Candy Hearts, Oil, 5x7

I bought these yesterday at the supermarket, thinking it would be sweet to explore these little pastel shapes. When I opened the bag today I got a little shock - they've 'updated' the words, so, yes there are still about 1/2 the usual 'Kiss Me', and 'My Boy', etc., but now there are... "U GO GIRL", "GOT CHA" and "E-MAIL ME". EMAIL ME? Well, I guess I'm getting old... but there were a few others I'll try to get in tomorrow, as well as the sweet ones. I just had some more dog show photos printed and would pick them up except today (Wednesday) there's a bit of a storm here, so maybe it'll be tomorrow. Oh, and you guys should check out blogs of some of the folks that have been commenting here, Melissa And Emmet, Manon Doyle, The Pug Posse, Nancy and the Fatties.... um... I hope I haven't left anyone out! Oh, and get your kleenex out when you visit Nancy and the Fatties, which I recommend you do!

It's The Real Thing, 8x8 Oil

I've been saving a couple of small bottles of Coke since a holiday. I won't say WHAT holiday, but it was a long time ago! I loved the taste of the soda from these bottles when I was a kid, and I thought I'd like to explore the way the light hits the greenish glass bottle, then goes through the brown liquid, turning it red, orange and gold. Then, throw in a shadow (on a polka dotted fabric)... and you've got a loooong Daily Painting session! But I love a challenge, and loved doing it.

Lovebirds, 8x8 Oil

I didn't think about Valentine's Day when I painted this, but it really is just about 2 weeks away, so start thinking! My own Valentine thinks this day was dreamed up by the Hallmark Company to sell cards, and the Florists to sell flowers, but after 31 years of marriage has really gotten past that and treats me to a fabulous day anyway! My buddy Joan Brancale visited my studio today and she wanted me to demo what I learned at Carol Marine's workshop (which I highly recommend) last Fall. So this is what I did, even though it turned out to look a little monocromatic. I was trying to put in the most saturated color first, and work out towards the shadows & reflections, and to keep the edges in mind always, and to load up my brush and lay down the paint, not over working or over 'smushing' the brushwork. I've painted this subject twice before. This one's the best, I think, so far.

Two Lemon Slices, 6x6 Oil

This was harder than I thought, but not for the reasons that I anticipated. I thought the hard part would be portraying the water, or perhapsthe lemon slice through the glass. What caught me up were 2 things: the inner rind of the upright lemon (couldn't get it light enough) and the base of the glass (what a myriad of lights and darks - like painting a diamond!). Well, I thought I'd intersperse regular paintings between my dog show paintings - as painting from life is what sharpens your skills.

Stacked, Oil 6x12

SOLD

And now for something a little different, for me, anyway. I'm a mug collector, and liked these color together. I'm really envying all you people who are in Florida - I don't care that you're complaining that it's 50 degrees - we are battling chunks of ice that I think will never go away! These cups were challenging, but I tried to keep your eye roving up and down the stack.

"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.

Mom's Gravy Boat, 6x6, Oil

I can already see where I need to touch up the dark background in the 'handle' area on this one. What a joy to paint. I think, were I to do it again, I'd 'neutralize' the violet in the cloth. Let the very subtle blue be 'the' color in this image. This was such a fun piece, I may do more pottery. I still have some dog show paintings in me, but I think I'll take a small break - or at least put other things in between them. My mom, gone now 13 years, still missed sorely, would like this one, I think.

Doing Their Puggy Best, 8x8 Oil

Still working off my 500+ dog show photos. I would rather paint from life, but that would be a little difficult at a Dog Show ("Excuse me... #29, could you and your pug just hold that pose for about 45 minutes?"). I put all the DS (dog show) paintings up on the wall, from first to this one and it was astonishing to me how I have let the dogs get smaller and smaller, and the paintings are more about the 'scene'. I think here and possibly the last couple I was trying to show the relationship between owner or handler and dog. In this one there are even some bystanders. I think I'll go back to a closer-up look at the dogs.

