"Puggie Love", 6x6 Inch Oil Painting of Pug Dog

SOLD

This Month my Challenge Group, Girls Just Wanna Paint had the topic "Love, appropriately enough for February.  I ran though the list of the usual things you'd think of - weddings, babies, romantic themes, but then.... there's this face that faces me every day, all day.  At 2:30 in the morning, if I open my eyes, this is what I see, in the dark.  First thing in the morning, last thing at night - the smile and adoring eyes never quit.  When I'm cranky, when I'm sick, when I'm annoyed (or when I'm annoying - yes, it happens) there is never a pause in the love.  Oh, Paco!

So!  As tough as it was to choose the subject, once I started it just flowed off the brush.  This painting will be seen in our group show at the Bumpus Library in Duxbury, MA in May and June.

Carnation, 6x6 Inches, Oil

SOLD

Last week at the workshop in my studio this was one of the demo's.  First we painted the image as a value study.  Then we matched the colors we applied to the values of the study.  Good to do, as it keeps you on track in terms of values.  If your values (lights and darks) are off, the painting will not have the punch you hope it will.

I don't know about you, artist friends, but I am very excited about Wednesday's Artists Helping Artists Blogtalk Radio Show at noon, EST.  Carol and David Marine have an exciting announcement.  Hopefully while I am listening I will finally paint my Girls Just Wanna Paint Challenge - nothing like waiting till the last minute!!!

Donut War Day! The End Of An Era!

All good things must come to an end, so the saying goes.  Susan Roden and I have had a wonderful time with the Donut War.  I would like to toast Susan, and wish her every success, and thank her for her friendship and sense of fun throughout our war.  Now... Peace in the Donut Zone!

No, this doesn't mean I'll stop painting donuts, don't worry!   And if you've wondered if I fell off the face of the earth last week... no... I was teaching wonderful artists at a workshop in my studio. We had SUCH a blast!  They produced some beautiful work!  See below:

 

There's more on Facebook - 'Friend' me, and take a look!

Good News/Bad News

Sunday began as a happy, happy day.  My friend and colleague, Lisa Daria Kennedy, was due to paint her 1000th consecutive painting for her blog!  We got together at Kennedy's (no relation) Gardens, a beautiful nursery in Scituate, MA.  I was late (no surprise there) and arrived just as they toasted Lisa's painting.  Check out her cheeky, fun and exuberant blog HERE.  I had about 1/2 hour to set up and get a painting done.  So I basically did an acrylic sketch of Lisa.  She doesn't really look like an elf.  She's gorgeous, funny and a fabulous painter.  Then we went to dinner at PJ's Country House where we drank (I mean ate) dinner.  We dominated the bar area - we did makeovers, shared lipsticks and played "I'll have what SHE's having..."  In short, a MEMORABLE evening.

When I got back to Sally's house and checked my email, however, I found that my friend, teacher and hero, Ros Farbush, had passed away.  She was almost 84, and still painting every day.  It hit me like a ton of bricks, as Paula Villanova and I had gone out with her the night before she left for her 3 month snowbird trip to Arizona.  We made plans to hit a nice Deli in Brookline this Spring, and agreed to have yet another Jeep Trip to Provincetown with Mary Sheehan Winn.  There seemed so much to DO with Ros this year.  Paula and I had visited Ros 3 times in San Miguel, MX for painting trips.  We all went to Holland, so Ros could paint the tulip fields.  Our blog about it, which we nicknamed "Schlepping Ros" (and she LOVED that title) is HERE.  Below are shot of Ros with Valerie Vitali, Lynn Rizotto, and Paula more, on our many, many painting days:

Ros and Paula on our last Jeep Trip...

Me, Ros and Valerie enjoying Ros' favorite Bloody Marys

We cared little for fashion when we were baking in the Ptown sun, painting...

At Ros's condo, Ros painting the Red Sox game, and (Lynn in background)

While we all painted Ros (this was mine - she laughed!)

