Plein Air - Pink Evening, 9x12 Oil

This was a quick sketch done in oil of the sky and water across from my house.  I had to work really quickly, so it's very loose.  You guys have seen from my unenhanced photos that I'm not making this up - the sky at sunset here causes people to drive off the road!  Probably due to air pollution, but nevertheless breathtaking.  I like how the little house had lights on already in one room, too.  Because it's a 'Daily' painting, even though it's larger than my usual Daily Work, it's priced at

$100 & $10 S&H via Paypal

my email: kcareymac@hotmail.com

Enjoy your long weekend~

White Peonies, 6x8, Oil

SOLD
*note... I accidently priced my small paintings $25 less than 
my last event - $50 each at Art In The Barn, North River Festival! this weekend only!*

When I was a young and very foolish woman I actively disliked Peonies.  I had my husband dig up (I'm shuddering just thinking of this) vast beds of them around our first house because they had ants all over their flowers.  Years later when I learned how wonderful gardening is and flowers in general I repented - and then begged for Peonies all around the yard.  I know now the ants help eat the sticky stuff off the petals so they can open.  I have 4 beautiful varieties in the yard, now, these being the simplest, just white - with, occasionally, a streak of magenta along the edge of a petal. 

Sublime.

$100 & $10 S&H via PayPal

Woo-Hooo Duck! 6x6 Oil

In a lighthearted mood... this little duck was given to me for my birthday, but I keep him around everyday because he makes me smile.  Reminds me that friends make me laugh, and so, he's my little 'party animal'!

I promise something more serious for the next post!  In the meantime, I'm excited to go to the Gala Opening of the Art Festival in Marshfield tonight - it's never happened that I got two paintings in, so I wouldn't miss this for the world!  And Sunday I will be painting there from 1-5, which is like Old Home Week - sometimes I have to finish the painting afterwards.  Last time I spent a lot of time taking pictures of all the cute dogs!  Don't think I'll do it this time, I don't want to make Paco jealous!

And, in case you think I took them for granted, I realllllly appreciate your comments guys.  It tells us bloggers that we're not 'blogging into the wind', to paraphrase....

Plein Air - Beach! 6x8 Oil

My monthly Challenge Group meets next week, and the assignment this month was "Plein Air - Beach"!  So Paco and I headed over to the beach across the street before anyone else was there (hence the long shadow from the Lifeguard's chair.  The view is looking down the river, past Little Gould Island, with Aquidneck Island (think Newport) on the right bank and Tiverton and Little Compton on the left - of which you can only see a little peek of Tiverton in this painting.  The little piece you can see is called "Fogland" - and I just love to go there when it is foggy - it's like another world.

Now, here's the scene from my evening walk with Paco - facing the opposite way up the river...

Peace.

Bloggers don't forget Leslie Saeta's Radio show "Artists Helping Artists" today - noon-the topic is "Selling Art While You Sleep" - which is OK in my book!

Little Blue Birds, 6x6 Oil

A couple of weeks ago my Challenge Group met at my studio in Warren, RI.  A couple of girls came down early and we hit the antiques stores (we have REAL antiques stores, where you can really find good things!) together.  At the Wren and Thistle I found these two ceramic birds - irresistible!  So different from painting plein air, and tough to shift gears.

This painting is $100 & $10 S& H via Paypal

I want to share some valuable information with other bloggers, too.  Today I found Leslie Saeta's blog and saw that she has a radio program on Thursdays at noon about Artists Helping Artists.  She has the links on her blog so if that's a bad time for you it's there when you can listen at your leisure.  Thusday's topic is:  Sell Your Art While You Sleep!  Check it out!

Hazzards Of Plein Air

This 8x10 is one I left for my hostess at the beach house.  I loved the way the light hit the closed green shutters! I did it at early light, and it is a house across the street that you could see from the kitchen windows.  No fear, I did it outside.  However, I foolishly laid it down on the patio to dry out a little in the heat of the day, and left to paint somewhere else - and all kinds of sand, dirt, and debris blew onto the wet paint.  When the paint is dry she can brush this off, but sheesh!  

