out, too, and I can't tell you how I appreciate seeing you in person!  I had a raffle for one of my new resin coated paintings for my blog followers only, and the winner was - unbelievably - Carol Zaloumis!  Unbelievable, because she didn't want her name in the jar - and I argued that it didn't matter that she was 'working' with me, if she was a blog follower - she was eligible!  And now... she'll receive her painting in the mail.

I am taking a break.  Summer was all work for me so far (granted, the best work one can possibly have...) but I'm going to enjoy the end of the summer, and if I get a little painting in... good!  If not, I'll let my creative juices stew, and enjoy my family before diving back in with new ideas and inspirations in September!

Dribble, 6x6 Inches, Oil

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I confess I've been missing my donut paintings!  For a while there I was a bit 'over' them... now I want to do them now and again!  

I stopped into not one, not two, but THREE Dunkin Donuts shops before I found 'good looking' jelly donuts.  And at that I had to ASK for 'not-weepy' jellies.  With the warm days the donuts don't cool down very quickly, and they stick them into stacks, where the sugar coating melts.  NOT appetizing.  However, the wonderful woman at the donut shop offered to re-coat them with sugar.  Made all the difference in the world.  How great is that dribbly jelly?  This piece will be nicely framed in a (famous) randy Higbee Frame, and will be offered in my new Art Stable Gallery.  Let's see how people in the area like donuts!

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!

The Best Defense Is A Good Offense, 8x8 Inches, Oil

SOLD

OK, I need to explain the title:  As of TODAY, the DONUT WAR is officially re-opened.  California artist Susan Roden and I will be flinging frosting, glaze and jelly across this great land of ours once again.  She is a wonderful artist and friend who takes as much delight as I do in painting pastries and confections.  We are both new members of the DailyPainters.com, and we thought we'd celebrate by re-instigating our *war*.  I believe in the saying "The best defense is a good offense!!"  This is a commission for a fellow Dunkie lover, but there are more in my ammo pack, not to worry ;)

Hey, I was lovin' that pink frosting and glaze... so fun to paint!
Jelly
Strawberry Frosted
Glazed (or Honey-Dipped)
Medium Regular Hot Coffee
YUM!  Couldn't wait to bite into that JELLY~

Tower Of Olives, 8x6, Oil

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I was going to do a stack of donuts for the Daily Paintworks Challenge this week.  Oh, sure, at first it was all 'teacups and plates' in my mind, but then I thought "Wait... I could do a stack of DONUTS!"  Of course I stopped at a new DD's, with the skimpiest frosting (see my other post about WHY people order frosted donuts) I'd ever seen.  Still, I thought, I could make it work.

I put down a jelly donut (properly 'encouraged' to give up a little jelly), and topped it with a Strawberry Frosted, then took a bite out of a Boston Cream (this was a sacrifice - they are one of my LEAST favorite donuts!) and put it on top.  Zooomed all the way in with my viewfinder and was SO excited about this until... all of a sudden... PLOP - SCRABBLE - gulp, smack, gulp ... the top two donuts had SLID off the bottom one!   And my trusty Studio Pup was on them like a fly on watermelon!

So... without further ado I slid a bunch of olives onto a skewer.  Stuck the skewer through the top of a box, and set the light up.  Olives were a TON of fun :) The skewer tilts a little but, but that's OK!  Find the Gin & Vermouth!   I'm going to do more!

Belated National Donut Day, 6x6 Inches, Oil (T-shirt Giveaway)

$100 &$10 S&H

Well, I missed posting a donut on National Donut Day last week because I was in Sedona - a town, believe it or not, without a donut shop.  Can you imagine?  I was totally out of my element.  The closest they came to a donut shop was a bagel shop, which, .... come on!  So... clearing out the cobwebs, and jet lag, etc. today I went to Sip & Dip (remember Tina, the greatest Donut Girl ever?  She remembered me - "Oh, the Donut Lady!") and got a great big (about 2 1/2 inches tall) jelly donut.  My favorite part of the painting was the drip, of course, in the detail below:

Now, here's the thing.  I got a T-shirt made that says "I love Kelley's Jellies!" with an image of one of my donut paintings on it.  Size Large (will definitely shrink).  The first person to email me saying they want it, and gives me their address gets it - I'll pay for the shipping.  

Happy National Donut Day... Belated!