I love the pug ring. These dogs are SO into pleasing people, (well, and those doggie candies that the handlers keep wetting - in their mouths - ugh- mmMmmm). This is diametrically opposed to something called (eurphamistically) "Pug Obedience". This is when the person tosses a ball or doll and encourages the pug to go 'fetch' it. Pugs, I think, view this as a competition WITH THE PERSON.. an opportunity to convince that person that THEY should go get it and bring it back, if it's so much fun..... When my husband and I watched this 'competition' a few years ago we had to leave because we were SNORTING laughing. Most of the time the people ended up 'fetching', by the way. ;)

Inaugural Colors, Oil, 6x8

I think I'm a bit stressed out today. On my way to a long overdue visit with a friend this morning I noticed that this little teeny crack I've had in my windshield was growing in leaps and bounds across the whole space of the windshield. So... I pulled over, called my friend and canceled, called Tim and told him to be on 'standby', and grabbed a coffee to console me on my ride home. I noticed that the coffee shop was decked out in red, white and blue, and even the pastries were all decorated. Consumed with having to pay for a new windshield (not covered by my insurance anymore), I couldn't figure out the whole motif. I thought "Does Martin Luther King Day have colors associated with it?" DUH - the inauguration tomorrow! So, here's my Red, White & Blue salute to Inauguration Day, my big tubes of Utrecht paint!

I've seen other artists paint their paint tubes before but always thought it would be too hard. Now this is not saying this is a great painting or anything, but it was fun! I'm taking tomorrow off to watch the Inauguration, but don't be surprised if I end up bored after a while and drag my pochade box out to paint and end up posting something anyway!

Stocking Up On Conditioner, 8x8 Oil

Dogs hate to shop as much as men and kids, I think. This German Wirehaired Pointer is impatiently waiting for it's ownder to decide between dog hair care products. I love the colors of these dogs, and their expression is so beautiful.

Winter Bouquet, Oil 6x8

Lest you think I only paint sugar packets and dogs.... I got this bouquet at the supermarket a couple of days ago and I just had to paint it. I dread painting flowers, I simply cannot tell you how much! And Charles Sovek told me I had to paint what I fear - until I am not afraid anymore! I hate failure, and when I get caught up in petals.. **shiver**.. well, I'm doomed. I tried, in this little painting, to let the shadow colors define the flowers and then just add the hits of 'light' on the tips of the flowers where the direct sun was hitting them. I'm not sure that it worked, but I think it's a good direction for me to go in. Dogs again tomorrow, brace yourselves...

Sugar Jar, Oil 6x8

Although this is kind of 'tonal' and lacks a lot of color, I enjoyed it because it was such a challenge. I realized when I got to the studio yesterday that in our round robin of car assignments in our family, I had the car without my backpack with my dog show photos in it! So I had to find something to paint that was already IN my studio. Now you've already seen my cell phone, so I had to come up with something else. I keep sugar packets in a little jar that has 'handles' on the sides - just sculpted glass, but it's cute. So with this on a creamy background at first I said "NOOOOOO!", but then I said - let's just give it a try and see what happens? So this is what happened. I wanted to keep it kind of loose and not get into the words on the packets - you can go either way and still have fun with it.

Two Hot Dogs, One With The Works, One Plain, Oil 6x8

Two Dachshunds with their owner/handler at the Dog Show. Today I painted with Sally Dean at her studio in Marshfield. It's so wonderful to hang out & paint with other artists sometimes. I love to have my intense alone time at my own studio, where I can just dig in and let it all flow, but it is important, too, to spend some creative time with other artists that you respect. I'm trying to do this every week or so. Anyway, while I was painting I kept backing up right onto Sally's 2 corgi's, Ollie & Winnie, who are adorable in the extreme. I think I rushed this painting a bit, because I didn't get the face on the dog on the right to be what I wanted. I think it was much more complex, and expressive. Sometimes I feel the 'end' of the painting coming and I just make a dash for it.... got to learn to slow d-o-w-n.

Just Washed My Hair And Can't Do A Thing With It, Oil, 6x8

SOLD

This chocolate brown Standard Poodle is ready for her hairdo. I will not comment on what I think of all the 'hairdo dogs', Poodles being the most extreme. I will thank you all for your comments and encouragement in the Dog Show series - - I'm looking at this image and seeing it might be a little blurred - but I don't have time right now to do a new one - we are in the middle of a plumbing emergency (oh.... toilets!) and I'm supposed to be running off to get some vittles while the water is off ....

Jefferson Monument, DSFDF, Oil, 5x7

This little painting was submitted to Karin Jurik's Different Strokes From Different Folks Blog. As I mentioned before, she posts a photo, and everybody sends in their interpretation. This nocturne was my submission. Be on the lookout for a few new dog show paintings this week. Thanks for all your comments and encouragement - boy, it matters like you couldn't even imagine!