I love doing this, leaving a painting for the owner of a place I've gone to paint.  I have another paint-a-thon coming up this Fall on Cape Cod, where I get to stay the week and paint like crazy, and they get to choose a painting.  Wonderful for me, I hope also wonderful for them!  They get to collect original art and it's off-season, so they're not really losing any money!  So!  If you know of anyone who has a vacation home and would like to trade a painting for time spent there in off-season, let me know!

Sue's Shed, 8x10, Oil

This was the plein air piece that was my favorite from my Marshfield paint out!  At this point in the day a few other painting buddies had arrived and we staked out this shed in the backyard of where I was staying - positioning ourselves around it.  My favorite part is the buoys hanging on the shed.  Or maybe the shadow from the overhang of the roof. It just flowed... bing, bang, boom.

*A note about the DailyPainters.com contest... only one vote per IP address counts, so that's good!

This painting is not a Daily Painting per se, and I am reserving it for a summer art show entry.

At Rexhame Beach, 6x12, OIl

Plein Air Perfect Day!  It was warm and sunny, very little breeze.  This is of the marshes in the back of Rexhame Beach - those buildings run along the dunes and beach itself - which was so, so gorgeous I couldn't hope to capture it!  I was painting with a friend who is a master of buildings in a landscape, so was inspired to do this view.  Tomorrow I'll post what I think was my best piece this week!  I've been internet-challenged for a couple of days - no email, posting, or even Facebook!  I think it's like fasting... something you should do every once in a while to get you grounded again!  Apparently evil squirrels had chewed a hole in the cable running across the street from the utility pole into our house.  The man fixing it said he'd never seen anything like it.  Welcome to my life ;)

Chocolate Lentils, 6x6 Oil

My Mom's favorite candies were chocolate lentils.  Last week for our Challege meet-up, my friend Jeanne MacFarland, a fabulous painter, brought these lentils as a treat.  There are only a few left, and I put them in one of my Mom's candy dishes.  Haven't painted glass in a while, and was feeling a little rusty!  Plus there were etched flowers - what was I thinking????  Oh, it was fun and you know I love a challenge.  My favorite part is the sparkle of light on the 'base stand' - I have no idea what the right name is for that!

Thanks, too, to all of you wonderful friends who voted for me in the DailyPainters.com contest.  The voting continues till June 18 (can you believe it?).  I will keep you posted!

Good News...HOORAY!

This morning I was thrilled to get an email telling me that I was in the TOP 20 artists who are eligible to win a membership in the DailyPainters.com!  I have submitted to this group a couple of times before, and have made it a goal to someday be a part of this fabulous collection of artists.

So now I'm shamelessly asking for your help at this point in the process!  This round is Open Voting, which means anyone can vote.  To do this go to DailyPainters.com and scroll down to "Kelley Carey MacDonald", and click on the 5 Yellow Stars.  THANK YOU!

Some of my best blog friends are also nominated...

*This painting "At The Feeder" was the other painting I got in to the South Shore Art Center Festival - it's 11x14, and is oil on Gallery Wrapped Canvas - for those of you who asked!

Reflections On Clouds, 8x8, Acrylic

SOLD
With this painting I was just experimenting with surfaces.  I'd made the canvas very 'textured' with layers of paint and medium, just playing with how one of the sunsets would look.  I think I still prefer a nice smooth surface for the sunsets, or for plein air as well.  This is kind of fun with contemporary subjects, or something kind of abstract, but I think it makes a person confused as to what they're supposed to be looking at.  Maybe.  I must say that the camera exaggerates the texture.  In person it's less defined.  I think this will be NFS, and I'll hold it out for my Open Studio Tour in July.  Hope you all had a nice weekend - it was perfect weather here in New England!

