Ocean-side Cottage Garden - Day 27 of #jan30in30

4"x6" oil on linen mounted on archival panel

Click here to purchase. 

Remembering a summer a few years ago, with billowing flowers over-looking the sea...

the tang of sea air, 

mixed with fragrant roses

circles around on the breeze,

following me all the way home.  

Irish Waves of Montbresia - SOLD! - Day 26 of #jan30in30

 

10"x10" x1" deep oil on cradled birch panel

For more information, or to purchase, click here.  

Time travel...

thousands of miles away -

a different season -

memories of color, fragrance,

and tiny fluttering wings...

a soft breeze

wraps around my mind.

There is no storm here...

all is calm and well. 

 

As I painted this, the howling winds of the January 2015 blizzard 'Juno' filled the air. I settled in to my studio, and remembered the colors, the fresh air, and my upcoming trip to Ireland.  The first time I saw these over there, I was quite amazed. The blossoms look so delicate, yet they surely must be hardy to tolerate sea air and a stiff breeze off the ocean.  So of course, when I came home, I asked my garden supplier Petie Reed at Perennial Harmony Garden Shop (in Waterford, CT-click on the link for a VERY zen youtube video) if these would grow here in CT. And she told me they will - if they are in a protected area. They're also known as crocosmia here. So of course, we planted them....and they have spread and grown beautifully. The hummingbirds love them! I've painted them in various incarnations both here and in Ireland. I'm reminded how they bob about in the breeze from the times that I've stood outside and painted them....over and over. I found the process absolutely meditative this evening...and falling in love with this plant over and over again....and came to the realization I will paint these quite large - I see them in a significant space. 

Join me on my workshop in Ireland this June

http://www.valentiaart.com/Registration.html

 

Fuchsia - Day 23 of #jan30in30 - experimenting with aquabord

 

4"x4" oil on aquabord (product by Ampersand)

For more information, or to purchase, click here. 

This piece was a bit of experimentation and not entirely on purpose.  The first time I laid oil on this panel I realized I had something different. I thought it was a gessobord panel (a product made by Ampersand). Then I realized it was either claybord, or aquabord, other products also made by the Ampersand company for other painting purposed. And yes, they spell board as 'bord' in their product line. Then I remembered, I had bought these little aquabord panels to try out with watercolor...and NOT oils. It is so absorbent, it pulls the oil right out of the paint. It makes it quite impossible to move...however, it does cause it to dry incredibly quickly (which could be handy in certain circumstances).  I remember a good friend had brought two claybord panels to a plein air competition, and her paintings were beautiful...and probably the only oils hanging in the show that were actually dry! I don't know that I'll try that again.  It's do-able, but not my favorite way to work. I like painting wet into wet, and allowing certain colors to mix & mingle, and this was much more challenging to paint on, even if it did have an interesting effect. 

And the flower itself? A single Fuchsia blossom - they grow wild in huge hedgerows over in southwest Ireland. (The same lovely plants that we buy at the nursery in hanging baskets and promptly kill off because they seem so delicate!)  Every summer they are just one of the many wildflowers that charm the fairies in this magical place! 

 

Irish Green Pastures (Workshop in Ireland 2015) - Day 22 of #jan30in30

 

6"x6" oil on archival panel

To bid or to purchase, click here. 

When I was a 'wee little girl' old enough to read, my mother gave my a tiny little book with the Twenty-third Psalm. It was a little accordion-fold booklet, beautifully illustrated. Of course as a child, I think it's difficult to have the "big picture' in life...but I loved the pretty little sheep in the illustrations, and the verse was beautiful (and a bit mysterious when it came to the valley of the shadow of death, but I understood it as a scary place!), I read it over and over until it became quite worn from use. 

Now when I think of that verse....I have a picture of western Ireland in my head! Beautiful green pastures; and (sometimes) still waters. But it restores my soul...in such a way...that it assures me of those "thin places" in the world  - places where we feel closest to God...and our spirit soars!

I'm returning there this summer, to paint and teach. I hope that you'll join me. Our host Barbara Mastaglio is an American, who owns a cottage over on Valentia Island, (in county Kerry), and lives there part of the year. She has been hosting artist retreats for almost ten years now, and I have to admit I have been on most of them! I taught there last summer, and am returning with some of our merry crew this summer as well. 

2015 Painting Workshop in Ireland

on Valentia Island in the Ring of Kerry, Ireland

June 28 - July 5, 2015

Price: $2500 per person 

Come and experience great painting, great food, great wine and beer, and great company! 

