Sunday, June 29, 2008

Next Pint New York - sold



24"x30" oil on gallery wrapped canvas 1.5" deep

Yes, this one has a new home in Ireland, from a collector who had also purchased one from me during my visit in March. Many thanks Thorsten!

I am re-posting this one, as I spent the day packing 5 paintings that are going to new owners tomorrow. And I've been going through the house getting ready for our up-coming move. The new house is almost finished! We close near the end of July and move in at that point. Painting might get a bit sporadic as we make our last minute preparations for the move. I'm especially excited about my new studio space! It will be a crazy month, but by August the dust will have started to settle & we'll be in our own home!

Friday, June 27, 2008

Puffin Pose - sold



7"x5" oil on gessoed masonite artboard

These unusual birds were on the island of Skellig Michael which is just about 10 miles off shore from Portmagee & Ballinskelligs Bay, Ireland. They have such a distinctive flight pattern as well their beak being bright and colorful. The puffins are nothing short of amazing. They are Atlantic puffins, and they make a growling sound like a broken weed whacker or a muffled chainsaw!. I'm including a link to a wonderful site on puffins, so you can find out some more about these birds, even a link with the sound they make!

Thursday, June 26, 2008

Last of the Summer Lilacs - sold



11"x14" oil on 3/4" gallery wrapped canvas, design continues on the edges

When I set up an arrangement to paint outdoors, I've learned to make several variations on the theme and photograph it as many ways as I can. I can get one or two paintings done outdoors then, I have the opportunity to paint my favorite blooms on into the rest of the year from the photo arrangements. Lilac season just doesn't last long enough for me! I wait patiently (or not so) each year until they bloom again. And I know I'll be in a different house next lilac season, even if I plant them at our new home, it may be a while until they bloom for me. The two different varieties I have in this arrangement are so beautiful; the darker purple ones grow in a single plume. The lighter lilacs have a multi-headed blossom and are just so plump and grand!! And the fragrance!!! Wow, it gets to you, even painting outdoors- they are that concentrated! I began this painting before I left on my trip for Ireland, just a start - I knew I had to finish before the memory was just a ghost of fragrance, until next year.

Wednesday, June 25, 2008

Patterns of Portmagee, Ireland (Up From the Channel) - sold



9"x12" oil on Belgian linen mounted on professional artboard (Raymar)

It's another one painted on location during my trip over to Ireland last week. This is from the Valentia side of the Channel, looking east away from Portmagee. In the distance, Magillicuddy Reeks rise up, appearing to be layer upon layer of land. With the distance, each hill changes color as the layers of land move away from us. In the near field, the hay has been cut, leaving a dried yellow grass left. The hills on the land across the channel rise up in patchwork above the water. It is summer at its finest.

Tuesday, June 24, 2008

Cliffside Ruin pleinair, ReenCaheragh, Ireland - sold



9"x12" oil on linen mounted on board (Raymar)

This painting was done on location at a site that we had quite the hike over to. We had permission to cross through several pastures to the last bit of land which drops off into the ocean. Just west of Portmagee, in an area called ReenCaheragh, I had seen this spit of land from the Valentia Island side. It is in the shape of an arrow-head and rises up to a point before a sheer cliff-side drops off into the sea. Just past the ruin on the very end, the land is wind-whipped and the grass stays very short. Mixed in with the grass is mossy growth and alpine flowers waving in the wind. An absolutely memorable place!

I've had just enough time to recover from jet-lag so I began work updating my web-site as well, please take to look & let me know what you think!! www.roxannesteed.com

Friday, June 13, 2008

Painting at the Ruins, Ballycarberry Castle



6"x8" oil on Belgian linen mounted on professional artboard (Raymar)

This is one I'm re-posting. We leave today(Saturday) for Ireland, I'm so excited I can hardly stand it!! Ron is coming with me this time. My painter friend that I'm going over to visit is hosting a 2 woman show for us the last day we are there. One of her neighbors, that bought one of my paintings when I was there in March is hosting a cookout for us after the show, I'm thrilled, - they are so nice & I really look forward to seeing them all again. I'll return on the 23rd; until then......

