Tulip Time - Already?? Original Painting by Kelley MacDonald

Time moves on and so do we all!  This has been an unbelievably busy Holiday Season, and also - I have moved, so on top of pushing out 42 small paintings for Little Pictures types of shows, and juggling 2 day jobs, I've become an Urban Girl.  Yup.  Never thought I'd like it (yes, that was me you heard kicking and screaming...) but I will admit... it is A-OK.  I never realized how much TIME I spent getting places.  Now there are endless sidewalks to explore with Paco, and even the cats do not seem to mind not going outside for their morning constitutional.

PLUS I'm super close now to my sons, and that is just GREAT.  

So these tulips grace my new space... and it is the end result of a lesson I taught at the Art Club today.  We took a photo, did 3 small quick experimental paint sketches, and settled on one to really paint.  Teaching at 2 places now, the Club and North River Arts Society in Marshfield.  I love my life!

Lifting Spirits, 6x6 in Acrylic Painting by Kelley MacDonald

"Lifting Spirits" 6x6 Inch Acrylic Painting

$100 & $10 S&H

Click HERE To Purchase

It has been a loooong Winter!  Even now, officially Spring, we are sloshing and scraping and salting...  these tulips have such fresh color and really pierce the Winter Blues!  

They tell me warm weather is just around the corner.  I will believe.... 

Reconnecting with a lot of my artist friends this week - I think we've all been hibernating - it is just wonderful stuff.  Sharing meals, celebrating occasions, talking about upcoming workshops and painting trips - is it just us or is everyone beginning to emerge into a more joyful place?

Be well, friends, and be thankful for every day.  I'm thankful that you are sharing my art journey.

Princess Tulips, 8x8 Inches, Acrylic Painting by Kelley MacDonald

This month, the Girls Just Wanna Paint Challenge group painted "White".  Actually, for me the problem was not WHAT to paint, but what to NOT paint.  There were so many white subjects I'd love to do... clouds, white houses, white dishes, white ice cream, white dogs, cats, well, you get the gist.

But tulips were my big obsession this month, so, here we are.  SO much going on, and I want to thank each and every one of you who came out to the Sea Rose Cottage last week in Bristol, RI.  It was fun, right?  Lots of interesting artists studded the local businesses.  I made new friends and some of my favorite paintings found new homes :)

But coming up.....

I'll have 3 gull paintings at Spring Bull for this show.... and Newport is always interesting!

Renewal, 6x6 Acrylic Painting of Tulips by Kelley MacDonald

$100 & 10 S&H

Click HERE To Purchase

Springtime MEANS tulips to me.  I adore all the different variations.  A few years ago my friend Paula Villanova and I went to Holland the week the tulips were supposed to be peaking.  Well, when we arrived there had been a historic heat wave in the Netherlands, and the temps hit 90 many days in a row - which is a death knell for tulips. We managed to paint a lot and have a ton of fun anyway (right?  of course right!)  You can check our blog about it HERE.

This painting just thrilled me.  Who would have ever thought that violet would be a good background for red tulips?  I tried it out tentatively, and then went right into it, full force - loving how it came out.  Dedicating this post and bouquet to a friend who is dealing with caring for her husband's mom, navigating all the options of best care, with her open heart.  I keep her in my prayers, as I know how hard it is on that road.

The Gift Of Tulips, 4x4 Inch Acrylic Painting by Kelley MacDonald

SOLD

I can't resist these tulips!  YES I have a list of paintings I'm working on or should be working on, but this little 4x4 inch panel just snuck up on my easel!  

We had snow yesterday, Thursday, but it was beautiful.  All the more beautiful, I think, because at this time of year we know it won't last!!!  

I'm doing the 21 Day Meditation with Oprah and Deepak... I'm not usually into them, but I tried the first one today (yeah, I have some catching up to do) and it was wonderful.  Anybody else have tears stream down their faces when they meditate?  It's just such a safe and loving place.... anyway.

ALSO - hey... maybe you're not an artist.  Maybe you have friends you like to spend time with. ?

I'm doing these Art Parties... on Thursdays, or by appt.  BYOB, we supply the art supplies and smiles for you.  You can book the whole night, or just COME ON BY.  First one is Martini Madness...  Next month:  April In Paris....

Spring In My Heart, 6x6 Inch Acrylic Painting by Kelley MacDonald

$100 & $10 S&H

Click HERE to Purchase

I don't know about you, but when someone gives me flowers it's as if they are here, with me, as long as the flowers last.  My dear friend,  fellow Girls Just Wanna Paint artist, and all around fabulous artist Sally Dean Mello, gave me these gorgeous tulips, and I can HEAR her here with me, although she lives an hour away.  I was compelled to paint them.  As I was sketching it out, I got a text message - you guessed it, from Sally.  We had a lively conversation through the ENTIRE time I was painting, all via texts.  She had no idea that I was painting the gift she gave me, but it was very special to me that her spirit was with me, lifting, encouraging, making me laugh... 