Me & My Baby, Oil 8x6

The title here can go different ways - referring to the woman and her dog, or the dog and his owner... or the dog and her doll. Fresh from the doggie restroom, this long legged lady, quite chic-ly dressed for a the dog show, gave a long leash to her baby, a young mastiff. And very pet-like, the dog HAD to carry it's 'baby' around. I think it calms the dogs in this crazy, hundreds of new doggie scented place, to have something from home. A nearby crate of pugs had two pugs curled up in donut-type beds on top - no leashes! Their ownder said as long as they had their beds they were not inclined to wander off into the jungle of other dogs.

Unrelated story to go with the mastiff painting... Once I was walking in downtown Hingham, and this shopkeeper had her mastiff laying on the sidewalk while she sat outside enjoying the sunshine. As I walked by I said to my husband - "That's the biggest Pug I ever saw!" The lady pursed her lips and rolled her eyes - I think my brand of humor is restricted to a very small segment of humanity...;)

On to art... this is a 3rd attempt at getting this scene. Two wipe offs - although the dog I got on the 2nd try. So even though sometimes these Daily Paintings are short work... sometimes it's a total day's work.

Wash, Trim and Blow Dry, Oil, 6x8

Waiting for their time in the ring, this Scottish Terrier and a little Norfolk Terrier are having their 'Spa Time'. The Norfolk had this 'do' where they combed his 'beard' out so it looked like a real beard! The Scottie said "No." to that. Maybe one more Dog Show painting?

Big Fat Jelly Donut, 6x8 Oil

Bad glare, sorry about that - I couldn't find a way that this background wouldn't almost 'glitter' with reflected light. I used only transparent colors to make it and I think that makes a big difference. Next time I'll try to remember to throw in an opaque color to stop the light dead. I think it was almost a year ago that I started my first jelly donut series - when I first discovered Emily Eveleth and was inspired by her. I think this donut is much better than the earlier attempts, whether that is because I've done about 200 paintings since then or because I've just learned to see a little better... I don't know.

Hold That Tail Up... Atta Girl! 8x8 Oil

In the Scottie ring at the dog show, it's important that they keep their tails pulled up high. Scottie handlers spend an awful lot of time coaxing that tail tilted up over their backs. Another odd thing I notice is they like to pick up these dogs (and Cairn Terriers, too) BY their tails and their chins - I asked about it and apparently the reason they don't crop the tails short is that these dogs sometimes (originally) had to be pulled out of the holes they chased prey into - handy to have a nice length of tail to tug on. I love the dignity of the Scottish Terriers, and their endearing expressions. I loved this lady at the show - all pink suited up with her sensible shoes :)

How Am I Doing? Oil 8x8

Corgi's in Ring 10! When I went to the Ladies Dog Club show at the Bayside Exposition Center last month, one of my favorite events was the Corgi's (Pembroke). This sweet girl was looking up at her handler constantly, wanting to know if she was doing a good job. I don't know if she actually won anything, but she was a winner in MY book. I tried to keep it loose and simplified (it's about the dogs, not about the shoes, after all), and I had a LOT of fun doing this.

If interested, this is $100 through Paypal, simply email me at kcareymac@hotmail.com

In Winter's Hold, 6x12 Oil

New Years' Eve brought a storm to Rhode Island, and kind of put a damper on plans people might have had to go out. Me? I grabbed my camera and Tim drove me around Tiverton, Little Compton and Westport trying to get some good 'snow' shots. This painting came from a photo taken as we passed Pardon Gray, a land preserve here in Tiverton. Snowy, blustery weather is wonderful, and I think although this painting LOOKS gray, in person you can see every color in the rainbow, which, mixed together, comes out gray! I love this lonely looking tree. I have more... and will paint them soon.

Is That My Phone? Oil 6x6

Today I got a little studio time in - Tim has been on vacation for a week and when he's on vacation... so am I! But today he and Conor (our son) went gallivanting around Providence and they dropped me off in my studio for a few hours of bliss. Of course I knew I wanted to do a Daily Painting, but for the life of me couldn't decide what to paint. So ... here's my cell phone. Harder than you'd think with all those little notations and buttons on the front, but I enjoyed the challenge. I'm going to try to post another one and schedule it to go out tomorrow morning, but that didn't work last time, so there may be two new posts today! Anyway, have a wonderful weekend, guys!