*Big Grin Today*

Guys, I have tried to paint today but I'm just too excited!  A few rare things have happened to me this week.  First of all, on Monday I learned that 2 of my 3 submissions to the North River Art Festival Juried Show got in. (It's been a while since I've been accepted into this show..), then, yesterday I found out that two of my 3 submissions to the South Shore Art Festival Juried Show got in... and one of them got First Prize in Oil (shown below - Mexican Memories.. 30x30 inches), then this MORNING I got my letter from the Providence Art Club telling me the Art Qualifications Committee has approved my application unanimously, and after posting my name for one month, I will be voted into membership!  So.  I know too well how it feels to hear 'No', so I am grateful and thrilled that this week I heard 'Yes' three times.  These are the submissions I've been working on like a lunatic.   I should buy a lottery ticket, I think!

Thunderhead, 6x12, Acrylic

SOLD
I'm finally rested after the huge push last week.  People (and there were quite a few of you) emailed me to remind me I'm not 25 anymore.  I couldn't accept it, but after the last submission I practically collapsed!  Have been 'tuned out' for a couple of days to charge my battery.  This is a small version of a big painting I've got planned.  The thunderhead was amazing, but I really loved what happened to the sky UNDER the cloud, too.  It's a little terrifying to be able to see the weather approaching all the time!  Trying to stay loose, and layering, this was fun to do!

$100 & $10 S&H via Paypal

Cape House, 20x24, Acrylic

A few years ago my friend Phyllis invited a bunch of artists to stay with her and paint at this little piece of heaven in Truro, MA, on the inner arm of Cape Cod.  It is a truly magical place, a few houses down from Hopper's house, that I recently posted a painting of.  This house has historical significance in terms of the art history of Provincetown, MA, an art colony that was the birthplace of the Cape Cod School of Art.  This house was funky to say the least and probably could sleep - I don't know - 20?  This is the entrance, the back of the house.  Pretty sure the story is this place was designed by 2 RISD grads.  Cape Cod Bay is in the background.  I loved the door!

Almost Done...

Finished up my submissions big and small, and continue to wrestle with Photoshop (I really should quit painting for a week or two and just TACKLE that).   This mailbox is almost done.  I don't want it to look too 'finished', so some edges need to be softened, and I think I need to make some of these birds female! 

Blast From The Past, 20x24, Acrylic

This is from a couple of summers ago I went with a few artist friends to the Cape to paint.  Cape Cod is a world unto itself.  This was painted of Edward Hopper's house, overlooking Cape Cod Bay.  The house sits high on a bluff, and is simple yet breathtaking.  The day holds many wonderful memories, and just looking at it brings them all back!



SOLD

40 Years And Counting, Oil, 24x24

I literally 'stalked' this older couple (they're at LEAST ten years older than me, so, yeah, 'older').. walking behind them taking shots inconspicuously with my camera.  This is a lovely section of the beach I used to go to where the beach curves out to a pennisula.  I loved how sassy she was and of course, his Rhode Island uniform of black high socks and shoes at the beach.... :)

Finally, Joan! 6x8 oil

Well, I struggled and struggled (I may have spent more time on this 6x8 than any other) but I finally threw in the towel, and said 'enough'.  My husband kept looking at it and saying 'the eyes are too big' and I would make them smaller, but then they would - on their own, I swear, drift to the left, to the right, closer together... uuugggh!  Funny how when you look at it online you can see things you wouldn't notice in person - the eyes, the forehead, still not right.  She's much, much prettier and more vivacious than this ... but just for comparison I'll repost the one I did in acryilic....

So maybe if you combine these two paintings you'll get a more accurate image of the 'real' Joan?

Work In Progress, Mailbox

The North River Arts Society  in Marshfield, MA, has a big Festival every Memorial Day weekend, and they ask artists to help with fundraising.  This year it is mailboxes.  I spent some time at Sally Dean's studio on Tuesday when I went to pick mine up and she offered invaluable advice (sand it, wipe it with a tack cloth) that NEVER would have occurred to me.  I always get nervous painting on anything other than canvas or board or paper.   Last year, you may remember my hyperventilating over the pillows we were supposed to decorate (for good reason - my 2 pillows were among the handful that did NOT sell!).  