Family Favorites, 8x8 Inches, Oil

This is a commission - and the pink here is a bit bright!  At first the photo was a bit pale - so... it's somewhat lighter than this!  It is a painting of the favorite donuts of a family - with a bite out of one of the chocolate frosted.   I learned something - 'glaze' is just as fun to paint as jelly!  This took 3 trips to the donut shop (Paco was very happy about this) because the first time the frosting got stuck to the bottom of other donuts,  the second time the donut girl, staring vacantly and slack jawed as I told her WHY I needed them to lay flat and not touch each other, jammed the top of the box down on the donuts crushing all the tops....  Hey, I did my time as a Bess Eaton Donut Girl - 11-7 a.m. 5 days a week, so I could work a day job, too, to help pay my senior year tuition... so I know all about that job - I have, actually some very interesting stories from that time.  

OK...  I'll tell you one.  (I know you're dying to know!)  Picture me, cop and schoolteacher's daughter,  been in a Catholic all-girls' school all my life, at a very nice college (scholarship girl, but whatever)... pretty much 'walking the line'...  I take this job over my parents' protests.  They lose sleep, because they KNOW what I'll see.  I learned that about 3 a.m. the local pimps and prostitutes (I didn't even realize we had them in our town) go for coffee and donuts.  Yup.  So I 'met' them all.   My parents were horrified.  I was terrified when they came in, to tell the truth.  One really big guy tried to be funny and 'take' my new earrings from my ear.  I was such a baby, I called the police!   But seriously?  He probably weighed 300 pounds and was about 6'5".  But my boyfriend (now husband) had given me those earrings and I was not about to give them up for anything!  TMI?

Reports Of My Demise Have Been Greatly Exaggerated

"Spectaular" 

5x5 inches

Reserved

This is a scene I've painted before, but every time it comes out just a little different.  It is possible this may be for sale - there is a customer who has first dibs on it - so if you're interested check in mid week next week, it may be available.

This is the view across the Sakonnet River, with the sun setting over Aquidneck Island, RI.  The cloud cover cracks open, and light streams down, and the sun sets illuminating the underside of the cloud.  Gets me every time.    I love the shimmer of the colors in the water.  Could I ever live without this view? Sure.  But I'd have hundreds of paintings of this no matter what!

Hope you all have a wonderful weekend!

I'm in NYC for a couple of days (and have had some personal issues that kept me away from the blogsphere for 7 whole days!) so I apologize for my absence, and I hope you all understand the craziness that our personal lives sometimes impose on us keeping us from our easels!

Below is the inspiration for a commission I'm working on.  When I arrive at Penn Station where do you think I head?  Krispy Kreme, of course!!!!  And being New Yorkers they feel compelled to tell us how many calories are in each kind of donut - you know, so you can choose the Original Glazed rather than the Chocolate Frosted Creme filled - for health reasons!!!

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! :)

Strawberry Frosted II, Original Oil Daily Painting by Kelley MacDonald

Giving the strawberry one another try. Honestly I'm practically wiped out of donuts... so... "time to make the donuts!" Actually, probably the last donut for this week, but who knows. I'm in technology hell - having lost my cell phone (yes, in my own house - but it's been 3 phone-less days now, which is making me idgy), and damaged my land line (OK, one of my kids actually lost one phone, the other handset is dying a slow death). So I'm alternately ransacking the house and looking up new cell phones/land line handsets. Ugh. I should paint PHONES!

I'm also really snowed under packing and shipping paintings - which is a really nice place to be. I'm hosting Carol Marine - and yes, while we were full with a wait list - if you want to be considered email me at kcareymac@hotmail.com - I've got a couple of slots that have opened up!

Also, check out Susan Roden's latest donuts....

Glazed Jellies, Original Oil Painting by Kelley MacDonald

SOLD

What can you do to improve Jelly Donuts? Dunk them in glaze. These are from The Coffee Shack in Marshfield, MA - I'm SO glad I don't live close by!

Susan Roden... truce till I'm done with my Open Studio this weekend?

11-5 - Paco says to COME ON DOWN!

Salvo In The Donut War, Boston Cream Donut by Kelley MacDonald

A challenge to paint, a challenge to photograph! IRL there is a part of the cream that is in shadow - distinct from the donut in shadow. See, Susan Roden? I can do ooooey and goooey, too! Taking a break from donuts (much to my family's relief) this weekend - next week I'll mix it up - the war's not over, Susan.... not by a long shot!

Possible Casualty in the Donut War, original oil painting by Kelley MacDonald

Hmmmm... I knew there was a reason I never bought these.... WHAT A CHALLENGE! Translucent parts, glazed parts, shadow parts---aye-yi-yi! This was the 3rd effort at capturing the wonderful pastry. I think Susan Roden may take me prisoner over this one! Our donut war is fun (and friendly, no need to worry!)! But starting Monday I'll be alternating subjects again (surely there will be more donuts, but I'll need a new wardrobe if I don't start painting other things!).**

In the meantime, my Challenge Group, Girls Just Wanna Paint, has posted July's efforts. The topic is Fin, Fur or Feather.