Holiday Bouquet, 8x8 Oil

Here's a painting of a beautiful bouquet my husband indulged me with while we were grocery shopping. I wanted to paint in the style of my previous winter bouquet with greens, but this is what I came up with after 2 tries. I guess every subject has it's own voice, and you have to be true to it. Here, at my house the time between the holidays is sort of out-of-focus, with me confusing what day it is - who's home? Who's stopping by? Who are we visiting? And although I love it I kind of am looking forward to burying myself in the studio for long hours again.

Candy Canes, Acrylic 8x8

My oldest son loves plain old peppermint candy canes (yes, he's 29.... so what?) so in addition to putting a bunch on the tree I like to have a jar of them hanging around during the holidays. This year I popped a bunch of matte red glass balls in the middle of them. Yesterday I had some time to myself (everyone gone home or visiting or napping) and I set up my acrylics, which I haven't really used much since my Carol Marine workshop, and went at them. The red is more vivid in real life. I like doing holiday themed little paintings, because who cares if they don't sell? I just prop them up in every room and it makes everything a little more festive! And it's good exercise for your eyes - when I would normally, at this point, with a bit of quiet in the house, just head for a comfy chair with tea and my "Splanket" (my daughter bought them for the whole family - we look like a monastery:)!) instead I take this hour or so and measure, measure, measure - value, drawing, color... so it's kind of like going to the gym for your creative self!

I hope everyone had a peaceful holiday. I just may get around to sending out my holiday cards this weekend. We'll see! ;0

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

Spider Mums & Holiday Greens, 8x8 Oil

What HAVE I been doing? Well, getting healthy, 'sharing' my sickness with my husband, baking cookies, visiting friends, and decorating. Yes, I find I can't wear my 'artist' hat AND my 'Martha Stewart' hat at the same time - and I so rarely give up my artist hat, but I decided this would be the Christmas to do it. And in light of the financial 'crash' we're heading in to (yes, I'll say it - it's looking like a Depression by the time all the pink slips are handed out) I think this holiday should be more about caring for each other than about presents. I have to say I LOVE presents - giving as well as opening, but they're only fluff - the important things of this world are NOT of this world. And there are many who are not reading things on computers who are suffering more than we can imagine. So in light of those things I'm happily enjoying putting the lights on the tree, sticking various greens & berry laden branches in a window box, listening to my Perry Como/Frank Sinatra/Johnny Mathis Holiday music.

I finally did a Daily Painting yesterday, and I was channelling Carol Marine. Thinking about my brushwork, about the edges, and most of all, the overall design. What do you think? It's 8x8, so the price is slightly higher, $150 via Paypal.

Congratulations to Cheryl Mihalko, and Katie May for winning the 'raffles' this month - they are shipped and on their way to you! Katie won the Pointsetta painting and Cheryl chose the Persimmon - I hope you enjoy them, and have a Happy Holiday Season! Thanks for following my blog!

SOLD

Ho Ho Ho!

Considering art is my 'job' - I am so blessed - how many other jobs can you 'phone it in' from your couch? Feeling a bit better today, but not clear headed enough to be trusted with a brush.


BUT - the first email I receive (from a subscriber) responding to this post is the winner of this week's raffle/giveaway! You can choose a painting from this Daily Painting Blog for free! When I notify you, simply log on to PayPal and send me the shipping $ ($10, or $12 with insurance).
GOOD LUCK and thanks to all of you who participated - it was fun!

Happy Holidays, and Best Wishes for a healthy, happy New Year to all of you!

BTW, this is my 300th post! I can't believe it's gone by so fast, or that I've met such fantastic people on the blogsphere, thank you all again!

Tomorrow.....

First... apologies for the no-show this week - I've been down with some evil bug. Now.... when I send out a post tomorrow.... with no artwork, I'm pretty sure, as I'm still curled up in a big blanket on the couch trying to breathe AND swallow.... whoever responds to the post first gets to choose a painting from this blog. The work I did at the workshops and Parrsborro is not eligible. Also, the painting of the skaters from Rockefeller Center is at a Holiday Show. So! All you'll have to pay is $10 or $12 shipping (insurance is the $2 difference) by Paypal, and I'll ship it out,

Happy Holidays to you all!

Holiday Reflections, 5x7 Oil

Two in one day - am I crazy?
This one is $100 - through Paypal - just email me at kcareymac@hotmail.com. The WINNER of the Gift Raffle today was Katie May McElwain! Thank you for all who emailed responded. I think I'll do at least one more of these (it was fun) and my husband had a great idea for the next one - that the winner gets to CHOOSE which painting they want from the blog (assuming I still have it... ). What do you think of THAT one? Also, today's post was scheduled (by Blogger) to go out at 9 a.m. EST, but apparently it went out earlier. Next week I'll do it manually to make sure the mid and west folk have an equal chance!

