Robin's Nest, 5x5 Inches, Acrylic

This sweet little painting speaks to the 'nesting' lots of us feel, where we want to make safe places, comfortable places to care for the ones we love.  I love robin's egg blue, and it just makes my day in the Spring when I find the empty shells on the ground - hopefully signifying that a tiny robin has made it's way safely out!

Girls Just Wanna Paint at Kennedy Gardens in Scitucate, MA!

Join us from 11 - 4 at Kennedy's on route 3A for fun and flowers (and painting!)

Girls Just Wanna Paint!

Pug Love, 6x8 Inches, Oil, Pug Dog Painting

SOLD

Here's a painting of my little Love Pug, Paco.  I have to say I've had, and loved, other wonderful breeds and mutts.  But there's something about a Pug, and their hearts.  They were bred, for generation upon generation, to *need* people.  They are loyal, yes, like a lot of breeds, but they are devastated without their people.  They trust, and tune in to our every shift in mood.  Raise a glass to pugs tonight.  And.... I'm loving painting the pups - if you have a good photo of YOUR pup, I'd love to give it a try!

If you are on the South Shore this weekend, stop in at Kennedy's Garden Center on rte 3A in Scituate.  The Girls Just Wanna Paint Group will be painting there!!!  Come say Hi!

Little White Pumpkin, 5x5 Inches, Oil

SOLD

I got these little pumpkins from Walker's Roadside Stand and they have such creamy colors in them.  This funky - almost random dotty fabric has been just waiting for something to set against them.  I love days like this in the studio - fun and full of music and color!  I made pizza tonight for my husband and son - Paco is always so bereft that all he ever gets is tiny crusts.

Tonight I made this for him: 

The tiny one with just cheese & sauce was his.  About 3 inches across..  He LOVED it.  Please don't write to me and tell me that dogs should never have cheese or bread or tomato sauce.  Paco does not want me hearing anything like that. :D

Sunday Donuts, Dunkin Donuts, 5x7 Inches, Oil

SOLD

Here we are, truce over, in the Donut War with Susan Roden.  We've come back from our truce with more directed ammunition.  Dunkin Donuts vs. Starbucks - so is it about the donuts?  The coffee?  The ambiance?  East Coast vs. West Coast?  White collar vs. blue collar?  Yup.  All of it.  And we're taking it week by week, informing you all of updated ammo, plans and casualties.  This opening salvo I'm sending to California is a whole BOX of jelly donuts! OK, I had one bite and Paco had me give him a piece, too.

The most fun part of this painting?  the little 'flag' boxes on the side - Seriously!

Have a GREAT week!  I'm taking down my show from Nest, so I get to *shop* there :D.

Sunflowers in Purple Jar, 6x6 Inches, Oil

SOLD

This is my little purple jar again, with the 'swan song' little sunflowers from the garden.  I was interested in the reflections on the jar and in all the yellows in the flowers, and in the transition from cool to warm in the background.  The board that the jar is on is a foam board, which is holding up another still life set up (liquor bottles - see them next week), so it was a platform... see below:

(except, yikes, I had kicked the flood light and it swiveled away from the flowers...)

Wish me luck tomorrow night, at North River Art Society, with my Blogging Workshop  - I'm pretty excited about it!

Salt Water Taffy II, 5x5 Inches, Mixed Media

This is the last week for my show at the wonderful shop called Nest in Dedham, MA.  These candies were bought on my trip to Provincetown, and painted during Hurricane Irene.  The 'mixed media' was a complete accident.  It was supposed to be an all-acrylic painting, but something funny was going on when I started painting the yellow and green striped taffy.... I picked up the tube of Lemon Yellow and saw that it was Oil paint!  So... mixed media it is ;)

Also of note... Paco discovered during this painting that he LOVES Salt Water Taffy.  He was so quiet, and I finally turned to him, and he had a green one with the twisted ends of the wrapper sticking out of each side of his mouth, acting very nonchalant, so maybe I wouldn't notice....

