Grieving Angel, 8x6 Inch Acrylic Painting by Kelley MacDonald

SOLD

I've always loved this sculpture - you can read about it's history HERE. I think grief is a hard thing - and different for everybody.  I know we want to quickly get through the 'stages' and be 'normal' again.  But even if we try… it doesn't work that way.  It takes the time, and cost, it takes.  I view it as an honor to the person/animal I'm grieving over.  

When I lived in Hingham, I would love to roam the cemetery and view this Angel.  I thought… the people who grieve can give their anguish over to this angel, and rest.  She will weep, not letting the deceased be forgotten.

I love cemeteries - have I told you that?  But when I 'go' I would like a seat-type sculpture, with a marble sleeping cat on one side of it.  :)

Angel Kitty, 6x6 inch Acrylic Painting by Kelley MacDonald

$100 & $10 S&H

Click HERE To Purchase

Not all Angels look like humans…. that's all I have to say….

Angel of Patience, 6x8 Inch Acrylic Painting by Kelley MacDonald

$100 & $10 S&H

Click HERE To Purchase

Meet Elerial, the Archangel of Patience.  I am finding out the most interesting things doing research for my angels.  For example, I painted her, then looked at her for a title.  To me, she was the epitome of Patience, waiting for someone to open their eyes to the obvious choice to be made.  Then I googled 'Angel of Patience', and BOOM tons of things came up.  But one of the MOST interesting things was from this Archangel page, and this is it:

Elerial's vessels are either male or female, but have tended to be females with calm blue eyes and long brown hair. 

This is who you turn to when you need patience, or you need someone to be patient with you.

Snow Angel, 8x6 Inch Acrylic Painting by Kelley MacDonald

$100 & $10 S&H

Click HERE To Purchase

Appropriate for today, as we are having a Nor'Easter here in New England, that I would be inspired to paint a snow angel!  Bitter cold though it will be, we can still enjoy the beauty of fresh fallen snow!  I'm playing with layers of paint, colors found in white, and texture.  A little palette knife is just what is called for!

I'm getting more comfortable with painting from my imagination, and have been doing research on different ways angels are portrayed in art, and, again, if you have ideas or photo feel free to send them to me at kcareymac@hotmail.com.

I really loved the pastels introduced into this snowy whiteness - the pinks and blues, yellows and lavenders were fun to work with!

Angel Of Mercy, 6x4 inch Acrylic Painting by Kelley MacDonald

$100 & $10 S&H

Click HERE To Purchase

Sometimes I think we all need an Angel of Mercy.  She's little, but she's mighty.  Thanks to this 30 Painting Challenge, I literally have Angels dancing in my head.  Although with my typing skills, I venture to say that you might see a post about 'Angles' at some point this month… do not be fooled into thinking it's a painting about geometric shapes!  

*lyrics by Lang

Guardian, 6x6 inch Angel Painting in Acrylic by Kelley MacDonald

$100 & $10 S&H

Click HERE To Purchase

  

This month I've chosen to participate in the 30 Paintings In 30 Days Challenge with Leslie Saeta.  My topic will be Angels.  I don't paint from my imagination much, so it will truly be a challenge for me!  Today's Angel is a Guardian, and as a child we recited this prayer.  Then and now I find comfort thinking that we are never alone, that we have our Guardian Angel for our whole lives.  And maybe even beyond, who knows?

I would like to wish each and every one of you a Happy, Safe and Healthy New Year.  Whatever challenges we faced in 2013 are gone, and we can look forward to a fresh start.  Thank you for coming along on my artistic journey.  Possibly my personal journey as well… I appreciate every comment, and every note.  Thank you again, and Happy New Year!

Today is Girls Just Wanna Paint Challenge, as well!  Take a look and see! Click HERE!

Want to see the vast array of artists doing the 30 Paintings Challenge with Leslie?  Click HERE!

OK, Let It Snow! 6x6 inch Oil Painting by Kelley MacDonald

$100 & $10 S&H

Click HERE To Purchase

Even though I LOVE snow… I'm kinda grateful that this week we're getting rain.  I know there's more snow in our future, but a reprieve was nice!  I love this little guy, and I could honestly collect snowmen until I was buried in them! 

