ZOOM A Little Jelly!, 6x6 Inch Original Oil Painting by Kelley MacDonald

$100 & $10 S&H

This is one of the jellies that will be making it's debut at the Hingham Arts Walk 

with me.  I will be at Framing Concepts, 105 South Street from 12-4.  Be sure to stop by!  This jelly will be joined by a couple of other new jellies as well as new cocktail paintings!  Hingham is my old stomping grounds, and I am really looking forward to seeing a lot of familiar faces.

Tonight I was honored to attend the Opening of the South County Art Association in Kingston, RI and receive 1st Prize for my painting "Shall We Cross The Road?"  It was a great show and the people I met were wonderful!  The show runs through November 10.

I Couldn't Resist Carmel! 6x6 Inch Oil Painting by Kelley MacDonald

$100 & $10 S&H

Those little Goetze's carmels - for me, they should be banned.  My middle son and I could make short work of a bag of them.  Something about the creamy center and the chewy carmel - *sigh*!

I said I have a donut painting for you and I do - three of them actually!  But I forgot my camera at home and when I left the studio due to an 'art injury' (too much painting - aching shoulder!) I completely forgot the donut painting!  Good news, if you live in the Boston area - I'll be at Framing Concepts (105 South Street) in Hingham on Sunday for the Hingham Arts Walk - from 12-4 and I'll have them with me - so you can see them all together.  Also - my new cocktail series!  There are so many fun artists going to be there, it's a 'should-go' event!  I hope to see you there - stop in and say hello!

This Bud's For You.... 6x6 Inch Original Oil Painting by Kelley MacDonald

$100 & $10 S&H

Another painting for the Holiday rush!  I had a lot of fun with the distortion of the 2nd bottle in the glass.  Now... some folk (my husband) like their beer out of a nice glass.  Others (moi, for the one beer a year I drink) like it right out of a cold bottle.  You?

I loved examining the reflective surface that I put the beer and the glass on - its a classic case (thank you Carol Marine) of painting exactly what you see.  NOT what you know!

Can you stand a couple more of these alcohol-themed paintings?  Cause after this I'm heading into donut land, and THEN a surprise on Monday (hint:  it's based on my recent trip to Santa Fe...)

Waiting For Tonic, 6x6 Inch Original Oil Painting By Kelley MacDonald

6x6 Inches, Oil

First, let me just say that if you haven't tried Hendrick's Gin.... y'oughta!

This weekend marked the (belated) push for the Little Picture Shows.  I can hardly believe how many I've committed to.  This weekend I did 4 'cocktail' type paintings.  My first thought is to do 3 cocktail and 3 donut paintings for the Providence Art Club Little Picture Show, like last year.

Since taking Carol Marine's Advanced Workshop a couple of weeks ago I'm all excited to do glass and reflective surfaces... so look forward to more!

Also - as a balm to our hectic world, with all our anxieties and conflicts (think politics - and then DON'T think politics...)  I offer to you a recent sunset from my front porch.  Maybe someday I'll get brave enough to tackle them again!

Reflecting On Reflections

Today, our last workshop day, was about reflections.  All kinds of reflections.  Carol did a wonderful demo, and then did her raffle where people could buy her demo's - always a fun part of the workshop.  If there was a word to describe my fellow students here, besides 'talented', which they overwhelmingly are (a little intimidating really) is 'warm'.  By the end of the week, it felt like family.  Indeed we shared so much information about our painting lives AND family lives, we all felt like OLD friends by the end.  

We felt totally cared for and were in a safe, comfortable and comforting environment, and the food was so good (and vegan, or gluten free or anything-you-need-free) that the photography students took photos of it.  Well, our class started it, I'm just going to say that...

The courtyard had beautiful statuary and fountains and gardens.  There were walking trails behind our building.  No.  I did not take advantage of those, and, by the fit of my jeans I think I should have....

And to top it all off, Nancy Hartley's husband Brian, brought each of us a beautiful rose at the end of the workshop.   Besides being the person who tackled the division of the dinner bill each night, he was our go-to-guy for medical advice concerning scary rashes, and Chief Advisor for choosing our nightly feasts.  Thank you to Nancy for all her hard work setting up the workshop, and to her and Brian for opening their home on the first night here to welcome us!