Purple Jar With Pussy Willow, 5x7 Inches, Oil

SOLD

I love this little purple glass bottle I got in Brimfield with my friend Jane.  She put up with the endless fascination I have with glass and cups and saucers!  Pussy Willows are always in vases in my house, year round.  To me, they stand for remembrance.  People I've loved but will never really lose.  My dad passed away when the Pussy Willows bloomed, so they're special to me.

Live in Massachusetts?  Have a Blog and wonder why you're not getting what you want out of it?  Come on down to North River Art Society in Marshfield on Thursday at 7 where I'm giving a workshop that will get you back on track!  Click HERE to register!

Little Debbie, 5x7 Inches, Oil Painting of a Little Girl

$100 & $10 S&H

I don't really know who this little girl from the 50's is.. I buy old photos at the antique stores in town.  She COULD be little Mary.  Little Cindy.  Little Linda.  Those are my best guesses.  She's probably in her 50's now!

I love old photos and have been inspired lately to try to turn them into paintings.  I want to be looser, stronger and and mindful of design.  Stay with my on my journey?

I apologize for the typos that went out on yesterday's post!  Must stop late-night posting!

Also I wanted to mention that my Blogging Workshop at North River on the 29th DOES have a charge, minimal, just $35, but I neglected to mention it.  You'd see it on the link.  You'll get a great handout (and I'm thinking of bringing some wine & cheese ... let me know your favorites :)

Waterfire, 6x12 Inches, Oil

In Providence, RI, there was an effort to make the rivers in the city a place where people could come together and enjoy a safe, beautiful celebration with music, food, entertainment, and.... FIRE in the rivers!  It's wonderful, and they build fires in the brasiers in the river and they are tended by volunteers who dress in costumes, and travel in boats.  Gondolas full of people enjoying the evenings go up and down the rivers.  People sit on stairs and benches that line the river.

This painting is on 1 1/2 inch Gallery wrapped canvas.  It is reserved for an upcoming show.

AND in other news - I'm going to be giving a talk on Blogging Your Art Successfully at North River Art Society on Thursday Sept 29.  7 p.m.  Will be fun and full of good tips!  :)  Come on down! 

Waterlily, 6x6 Inches, Oil

$100 & $10 S&H

This water lily is among my favorite images.  I took the photo on a trip to San Juan Capistrano Mission where they have gorgeous fountains will lilies and koi.  Anyway, one time I was fiddling around with this image, and my husband walked up to me, and seeing the photo upside down he urged me to take a peek.  Here it is, below:

Now maybe I'm just seeing angels everywhere, but it looks angelic to me!  I wish you could see the painting in person, the whites have beautiful colors in them!

*Angels To You!*

Day's Cottage, 5x7 Inches, Acrylic

SOLD

While painting in Truro a few weeks ago, I became completely captivated by the tiny cottages on the Bay side of town.  I painted a few for my show, but I thought I'd paint another one, just for *us* in the blogsphere. I love the simple angles, the light of the sky and that silvery blue of the water.  That's where I think I'd like to be today.  In a beach chair with a book.   Except I'd probably ALSO have my sketchbook, some watercolors, my painting backpack, camera, some fruit, and iced tea... I complicate everything!  That's why I like to paint these simple images... it's what I WANT, not how I live. :)

Magical Moonlit Evening, 11x14 Inches, Oil

I'm in a rush to post this because I'm going out (to a party - YAY!) and I've waited all day for my RSS problem to be solved, and it JUST was!  (I don't know how I got it, but it's fixed!)

This painting is a view of what I saw one night on Paco's late night walk.  It was as if the light from the moon just sang through the clustered clouds.  I didn't want to go back inside!

At any rate this is at my Nest show in Dedham, and it is a true bargain - $425 for an 11x14!  I don't know what came over me, but I was trying to keep the prices low for the show.  It can be purchased over the phone or via email with them, HERE's the contact info.

Painting class at my studio starts in October!  Contact me with questions!

Cairn V - Strength, Acrylic, 5x5 Inches

SOLD

Another cairn painting - a little one.  