But I have made a commitment and want to share it with you. I have decided, once again to participate in Leslie Saeta's 30 Paintings in 30 Days Challenge.  Starting January 1.  My subject: Angels.  You know, of course, after a few days I'll be desperate for ideas, so if YOU have any images of angels you think might look good painted, please send them along to me at kcareymac@hotmail.com!  I think it'll be fun. Wish me luck!  

Bowl Of Gold, 12x6 Inch Acrylic Painting by Kelley MacDonald

$175 & $10 S&H

Click HERE To Purchase

Well!  I have been a busy bee for the last month!  So very long since I've put in an appearance on my blog, have been doing a lot of commission work, plus two part time jobs, left me little time to paint things on my own!  As you can imagine, it's not smart to post commissions that are presents, since they usually are surprises…. hence lack of posts.  All done now except for two really fun paintings of a charming Springer Spaniel, and I'm happy to share them with you as I complete them.

I hope the holidays (Hanukkah and Christmas) were happy ones for you.  I feel incredibly blessed.  My family was wonderful and my friends just truly filled me with light and love.  My younger son is a potter as well as a painter, writer and… well he's just good at anything creative, and he makes me these green bowls.  Then he brought me the little oranges with the stems, which I cannot resist!  Fitting that they should share a canvas!  

I'm grateful the Christmas cookies are gone.  I'm not saying WHO made them go, but there are empty containers here.  I hope you all made happy memories this month.

Things I'm Thankful For

Happy Thanksgiving to all my American friends!  And Happy Hanukkah to all my Jewish friends!  I have so many things to be thankful for, and every single day as I open my eyes I recite to myself the ever growing list.  I'll share some today - 

My husband, and his health**my children, Rory, Conor and Molly, and their health** my sister and her family, and their health**Paco the Pug, Harry and Isabelle, my kitties**my safe home with the beautiful view**my own health**my friends (yes, I name them)** my work, and the ability to buy the painting supplies I need**enough food, clothing and a working car**peace in my country**

And I am also very thankful for all of you, who comment, write, or even just tell me when you see me that you enjoy my work and my blog.  Happy Thanksgiving to all of you!

***this 6x6 painting of "Home Tree" has come home from the Edward Hopper Museum and will be at South Street Gallery in Hingham for their Holiday show!

My Little Chickadee, 6x6 inch Oil Painting by Kelley MacDonald

$100 & $10 S&H

Click HERE To Purchase

Today I woke up feeling like I just jumped off a spinning carousel … 2 weeks of frenetic shipping, delivering, setting up, etc. and going to Openings - not to mention the 6 weeks prior of fast paced painting!  I told myself that I would just take it easy today, do what flowed, read a bit, walk with the dog without hurrying him along, meditating, etc.  Well, the morning kind of drifted, but then I walked into the studio, saw my sketches for some upcoming commissions, and the pull to the easel was irresistible!  

I wanted to paint something that I just had been dying to paint…. little birds.  I love the shapes of the little birds - kind of round as we head into winter.  And in doing this I found out that the chickadee is the state bird of Massachusetts!  Yes, the Wild Turkey is the state 'game' bird, but the chickadee is the regular one.  Voila!  I think there are more chickadees in my future.  Maybe yours, too. :D

One striking thing floated to my mind today… at two different openings two different people (so, doing the math, now 4 people in one week) told me they felt my paintings were painted joyfully, that they also brought joy to people who enjoyed them.  And I heard about one woman who bought one of my paintings and is taking it everywhere she goes as she fights a courageous battle with cancer, saying that the little painting makes her smile and she thinks that's good for her healing.  Moves me more than I can say!  And well, I've said enough for today.  Thanks for listening.