Donut War Day! Snowball's Chance... 6x6 Inches, Acrylic

SOLD

It's Monday, and that's the Donut War Day!  Today, in honor of NO SNOW for February, I'm sending off a volley of Snow Balls (Hostess cupcakes) to Susan Roden.  Watch out for that marshmellow frosting, Susan!  And that devil's food cake cream center!  I'm painting a donation for RI Food Bank Auction, and it will be a tic tac toe design.  I'll show you this week.  In the meantime, cross your fingers for NO MORE SNOW!

Ah-love Olives! 6x6 Inches, Oil

$125 & $10 S&H

Well, that's my version of a Southern accent!  I have made so many friends from the South in the past year and I must say their accent has become quite dear to me.  And another dear thing to me is those little green olives with the red stuffing!

As a matter of fact, in my Painting Workshop next week (see top right of blog to register) we are going to be painting some of the bad boys, in and out of martini's.  Of course, I think that may make us work up a fierce thirst, and I'm thinking of a place where we can find a nice frosty one after class!  I am so looking forward to painting with these gals.  Look for more olives next week!  And more sweets - I'm working on a larger cupcake painting - maybe it'll be ready to serve up for the Donut War on Monday with Susan Roden!

Had a great group at the Blogging Workshop last night at North River - I am simply BLESSED with the fantastic people I'm meeting in my line of business!

Hilton Head Gang Week #11 Mug

NFS

"Terri Buchholz “Bones” is a nurse and uses her position to gain unsuspecting victim’s confidence.  As soon as she sees you are vulnerable she swoops in and reveals herself as an expert in the field...she shoots and then disappears into the crowd.  She can see a victim a mile away...authorities believe she has a telephoto lens that gives her access to otherwise unavailable victims.  Be on the lookout...she too...is armed and dangerous!"

Terri is an awesome artist - and you can check out her work HERE.
I found it a challenge to paint her due to the tilt of her head, but I LOVED painting her eyes and hair!


*WED NITE - Blog talk at North River Art Society in Marshfield*

Happy Valentine's Day 2012!

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY

From Paco and Me

*I just found out that my painting "The Cocktail Hour" sold at the Duxbury Art Association Winter Show!*

Donut War Day! Valentine Heart! 6x6 Inches, Acrylic

$125 & $10 S&H

It's Monday, Donut War Day, and Suan Roden had better DUCK!  I'm feeling better and hit my local DD's (Dunkin Donuts) for a 6-pack of heart shaped sugar volleys!  Susan is so nice and always writes little poems, and I've never even been able to recite poems OTHER people write... so I'm slinging a proper custard bomb her way.  This donut is a heart shaped Boston Cream... (or Creme), kind of a local treat.  I remember when I was a young mother, making a Boston Cream Pie from scratch - yes, it was the best we'd ever tasted, but it took ALL DAY... maybe someday I'll try it again, who knows?

Paco has sent out his Valentine cards - I thought I was done with this when my daughter hit Middle School, but noooooo... Paco has friends from BC to Wales, UK, and he NEEDED to send them love notes.  Yes, my husband says I've lost it.  The question is... WHEN did I HAVE it?  :D  Happy Day before V-day.  It's not about who loves you... it's about who you love!

xo

*My talk "Blogging Your Art Sucessfully" was rescheduled to THIS Wednesday, Feb. 15 at the North River Arts Society, Marshfield, MA*

*Sign up for my 2-Day Painting Workshop in my Warren studio at the top right of my Blog*

HH Gang Mugshot #9

I 

NFS

It is week 9 in the search for the Hilton Head Gang...the notorious members of Karin Jurick’s workshop.   The trail is still hot...so we shall continue on.  We are determined to feature one member each week until they are all accounted for.

Chris “the Moniker” Werst  comes by her alias honestly.  She misses nothing.    At beaches, Galleries, tourist attractions...She retains everything.  She is very proficient at finding out and remembering names of people, places and things.  She uses this to her advantage.  She will call your name and then act like she knows you...by the time you realize she is a stranger it is too late...you are digitally immortalized and destined to become canvas bound.  Her whereabouts is totally unknown as she does not...at this writing...have a blog.  