At the risk of boring everyone, I would like to say a little about the cairn paintings and why I do them.  I was intrigued when I saw my first cairn.  I was astounded when I saw them at the vortex in Sedona, about 9 years ago - hundreds of them.  And again in Maine.  I think each one is like a lesson - of patience to find the right angle of each stone, of gentleness in the placing of the stone atop.  Of the joy I find in our differences - I think each stone has a personality and it's color and shape reveal it,  I think we must trust when we balance them, and give in to that sense of balance.  Very much the way I want to live my life.  This one is named Strength because the stones fit very solidly into each other, and support each other.  I know people of true strength.  I bet you do, too.

Hydrangeas III, 5x7 Inches, Acrylic

SOLD

Do not adjust your set.. this painting has very soft edges!

Happy Bubbles, 12x12 Inches, Acrylic

This painting is a donation to the Dana Farber Cancer Hospital's Fundraiser.  I paint the bubbles/foam that hovers at the edges of the waves, both here on the Sakonnet River and on the ocean nearby.  I used to use more 'local' colors, the tan sand and the blue water, but lately I've been experimenting with colors that simply make me happy.  I hope the joy I felt in painting this travels to the person who takes it home - spreading the joy around!

P.S.  HUGE thank you to those who attended my Opening at Nest - we had 5 red dots (almost a quarter of the total!) and I met some wonderful folks, including Gay and Brooke, who along with Molly Jackson are owners of Nest, and fun and fascinating people in their own right!  Thank you to those who drove so long and so far to GET there - I'm sure you loved the things they have in that shop, too.  I went home with a mental list for future shopping :)

Begonia And Larkspur, Days Cottages, Truro, 6x12, Acrylic

One more - a whimsical interpretation of the Days Cottages in Truro on Cape Cod - from my show at Nest.  I am so grateful that as of today 4 have sold - and the Opening isn't till Saturday.  I'm just WOWed!  The names of these two cottages (they are all named after flowers) are Begonia and Larkspur.  I love the light from the setting sun hitting the side of the cottage on the left.  Time and time again I return to this string of cottages up against Massachusetts Bay, and am captured by the romance of a week of escape... to just the sun, the sand and the sea....

I sent out an 'Event Invitation' on Facebook to my Opening on Saturday (622 High Street, Dedham), and was so technically inept I ended up 'publishing' it three times - the first two were incomplete - and I apologize to all my Facebook friends.  And thanks to my daughter Molly for coaching me through the revision... 

*No Painting Safari This Friday*

I couldn't complete a painting donation for the Dana Farber Cancer Institute Thursday because of the high humidity - Friday morning's the deadline!!!  Next week.  Take care!

Ready For The Cocktail Hour, 8x8 Inches, Oil

Last one I'll post from the Nest show!  This is so cool, that a couple have sold via the blog before the show is even Open!  This is the most fun I've ever had doing a show!  Saturday, 4-7 is the Opening.

But life is sure not fair, and that's for sure.  If you are aware of Daily Painters on the Blogsphere, you've heard of our friend Carol Marine.  She and her family lost their home to a wildfire on Sunday.  Many, many of us want to help, and you can follow this link to make a donation to her family.  Like the trooper she is, Carol is planning on still coming to Massachusetts to teach a workshop in a week.  She is an amazing young woman, please remember her in your thoughts and prayers.

Nest, 12x12 Inches, Oil

This is hanging at 'Nest' - the shop in Dedham today!  I delivered my paintings and am looking forward to the Opening on Saturday from 4-7.  This nest is special to me, it was sent to me while I was on a painting trip from a dear friend, to ensure there were wonderful things to paint.  While I didn't get a chance to paint them then, I have done  a couple of paintings of the nest since.  I love the symbolism of the eggs in the nest.  I love the shapes, the colors of the eggs and the twigs.

Cairn IV, 6x12, Oil

SOLD

Crossing the finish line - friends and family both have asked if I'm still alive, or mad at them or you name it - I have missed phone calls, emails, etc. in order to finish up for my show.

I love cairns, and something about their balance and serenity has a very calming influence on me.  I love to 'discover' the personality and texture of each stone.

Peace to all of you. 