Starry Starry Donut, 6x6 Inch Painting by Kelley MacDonald

$100 & $10 S&H

Click HERE To Purchase

After pushing 41 small paintings out of my studio last week for all the various holiday shows, believe it or not I could not WAIT to paint something I wanted to paint today.  So I told my husband not to eat breakfast, and hopped in the car and drove to Bristol, RI to get some donuts.  Mind you I drove by at least 2 Dunkin Donuts to get to the downtown Bristol shop.  They take great pride in generously filled and frosted donuts, and they are very artfully decorated.  I know, I know, they all get the same donuts, but (trust me on this, I know) some owners/franchises are waaaay better than others.  So I was disappointed to see the 'star mania' already.  I mean, when you want a filled donut you want a ROUND donut, right?  But these bismarks were winking at me.

So this series I'm doing of donuts won't probably be out in the world till December, and maybe not even then.  But it was very freeing to just go with this shape, this filling and of course, the jelly!

My good friend Patti Gray (former teacher and Maine-r friend) came to the Opening of Girls Just Wanna Paint at Thayer last night and snapped this photo of my husband, Tim, and I.  We both have our eyes open!! (and by that I mean me!)  Thanks, Patti!

NOW.  To get ready for Sunday, when my gallery, The Art Stable Gallery, is having our Holiday Open House!  We're roasting marshmallows and serving Champagne.  I dare you to stop by!  We've had recent renovations, and new work, and a POWERFUL spirit among us!  Really.  Champagne and marshmallows…..

Thursday 5-8, Be There Or Be Square

It's finally here!  Our Girls Just Wanna Paint show at Thayer Academy has it's Opening tonight!  The glitterati will be there, I hear.  Here's part of the wall where we posted our topics and our paintings in response to those topics. What a beautiful space.

Here's a close up of 'Ritual'.  I think you'll like seeing the paintings in person - we sure do enjoy getting together each month and seeing them after looking online.  

Here's one of the walls where each of us got to put up a few of our larger paintings, things not on our GJWP blog.  

We would surely love to see you.  My husband, Tim, has rearranged his schedule so he could be our bartender.  We will have wonderful sips and nibbles.  We truly enjoy meeting all of you, or seeing you AGAIN (this is, you know, our 3rd show on the South Shore).  So, if you're thinking 'maybe', I say this to you:  Go ahead, make our day!

xo

Are You Free Thursday?

Beyond the fact that everywhere you look there are Holiday Art events, my Challenge Group, Girls Just Wanna Paint, have been very fortunate to have been offered a show at the Thayer Academy Art Gallery In Braintree, MA!

It was hung this weekends by GJWP girls Pamela Copeman, Lisa Daria Kennedy and Tori Chesley Brega.  They did a phenomenal job.  They hung a HUNDRED of our paintings!

Just to let you know about our group - we are a 4 + year old 'Challenge' group (we paint our response to a different topic each month and post it by the first of the month on our blog).  We are a dozen accomplished artists who teach and travel and are in galleries throughout New England.  We've had shows at different South Shore galleries and had a write up about us in a South Shore Magazine.  We are passionate, fun and definitely worth meeting at our Opening on Thursday, Nov. 21~

So come join us and have some nice sips and nibbles, see our work all hanging together, and say hello! Fellow artists and friends, we're looking forward to seeing you!

Pulling Out All The Stops For North River

I kid you not.  This year I am offering some of my favorite pieces at the North River Arts Holiday Sale.   We all need to find our path.  Find this at the sale today, Sunday from 10-2.  Have fun!  You will be wondrously surprised at the selection this year!

AND…..  (gosh, what a busy time of year)

Providence Art Club Little Pictures opens this afternoon (Sunday, 12-4, FREE Admission)

And… keep your socks on… because on Thursday, my Girls Just Wanna Paint Peeps will be on hand to meet and greet….. from 5-8 at Thayer Academy in Braintree…

I'll put the directions up  in a day or so.  

You Guys Are The Best!

OK, you really make me smile - thanks for not picking me apart for the typo on my last post!  Huh!  I certainly didn't see that I listed the North River Arts Holiday Sale as being from "20-4" o'clock - until Thursday, when a nice Facebook friend asked me what that meant (Maggie!).  We'llllll it meant TEN o'clock to 4 p.m.    Below is a revised version.  Anyway, this 8x8 painting is in my bin, which you can visit Friday night at the Preview, then through the weekend.  