I have learned a lesson (thank you, Sally).  I was thinking "What would people want on their mailboxes?"  Sally said "NO.  Think... 'What do I like to paint?"   Ahhhh.... well, birds!  I love to photograph, draw and paint them!  So here's my start ... and man, did I LOVE painting on the metal!  It's acrylic, and they will get a couple of coats of protection to deal with the harsh New England weather.  All will be on sale (and I'll also have about 20 unframed, bargain priced pieces at Art In The Barn) during the festival.  I'll show this (both sides) when I'm done!

Painting of Harry, 11x14 acrylic

$125 & S&H via Paypal
Not a 'Daily' painting here, but I've had it in my mind for a while to do this.. I just need to work on the fur a bit more, but this is SUCH a classic look from my lovable (to me) kitty, Harry.  His attitude is "We'll do things MY way..." and I love him so much I go for it every time!  He likes to lay on my FACE while I read at night.  (So, yes, here's a little struggle we have - I just need my EYES clear, you know?)  You may not understand our 'relationship', and think it's one-sided, but this kitty does not EAT if I'm away.  Not a bite.  For however long I'm gone.  (Which makes it really hard for me to leave, right?)  Anyway, I have no illusions that this will be in any of the upcoming shows, but it was in me, and I needed to do it!

*** I'm teaching a Beginner's Outdoor Painting Workshop May 19,20 and 21 in Humarock, MA.  Email me at kcareymac@hotmail.com for more information***

If You Can Stand Another One....

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

Tulips, 12x12, Oil

Big fan of tulips, here.  Any color, any kind.  A few years ago a few fellow painters and I made a trip to Holland to paint the tulip fields.  We did our research, but ended up arriving  after 5 days of a freak heat wave that killed all the tulips!  No matter, we found one field that was being mowed under, and painted like crazy.  Then we went to Keukenhof , a gardener's dream come true.  Also Holland itself was very beautiful, and paintable.  I will definitely return.  The Van Gogh Museum alone was worth the trip.

Wiper, Plus... A Studio Visitor

Can't say exactly what one thing led to this paintings demise... but when I finished it I said "Yuk", and grabbed a towel and wiped it off.  Seems to be contagious on the blogsphere lately, you hear everyone talking about wiping off their paintings.  At any rate, I'll try again.

While I was painting this a strange thing happened..  I saw movement out of the corner of my eye...

Can't see it?  Look closer...

Oh, oh!  Look what it's doing!

In. My. Studio.

I think the lamp must have heated up the soil too much!  Also, when I bought these flowers (check out Paco's blog for a photo) they were BLUE.  After sitting under the lamp they turned violet and pink - no lie.  

He was released, unharmed, to the grass outside the studio. *shiver*....

Portrait Challenge, First Try, Acrylic

This month my Challenge group is doing portraits of each other.  Whose terrible idea was that?  Mine.  I don't know what I was thinking!  I've decided to do the portrait of fellow artist and all around dear person first in acrylics, then in oil.  This acrylic painting, in a 6x8 in format, took about 3 hours - wayyyy too long for what it was.  And truthfully, this looks nothing like her.  So.  I have my work cut out for me, and will try again probably next week.  But now I've analyzed the image I'm working from pretty thoroughly.  I'm a little dazed from the Marathon day yesterday.  I cannot imagine what it's like to actually RUN it!

My Baby's a Marathoner!

No painting today, because I spent ALL of Marathon Monday on the Route!  It was thrilling and awe inspiring to see these people give it their all.  My Molly virtually sailed through the race - for someone who said she 'just wanted to finish', she did well, 26 miles in 4 hours, 28 minutes.  All that training paid off!  THANK YOU to all for your good wishes, thoughts and prayers for today.