This, along with a couple of other cairn paintings will be at Nest in Dedham for the month of September

Saturday 9/10  from 4-7 I'll be there.... will you?

Salt Water Taffy, 5x5 Inches, Acrylic

SOLD

Another one for my show at Nest in Dedham in September.

If you are interested in this, you would have to call Nest to arrange the purchase.  Salt water taffy is really cute and sculptural.  I have been painting like a madwoman, and loving every minute of it.

Birds On A Fence, 12x12 Mixed Media

This is another for my show at Nest in Dedham, for the month of September.  I painted on the Cape last week for a few days, and on our way home, Sally Dean and I attended a talk on mixed media by artist Mary Moquin, who is one of my favorites.  She is doing oil and cold wax medium work, and I was completely inspired.  So I picked up some cold wax and mixed it with my oil paint in this.  It makes the paint thicker and 'waxy', and leaves it a little translucent. Still fiddling around and working it out, but I was happy with how this came out.

Sweet Jelly Donuts, 5x5 inch Oil painting by Kelley MacDonald

SOLD

As I told Susan Roden regarding our Monday Donut War... I'm a day late and a dollar short - but I'm blaming the hurricane!  Could not BUY a donut on Sunday, and today, truly, it was above and beyond the call of duty just finding a donut shop that was not sold out!  The towns next to me were still without power, so those shops were closed.  The town where my studio is - I kid you not - had a police officer directing people in and out of the chock full Dunkin Donuts lot - the line to get IN was 5 cars long on the road...  the next one - closed.  The first open one had (literally) one bagel, one cookie and one croissant - no donuts left.  You see, in the towns where people had no power, they could not get coffee - so they drove to towns WITH power.  

I ended up driving THREE hours, searching 4 towns - then actually calling ahead to secure my jelly donuts - but I always get my donuts, and here they are.  They will be in the show at Nest, starting Labor Day Weekend, in Dedham Center.  Opening 9/10 from 4-7.

And for all you guys who see our 'War' and want to paint donuts - PAINT them!!!!  We don't 'own' the subject, and I promise you, you will have fun!

Gloaming Glory, 8x8 Inches, Oil

Another one, for my upcoming show.  Sorry I cropped the painting at a little tilt!  I just love, love, love this view down the Sakonnet River, if you stand on my front porch and turn your head to the left, at the end of the day.  My blood pressure goes down...down...down... just looking at it!

End Of Day Reflections, Oil, 5x5 Inches

This is one of my favorite types of sunset - and that's Aquidneck Island with Island Park over to the right.  I love the hot orangy pink that burns up the sky.  This little 5x5 baby will be first shown at Nest, a wonderful shop in Dedham Center.  My show will be hung on the 1st of September, and the Opening is September 10, Saturday, from 4-7.  This size painting will be $150 - no need to frame as it's on cradled hardboard for a contemporary look.  If you prefer a traditional frame, you it is easy for your framer to pop in, as it's only a 3/4 inch cradle.

I've been asked to do a 'sunset' 1-day workshop in the Hingham area.  If you'd like more info, email me!  

I'm off to Provincetown to paint for a few days and will post from there!

SOLD

Sorry, sorry to Susan Roden, that this photo is full of glare!  She has to set up something to deflect this triple threat in the Donut War!  These babies were literally oozing wonderful jelly!

These sold on the first day of my 2 day Open Studio weekend. 

Let me just say I was slack-jawed AMAZED at the people who drove and drove and drove to visit!  CT, VT, NH, ME, South Shore of Boston, North Shore of Boston, all around RI - I was simply floored.  These guys just know me from my blog and are awesome!  I met some people who I never knew, but who 'know' me from this blog.  People were so familiar with the Daily Paintings and pointed out their favorites.  Some people actually brought ME treats - and among the most fun were a donut T-shirt and a pound of Dunkin Donuts Coffee (Ivy!  Thank you!)  

