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.  

 

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. 

Sweet Summer Roses

16"x8" oil on linen mounted on archival panel

For more information, or to purchase, click here.  

Wow, the heat wave finally made it to Connecticut! It was pretty steamy even in the shade.  Lucky for that and some lemonade.  Summer goes too fast around here to ignore it just because of the heat.  I was determined to soak it up while I have the chance.  After all, the roses were calling my name! 

Summer's Rest Geraniums & New England Workshop & SHOW!!!

 

16"x8" oil on linen mounted on archival panel

For more information, or to purchase, click here. 

"The greatest gift of the garden is the restoration of the five senses." - Hanna Rion 

"To be interested in the changing seasons is a happier state of mind than to be hopelessly in love with spring." - George Santayana

I hope you're enjoying your summer, whether it's blazing hot, or perhaps you have milder temps like we've been having. Summer in New England has been really good to us this year. 

I have to admit, I hate to see summer go, as it's really such a delight here. But autumn brings it's own wonder.  September always has that great "sense of change".  Perhaps it's a holdover from my childhood school days, and the anticipation of looking forward to new classes, teachers, and opportunities.  So - here's the chance for you to enjoy the same!  I am especially excited to share the news of my solo show of Barn Island paintings.  All of these marsh and woodland paintings, most of them done on location, and several LARGE paintings done in the studio. The opening reception is Friday September 12th, please SAVE THE DATE!!  I've post more information about that on tomorrow's post. 

But some other exciting news is: I'm hosting a workshop in the beautiful town of Essex, CT on Saturday September 20th, from 9:00am until 4:30pm.  We'll meet at the lovely "Paintstix Studios" at the top of Main Street. It sits high up above the Main Street on the side of a hill, and has a great view all the way down to the CT River! The light in the room is lovely!  The focus of the day is on plein air painting, and how to make a more dynamic, exciting painting.  Immediately improve your art with this one rule of composition, AND understand the FOUR things that make a successful painting.  

We'll meet upstairs at Paintstix Studio for a bit of coffee and donuts and introductions at 9am, and get to work promptly at 9:30 on a demo, explaining these topics and techniques using transparent paint and opaques.  We'll be using brushes, palette knives and 'squeegees'.   

After breaking for an hour for lunch,   we'll re-group and paint during the afternoon, on location.  I've scouted out a place close to our 'home-base' (ie. close to rest-rooms, etc).  We'll keep the group small (6) so everyone will get a lot of one-on-one time. At 4:00pm, we'll start wrapping up with final questions & answers, clean-up at 4:30 so that we can close up shop at 5:00pm. I can address questions regarding technique, and selling online.

The fee for the day's workshop is $125.  To reserve your spot, you may pay here with Paypal, or contact me to pay with a check. 

I look forward to seeing you there and helping you on the next point in 'your painting journey'. 

      

Return to Ireland - Cottage in Bunratty

8"x8" oil on archival panel

For purchase information.

This is the demo for the "Monday Mentoring" class I held today.  This little place in Bunratty had been painted a beautiful salmon color...and was surrounded by a small, delightful garden with fruit trees, interesting shrubs and colorful flowers. It's becoming more difficult to find thatched roof structures any where- so this was a particular delight! 

There's still a couple spots left for you to pack your bags and join us!! Barbara Mastaglio's "Art on the Ring of Kerry" is a wonderful opportunity to experience the beauty of Ireland, and I'll be teaching use of a palette knife, how to simplify complex scenes into "simple pieces"; understanding color, value, and temperature...as well as how to be more spontaneous in your painting. Barbara takes us to wonderful places each day, I offer demos, gentle but helpful critiques, with individualized instruction for each attendee.  It's a place I've returned to so many times, it certainly feels like a second home to me. I hope you'll consider joining us for your own unique experience.  It's seven days- June 29th through July 5th for $2500 (air fare not included). Click on the link above and peruse the site for more information, and to hold your spot! You won't regret the trip!