Dog Show day - it was PERFECT - warm, clear weather, good health, etc., except I was late and MISSED the Boston Terriers due to a tractor trailer accident on the highway. Fortunately I got to chat with an owner/breeder of the kissiest little Boston, and she happens to live on Boston's South Shore - where I haunt my friends! No litters this year, but I'll keep in touch. I don't know that they snore less than pugs (my actual first choice), but we'll keep them towards the top of the list. Also there was a plethora of pugs this year, which just makes my day complete, and the corgi's were adorable, too. Lastly the Scotties were serious but sweet - just making a wonderful morning.

FREE! Poinsettia 6x6 Oil

THIS ONE'S FOR MY SUBSCRIBERS! (Anyone who has signed up for my Group and gets my posts in their Inbox). Terrible glare. I apologize! I tried in every light, inside, outside, in the bathroom, in the common room at the studio (no windows).... and I COULDN'T get the glare to go away! This freebie (to subscribers to the blog) painting is on the 1 1/2 inch gallery wrapped canvas - so no frame necessary - go ahead, re-gift, it' OK with me! Anyhew... IF anyone wants it and is a subscriber to this blog - email me - the first one to arrive in the inbox gets it for the price of shipping - $10 via Paypal (If you want insurance on the package it is $12). This baby is VERY wet and glossy, I wouldn't think of shipping it till Monday or Tuesday - but I'll let you know. Happy Holidays from ME!

And this was so much fun, I'm going to do it again NEXT week. Day to be decided... I'll let you know on Monday. Thanks, everyone for checking in, and I do love the comments... I'll announce the winner tonight - I'm at the DOG SHOW all day today! :)
Kelley

Cup And Shells, 6x8 Oil

SOLD

I wonder if I have a personality disorder - oh, yes, I remember - MSD (Multiply Style Disorder)! I mean sometimes when I look at my set up I set to work and something kind of realistic comes out on the canvas/board. Other days, something like THIS falls onto the canvas before I can even think! Ever happen to you?

Oh, well.... be on the lookout for tomorrow's post - WHICH IS FREE to the first subscriber who emails me (they will pay $10 postage, though!).

Holiday Kiss, 6x6 Oil

This is $100 through Paypal - just email me if interested.
I had a terrible time photographing this. The green is prettier in person. The background is darker, too - but the glare was impossible to get rid of! I know I'll be sorry I bought a bag of these things - but I need them for my Peanut Butter Kiss Cookies - next week is 'Cookie Week' where I drop everything and make something like 38 dozen cookies to give as gifts. Today I strung some colored lights in my studio, but I still have to dig out the Christmas music (I'm the sort of person who has to be told in Feb. "It's annoying everyone else to listen to Christmas music in February...") and I try to keep it to December, but next thing I know it's months later. When we split our time between Hull and Tiverton, during the hour car ride my cat Isabelle would only settle down if I had Vince Gill's Christmas CD on (I played it for her till May) - yeah, I know, Vince Gill? But we did experiments and she cried with any other CD.

OK - just a reminder - FRIDAY's POST will be FREE to the first subscriber who emails me!

IHOP Bowl, 6x6 Oil

This little IHOP bowl comes from Santa Fe, and I wanted to paint it with a silver spoon but I couldn't find one in the studio, hence the green plastic spoon. Nursing a rejection from the Daily Painters.Com (2nd one) and trying to be philosophical about it. Micah said the primary reason was that I didn't post enough. He said that they try to only accept artists who post at least 20 times a month. So I guess I fell short of that. Still.... I think if my paintings were amazing, they would have accepted me and told me it was conditional upon 20+ posts. (Here I'm patting my own head and saying 'poor thing....'). I many times don't post because the painting didn't work out. Do people want to see the 'losers'? The ones where I just want to wipe off? I know I'll get over it (again) and I know I'll throw myself even more into my blogging. So be prepared for MORE posts from me, and..... have a Happy New Year!

Visiting Day for Cranberries, 4x6 Oil

Another cranberry painting - I'll be sure to do something different tomorrow.  I was going to fill the little vase with berries, but turns out I left the bag of them at home, and I only had the 5 at the studio!  I obviously enjoy painting the glass now, and red is this season's color, so... cranberries!  I hope to include a Holiday Special Announcement in tomorrow's post, so stay tuned!  