Claim your space - Here's what's included:

Painting on and around Valentia Island and the Ring of Kerry

 1. 7 Nights accommodations at a charming B&B (double occupancy)

 2. Daily classes, demonstrations and critiques with Roxanne

 3. Transportation to/from Shannon Airport which is the arrival/departure point   on  arrival/departure point on arrival/departure day.

 4. Transportation to/from tour sites, restaurants and stores where needed.

 5. Daily full breakfasts.

 6. 6 lunches and 2 dinners.

 7. Arrangements and transportations for restaurants.

 8. On location painting/photo/sketch at areas most beautiful sites.

 9. All taxes and Free WiFi.

10. Our workshop host is Barbara Mastaglio.

What's not included: 

1. Airfare.

2. Single room surcharge $550.

Register here: http://www.valentiaart.com/Registration.html

Please contact me with any questions you might have regarding this trip and if it's for you. Is plein air painting something you've always wanted to try?! This is the year YOU can go to Ireland. 

 

 

 And there you have it - this could be YOU!

  

Dusk in France, Along the Rhone-Day 21 of #jan30in30

 

20"x16" oil on gallery wrapped canvas, 1" deep

Click here for more information or to purchase.

  On my last trip through France we cruised down the Rhone, stopping in wonderful cities, towns and villages. We traveled mostly at night, so that the days could be spent seeing the sights at our stops along the way.  What a wonderful way to tour. It gave me a great overview of places that I want to return and spend more time in....a dig in as deep as grape vine roots....to learn more about this beautiful country.

Table for Two with a Seat for You! Day 20 of #jan30in30 - SOLD!

 

8"x6" oil on linen mounted on archival panel

To bid or to purchase, click here.  

She's waiting for you, come on! Could be your friend, or more? A nice seat in the shade on a sunny day, what else is blooming besides the flowers? 

Art has the ability to transport us, jump-start our imaginations, bring those emotions bubbling to the surface...I know I'm always glad it's a big part of my life.  

So yes, I am behind in the 30in30. Two paintings I've completed are related to a commission that is a birthday gift & can't yet be revealed...so I'm actually up to day 18. So...It's possible that I'll catch up. 

Feeling pretty lucky though, I've definitely had my guardian angels following me, earning their wings. Sunday morning I was in the middle of (and survived) a 22 (yes, that's twenty-two) car pile-up here in New London, on the way to choir before church. It could have been worse. Black ice is the worst nightmare. This Florida girl is officially homesick for warm weather where ice is in your tea and not your highway!! 

Charolais du Rhône - Day 14 of #jan30in30

 

18"x24" x1" deep, oil on cradled birch panel 

For more information, or to purchase, click here. 

Traveling through France along the Rhone River last October gave me the chance to see a lot of my favorite places, and some from a different point of view! On this particular day we were traveling to the next to the next town, passing by some beautiful rural areas, the big creamy white Charolais cows grazing along the banks.

The Camargue - Day 13 of #jan30in30

6"x8" oil on linen mounted on archival panel

To place your bid or to purchase, click here. 

Another 'postcard' from France, memories of our visit to the Camargue, in the south. Vast flat marsh areas with wild white horses, famingos and bulls!

Charcutier "Chat" - Day 12 of #jan30in30

 

8"x6" oil on linen mounted on archival panel

To bid, or to purchase, click here.

You know that time when you run into a dear friend while you're out running errands...it can happen any where! The narrow streets of the small towns in France are pedestrian friendly. Stopping at the butcher, the cheese monger, the florist...all a necessity of the day. 

Le Chien Marcher sa Personne - Day 11 of #jan30in30

 

6"x6" oil on archival panel

To bid or to purchase, click here.  

Another scene from my recent trip to France, I love to go walking...and people watching. The French do love their dogs, and they are every where..."taking their people out for a stroll"!

Winter Tide - Day 10 of #jan30in30

4"x4" oil on archival panel

Click here to purchase. 

Yet again, it is mid-night and I am just posting this painting after a very packed day.  I do want to complete this challenge though. We are one-third of the way through, and I know this will go quite quickly. Now that I'm returning to this habit for the month, it does force you to think about what will be your next composition. Even when there is a full day with "life happening to the max" I find that even a small painting is helpful to keep those ideas moving to completion and to prevent one from getting 'rusty'. 

Blossoms of Glory - Day 9 of #jan30in30- SOLD!

 

6"x6"x1" deep oil on cradled archival panel

To bid or to purchase, click here. 