I am finally, FINALLY shaking the flu.  Thank you for all your emails, and well wishes - I've missed you, too!  Today, my first full day at the studio, I opened a box of 4x4 inch Gessobords and started to catch up with my Hilton Head Gang Mugshots.   Now... this woman, Chris, is BEAUTIFUL!  But it being a 'mugshot' I let her look tough, as she posed that way.  

I am REALLY digging painting mug shots.  I have to say I swore I would never enjoy it.  Shows what I know.  

Stay well, all!

*Openings available in the Workshop at my Studio in Warren, RI.

Feb. 23 & 24 - see top of column on the right side of my blog.   Email me at kcareymac@hotmail.com with questions.*

*Blogging Your Art Talk/Workshop at North River Wed., Feb. 15*

Donut War Day! White Flag Waving!

Here it is, Donut War Day~ and I'm reposting~ this painting will be part of Thayer Academy's upcoming Auction in March.  Alas, I have no 'new' painting to toss at Susan Roden... the flu had got me by the throat.  Many of you have emailed me and asked what was the reason for so few posts last week - it's a tough one, this flu!  Point goes to Susan this week absolutely!  Check out her volley here.  Hopefully it won't be too long till I'm up and painting.  You know I'm sick when I don't even THINK about it!  I missed the Duxbury Opening last night and the Providence Art Club Opening today.  WAH!

So I"m spending Sunday night curled up on my couch with all kinds of snacks and pets and Tim & I are cheering the Patriots on in the Superbowl, with raspy, coughing voices!

Storefront, 6x6 Inches, Acrylic

NFS

It's the first of the month - time to check in on my Girls Just Wanna Paint Group!  This month our topic was 'Storefront' and in another life (i.e. another computer, that recently died) I had some great photos of storefronts in NYC - one, in particular, a tiered display of Barbie Dolls in identical pink princess outfits  in one window, and blue princess outfits in the next window - it was fabulous.  BUT.... they are somewhere on an external hard drive that I don't know how to access!  So here is a really fun shop in Provincetown, MA, at the very tip of Cape Cod. I was trying to stay very loose - which is much harder than you would imagine!   I love, love, love Ptown, so here's my 'ode' to my favorite spot on the Cape!

Donut War! Jelly Heart, 6x6 Inches, Acrylic Painting of Dunkin Donuts Jelly

$125 & $10 S&H

Monday is my appointment with my Donut War Rival, Susan Roden, and this week... I am UNBEATABLE!  Because I "have a heart"!  Dunkin Donuts has started their ramp up for the big V day, and they had 3 different kinds of heart shaped donuts.  Well, the jelly had me at 'Hello'....  Take THAT, Susan! (Let's check out what she's slapping me with HERE!)

My daughter hosted Paco for the weekend in Boston, and I went to pick him up - I would have missed him more but was a bit under the weather - but was SO glad to see him (and vice versa!)  And as we arrived home, we came down the hill to see this view across from our house.  Sweet, no?

*Also I have added a new Page to the top of the blog - on how I wrap and package my paintings, for those of you that have asked!*

Live In The Present, 6x6 Inch Oil Painting of a Present

$125 & $10 S&H

A dear friend gave me this beautiful present at the holidays, and I thought it was so beautiful I re-wrapped it to paint it.  I am still writing thank you notes, so I will not let myself USE it till I write the note ;0  Don't you just love the sunset colors?

Have a wonderful weekend, friends!

*Workshop at my studio Feb. 23 & 24, see info at top right of my blog - 

come sharpen those skills and have FUN with us!*

Today - Live in Sedona, AZ!

Just to share:

Karin Jurick's workshop class from Hilton Head has sent in our paintings from (really) around the world, to hang together at the Sedona Arts Center Show, "A Sense Of Place", opening TODAY.  So if you are in the area, I promise you a visually enchanting experience, should you be able to visit!  The Hilton Head Gang have entered, almost as a whole.  And we are a Force to be reckoned  with!  My Swiss friend Regula Sheifele, one of the HHG, made this beautiful sign and I 'borrowed it' for my post!  Check out her work HERE.

My "Water Dancer" will be there, hoping to find a wonderful 'forever' home!