Also - on Friday - I'll be posting a FREE RAFFLE painting.  Anyone who is a 'subscriber' to  my blog is eligible (right now that stands at around 70 people).  After I post the painting, the first one to email me and say they want it will get it for FREE, excepting $10 shipping and handling, payable by Paypal.  If you are the winner I will email you and tell you.  When I receive the Shipping payment I'll make the announcement that you won.  It doesn't matter how long you've been a subscriber - even if you just sign up on Thursday night, that's OK!  It's my way of saying 'Thank You" to everyone who has supported, encouraged, and put up with me and my art this year!  

Cranberry Dance, 6x6 Oil

We've all had wonderful and, well, not-so-wonderful Thanksgivings.  Yesterday was one of my best, and I hope you all had a great one, too.  Other than wishing for more time to talk to my kids, I couldn't have asked for anything more, and we had no burnt food, illnesses, fires or other catastrophes!  My son Conor made the cranberry sauce this year at my house, and 'rescued' 5 little berries from the pot.  He put them on this light green glass plate with bubbles on the sides, and they sat under a light on the counter - I had to paint them, you know? Many challenges, the biggest being the white table having the 'shadow' of the green plate with the little bubbles showing.  I may do more cranberries, just because it gives me an excuse to use my Perylene Red!  Happy Thanksgiving, and a safe weekend to all...  This is also not going on ebay (when the market picks up a bit I'll put them back on, but it cost me $$$$ to sell NONE of them through ebay last month!) but email me if you're interested. ($100)

Different Strokes Weekly, Oil, 6x8

This painting is in response to Karin Jurik's Different Strokes From Different Folks Challenge. I found it extremely challenging, with the light coming from behind, and there was a whole tableau to choose from & narrow down. I love a challenge, though, and the very neutral tones were fun to work with (how many ways can you say 'gray'?). And also I go to meet Katie May this weekend at Mary Sheehan Winn's Open Studio - what a great girl!, this is the three of us below:

Also..... I've been 'tagged' by Paula Villanova AND Katie May (so I guess I'd better play!) Here goes:

The rules:
1. Put a link in your posting to the person who tagged you.
2. List 7 unusual things about yourself.
3. Tag 7 other bloggers at the end of your post (*including their blog links*) and comment on their blogs to let them know they have been tagged.

Now... my 7:

1. I was the recipient of the Betty Crocker Homemaker Of The Year Award in my senior year of high school (I was desperate for reading materials, and pored over the Farmer's Almanac and Yankee Magazine the previous summer, so knew a few things about skinning peaches and making jam) and was the butt of jokes the entire year - I am absolutely domestically challenged!
2. Being an artist was way beyond my wildest dream as a child... my family tried and tried to point me in a 'practical' direction.
3. I can bake circles around almost anybody, and I can't tolerate pie crust that isn't flaky and light!
4. In jr. high and early high school I was in a girl's guitar band, called... are you ready?.... The Pebbles. :0 We mainly played at Catholic Masses, B'nai B'rith (hope I spelled that right) meetings, other Women's Group meetings, the VA hospital, and.. funerals.
5. My cats can hypnotize me and put me to sleep.
6. My favorite thing to do is to just be with my husband - I am never bored (31 years) and am just happy, whatever we do.
7. At the Holidays I can drive around for hours like a child, looking at the lights and decorations - the more elaborate the better, throw in a Santa & Reindeer, too!

Now.. I'm tagging

• Nina Villanova
• Patty Walsh
• Kathy Weber
• Debbi Roark Smith
• Debbie Miller
• Nancy Hartley
• Pam Holnback
  

Snowman, 6x8 Oil

This is a little plastic snowman (a la Christmas Tree Shoppes) that has been hiding in plain sight in my bookcase waiting for the Holidays. I'm not putting him on ebay, so if you're interested just email me, at kareymac@hotmail.com. Kind of tonal, but fun to paint~

Take Out, 6x6 Oil

This painting is not going on ebay - if interested simply email me at kcareymac@hotmail.com. I played around with this a bit, and still wonder if I might like a darker, more neutral background on it. Well, I'll paint it again at some point. I've been working on a submission for an upcoming show - and will post it after Monday on my Studio Blog. But... for now I'd like to invite you all to the
North River Arts Society 27th Annual Holiday Art Sale.
It is on Saturday November 22 and Sunday November 23 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. You can really pick up some bargains here. It's in Marshfield MA at 157 Old Main Street, in beautiful and historic Marshfield Hills, quite a nice drive, in a wonderful old Grange Building. I'll have 20 pieces for sale PLUS a big painting that I've reduced drastically for this sale. See below:

All my smaller pieces are on 'sale' from this blog - at Fire-Sale prices (between $50-$75). The large piece, the Flower Stand, can be seen on my studio blog. There will be lots of high quality paintings for sale, and it's a hugely popular event with those 'in the know'. They've even had to start an "Early Bird Admission" for the customers, for $15 you can get in an hour early (9 a.m.) on Saturday, to beat the crowds, and get to browse and sip a cup of nice hot coffee.