On another subject, the new camera was GREAT.  Nikon P7000.  36 zoom AND a viewfinder.    This photo, the only one I have since I just got the camera on Fri and this sold on Saturday, was taken in sub-optimal conditions, as it was literally going out the door.  I'm trying to keep up and mark the 'sold' ones on the blog, and this week I'll add them to the 'Sold' page.  Fabulous weekend, thanks to all who stopped by!

Camera Escapades!

SOLD

This little 5x7 inch painting will be part of the drastic $35 clearance.  Sorry about not posting new paintings - but we have a camera thing going on here.  I ordered a Nikon P7000.  Then I went in and thought the P500 was better (it was more expensive) so I changed my order.  It came in today and I dropped everything to go get it.  When I got there I realized the P500 had a 7x zoom, but the first one I wanted had a 36x zoom - auuuugh!  So I said I wanted that first one.  Only they didn't have it and they wanted to send it to me, so I opted to get the similar Cannon version, which they wrote up and THEN discovered they didn't have THAT in stock (are you following this or have you fallen asleep?).  Maybe Friday the P7000 will show up at my house!   So.  Short and long, I abandoned all my work for my Studio Salem, spent the afternoon at Hunts .... with no camera, so no new photo of  work...  Maybe tomorrow!  

An Example

SOLD

I got quite a few emails about whether or not the previous post 'Glory' was going to be one of the $50 paintings at my upcoming studio sale.  No, none of the 30x30 sunsets will be 'clearance'.  But here is an example that will be.  There will be a number of 'new' paintings in that category.  Since this is the last year I'm selling at that level, I'm going to have a blast practically giving things away.  

(and if you have bought a big sunset painting, you are eligible for a discount if you decide to buy another one)

Glory, 30x30 Inches, Oil

This painting will be making an appearance at my Open Studio this weekend on my lawn in Tiverton.   It'll be joining new works and lots of current Daily Paintings.

I promise that there will be new Jelly Donut paintings reserved for the Open Studio!  I am having camera issues, so for the next couple of days I will be posting  things that I already have images of on my computer.

Also, for those of you who enjoy the Extreme Markdowns that I've had for the past few years - I'm doing it one more time!  So there are quite a few new larger paintings that will go for the outrageous price of $50!  And lots and lots of older Daily Paintings that will be $35.  This is the last time I'll be doing this, so I hope you get to take advantage of it!

Directions:  Exit 2 off of Route 24.  South on Rte 177 for one mile.  Just past Coastal Roasters on the left!

Scottsdale Mug & 2 Jelly Halves, 6x6 Inches, Oil Painting

LOTS of technical difficulties around here!  For example, my trusty camera has finally bitten the dust.  After painting this I packed it in the car and took it and my camera to Hunt's Camera in Providence.  They couldn't get the camera to focus either, and finally pronounced it officially non-functioning.  I'm getting another camera this week, but in the meantime, they actually took the memory card and put it in a new camera and took some shots for me.  My new camera will be in around Thursday, and I am so excited!

Getting ready for my Open Studio on the South Coast Open Studio Tour on Saturday and Sunday, August 20 and 21.  Crossing my fingers for good weather!

Come on over!  Exit 2 off of Rte 24 in RI.  Go south 1 mile, and ...voila!

I painted this jelly-full donut in response to Susan Roden's volley - it is Monday, so it's the Donut War Day!  Susan thinks her trifecta of sugary sweetness will *splat* my jellies against a wall.  I say.. we divide and conquer!  Reinforced by one of my favorite mugs - one from Scottsdale Artists School.  I loved my class there.  Can't wait to do another one!  On the scorching red mug, is a symbol of a palette, and the words "Scottsdale Artists School"... as if I could forget!!!!

Happy Chair II, Oil, 18x24

This is not for sale - it's a gift to my husband.  You see, my painting trip to Maine was the day after our anniversary (34 if you must know!), so we kept our celebration low key - with dinner at a favorite restaurant.  No presents - I was too busy packing and planning!  When I came home, the next morning Tim asked if I wanted to go for a ride... well, I'd just driven home from Mid-Maine, but yeah, we always have good adventures, so I said sure.  He wanted to stop at the studio and I got a little...idgy.  I didn't FEEL like hanging around the studio.  I said I'd wait in the car.  "No.." he said, "I may be a while."  Well.  I kind of got annoyed.  Were we going for a ride or not?

