Intensity, 5x7 Oil Painting by Kelley MacDonald

5x7" Oil Painting "Intensity"

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Did you know that Tuesday was National Dog Day?  Yeah, well, .... we celebrated it in our house!  No, not Harry, the orange cat or Isabelle the torti cat, but Paco and I... and my husband (who did not know exactly that he was celebrating).  I love this painting.  It was part of my 30 Paintings in 30 Days Challenge with Leslie Saeta.   I really like that you have to delve... dig and be creative - because trust me, no matter how much you love your subject, at about day 10 you are smacking yourself in the forehead asking everyone you know why they let you commit to this!  And you get to know a subject INSIDER OUT! :D

So.  Here I am, considering it again for September.  I have a really, really, really busy month.  I'm doing a workshop on Cuttyhunk Island as part of the Cuttyhunk Island Artist Retreat.  I'm teaching at the Providence Art Club.  And I'm teaching 3 Fridays at the Portsmouth Arts Guild on Aquidneck Island. (Please ignore the typo's, I just copied and pasted from their website):

Honestly, I'm just glad there are 2 e's in my first name and an 'a' in my last name.  I don't ask for much! But there are still a few spots left if you're interested!

One more, kind of personal, thing.  I actually consider all you guys my friends.  You are, actually, more real than my Facebook friends, since you've shared my journey for many years, so... OK.  I haven't posted since Open Studios, which was fine, fun and fabulous.  Because as I was catching my breath over that, we learned that my godchild is very sick.  With God's grace she will not only survive but thrive, but it's been a rocky week, and honestly, I couldn't paint.  I couldn't even string a thought together.  All the crazy stuff going on in the world, and then to find out someone who is wonderful in a 'lit from within' way is literally holding on by a thread.  So.... if you can spare a prayer, we'll take it.  Thank you.  And now.... I promise surprises and fun scenes from Open Studios tomorrow.  Goodnight and thank you.

Pug In The Sun, 5x7 inches, Oil Painting by Kelley MacDonald

I did this one a while ago, but kept it as it is a favorite of mine.  Almost abstract, the sleepy pug (yes, it's Paco) has snagged one of the choice spots in the house - on a dining room chair in the sun.  I didn't include it but there's at least one cat in an adjacent chair.  Never happier than when with me, he really suffers when he's alone…. and let me clarify that the cats or my son Rory's dog Charlie DO NOT COUNT.  He is either with me or alone, those pretty much are his two states of being.  We enjoyed a beautiful walk tonight and it was mild and the air was sweet.  It almost ended too quickly….. I think we could have just kept going….

*If you are interested just email me, as I must cull my collection since I moved my studio into my house…"

Sleeping In, 5x7 Inches Oil Painting by Kelley Macdonald

$100 & $10 S&H

Click HERE To Purchase

The story:  One warm Summer morning I woke up to a pink and aqua world, and though it was just almost dawn, I got up, made some tea and headed to the front porch to watch the world light up.  Of course Paco could not let me be by myself, but MY GOODNESS it was early.  Way too early. So he begged for me to hold him in my lap, which I did. And Paco relaxed in my arm (you can see it here supporting him as he dozed in the crook of my arm).   

So he's not an early riser.  He has other qualities.  I could just kiss that little wrinkly chin!  I ought to tell everyone that this is just the 3rd time I've painted Paco this month.  I know everyone thinks a lot of these pugs are my own dog, but they are not!  I would never dress him up - he's not that kind of dog.  :D

We are past the halfway point in our 30 Paintings in 30 Days.

Also.... anyone who wants to come to the Saturday Painting Class (10 a.m. in Warren) - even as a drop-in... come on over.  32 Cole Street in Warren.  You can pay as you go.  No worries.  I'd rather you painted than not!  

The Observer, 12x6 Inches, Original Acrylic Painting by Kelley MacDonald

My little pug, Paco, sits on our porch with us, and he just looks and looks at what goes by:  boats, trucks, cars, runners and walkers, and other dogs.  (I love this view of him that I get when we are all on the porch - love his little squishy shape, and that cinnabon tail!)  Usually another dog will get him to bark, but otherwise, he views it as a big TV.  Yes, he also lays on the couch and watches TV with us, until he drops off to sleep, signaled by a light snoring sound.

He's spending this weekend with my son in Providence, which he LOVES.  We use this time to actually look at and talk to each OTHER. :)  Win-win!

I've had a great vacation.  Looking forward to more easel time (ahem.... I did manage to break two portable easels in the past month, so a trip to Utrecht was in order - and they were on sale... angels watching over me, I guess). Happy Labor Day to all!