Sparkling Egg, 8x6

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**ooops** I sent this out before the photo was uploaded - my apologies!

Here's one where you say... WHAT was I thinking?  Actually, my 26 year old son was helping by cleaning out a closet (something I dread) and he found this and said "This should be a Daily Painting!"  "HA!" I said.  That would be crazy!  So here I am in crazy-land, and I tried not to get tied up in the 'decoration' of the egg.  I just let my eye capture generalized color, bright vs. the shaded colors, and wherever little sparkles or shots of color came out, I added them in.  I was also trying to do the new Karin Jurick's challenge, which was an upside down figure, and I only had a half hour today - needless to say it was a total wipe off.  I'll do it for next week.

Just the Peaches, 6x6 Oil

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I did do a painting over the weekend, but it was not successful, it was OK, but nothing to write home about.  Then this morning I grabbed this jar of peaches and had a great time painting it! I wonder if there's too much of the mid tone, that being the golden color of the peaches.  I guess it's one more thing to think about, and not jump in and paint till I've got it settled in my mind.  As Ken Auster says "Intellect, then passion, then intellect".  I was running with the passion, forgetting to plan, plan, plan!

Santa Snow Globe, 6x6 Oil

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Uh-HUH! The stores are all decked out for Christmas already! I went in to pick up a presciption and CVS was completely Christmas-ed. So this little guy was 99 cents, and I said to myself - I wonder how I'd paint THAT.... and the next thing I knew he was standing in the spotlight in my studio just DARING me to paint him! So it's a bit early for the holidays, but I'll probably be tired of all that by December anyway! The inside of the globe was a challenge, but not as much as I'd feared (of course that depends on if you think it succeeded!), and the little pink and green sparkles were fun - I had some fancy smancy paint - I think it was Daniel Green brand - that was 'radiant', in magenta and green, and honestly, I've never found another place for them! I'm just having fun today!

Mushrooms, 6x6 Oil

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This little 'Daily' took about 6 hours, if you count the first attempt and subsequent wipe off!  The whole time I was thinking I really wanted to go for a walk, casting my eye out toward the sunshine that was slipping away, and not really focusing on my painting.  The first design was all, all wrong, and nothing I could do could pull it out.  Finally, about 3:30 in the afternoon, I wiped it off, said "To heck with it!" and went out for a stroll during the most beautiful part of the day.  When I got home I switched from the 6x8 format I was using, grabbed a trusty 6x6, and this painting fell off the brush.  I love to paint whites that aren't white, and these mushrooms fit the bill.

 Then back home, where they became part of a mushroom-spinach-rice concoction that gets scooped into a pita with a slice of cheese, and grilled till the cheese melts, mmmmMMMmm!

It's A Persimmon, 5x7 Oil

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I love them ... to eat... to paint... to simply look at.  Funny, because orange is not a color that would come up on my 'short list' of favorites.  But I loved the bouncing reflections from the saucer on to the Persimmon, and the highs and lows in the shadows.  The ground on this board is very very absorbent - I think it's gessoboard - so some of the looseness that would/could come from sliding brushstrokes full of paint together didn't happen, but it's OK, I like it anyway.

On my Studio Blog I'm posting some photos from my Artist In Residence day at the Furnace Brook Middle School in Marshfield, MA.  The kids were amazing, and I did two little panels, explaining about A Painting A Day, and they did one (taking turns, of course) and I did one, and I'll post mine there, too - I can't believe I forgot to take a photo of the one the kids did - it was  great!