Our front yard...summer time. Ahhh. Old Glory waving from the front porch, and a brilliant variety of coneflowers standing at attention by the front fence. 

The ground is covered in snow right now, seeds in deep slumber until they burst forth in Spring time! This snow set me back a little bit today, so everything is running late. It's after midnight, so this will probably post on Saturday....but it's intended to be for Friday's post.  Sleep tight friends...and stay warm.  

 

ACEO-Coral Begonias - Day 8 #jan30in30

3.5"x2.5"

Click here to bid!

 

This one is a color study for an upcoming commission (not the same design, but will have coral colored flowers in it).  So after painting a snowy scene, I'm back to my bliss, flowers in my sunlit garden. My neighbor had one of the most gorgeous begonias I had ever seen. The thing was huge, with these amazing flowers draping down. It's been on my mind, and another one of those things that I wanted to paint during this 30 day feat!

 

For those of you not familiar with the acronym ACEO, it stands for Art Cards Editions and Originals.  The miniature paintings are the size of a baseball trading card, 2 1/2 inches by 3 1/2 inches.  This category of art has become increasingly popular on eBay the last couple of years.  These can be displayed on their own, or with a tiny little easel (like the kind you can find in Michaels Arts & Crafts type stores) on a display shelf, or these beautiful gems can be elegantly matted and framed with perhaps a mat of 4 inches wide. 

Snow Day - Thoughts on Studio Landscapes- Day 7 #jan30in30

6"x8" oil on linen mounted on archival panel

Click here to bid or to purchase. 

Now I know you're thinking..."this is not your normal high-chroma big load of whopping color" that you usually paint. True, and like I said earlier these 30 paintings in 30 days are like "research & development" for artists. My plan was to explore some of the things I had put off exploring for one reason or another.  Those who know me, know that "I don't paint snow"...heck, I don't even like snow, and a single dose of it is plenty enough to get my "snow ya-yas" over with. Winter does have it's own beauty, and the quiet that descends when the snow muffles out all sound, is quite remarkable.

So,  I did not go out & stand still to paint in the cold...(can't tolerate the temps)...but had been wanting to do something that Dan McCaw spoke of in his (excellent) book, "A Proven Strategy for Creating Great Art"...in one of the paintings, he took a summer scene & re-painted to make a winter version...from imagination & memory. So I took one of my Barn Island paintings...sat it next to my easel set up & used that as the 'stepping off place'...

For me, it was a great exercise in trying to mix colorful grays, ie, how to keep it close in value range, yet still have color (and not be like one slab of 'battle-ship gray'!). Winter is not my favorite season...so it's a stretch for me to even WANT to paint a winter scene. My inner FL girl LOVES the high-chroma zing...I'm finally getting my butt out of the house during winter...as long as I can keep moving (like x-c skiing), but to stand still in these temps to paint, is just a slow hard soul crushing death for me! I know I'll probably try more winter scenes like this....as long as it's from a place that I'm really familiar with....where I've spent time hiking through....Once it gets above 40 degrees with no wind...I can tolerate it...(hoping I can hang on 'til Spring returns!). As for tomorrow's painting..my eyeballs need some intense light & color! 


Stay warm folks- winter is doing it's thing out there!

Creche Angel - Day 6 - #jan30in30

6"x6" oil on archival panel

Click here to bid or to purchase.

Today is Epiphany, or Three Kings Day, Today is Epiphany, or Three Kings Day...a Christian festival held on January 6 in honor of the coming of the three kings to the infant Jesus Christ. I'm going to be wrapping up our creche, or manger scene from Christmas, and decided I must paint the angel first. This is a new creche in our house, I just bought it in December at our church bazaar. It was brought back from a summer church mission to Ecuador this summer by another member. They got to see some of these pieces being carved. I'd been hoping to find a set like this to have in our house during Christmas-time...though I'm especially fond of the angel!

 

My Finest Summer-ACEO-Day 5-#jan30in30

3.5"x2.5"

Click here to bid!

 

Just thinking back on favorite days from previous summers, and there was one particularly sweet afternoon. We end up working in the yard/garden during the summer weekends, as it's a really beautiful place to be.  Hubby had cut some of the random foxglove flowers that had popped up in the garden and had put them in the watering can on the front porch.  This man not only brings me flowers, he grows the special ones that I love....that no florist can provide!