Santa Fe'in....

I've been in wi-fi 'lockdown' since I got to Santa Fe. For some reason our side of the building does not have working wi-fi.  's OK.  I'm loving it here.  Loving the scenery, loving spending time working with Carol Marine, and having fun with her and the 'super group' we've gathered here in the hills around Santa Fe.  We're practicing painting white, painting metals, painting bigger, painting glass, and reflections.  The group, who are painters who have painted with her before, for the most part, just give ourselves over and keep an open mind about learning.  

Don't believe the rumor that I TRIED to set the room on fire.  It was small, and the wall-to-wall rug was completely covered with thick plastic sheeting that was REALLY easy to melt.  So, in the words of Mary Sheehan Winn, I also cannot be trusted with Clamp lights (begins with 'c' so fits in her theory), and of Kathy Cousart (nobody was keeping an eye on me...) we all survived... the people who run the school and the monastery are very understanding..... and here, below, is an evening shot...

AND some man who was at the beach last week when I was walking Paco was intrigued by his wrinkly forehead.  "Is he worried?"  he asked.  "Well, yes,"  I said "about everything... and nothing..."  and this man just found my email address somehow and mailed me this cutie photo of Paco (whom I miss very much!)

Bringing The Beach Home, 6x8, Original Oil Painting by Kelley MacDonald

$100 & $10 S&H

This was a demo I did, and the thought behind it was 'composition'.  I wanted to establish a rhythm and also not confine the composition to the page.  I collect beach rocks, I think I've mentioned, and set these down as if I were looking at them from above.  The 'sand' is actually a little rosier than in the photo.  This, second attempt to capture it, was unsuccessful.  The rocks speak to me, is all I can say.  I think some of you feel the same way about rocks... these particular ones are smooth, with soft edges.  Calm, I think, and soothing.

Here's today's wind-whipped waves against the island:

Shall We Dance?, 6x6 Inch Original Oil Painting by Kelley MacDonald

SOLD

Sticking with the 'birds' theme, I guess.. the Birds show at Lovell Studio at 4 Corners in Tiverton is over this Saturday - and it was a huge success!  About 50% of the paintings sold!

These gulls we at the beach across the street.  I'm always amazed at what seems to be the different KIND of gulls there.  I always thought the brown gulls were babies.  Now there seem to be giant brown gull, dwarfing these dark and white gulls - no way they are offspring!  I enjoyed the brushwork doing this one.  And in my research I'm finding there are more than one kind of Rhode Island Red Chicken - there is the 'old' style and the 'new'(lighter) style.  Also there are Rhode Island Whites.  I find chickens and gulls fascinating... sparrows, too.. guess I'm a Bird Girl at heart...

And for my friend Mary, who missed this sunset tonight, believing the weatherman....

You could've painted THIS!

SHOULD We Cross The Road?, 8x10 Inch Oil Painting by Kelley MacDonald

I don't know why I painted chickens today - I should have been doing a thousand other things.  But while I was tidying up my studio I came across a shot of these lovely chickens...  and I couldn't resist!  Now, I sure would love to paint them from life, and I did try that once, but it was funny how I couldn't get them to stand still!  

Instead of painting darks to light or going from most vulnerable color to more sturdy ones, I painted transparent colors first - and then started with the paint that needed a little white mixed in or was opaque.  There is no 'right' way to paint (sorry, but it's true).   And it's all fun, and good.  I think just learning and observing all your painting life is the way to go.

And below, my studio assistant, who is right now very freaked out about the big wind and rain storm...

Come Sit By The Fire, 6x6 Inches, Original Oil Painting by Kelley MacDonald

$100 & $10 S&H

I have always wanted to paint interiors, as some of my favorite artists, one in particular is Connie Hayes, are masters at it, and make it look fun.  But my own home isn't.... visually intriguing.  But this past Spring we went to a wonderful Inn on Cape Cod... the sitting room was so warm and inviting.. with a comfy seat near a fire. This was my demo at the Art Stable Gallery on Sunday.  

Come sit.