Is it just me or has this Fall been going at warp speed?

Enjoy the weekend!  

Little Pictures at Providence Art Club is ALSO opening, if you're in RI, it's THE place to be on Sunday afternoon!

Alert - This Coming Weekend In Marshfield, MA~

Every year I participate in the Holiday Sale at the North River Arts Society.  Not only did I study painting here for a long time, I made lots of friends here, and benefitted form various workshops and events.  I usually put out small pieces left from my various sales - not this year.  

You see, I'm taking a class, and recently we've been thinking about receiving - and giving.  So this year I am only including in this sale things I would hang in my own home - and I am including pieces up to 12x12 inches, pieces I have enjoyed, pieces other artists have complimented me on.  I feel like this way, I may be 'receiving' your support, but I am giving as well.  I feel the commission the NRAS takes from this is the LEAST I can give for all they give me and other South Shore artists.

So in addition, this year, I will donate a portion of the North River Sales to the relief effort in the Philippines. I cannot imagine what those poor people are going through.  So!  We've got your cocktails, your donuts, your sea gulls, your Maine views - come 'n get it Saturday & Sunday!  Great art all around that room!  When I dropped off my paintings, I saw THREE other GirlsJustWannaPaint peeps. 

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

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

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

Miss Chloe, 6x6 Inch Oil Painting by Kelley MacDonald

This sweet girl is near and dear to the heart of someone who lives near me in the summertime.  I am a sucker for the expressive face on a dachshund!  This painting is going to it's home this week, and I am thrilled to have had the privilege to paint her.

Pets make such a difference in our lives.  They lower our blood pressure (although sometimes, I'm certain mine RAISE mine), are constant and nonjudgmental. They're warm and snuggly and they look at us as if we are the best things in the world. They forgive our shortcomings, our mistakes, our foibles. This weekend I'm babysitting Charlie the Klee-Kai, my son's dog (sort of a mini- husky).  And he's just about perfect.  Well, 'christening' the drapes aside, that is.  I'm forgiving him just like he'd forgive me.  (although, truly I've never been inclined to do anything like that to drapery…)

Lobster Twins, 6x12 inches, Acrylic Painting by Kelley MacDonald

I'm in love with the light turquoise vs. the red color scheme.  I also love drawing these babies!  This painting is going to the Black Whale Gallery in New Bedford, MA.  Yup, it's right where Moby Dick hung out.  If you are interested in this painting you can contact Heather Frymark Viera by clicking HERE.

(I SO feel like a lobster now… with melted butter and beer).

In a dead heat painting this week.
* Providence Art Club Little Pictures

*North River Arts Society (Marshfield, MA)

*Fall River Historical Society

*South Street Gallery

and last but not least, the *Art Stable Gallery!

Just Like Mommy, 6x6 Inch Oil Painting by Kelley MacDonald

Well, it's the first of the month and let me be the first to say "Rabbit, Rabbit, Rabbit" for good luck this month!

Also, as you probably know, it's the day the Girls Just Wanna Paint group posts their response to the monthly topic.  This month the topic was:  Makeup.  Boy, you could do so much with that!  I will let you go to our blog to see the various Makeup paintings, and I think you will be surprised!  Click HERE to see our paintings!  I chose little girls playing with makeup as a theme.  This little girl ALMOST got it right - and she must have seen her Mom purse her lips - she is just a BIT smeary!~  I thought I wouldn't enjoy this painting, but I did, I really really did!  I can't wait to see her framed up and hanging at the show at the Thayer Academy Gallery later this month.  

November 18th - December 18th

Opening Reception with all the artists: Thurs. Nov. 21st 5-8.

I believe we are having Prosecco -  you just come on and join us!

This One's For You, 6x6 Inch Oil Painting by Kelley MacDonald

SOLD

You know you want it.  I know you deserve it. Tender white cake with creamy home made frosting - and just a light sprinkle of colored dots.  A celebration, a treat, an indulgence.  Just this once….. I made it for you!