 

For those of you not familiar with the acronym ACEO, it stands for Art Cards Editions and Originals.  The miniature paintings are the size of a baseball trading card, 2 1/2 inches by 3 1/2 inches.  This category of art has become increasingly popular on eBay the last couple of years.  These can be displayed on their own, or with a tiny little easel (like the kind you can find in Michaels Arts & Crafts type stores) on a display shelf, or these beautiful gems can be elegantly matted and framed with perhaps a mat of 4 inches wide. 

Winter Warmup-ACEO-Day 4 #jan30in30

3.5"x2.5"

Click here to bid!

 

If winter has anything decent about it, it does give us some planning time for our garden...a time for a bit of rest, introspection, and appreciation. The older I get the more I appreciate the 'rest' part! By the time Spring finally breaks ground here....we are dying to get outside! 

 

Winter studio time finds me either painting from life (with grocery store flowers, not bad), or photos & memories of summers past flowers, wonderful things grown in our own garden, lovingly arranged and photographed out there, too. And for painters, I know you've heard it a million times, "painting from life is better" - YES it is, as it teaches you how to 'SEE', as in really. see. color. And then the lesson of "don't be a slave to your photo" kicks in..... if you use one for reference...as they DO tell lies...shadows are frequently 'dead black holes' in photographs....when in reality, shadows can be incredibly full of color. 

  

For those of you not familiar with the acronym ACEO, it stands for Art Cards Editions and Originals.  The miniature paintings are the size of a baseball trading card, 2 1/2 inches by 3 1/2 inches.  This category of art has become increasingly popular on eBay the last couple of years.  These can be displayed on their own, or with a tiny little easel (like the kind you can find in Michaels Arts & Crafts type stores) on a display shelf, or these beautiful gems can be elegantly matted and framed with perhaps a mat of 4 inches wide. 

Winter Sunrise - Day 3 of 30 in 30

6"x8" oil on linen mounted on archival panel

Click here to bid or to purchase

  Yesterday morning, as soon as I opened the blinds, I knew that there was my painting.  There's finally construction going on across the street and they are almost finished with this house. The early morning winter sun seems to rise barely above the horizon, and hits the front of this house square on. The sky was still a deep blue with swirling clouds, but that sun illuminated the tree tops like golden life! 

Commençant à la Pluie - Day 2 of 30in30!-SOLD!

6"x6" oil on archival panel

Click here to bid or to purchase!

The fun thing about this "30 in 30 challenge" is that it's like R & D for artists. My aim is to take the time to do the things that I don't normally take/get the time to do...experiment, and try a LOT of new things...or things that I'm not usually known for. 

 From my travels to France this past October, we got caught in a bit of a rain shower, but the place is still beautiful! After all, it is France! My intent was to keep the figures simple silhouettes against the background shops and scenery, with the light from the florist shop bright and glowing. 

ACEO-Pink Power Peonies - 30 in 30 Challenge!-SOLD!

3.5"x2.5"

Click here to bid!

Welcome to a brand new year! My yours be filled with flowers, beauty, and love. Well, I've gone and done it now...taken the 30 in 30 Challenge from fellow artist, Leslie Saeta. Each January she holds a challenge for fellow painters, - 30 paintings in 30 days...with no one to be accountable to except our own selves! I've been wanting to do one of these...30 days straight is indeed a big challenge...life does get in the way from time to time. But here goes!  I'm not choosing a theme, other than "My Favorite Things". I'm hoping to do a variety of sizes - small ones on busier days, especially while simultaneously working on commissions, or larger pieces.  I'm also sticking to most of my favorite themes; flowers, gardens, marshes & woods, France, Ireland...as well as some things I've just been wanting to experiment with! 

So here goes - one of my most favorite things- flowers from my garden to start off the 30 in 30! I'm looking forward to a lovely gardening season this year, some awesome travel & painting (won't you come along?), and a wedding in our family! May your new year be filled with joy and delight!

For those of you not familiar with the acronym ACEO, it stands for Art Cards Editions and Originals.  The miniature paintings are the size of a baseball trading card, 2 1/2 inches by 3 1/2 inches.  This category of art has become increasingly popular on eBay the last couple of years.  These can be displayed on their own, or with a tiny little easel (like the kind you can find in Michaels Arts & Crafts type stores) on a display shelf, or these beautiful gems can be elegantly matted and framed with perhaps a mat of 4 inches wide.  

So, each year I have time to make just a few of these...and there's never any leftover. Here's your chance to join in on the fun and have one of these dear little mini's.  If you've just GOT to have it, and you can get to it before the first bid is placed, you may buy it out-right (and avoid the whole bidding process) at the buy it now price.  AND, my gift to you, FREE shipping!