We tried to get to the start - missed it between leaving the house too late and driving endlessly in Hopkinton trying to figure out where to park.  BUT we raced on to Natick and saw her there, then again at Woodland Station, and again at the finish line.  The crowd was unbelievable - 30,000 RUNNERS (then add families and friends for each!).  There was a lovely party at Symphony 8, and we brought PACO by to visit with everyone.  Molly's boyfriend was a rock - he coordinated Tim and I and his parents and made sure we were at the perfect spot in Newton, and kept a good eye on Molly as she walked from Copley Square to Symphony Hall after that big run - I don't know about her but I have a blister or two!  Here's Molly, then our family at the party.  Missed Molly's big brother, Rory, who started a new job today and couldn't come!

We'll have a new painting up tomorrow, for sure.  Thanks for all your love and support!

White Quince, 12x12, Oil

New camera, WOO-HOO!  I decided on a Lumix ZS7 with a 12x zoom.  I thought it would give me truer color, but.... ah, well.  These quince flowers stay mostly white when you clip them and they open indoors, but outside on the shrub they get really rosy.  When I set this up, once again, I got all nervous because of the cluster of blooms and bus at the lip of the vase, but.... yes, breathe, and just tackle once section at a time... and it worked out.  I loved seeing the little cup-shaped flowers come to life as I just painted shadows and light.... like a miracle, only really just painting!~

This painting is not for sale till June...I'l post it again when it's available!

Today my daughter Molly runs the Boston Marathon - thank all of your for your support - she is very grateful!  Wish her luck!

The Last Jack, 6x8, Oil

SOLD

Just some varnish and this is ready to go.  Took the photo with my new camera, albeit under the worst lighting conditions so there's a lot of glare in the background.  

Thanks to Chris M. for commissioning this, and I hope everyone thinks of my daughter tomorrow and wishes her success in the Boston Marathon!!!  Thanks everyone for your support!  It means a lot to Molly AND to me!

A Girl And Her Dad, 9x12 Oil

This is from a little while ago - I kept going in and adding layers and working on the figures - which I didn't do as portraits per se.  This painting was inspired by a photo in the literature of a gentleman who is in the alternative energy business - and his daughter - having a talk in a place of extreme beauty. It looks like a place that should be preserved, doesn't it?  I'm guessing it's in the Northwest.   I didn't ask too many questions about the who/when/where of it, I just was inspired by the peaceful setting and the interaction between the figures.  What young girl doesn't want special time like this with her dad?

This one is NFS.

Quince II, 12x12, Oil

Isn't technology something?  I killed my camera yesterday and was bereft because I didn't want to interrupt blogging, and I don't want to just choose any old camera - I live by my camera, so it's got to be just right!  Well, here's a photo taken with my husband's iPhone - sent to me via email, cropped in Photoshop.... and... voila!  Funny thing... to me I'm in heaven looking at this painting because I got to use my favorite "Horizon Blue" by Holbein for the Van-Gogh inspired flat background.  My husband likes the painting EXCEPT for the background color!  

This one won't be available till early June, either....  submissions, submissions!

Once again, thank you all for your comments - they matter!

Haze, 40x30, Oil

SOLD

That's right, 40x30... not a Daily Painting!  Do not adjust your 'sets', I am simply experiencing technical difficulties (can you actually 'wear out' your camera?).  So for a couple of days I'll be posting larger paintings that I"ve done, since the "Jack Daniel's III" that I did today couldn't be photographed.  Every photo comes out black, and my viewfinder is black as well ... time for a visit to Hunt's Camera!

Little Quince, 6x8, Oil

SOLD

Our first home had a huge quince shrub in the front yard, and it was the first time I'd ever been aware of the beautiful, delicate flowers, which have huge thorns and a bit of an oriental look to them.  When we moved to Rhode Island I wanted another quince bush, but couldn't decide on coral or white flowers, so we got both.  Every Spring now I brave the thorny branches to get cuttings of the flowers, which grow on the inside of the shrub, on the old wood.  

$100 & $10 S&H via PayPal

Hazy Evening, 8x10, Oil

My plans were to go to the beach last night to paint, but it was so gray/silver with so much haze I thought I'd just wait till sunset to see if that brought any color.  It did, and this was a plein air piece done from my front porch.  Sorry it didn't make it into the post Thursday morning, my laptop 'mouse' froze up and I was WITHOUT INTERNET for the evening and morning.  Talk about withdrawals!