Come, Boy!, 6x8 Inches, Oil Painting of Pug Dog At The Beach

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This was just 'one of those paintings'... one of those paintings that flowed off the brush.  I spent most of the day trying to force myself to paint things I knew I 'should' paint.  I whined about it on Facebook.  To my husband.  To my dog (see above).  Then I opened my photos that I took to Karin Jurick's workshop to perhaps paint.  And I spotted this photo of Paco.  He was so happy that day at the beach, such a clown, as Pugs are known to be.  I cropped the photo just 'so', and BAM.  I felt like I was sitting right with Karin, painting away, in the 'zone'.

I don't say this about every painting, but I just LOVE this one!

Pugspot, 5x7 Inches, Oil Painting of a Pug Napping

$100 & $10 S&H

My little studio assistant, Paco, is my assistant in all areas of my life.  He sits on my lap while I have my morning coffee.  Makes sure the cats do not get too many treats, by gobbling them. Goes to the supermarket (waits in the car) and updates my blog - that's what he's doing in this photo.  Although he prefers to do that half in my lap on the sofa.

I tried to keep this very loose, focusing on the shapes..  Funny how it works out even though I wasn't thinking "Pug"  I was just putting darks and lights in the right places next to each other.  Happy Nap to you!

Today, I'm hanging paintings and sweeping the studio!

Naptime, 6x6 Acrylic

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Oh, he's too warm to do too much else, here in July!  But truthfully... Paco is a CHAMPION napper. He can fall asleep sitting up.  Or licking my face.  I love the red blanket, too, it's almost like he picks a 'paintable' background sometimes!

I had a wonderful Open Studio weekend.  This was my 'soft' weekend, without invitations, etc.  The BIG one is in August - believe it or not,  it will probably be cooler.  I met so many interesting people, and saw lots of friendly faces from last year - it was great!  Lots of people were interested in classes and workshops, too.  I'm thinking of a couple of Painting Safari's - one in the RI area and one in Hull - where we paint outdoors at a different wonderful location each week.  I'll demo, then we'll paint and do a critique -it'll have just a nominal fee. Beginner to intermediate levels.   Shoot me an email if you're interested, and I'll put you on the mailing list.

Tweedles, 6x8 oil

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I don't exactly remember where I'm supposed to send this, but I'll do a little research and find out. It was a 'Challenge' for July, which is a month of Dogs, and upcoming is Cats in August. This darling girl is named Tweedles, and she is sweet and lovely, according to Paco, and had to be painted. I'll tell you it's a challenge, indeed, to paint the little rounded chin, and the soft, wrinkly forehead! I didn't really do her justice. I'm trying to focus on one type of painting for this blog - like so many 'successful' bloggers - but I'm having a hard time because to me, painting is a language ... and I guess I have a LOT to say about everything ;0. So, it being Sunday, and a non-work day, kind of, here's little Tweedles. LOVE her! And she's on James Parker's Blog, "Windows To The Words" Blog HERE.

And my favorite part is the black part UNDER her chin!

Thanks to all those who clicked on 'follow this blog', and became 'Followers'! I love that and I love to hear all your comments, too. I'm sorry if my last post seemed like an 'invitation' to the painting Challenge I'm a part of - it's a group of Boston-Area artists who meet on a regular basis who are putting up the Challenge and the Blog. The Invitation was to become a 'Follower' of my blog. Thank you all, you are dear to me!

"You Are The BEST Dog" or "Pug Hug", Oil, 5x7

I just couldn't decide on the title of this one. The pug pictured had won a ribbon (first, I think) and her owner/handler was SO thrilled with her she got down on the floor and the dog jumped into her arms - soooo adorable. I made the choice to focus more on the dog and make it larger, and I like it much better. Can you even tell it's a pug? My husband said it was confusing because the girl's bangs were hanging down straight, blocking her whole face. But I left it like that, like it actually was, because it was the embrace that was important, not her face, or even the pug's face.

Jake's Shake, 5x7 Acrylic

So much for doing a little landscape from last night's sunset! I found this little guy (I think his name is Jake, so it's Jake's Shake) in Jamestown, RI, a lovely island off Newport. Anyway, I take photos of animals wherever I go and he was hamming it up for me, then all of a sudden he had to SHAKE-SHAKE-SHAKE his head! More dogs coming, I'm afraid, because of next week's Bayside Colony Dog Show in Boston http://www.baysideexpo.com/eventDetail.php?id=1143472192&pages=1 (Thursday and Friday - I wish I could spend BOTH days there!). If you go to their website you can get a discount coupon, too! I'd say get there early, because it's a real full day!

Dog Show Pug, Oil on Canvas, 4x4

This was done a few weeks ago, but I'm testing out my 'subscription' group to see if it works. Snowy day, haven't been able to paint yet, heading to the studio (should take about TWO HOURS!), but this was part of a series done from sketches at the Boston dog show in December - all small dogs. I ADORE pugs, too!