Work In Progress: SNOW Scene

What do you do when it's a frozen tundra outside, and you want to paint,  but you don't want to even drive to the studio?  You set up at home and make a tryptic of the snow scenes (from last year!).  This is almost done on the front, but as each canvas is on gallery wrap the sides need to be finished, then I'll mount them in a floater frame.  What I loved about painting this was 1) I painted it so that each canvas could stand on its own and 2) painting in acrylic I can layer and layer and layer - with all those gorgeous colors showing through!

And... my workshop has already started filling up!  Reserve your space, Feb. 23 & 24!  Top right of the blog!

Donut War! Pink Donut x2, 6x6 Inches, Oil Painting of Strawberry Donut

$125 & $10 S&H

It's Donut War Day!! Here's the fun thing about this painting... the donuts are on a cloth that has random green 'donuts'!  Susan Roden is my California adversary... I have no doubt she's prepared something sweet & gooey to fling back at me!  See it HERE.

*NEWS*

Painting Workshop

at my studio in Warren

February 23 & 24

See Top Right Side of my Blog for more info!

Winter Blues, 6x12 Inches, Oil Painting of Tress In Snow

$125 & $10 S&H

I've painted this place in the snow before, but I like the format of this canvas.   It is painted around the sides on a 1 1/2 inch gallery wrap canvas, so it needs no frame.  I love all the colors you can see in white snow if you really, really look.  Our first 'snow day' here in lower RI - and it's already melting away - no complaints here!

And we had a bit of drama here last night - Isabelle (above) pushed a heavy candy dish off the mantle (because she couldn't find the kind of chocolate she liked) and when it landed a small chip broke off.  I searched and searched for that chip, knowing that someone who will remain nameless could find and eat it.  I never got it.  THEN when I was serving dinner, I walked past Paco  and heard a distinct "Crunch"...

But when I stopped and looked at him he gave me the 'innocent' - look "Nope, not me, you did NOT hear that sound from me..." look.  So I continued on bringing plates to the table and then "Crunch, CRACK, Crunch..." from the direction of Paco's mouth.  I literally THREW the food on the table and quickly pried open his puggy little mouth and scooped out THREE crunched pieces of glass.  I was so crazed - what if he had crunched earlier and I didn't get the pieces?  My family thought that it would have to be a miniscule piece (they saw my search of his mouth), and maybe a lot of FOOD would wash it down and through harmlessly.  Paco concurred, and a big stuffed shell & meatball got cut up and served to him.

This a.m I'm happy to report that all's well.  We seem to have gotten all before they did any damage.

Pugs......

Roxanne! Hilton Head Gang Mugshot! 4x4 Inches, Oil

This is a comrade from my time on Hilton Head Island - and the latest in my attempt to keep up with that wily, and productive group (you can see the whole shebang, as it progresses HERE) with a mugshot of Roxanne Duke.  If you check out her blog you can see what she is submitting to the Sedona Arts Center show.

I think the more of these you do, the better you get (well, me anyway)  - I hope.  It certainly is freeing, the more you do, and I thank Karin Jurick for forcing me :) to try it.  And I also think that the more you examine any model, the more beautiful they become to you.  And the easier it is to paint them.  NOT that my paintings 'beautify' my subjects at all!  These mug shots are supposed to reflect their 'tough' side!

*In other news I was thrilled to hear my painting below was accepted into the the Duxbury Art Assocation's Winter Show at the Duxbury Art Museum*

Feb. 5th through April

Water Dancer, 8x10 Inches, Oil Painting of Girl On The Beach

The young girl in this painting danced 'as if no one was watching' on the beach at Hilton Head Island.  I have to say this is one of my favorite paintings, ever.   This painting is my submission to the Sedona Arts Center show "A Sense Of Place".  The Opening Reception is Feb. 3rd from 5-8 in Sedona, AZ.   The show includes paintings from students of the arts center's 'satellite' or off campus workshops.  The paintings reflect the locations of the 'Field Expeditions'.  Karin Jurick's students from Hilton Head and NYC will be participating in this.  I just have to say.... our Hilton Head group has 17 (SEVENTEEN) submissions to this show - almost 100% of our class, and almost half the pieces entered in the show.  We will ROCK and RULE the show!!!!  Should be an amazing show.  Karin was so thrilled at our high level of enthusiasm she's entering the show herself!