** Where I come from these donuts are called "Crawla's" (you know, French Crawllers).

Manager's Special, 6x6 inches, Original Oil by Kelley MacDonald

SOLD

I hadn't done a donut in a while, and this looked so tempting at Dunkin Donuts! A fellow painter at Daily Painters Originals keeps doing donuts and gets my craving going! So I'm fighting fire with fire - I'll TAKE your vanilla frosted, Susan Roden, and RAISE you a strawberry frosted with orange and pink dots! :) And yeah, I ate this one, after it sat under the lights filling the studio with the smell of warm dough and strawberry!

Doesn't it look sweet in the tiny donut box they gave me for the model?

Vanilla Frosted, 6x6, Oil

SOLD

*Special Announcement*

I am thrilled to announce that I have been invited to join a NEW group of online Daily Painters, called the Daily Painters Originals.  You'll see a lot of new links on my bloglist, they are really fine artists, and hopefully there will always be fun, fresh paint for you to look on our new site!

On National Donut Day I went in for my FREE jelly donut at Dunkin's... so excited to paint it on this red checked tablecloth, and.... they were OUT of jellies.  Hmmmm... Strawberry?  Out.   Well, so they had Vanilla Frosted, and I'd never painted one of those.  I do have to say that sitting under the lights makes the donuts SMELL fresh - a torture, I assure you!

$100 & $10 S&H via Paypal

Email me with questions at kcareymac@hotmail.com

Pick One! 6x8, Oil

Trying to get back in the groove of donuts, and feeling rusty!  I was listening to Leslie Saeta and Dreama  Tolle Perry on the radio show "Artists Helping Artists" about doing workshops.  I learned a lot, but I think I should EITHER listen or paint.  Today there was no option, as we have our Girls Just Wanna Paint meetup, and I had to run a bunch of errands, as well as whip up something tasty to share before hitting the road (not to mention puppy face-time!).  So hopefully more donuts to come.  

Our Painting Challenge for May is up and loaded - check it out!

One Sugar, Two Donut Holes, Oil, 6x6

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I love these Buffalo Mugs, with their chunky handles.  Trying to keep it looser.  I'm having a show in a coffee shop in Boston in late Spring, so I'm indulging my love of all things coffee!

Thursday night at Gallery Z  in Providence, from 5-7 I'll be participating in a Silent Auction to benefit the victims in Haiti.  Come on down if you can!  My framed painting of 'Fortune', below, will be auctioned off.  Let's hope it's a lucky fortune for the Haitians!

Trio, Oil, 6x6

Trio, 6x6

$100 + $10 S&H via Paypal

From Allie's Donuts! And I hope some of you who normally get my posts in their Inbox are checking in... I have no way to tell you I'm in Google Hell! Through some bug my 'Group' has become inaccessible to me, and there's a long process of recovery of the mailing list. Soooo... it may be a while, or I may have to ask people to sign up for a new group, due to this glitch. Enjoy your donuts, now...

Jelly, Jelly, Jelly, Oil, 6x6

SOLD

I found this place called Supreme Donut ("Our name says it all" it says on the box.) in Seekonk, MA, and although they actually don't have very MANY donuts, their jellies are far superior to Dunkin or anyone else's I've found in terms of pillowy texture and drippy jelly (if you like that kind of stuff, which, ... I do when I'm painting them!). I was going for a 'monumental' feel in this little painting, and also a sort of empathy, which I was trying to achieve with loose brushstrokes. I know, empathy for what???? But that's what I was going for!

Kane's Coconut, 8x8 oil

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As an anniversary treat my husband took the day off and took me anywhere I wanted to go. First stop, Kane's Donuts in Saugus, where Paula and Nina Villanova went and enjoyed the World Famous Donuts introduced to Paula by Katie May McElwain (all bloggers, BTW). We had the pup with us (no pics of Paco there, because the 'gentleman' waiting on us practically growled as Paco cried for me at the door), and I should have gotten a shot of that. All of the donuts looked like blue ribbon examples of their breed. But I am fond of coconut, so I painted one today. If you are ever in Saugus - let me amend that by saying if you are every driving BY Saugus, be sure to stop in and get a sugar fix at this cute little place! Could I have picked a harder donut to paint? But I was channeling Colin Page (not Colin Powell....) and treating the white coconuts as 'sparkle'... all different 'colors' of white dancing on the top of the cake...