Oh, Honey!, 6x12 Acrylic Painting by Kelley MacDonald

Right now I'm on my yearly painting retreat in Maine.  7 days of art - IMAGINE!  We only have to worry about what's for dinner one night each, and we do housekeeping the morning we leave.  It's a love fest, and a week of intense sharing of news in the art world, techniques, art history and ideas.  

On the road to the nearest lighthouse is a beekeeper who sells her wares from her porch.  She lines up different sized jars with a 'honey bee bear' on the railing.  Against the house are the butterflies she makes and sells.  I look forward to this still life every year. And the light coming through that honey - BAM!

Honey Honey Honey Bear, 6x12 Inch Acrylic Painting by Kelley MacDonald

$175 & $10 S&H

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It's no secret that I love Maine, and it's not only for the ocean.  I've got ocean.  It's for the fresh, straightforward, simple, way it has about it.  On the way to Pemaquid Lighthouse there's a little house that stacks jars of honey (and a 'honey' bear) on their porch railing.  I look for it every year, and last year I bought some of their delicious honey.

I gave myself one hour to paint this.  One of my favorite memories of my friend/teacher Ros Farbush was her response to people asking "How long did it take you to paint this?"  She would say "65 years plus three hours."  (or whatever it took)  Because every painting is a building block - a learning session.  

I was waiting for dough to rise for pizza tonight and as soon as I popped the dough bowl in the warmed oven I ran for my paints.  My photo reference was perfect, although sometimes it's better if it's not.  I truly let myself go on autopilot and just remembered the sights, the smells, the feel of the air against my skin, the happy days and nights with fun and talented artist friends... and let it rip.

Honey Bear, 4x6, Oil

What's that phrase?  "Necessity necessitates?"  Well, there I was at the studio with nothing, NOTHING to paint for a Daily Painting.  I couldn't make myself paint another mug, although I got a cool one for my birthday specifically for the studio.  So to go with a nice herb tea I have a little 'honey bear'.  Put it in the black box and, voila`!

I also mistakenly posted on my Studio Blog instead of here, a  Featured Artist, fellow blogger, Phyllis Adams.  She does cool paintings of dogs, so check her out!

Also you may notice a Monday Morning Painters link, over to the right.  If any of you would like to paint with us, it's a weekly plein air session - no 'leader', but I'll post directions to the site every week.  It's not a club, it's just a weekly site - please feel free to join us!