Flowers are a wonderful gift. Friendships are a wonderful gift, too.

I wish you all an abundance of both...

If You Can Stand Another One....

ANOTHER floral painting! As I was packing up to leave the studio I looked at the tulips from yesterday, and 'saw' a new composition.  They'd sat and gotten 'comfortable' under the light, and were opening up a little, and I painted them with a light lilac background.  Now I have my 5 floral 12x12's for my submission.  And now I think.... "they'll HATE floral still lifes!"  Maybe I should put older work in! Deciding what to submit to juries is the hardest thing.

Pink Tulips, 11x14, Acrylic

Yesterday a dear friend visited my studio and brought these gorgeous pink tulips, which I totally HAD to paint today!  I am really thinking 'Spring'!  Of course it will be cold and raw all weekend, but we've had a gorgeous week to carry us!  I think it's challenging (don't you love that word?) to paint glass with acrylic.  I wonder what the deal is with that?  Anyway, there are layers and layers on this painting, lots of glazing.

$100 & $10 S&H via Paypal

Reminder if you're an artist and want to join my 'Virtual Cocktail Party' - I'm taking images of your favorite cocktail till Monday a.m.!  Will post it on Monday, but it won't show up in my blog till Tuesday a.m.  Cheers!

New Vase with Tulips, 10x10, Acrylic

I don't know what it is about this time of year, but I HAVE to have flowers in the house. Just seeing them lifts my spirits and reminds me that it won't be 19 degrees forever. Although I have to say that Paco and I had a wonderful time at the little beach across the street today - there was no wind, and it was comfortable to sit at the edge of the water and meditate. (Well, I meditated, I am not sure that he actually did.) So when I came home I dove into the acrylics and did this BEFORE I head to the studio to do the oils!

I would also like to invite you all to see the Girls Just Wanna Paint Challenge, which is finally up for the month of December, with the topic of "Lamp, or Light". Page Railsback was the moderator and hostess of the gathering last night to view all these paintings in person - wow, they looked great! We missed Mary Sheehan Winn and Paula Villanova. And if any of you don't know, a 'Challenge' is where a group of artists decide to paint a different subject/topic each month, and the results are posted on a blog. We'd love your comments!

More Pink Tulips! 8x10 Oil

I painted at Denise Zompa's studio today, and didn't bring anything to paint - but she fortunately had these beautiful tulips in a pitcher. I'm 85% happy with this - I may re-do the right two flowers.

Single Tulip, 6x8 Acrylic

My son Conor bought me a bunch of tulips for my birthday, and I snuck one out and put it in a little jar. The jar didn't come out exactly as I planned, but glass is so endlessly fascinating to me! I can't wait for the Spring tulips to bloom! Makes me want to go to Holland!

For You, 9x12 Oil

The other day I was visiting my artist friend Nancy Colella, and our plans were to paint, then have a meal together (it's an hour to her house, so I couldn't possibly make it home without food!;).  Well, we ate first, then it turned into a haircut adjustment (it happens, OK?), and then Nancy spread out the tulips I brought her on a table and I painted them.  The blue tone from beneath the paint doesn't show up as much in real life.  I'm getting into painting flowers - I never really saw the point, but now I'm feeling up to the challenge, and am very excited about it!  Today we're buried (about 8 inches) in gorgeous snow, and I'm driving to Logan to pick up Tim from a business trip very late in the day, so I hope I get to paint today - maybe some snow?

$150 through Paypal

Pretend It's Spring, 6x12 acrylic

I saw these tulips in the grocery store last night and had to have them.  They remind me that Spring WILL arrive in the not-too-distant future.  Brings to mind Holland, too.  I love them in this celadon vase that I have, and I wanted them thick and loose.  The name, however, is pretty lame - sorry!

Tulipmania, 6x8 Acrylic on Board

My mind is still in the land of tulips, I guess. Had to buy some when I got home and mix up the colors like they do in Keukenhof. Just so you all don't think I'm 'slacking', I did paint Tuesday, too, but couldn't find my USB connector (well, it was plugged into the computer, you'd NEVER expect it to be there!). So there's another new one from the beach on the 'studio' blog, too.

Dreaming of Holland, Acrylic 5x7

Happy Birthday to me! I let myself dream of my upcoming trip to Holland, with my friends Paula, Ros and Sandy... and I painted it! Six weeks from today - yay~ we'll be painting the tulip fields in Haarlem. It's becoming real.

Tulipmania, 6x6 Acrylic

These tulips are amazing. I had to paint them before Harry (the kitten) ate them ALL. I spent today painting plein air in Bristol with oils, it was so free and easy to swish these flowers on with acrylics.