All that's missing is my little block signature.  Coming tomorrow. and almost dry!  Seriously, can you tell how much fun this was for me to paint?  Yesterday in my Small Painting class at the Providence Art Club we first made a number of little Value Studies, where you just use one sort of neutral color (I used Burnt Umber) and white, and establish the darks and shadows, and get yourself a good composition. Then paint it … and then eat it.  It was a gift to my students who had such a great attitude and aptitude this Fall.

What I liked about this cupcake was the view (well, ONE of the things I liked about it - it was dee-lish, I  tell you).  It was monumental looking for a small piece of cake topped with dreamy frosting.  Here are my value studies:

I'm like an athlete in training (stop laughing!). Painting every moment, getting ready for the Little Pictures Show at the Art Club, The change-up of paintings at the Art Stable next week, and the North River Arts Holiday Sale.  How could I forget… Girls Just Wanna Paint group is having a SHOW at Thayer Academy's Gallery!

Annnnnnnd… I'm moving out of my studio, stuffing the contents of a 1,100 sq. foot studio into my living room.  Never a dull moment in my life!  Wish me luck!

Lobsta Commission 6x6 Inch Oil Painting by Kelley MacDonald

I've painted a few of these bad boys in my time.  This one is my absolute favorite!  He's giving you that "Are you lookin' at ME?" look!  Well, he was, before he was edible, anyway.

I find that when I paint the same subject a few times, I get looser and more comfortable.  Hence… the donuts, the cocktails, the coffee!!!!

Anyway, I thought I'd show you before he gets shipped off.  I haven't had too much extra time to paint paintings that are available for the blog - I'm moving out of my studio *sniff*… but it's all good.  Now I get to paint in my pajamas!  And my cats will be very happy!

Off to rest, to paint some more!  Be well, friends….

Nom Nom Nom! 6x6 Inch Painting by Kelley MacDonald

Eeeeps!  WHO loves their work more than I do?  I will admit this time, that Boston Creme donut got gobbled up soon after the painting was done.  Not my fault.  I had to take not one, but TWO bites to get the creamy filling to show!  (normally I do not even LIKE this type of donut, but when you are very hungry, and have to taste it - twice……)  This is a commission for a Facebook friend who used to share the same building where I had my very first studio.  I hope she likes it.  I certainly had fun doing it!

It is amazing to me how fast time is flying and that the holidays are just around the corner.  

As we age, I guess, the pages of the calendar flip faster.  With that in mind…

Pour Vous, 8x6 Inch Oil Painting by Kelley MacDonald

Today's lesson at the Art Club was "color matching".  That's when we take little squares of random colors from magazines and tape them to a piece of canvas, then 'match' the color - it always has to be mixed, and even the most veteran painter can have a bit of a struggle.  After everyone successfully matched their colors up we painted - from life, or a photograph, if they preferred ... but we made sure to 'match' the color correctly.  Our room was filled with silver pitchers of roses and hydrangeas from a recent wedding.  I grabbed this lovely bouquet - then instantly regretted it because I hardly ever paint flower bouquets.... but is really enjoyed it and just was fearless about all those petals and colors!

Sunday was the Hingham Arts Walk - it was a blast being with my art buddies from the South Shore, and seeing 'blast from the past' friends who stopped by!  One lovely woman insisted I looked ten years younger than the last time she saw me - and that alone was worth the whole day!  Thank you Page Railsback for hosting and doing all that work for the Arts Walk, you rock!

Let's Call It A Night, 6x8 inch Acrylic Painting by KelleyMacDonald

The background is a little darker, but at 6 p.m. it is tough to get the right light to photograph a paining!  

Well, the Cosmo's drained, and it looks like Mr. Wine has had his couple of glasses and the bottle is empty.  A lovely evening, I'm sure.  A delicious dinner.  Perhaps a sunset.  Reminiscing.  Inside jokes.  Good laughs.  The glow of feeling connected.  Love.

This year for the Providence Art Club's Little Picture Show in December I'm doing 3 "6 a.m." paintings (donuts & coffee) and 3 "6 p.m." (cocktails).  This is a p.m. for them.

