Wild And Crazy Martini, 8x8 Inch Acrylic Painting by Kelley MacDonald

"Wild And Crazy Martini", 8x8 Inch Acrylic on Canvas

 I got about 90% of this done in class at North River.  A student/friend graciously let me use this vivid fabric and I LOVE it.   I visualize this framed in a white wood frame, in a bar area or kitchen... I love the fabric background, and MAN was it a fun challenge to see how it looks when viewed through the vodka and glass!

So here's to you. Friends, artists, art lovers and just basic great women...CHEERS!  Celebrate!

"That Kind Of Day" 6x6 Inch Oil Painting by Kelley MacDonald

"That Kind Of Day" 6x6 Inch Oil Painting

Too long since I've posted a nice martini painting, and if your winter is ANYTHING like the Boston area's winter - you NEED a nice martini.  :D

Seriously, we'll get through it, but oooooh that first sip of a nice cold martini makes you warm all over.  I've intentionally let the 'ground' show through these expressive brushstrokes - hey, let me tell you everything about this painting was fun.

Now.  Who needs a sip?

To Us, 8x8 Inch Oil Painting by Kelley MacDonald

We have so much in common, but you like olives and I like lemon twists....  here's a toast to the best of times!

Spring is finally here in full swing, and everywhere we look there are celebrations - festivals, weddings, graduations, etc.  So... a toast to all the good things, and good people in our lives!

Martooni Time, 10x10 Inch Acrylic Painting by Kelley MacDonald

I made one more swipe at this one today after I photographed it, but couldn't get a photo without even this much glare!  So hopefully I'll get a better image tomorrow by noon, and replace this one.  This is another 'Recovery' Painting.  A painting that did not 'make the cut' getting another chance at life with a new painting over it.  I leave little strips of the old painting, which looks like colored stripes, peeking out… to remind the new painting that it has roots.  Hoping that the new painting is one that sticks, and gives it a new lease on life.  It's exciting and fun, and I can't even remember what the old painting was by the time I finish the new. 

I'm on a martini kick these days.  Lemon garnish coming later this week.

To YOU!

Approximately 6x8 inches, Oil on Canvas pad

This is to all of YOU who keep me buoyed and up no matter what!  I've been down with the usual winter health issues, but this week in class we had a 'Cocktail Party'.  I encouraged zooming and cropping, enhancing the background and love, love, loving the glass.  We all were interested in the way the 'gin' magnified the olives, reflected them upside down and just did crazy things!  And the glasses grabbed color from as far away as the painter next door, with their bright blue trash bags, or the blue of the sky.  Anyway, cheers!

Here's some of our work:

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

SOLD

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

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!

Ah-love Olives! 6x6 Inches, Oil

$125 & $10 S&H

Well, that's my version of a Southern accent!  I have made so many friends from the South in the past year and I must say their accent has become quite dear to me.  And another dear thing to me is those little green olives with the red stuffing!

As a matter of fact, in my Painting Workshop next week (see top right of blog to register) we are going to be painting some of the bad boys, in and out of martini's.  Of course, I think that may make us work up a fierce thirst, and I'm thinking of a place where we can find a nice frosty one after class!  I am so looking forward to painting with these gals.  Look for more olives next week!  And more sweets - I'm working on a larger cupcake painting - maybe it'll be ready to serve up for the Donut War on Monday with Susan Roden!

Had a great group at the Blogging Workshop last night at North River - I am simply BLESSED with the fantastic people I'm meeting in my line of business!

Happy Anniversary Toast, 6x6 Inches, Oil

SOLD

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!

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....

Martooni Time, 6x8, oil

ETA - this is the 'new' photo

What a horrible photo! Tooo much glare! Not enough contrast. I'll re-post it on my blog tomorrow, but I didn't bring my camera to the studio today, and when I got home it was dark, and really hard to capture. I think I'll try this again, because I do love trying to paint clear 'things' (glass, water, etc), but I think maybe I'll lower the viewpoint and use a brighter color as a background, and put a STACK of olives in the 'martooni'.

$100 plus $8 shipping and handling, email me at kcareymac@hotmail.com