$100 & 10 S&H via Paypal  

It's A Lemon Reamer, 8x6, Oil

SOLD

This was such a hard thing to paint, in so many ways!  First the architecture of the reamer.  Then I used a  board with a lot of smooth 'ground', which actually was slick, and difficult to paint on- you can see the ridges where the sanding didn't go down far enough.  I had to practically sculpt the paint on.  Didn't like doing it, I was sweating like Hurley (hey, LOST fans!) trying to get the paint not to slide into other colors.  I thought this reamer was so cool till I saw one yesterday at Crate & Barrel for half the price.  I hate that!

Tools Of The Trade, 6x12, Oil

This pot that holds my brushes came from Sweden.  I have always loved paintings that artists do of their pots of brushes, so I wanted to do one.  As an aside... don't think I'm crazy, but I visited a Medium this afternoon... hoping to 'hear' from my parents, who, I've mentioned, have passed on.  I was hoping for a  wonderful and loving message, something that would touch my heart - if indeed it was 'for real'.  Imagine my surprise when the Medium got a funny look on her face and said "Do you have a lot of .... brushes?"  And I said, yes, I'm a painter, I do, indeed, have tons of them.  Then she smiled and said "Well, your Dad said you should take better care of them - they're in terrible shape!"  Hmmmmm.... maybe it's NOT make-believe.....

This one, also is NFS, until June!

The Egg Beater, Oil, 10x10

I love the translucency of Jadite.  This bowl came from Tim's family - an aunt, I believe.  The whisk was my mom's  - she used it all her married life.  I like the colors of the red and the green together, and painting the eggs was fun, too.  Lots of colors in those whites!  This is painted on cradled wood, which I LOVE painting on.  This painting is for a submission next month, and won't be available till after May 30th.

Memory, Oil, 10x10

Thinking of my Dad, who passed away 6 years ago this week, and I always like to associate Pussy Willows with him, and this time of year in general.  My son Conor made this wonderful vase with a blue glaze and a design left unglazed that looks 'wrapped around'.  A bit of a change from glass and ice, I'll tell you!

This is also not for sale, at least till after June....

And THANK you for all your comments - you really keep me going!
I'm taking Good Friday off, and I'll see you on Monday.  I hope if you celebrate a religious holiday this week, it's a good one, and you enjoy your family!

Commission of Jack & Coke, Oil, 6x8

SOLD
I have one brushstroke left on this - the center-right part of the rim - as it stands it looks like the glass has a chip in it... actually there was a light reflection along the dark bit of background that shows through the glass.  I'll put it in tomorrow - the paint was so wet and slippery nothing would stay down!  I was tearing my hair out over the Coke, and thought I had it (ice and all) and I asked my DH to come look (I wanted him to say "Great!  You're done!"  But instead, to my surprise he said "You got it!  Except you need to put in the bubbles!"  Huh?  I said, then I looked, and yup.... there were tiny bubbles coming up in vertical streams!  If you're wondering why the whiskey bottle is still full, yet this is supposed to be a 'Jack & Coke' - I'll admit... I used a nip so I could leave the bottle full!

Izzy, 8x8, Oil

With Paco at my daughter's this weekend, I had a chance to re-connect with Isabelle, our first cat in this series of pets.  She's very sweet in real life, although I painted her with a grouchy look on her face.  This is how she looks when Paco's around because he never gives her a moment's peace - he will harass her in her littlerbox, eat her food, jump on top of her if she tries to walk across the room.  We've almost had him a year, and she remembers how it was BP (before Paco).  She's a sweetie, and I love her 'highlights' - when we got her as a kitten she was pure black with a pumpkin colored triangle on her face.  As she grew - more 'sparkles' appeared in her hind area - her front legs are still all black.  She's a  doll!

$100 & $10 S& H via PayPal