Different Strokes, Oil, 8x8

This is in response to Karin Jurick's bi-weekly challenge - Different Strokes From Different Folks.  So I'm not putting in on ebay, but if anyone wants it just email me.  I like challenges, and using someone else's image certainly fits that bill.  I just focused on the shapes of the ladies and their shadows - and it was fun putting in the little park/traffic background as well.  While I was doing it, I was gritting my teeth in fear - then I said to myself  "Nobody knows you're doing this... if it doesn't turn out, just wipe it off!"  and that freed me to try some things.  I did have to do a little wiping off, but that's OK. I'm so inspired by the other artists that have done this challenge.  I don't know how often Karin updates her submissions - every few days of so, I think. 

Bottle of White, 6x8 Oil

Today after coffee, etc. at Olga's Cup & Saucer in Providence Tim & I went to Borders for some quiet bookbrowsing... NOT!  Apparently Bill O'Reilly was signing his new book there, and I swear it looked like 3 days before Christmas!  It was packed - and made it tough to find books to read - we 'booked' it out of there and over to get some art supplies on Wickendon Street.  There's a really great wine store off Wickendon, so we picked up a couple of nice French wines on the Blue Tag Special. Then over to Wayland Square to see the shops & pick up some amazing cheese at the Farmstead.

So we had the cheese & wine at my studio, because it's on the way back home, and I had forgotten my photo card reader there on Thursday.  And because I didn't post yesterday, I painted the wine bottle.  Not thrilled with it, so I won't put it on ebay, I think I should have been more creative about the viewpoint, and composition in general.  I was breaking my rule about not painting after a glass of wine,  now I remember why I made it!

******Good News Alert!  I've been accepted as a Gallery Artist in the Cape Cod Art Association!  I found out today and am very pleased!

Pink and Yellow Gerbers, Oil, 5x7

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Today I combined two colors of the daisies, but stuck them in a pink lemonade bottle. I just loved the undulating shape of the bottle, and thought the colored labels might be fun. The format, 5x7, is not my favorite. I've decided that I'm most comfortable with 6x6 or 6x8. It's a good thing to know, but now.. all those odd sizes of canvases & boards.... I'll think of something to do with them!

OK - let's talk POLITICS! No, really, let's not. But I guess the Obama girls are going to get a puppy, and being an animal lover (do you remember that I'm such a dog freak that I go - by myself- to the big AKC dog show in Boston every December?) I'm listing a few of my favorite breeds in a POLL on the top right of my blog. Out of my suggestions which dog would YOU like to see in the White House (on the sofas, on the White House lawn, in Lincoln's bed, etc.). It's just for fun, though I promise I'll send our recommendation to Michelle Obama!

Red Wine Vinegar Cruet, 6x6 Oil

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Away from flowers for today, and on to food! This is one of my mother's cruets, which, though not expensive, mean a lot to me. So since the only salad dressings I like are home made, I'm planning on doing a series, red wine vinegar, balsamic vinegar, cider vinegar, and olive oil. I'm discovering the joy of painting glass, too. Don't worry, I'll mix it up with flowers & fruits & veggies, too. I think I could paint for 3 lifetimes at least and not run out of things I want to paint!

I spent today in Southie (South Boston) with Paula Villanova and Ros Farbush. I'll post that plein air piece on my Studio Blog. It's great to paint with Paula, always, and Ros, having celebrated her 80th birthday this year, gives me such hope - that loving painting can go on for a long time and bring a sparkle to our 'golden years'.

Yellow Gerbers, 6x8 Oil

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More Gerbers.  I find I like their shapes as well as their intense colors.  I put them against a dark chocolate brown background to make them stand out.  The cloth they were resting on was a warm white - I don't know if it came out that way in the photo.  I think I'm definitely buying PhotoShop!  The program that came with my mac is great for storing, cropping, etc., but for quick resizing and color matching, I don't think you can beat PhotoShop.  I used to have it on an older computer (isn't it amazing how quickly we burn through computers?), and I can't even remember which one!

Pine Cones in a Vase, Oil, 6x8

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Another on that kooky background!  These are, again, my Nova Scotia pinecones.  I would have liked the set up to be a little less flimsy - the background would not stay upright in back of the yellow covered box - and instead it rested a few inches away (I should take a photo of my set up) - to get it eye level I have a plastic storage box, with a big phone book, then a tall box on top.  On top of this I drape the cloth or paper, then in back (against the microwave) I lean the background.  So the shadow did not touch the background!  Anyway I went to Kabloom for more flowers - I was going to splurge - but they were closed, so.... the little pine cones filled in.  They are surprisingly hard to do - you can't try to 'draw' the little 'leaves', it'll make you crazy, you have to just kind of look at the light spots and the shadows (which is the best way for me to paint anyway...)  Happy November!