SUNDAY!!! If you are around the South Shore or Boston, stop in at the Hingham Arts Walk!  I'll be at the North Street Studio!  

And if you are in RI, Westport, etc. Please stop in and see the AMAZING art show at Kitty Lovell's studio in Tiverton 4 Corners, "Birds Of A Feather"- Opening 3-5!.

15 Minute Painting

Today's class at the Art Club was a lesson on getting it GOING~!  For a lot of artists, doing a small paining, soup-to-nuts, in an hours is UGH.... impossible.  Well, this painting was done in 15 minutes.  (I am getting a supreme kick out of the fact that I simply FORGOT to put the string on the tea tag!)  Every single person in the class did a great job on a 15 minute painting.  Below you'll see the first painting of the afternoon - done in just over an hour.  To the right, the same subject, done in 40 minutes.

Truly, when I was doing the first one, the hour-long study, I was silently thinking to myself "WHAT were you thinking with this drippy/lopsidedly glazed mug, a teabag package, and a tag????  But you know... when you are under the gun, so to speak.....  And here I want to say all the students were very accomplished! 

 

 

 

Once Upon An Island, 5x7 inch acrylic painting by Kelley MacDonald

This weekend, I was lucky enough to spend time on a little island called Cuttyhunk. I was with artist Susan Medyn, and we painted up a storm! This view was the first thing I painted. It is looking up a hill from the gloriously clean, fine-sandy beach. The wind made it a bit raw, but we tucked back into some boulders and were protected. I was immediately attracted to the lone house on the bluff, the wind-shaped trees and the bruise-color of the sky, as a storm passed by.

Everything about this painting made me happy.. I was just in a zone. The tiny town of Gosnold on the island is charming and completely walkable. With incredible vistas from every step.

This painting is $100 plus $10 for shipping, and if you'd like it as a place to 'get away' in your mind, just email me at kcareymac@hotmail.com.

SOLD

Torture By Counted Strokes

Today's lesson was one I call "Counted Strokes" (Inspired by Peggi Kroll Roberts).  My wonderful class at the Providence Art Club is very game and will endure almost anything!  We divided our panels into 4 parts.  Starting at the top left, we painted a small still life of our choosing, trying to be economical about our brushstrokes, but simply counting as we went... seeing how few we could use.  I wrote the number I used on the top right of the painting - 65 for that bare-bones painting.  

Top right square - we attempted to limit our strokes - to 25 strokes!  (You'd think, knowing this, I would have chosen an apple, or pear or something, but noooooOOOoooo... I have to do a Dunkin Donuts coffee and a jelly donut.  Oh well).  

Then, taking the lesson of 'thoughtful' brushstrokes to heart, with absolutely no 'house painting', we painted the subject again in the lower left.  Using as many strokes as we needed, but just being sure, pausing between strokes.

I was pleasantly surprised at the intensity the artists in the class showed, and the capability to do a great job with minimal freedom.  Thinking between strokes, and getting a big brush all filled up with juicy paint, in a well planned stroke really makes for an interesting painting.  

As always, it was a fun day!

(the dots and strokes on the right lower section are the 'counted' strokes - every time I put down a stroke on the top 2 paintings I 'marked it')

Which One Is Yours? 6x6 Inch Oil Painting by Kelley MacDonald

$100 & $10 P&S

Click HERE To Purchase

Friday I had the good fortune to be the Artist In Residence at the Furnace Brook School and once again, really enjoyed sharing my painting process with the kids.  I set up two easels and I painted on one, and every middle schooler that WANTED to paint, could on the other one.  

Every year, every single boy asks if they can eat the props.  This year a huge black fly kept alighting on them, but even telling them that, most of them still said they'd eat them.  These days I'd probably go to jail for letting kids eat donuts at school, so I always say "I wish I could, but :D no...."

This day, with all those kids who maybe never put oil paint on a canvas before joining in... is a highlight of my year. Thanks to the Parent-Teacher organization for sponsoring it every single month!

A Man With His Fish, 6x8 inch oil painting by Kelley MacDonald

$100 & $10 S&H

Click HERE To Purchase

Something new...