I can't sell this before the show, but I will let you know that it will be available in this beautiful Randy Higbee floater frame for $725.  It can be purchased over the phone once the show opens, by phone, I believe.  Email me at kcareymac@hotmail.com if you're interested....

Donut War! The Ammo Pile, 6x6 Inches Oil painting of Jelly Donuts

SOLD

So... I am preparing for a full fledged invasion from Susan Roden in our weekly Donut War!  This time I painted something near and dear to my heart - a great big pile of soft, plump, jelly donuts from Dunkin's!  Last Summer a couple of painter friends and I went on a road trip, with the obligatory stop at Dunkin Donuts to stock up on iced coffee for the ride.  They had just put out this big tray full of sweet jelly and sugar pastries...  we had the poor donut man model (another day's painting) with one in his hand, and I snapped a few shots of this great big pile of ammunition for the Donut War!

Susan, you'd better duck.... sweetness coming your way!

*The first person to buy a donut painting this year gets my Donut wall calendar as a treat!*

Oh, yes, Happy MLK day.  I was going to do a portrait of him, then I learned that his family 'owns' his image (how can that be?).  I want to own my image, thus preventing any goofy shots of me with one eye closed, or a disappearing chin from getting into the public domain....

"The Guardian" Mugshot - from the Hilton Head Gang

"The Guardian", Nancy Darling... Look HERE to see the other artist's version of Nancy!

Maria Hock says: Week 8 finds us looking for Nancy “The Guardian” Darling so named because of her help with rescue dogs.  She often travels with a large pack of dogs which hampers her ability to shoot but that does not prevent her from trying.  She uses the dogs to attract unsuspecting subjects then while they are being distracted...she shoots.  It is a devious but very effective plan.  I hear she and her pack will be heading up to Alaska to participate in the Iditarod...that may be a false lead...just be on the lookout...

Oh, Hull...., 5x7 Inches, Oil Painting of Hull, Ma

$125 & $10 S&H

I loved living in Hull, MA.  The sky is like a light show come sunset.  It is a magical peninsula, where you can see the ever changing light on the oceanside AND the bay side.  And there are many evenings when the pink of the sunset sky reflects on the wet sand of the sea side.  Pink, orange, pink - oh, it just SENDS me!  And the little glittering lights going through the town - to me it looks like a diamond necklace, laying on the ground...  You should go there... see this....

p.s. THREE squirrels were removed from my studio this weekend  Uncountable props broken.  Explains the lack of paintings from the past week, no?

Donut War! Donut Seeds, 5x7 Inches, Oil

$125 & $10 S&H

It's a funny thing, this Donut War... things happen that you'd never, ever expect.  Like a collector showing up at my Open Studio with POUNDS of Dunkin Donuts (yum) coffee.  Or a Donut Diversity T shirt!  And this past Christmas, I received from my 'Arch Enemy' in the Donut Wars, Susan Roden, a suspicious package!  I had the bomb squad on standby.  We shook the package, smelled it (while Paco barked and ran around in little circles), shook it.  Finally we got up the courage and opened it only to find.... DONUT SEEDS!  Where Susan found them I'll never know, but it put a BIG GRIN on my face.  She is a doll, isn't she?  I'm only going to shoot her this delish "Today Show" (not kidding) donut for today's attack.  It is the colors of the Today Show (who even knew they had 'colors').  Well I'm on a different computer, and the 'jimmies' are red, orange and yellow, and when I tried to get the red to show up, the background turned gray in editing, so... trust me: red, orange and yellow on white frosting.

And, FYI, I have the Fire Department (also the Police Department) directly across the street, so in theory, they're always 'standing by' for me :)

Handsome Harry, 6x6 Inches, Oil

$125 & $10 S&H

It is my humble opinion that male orange cats are the MOST handsome!  This is a painting of my orange boy, but I have two friends (who don't know each other) who each managed in the past few months to add a beautiful orange male kitty to their families!  I hadn't painted one of my cats in a while, and they are a big part of my life.  (Don't tell Paco)  I felt very free and loose painting this. Just what I needed to get this New Year off to a good start!