Summers' Last Roses, 4x4 Inches, Original Acrylic painting by Kelley MacDonald

$65 & $10 S&H

I gathered what I think will be the last of the summer roses - deep orange, pale pink, red streaked with white, for a tiny bouquet.  This is also a tiny painting - I saw the light hitting it so that flecks of the roses' colors were in the base of the vase, and I had to paint it.  Busy weekend (aren't they all?)... we went to Waterfire with friends on Saturday night after grilled swordfish and the sunset on the front porch... today I did a demo at the Art Stable Gallery, then headed out to the beach for grilled hot dogs and another glorious sunset, melting into views of the starry night, including a great view of the Milky Way.... I always say God is the best artist...  I can't wait to show you my demo from today - tomorrow's post!

The classes are filling - new and old friends...  please reserve now while there's still room!

Just wondering... is there any interest in a Saturday class?

Fogland Beach,

$100 & $10 S&H

Sitting in a beach chair... bottle of water, sandwich, good book and loyal dog under the chair... does it get any better?  Paco and I had our first 'beach day' yesterday, and I painted the little town beach called Fogland Beach.  It was so restful.  All Summer I painted in my studio, and now that it's September (my favorite month) I'm into the glittering water, the little boats going by, the lapping waves.   Today - another beach - I'll post that tomorrow.

Cheers to all my painting friends, and new painting friends to come, in my upcoming classes.  Should be GREAT! :)  I have 2 options - a weekly class on Fridays, and once a month, a full day on the 3rd Thursday on the month!!

Peace, 8x8 Inch Original Acrylic Painting by Kelley MacDonald

$150 & $10 S&H

"Peace comes from within.  Do not seek it without."

Am I keeping you on your toes?  Fashion one day, Zen another... welcome to my world!  Over the summer I have been collecting photos of Buddhas faces.  Thinking of how much I enjoyed the mugshots with Karin Jurick, I wondered if I could keep going, with acrylic paint and the mediums that belong to acrylics alone.  AND metallic acrylics.  This was the first one I did, and I loved it.  Then for the North River Arts Society's Outside The Box Silent Auction I did this one:

(had to keep it a secret till we were 'revealed' as artists)

On to the next Buddha face!

I didn't post yesterday, and I'm sorry, but I made it my own '9/11' holiday.  I spent a lot of time thinking about that day, reading about others' experiences, praying for the souls lost and the families left behind.  It's hard to believe it's been 11 years.  And though I try hard not to be a vindictive person, I definitely feel better knowing OBL is gone, baby, gone.

Beautiful In Blue, 8x8, Original Oil Painting by Kelley MacDonald

$150 & $10 S&H

When I go to the Brimfield Fair, I look at all the gorgeous evening gowns set up near the different dealers' tents.  This one was spectacular - and I have a friend with gorgeous blue eyes, pale skin and dark hair - I imagine her sweeping into a ballroom and dancing the night away in something like this! And in other news - I'll be having regular classes this Fall as WELL as 1 day workshops (3rd Thursdays)... the class info:

A moment of Zen: a recent sunset 

Lobstah II, 4x4 Inch Acrylic Painting by Kelley MacDonald

$65 & $10 S&H

Ohhh.. this little guy was a 1 1/4 lb lobster... we usually get the 1 1/2 lb, but they were out, and it turned out this guy was sweet, sweet, sweet!  Don't you just love the reds in the shell?  Here's looking at you, kid!

Of A Feather, 6x6 Inch Oil Painting of a Bird, by Kelley MacDonald

$100 & $10 S&H

While I was on St. Simons' Island we saw some colorful birds at a little shop - this was one....  I do love to paint birds!  I love to watch them, but more so if they are outside, in nature.  But I have 3 bird paintings at this wonderful venue opening Saturday night at a gallery/studio in Tiverton 4 Corners!  You should come!

My friend Kitty's studio is the beautiful location for this show - if you can't get there for the Opening  it will be up till the 22nd of September.  The Tiverton Land Trust benefits from this as well.  In past years it pretty much gets sold out - DON'T wait if you think you might want to acquire a piece!

In other news, I'll be gallery sitting at the Art Stable Gallery in Westport, MA on Sunday from 11-5.  It gives me a thrill when Friends Of The Blog drop by!

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!