Thursday, June 12, 2008

Abundance



24"x36" oil on canvas

"The fact is that is takes more than ingredients and technique to cook a good meal. A good cook puts something of himself into the preparation - cooks with enjoyment, anticipation, spontaneity, and he is willing to experiment."
- Pearl Bailey


hmm....cooking and painting are so much alike!

It's one I'm re-posting. I've been up to my ears in "to-do" list, getting ready for our trip to Ireland ...and preparing for a move in late July! I do have a painting started (will I finish it tomorrow - in between packing sessions?). More tomorrow on my up-coming painting trip to Ireland!

Click here for purchase information.

Monday, June 9, 2008

Shadow Dance Along the Shed



6"x6" oil on gessoed masonite artboard

Big round brushes, little board, lots of paint, lots of sunshine makes for an interesting study of dappled light. My neighbor has a large white shed/garage/small barn building that is banked by a couple of large rhododendrons. Late afternoons are so beautiful in this setting!

Sunday, June 8, 2008

Coastal Fog, Field of Phlox - sold



10"x10" oil on oil-primed 1.5" deep gallery wrap canvas, sides painted (design continues out on sides)

We've had a couple of sweltering days lately. Or at least part of the day...fog & haze rolls in starts steaming, just before a storm lets 'er rip! I walked down to the beach and the last house before the beach sits up on a hill, and there is wild phlox blooming all up the hillside! Further down there's beach roses (rosa rugosa). I'll keep venturing out there the next few days to see what else starts blooming. This year has been great for blooms on our part of coastal New England!

Friday, June 6, 2008

Boats at Portmagee, Ireland - sold



16"x20" oil on oil-primed canvas mounted on professional artboard (Raymar)

This one I've worked on for a few days now. I'm so excited about the lush painterly quality of the surface from using palette knives and brushes as well. A week from Sunday and I'll be back in Ireland! I'm so excited to come home with some new paintings from this beautiful place, as well as lots of source material for many new paintings! My friend Barbara Mastaglio has introduced me to this wonderful place in Ireland where she runs an artist's retreat every summer. This will be the third summer I've been able to explore the island of Valentia and the surrounding areas.

Wednesday, June 4, 2008

Seaside Sillhouettes of Spring - sold



6"x8" oil on Belgian linen mounted on professional artboard (Raymar)

Back to a softer palette today....and brushes instead of knives! As much as I enjoy using a palette knife to paint, I could never give up my round bristle brushes or my filbert bristle brushes for the laying on of paint. Just another lovely tool to use when the need calls for it.

I love going to this place over at Harkness park....week after week, month after month, watching the changes. In the fall, these fields will be colors of russets & gold with some deeper purples. Now all the fresh lighter yellow greens, paler greyed greens, softer purple weed heads dance across the lower field out to the marshes edge.

Tuesday, June 3, 2008

Potted Porch Pansies - sold



8"x10" oil on Belgian linen mounted on professional artboard (Raymar)

Another beautiful day outside - and I couldn't resist these painting these pansies on my front porch! They are filling out with profusion - and I love their bright color in my favorite big blue pots. The sun hits them in the morning and warms them up for the whole day!

Monday, June 2, 2008

Derrynane View to the Sea, with Cows; Ireland



20"x20"x1.5" oil on gallery wrap canvas, no need to frame!

Today I packed up eleven paintings and shipped them off to Ireland where I'll be having a two-woman show with Barbara Lively Mastaglio at her Valentia Island Artist Retreat. Our event opens with a reception on Saturday, June 21st from 2-5 in the afternoon. Cross the Valentia Bridge from Portmagee, turn left and follow the signs! I'm so excited to be going back for my 4th trip over!


This is one of my favorite views of my recent trip to Ireland. As we approached Derrynane, the land began to slope down to the sea. Rocky islands dotted the harbor and cows grazed along the mountainside. This area of the "ring of Kerry" has some really amazing views!

Please contact me, roxannesteed@gmail.com -if there is a view that is near & dear to your heart, perhaps to commemorate a special event or anniversary or memorable vacation/holiday.