Fast forward:  I went up to the studio with him, he opened the door - and there was this chair I have been LUSTING after at a local antique shop, and an additional gift of a charm bracelet (I didn't think he was listening...) I'd always loved.

I had a LOT of fun painting this - and the background ... well, you can click to enlarge it - it's kind of crazy - I was totally in a zone.

Cerisnolla Olives, 6x6 Inches, Acrylic Painting

SOLD

There's an Italian section of Providence called Federal Hill, and there are tons of restaurants lining the main drag (Atwells Ave.).  One of my favorites is Constantine's Venda Ravioli.  You can eat outside (al fresco?) facing a little square with a big fountain, or indoors, literally tucked into the shevles and bins of food prep utensils and cappuccino makers.  The entire center of the shop is a huge rectangle which sells cheeses, olives, prepared food and meats.  I was there last week and was captivated by the large, meaty black, red and green olives called Cerisnolla Olives.  A plate of different kinds of olives, some crusty bread, excellent olive oil and some cheese... what more could a person want?

Fiesta Morning Break w/Jellies, 6x6 Inches, Oil Painting

SOLD

Another casualty in the Donut War with Susan Roden - OH!  So drippy and sweet!  The Fiesta cup is part of a gift from a good friend, Jane, who I reconnected with on Facebook a couple of years ago - literally we hadn't really seen each other in a decade - maybe two!  We were kindred spirits when we both worked for a law firm in the 70's  - YOW, that's a long time ago!  Then I moved away, then she moved away, etc. etc...  and it was so great to 'discover' her again.  So.... Facebook can be a pain, and annoying, but it can also be a GOOD thing!  As in... does everybody want to know what I'm cooking for dinner?????  I'll save you the click to FB.... Hamburgers & Sweet Corn, and Tomato Salad!

Spearmints IV, 6x6 Original Oil Painting by Kelley MacDonald

SOLD

This painting wasn't actually due to post today, but the eggs I painted, apparently are abhorrent to my camera because it WILL NOT focus on the painting.  Seriously - about 18 shots... all very blurry.  I actually went to get a new camera today, not the one I wanted.. can't afford that one just yet, but a little replacement - and I showed the man my camera and said "It won't focus on close up things - a boat in the river, sure, but anything close, no."  So the man took a whole bunch of really clear shots of things 2, 3, 4, 5 feet away and said "There's no problem here....."  And, puzzled, I took the camera and started taking pictures of everything... perfect.  Wow, I thought.  I'm really losing it!  Even in the car back to the studio, I took pictures of my feet, of the GPS map, of my husband.... perfect.  It was a little like when the kids were little and had an awful cough, and you got the nurse to squeeze you in to see the pediatrician, and when you get there - no cough.

BUT... when I got back to the studio and tried to photograph my painting of blue eggs -  blurry.  I'm about to hurl this little camera right into the river...

Peaceful Garden, 8x8 Inches, Oil Painting of Linden Place Garden

SOLD

Today the Painting Safari was held at Linden Place in Bristol, RI.  (Our last one of the Summer!)  This lovely mansion is now a museum, and you can take a tour as well as walk the beautiful grounds.  Of all the places and things I could paint, I was drawn to this small garden area, with the beautiful green hydrangeas and pink lilies, not to mention the fabulous red, white and blue buntings.  Behind the fence was a sort of barn - it looked too lovely to actually house livestock, perhaps it was a carriage house.  When all the architecture is white, you have to squint down and look hard for color bouncing from all over, to make the white *delicious*.

A further upside to todays' effort was while I was about 2/3 done a beautiful pug wandered out from some door I couldn't see in the garden area.  I was in heaven, as I was missing Paco (I didn't think he'd be welcome there)!  And then... I kid you not, a beautiful orange tabby cat strolled out from the same area!  I met their owner, and we gushed about pug-love - she even has ANOTHER pug!  

Anyway, this painting was one of those that just kind of falls together - with a lot of measuring and squinting! :D