YES!

My friend Susan Guest McPhail (check out her website here http://susanguestmcphail.com/home.html) gave me this painting last year and I LOVE it! I actually think I may have posted it before but it seemed like a good time to talk about it again. I usually keep this above my easel to remind me that, YES I can paint a painting that terrifies me and yes I can find inspiration and yes I can take chances (creatively at least. I'm not so good at taking chances otherwise. Say, like skydiving!) SO I vented yesterday. And it felt good to air it all (and if you actually read through it all, then thanks and sorry!), but now it's time to say YES. YES my friends and family are unbelievably resilient, supportive fighters, YES I don't give up and never, EVER will on anything that's important in life, and YES TRUTH rules! And the bottom line is just that. Truth. And having this creative outlet on top of it all is so fantastic and I am really blessed (oh how cliche!) to have it and the kids and this crazy husband of mine (I mean really, isn't anyone married to an artist just a little crazy?).

Anyway, on an art note, I am going to try to post the info for Art in the Barn in June soon. I can't believe a whole year has passed already. And I can't wait to show you what I am up to for that. Also I am dropping off my last 2 paintings for the Time and Tide show, so I will post that info this week as well. The opening is May 18. Time to be announced.

Paris...

Painting this was intoxicating...Paris...France...I had just made a small deposit in my newly opened European Dream account last week, before something happened that turned the account into an emergency fund for future use....The whole time I painted this I thought of the little apartment I had found in the south of france in a 500 year old town house for the tiny sum of $388 a week.  Cheap!  I have a friend who works for an airline....Crazy discounted ticket!  The whole dream was beginning to feel just a little more possible, a little more real, a tiny bit more tangible and the thrill made me catch my breath.  This trip is more than I can explain.  It's like my soul aches for it. And has for 20 years.  I don't understand what drives that ache.  It's not as if a trip to France could in any way be described as a neccessity.  And yet this feels this way.  I just found out this week that something happened that affects my dream long term.  However to keep my sanity I am going to continue to think of it as a trip account.  Who knows...The sad thing is that this event was caused by someone else and was avoidable, which somehow makes it more heartbreaking.  Somehow when the natural course of life interrupts your dreams, it is a little easier to swallow, and you just go back to saying "someday"...Well, someday......

A Rose By Any Other Name......

This is a 6 x 6 mixed media painting.  It all started with the text.  I painted this one for the upcoming Type-OH show at Time and Tide Art Gallery in Ipswich.  It began with the words "A rose by any other name"....I printed different translations of rose from many different languages onto antique paper and collaged the paper onto a canvas.  Then added the text and used pallette knife for the roses.  Since the roses were so light and so was the paper I distressed the paper a bit and left some of my sketch marks. I actually love being able to see an artists pencil marks and see how an artist started with a piece.  I am constantly testing the boundaries of motion sensor alarms in museums by getting my nose just a liiiiittle too close to paintings to see the artists strokes, his pencil marks, his sketch underneath.  I mean I LOVE a completed VanGogh but I am even more excited the sketchy bits that make the painting more human. 

I will post more details and dates for the show and opening ASAP 



C'est Belle and Manet

6x6 Mixed media on gallery wrapped canvas



So words are funny things. Y'all know how I've been using text in a lot of my paintings lately. I love the look of words, I love print, and I love fonts and letters...I LOVE mixing them with my paintings..
So, there is a show coming up at Time and Tide Gallery, called Type-Oh...Oh, so made for me! I was perusing my french poetry book for inspiration (I mean French text seems even prettier than any other) and here was this poem about Lilacs and roses. Well, I loooooove lilacs and have probably mentioned it at least 5 times in this blog. Boom, inspiration...Because the french poem about lilacs and roses reminded me about one of my favorites Manet paintings featuring my absolutely favorite color of rose, yellow. I had to use purple lilacs though. Even though white ones are beautiful, they don't seem as abundant and sturdy as the purple...The top of this has a shiny copper color, which came across as brown in the pic...And it wraps around the canvas which adds a lot that you don't see here. We shall see if it's accepted in the show. Oh, and it's a pallette knife painting. Love doing those.

Didn't make the cut...

5x7 mixed media on board

This one was supposed to go with my other memory paintings in the new exhibit at Time and Tide Gallery this week, but it didn't make the cut. I should say it didn't make my personal cut,because I think I am harder on myself than any jury or gallery director! Not sure what it was that didn't work, but when I asked my husband and he silently shrugged instead of gushing, I figured it wasn't meant to be! The slightly violet haze to it is from the camera...

You win some, you lose some. And I vaguely recall (maybe, hmm it's hazy) saying when I first started this blog that I would post my failures as well as my successes...I'm pretty sure I haven't been totally honest with my blog followers because over the years I have certainly created some embarrassing paintings that silently got painted over without telling you ;) Like the one of my cat a couple of years ago. I am pretty sure that I mentioned that one before...

The memories keep coming....

5x7 Mixed media on board


The Perfect Marriage-6x6 Oil on Canvas Board

Another one for the show in a couple of weeks and one that won't make it.

The jello will keep the PB&J company at Time and Tide for the memories show...Jello seems like one of those universal childhood treats!

The Fisher Price people (remember those?) won't make it to the show. I liked the idea in concept but then something seemed a little too simple about them in execution for the show....
I loved all those Fisher Price toys, and now they are going for a fortune on ebay. Wish I had the forsight to save them!

Childhood memories

5x7 Mixed Media on Board- Reserved for Time and Tide Gallery in Ipswich, Ma


5x7 Mixed Media on Canvas board, framed $95 in my Etsy shop here

So good to post something today! This mango was done before Christmas, but I've been too distracted to get anything posted! Painted on an old map of the Maui. I am still having a blast playing with these backgrounds and loving how the content of the text influences my subject matter and visa versa...

The PB&J is one in a series I am doing for the memories show coming up in March at Time and Tide Gallery in Ipswich. I think food may be one of the strongest memories we have. A favorite cookie, a special candy bar, that thanksgiving dish that Grandma always made. I am sure if you are reading this right now a thousand examples are running through your head. Coupled with the nostalgia and power of vintage graphics and ads, I think these make good representations of childhood memories. I love the graphic design of vintage punlications. They were creative, recognizable, bold, and artistic. It's why some companies still use the same logos, etc. Campbell's soup for example, has been the same (or very similar) for 100 years. Speaking of which, Tomato Soup is my next installment, then a very challenging one that we probably all remember from childhood, that I won't mention until I post it....In case it's a huge disaster!

Whoa

NEW ENDEAVOR...I NEED you!!!
Has it REALLY been this long since I have posted. Is anyone even out there anymore! Haha! Well after a few months of kind of crazy health stuff, and the usual craziness of the holiday season, I am back. I have been painting but in smaller doses. I had a few fun pieces in a gallery over the holiday and I am preparing more for their next show. I have one left from the last show. WIll post soon and make sure I actually post the new ones.

Part of my break from painting is because I started an Etsy business called "Frankly, My Dear Vintage", making purses with vintage textiles. I will also put available paintings on there. Please check out my store and "Like" me on facebook. With 12,000,000 (yup you read right) fabulous items on Etsy I need ALL The help I can get. Here is my Etsy link
And for my Facebook page just search for Frankly, My Dear Vintage and LIKE me! I will be posting specials from time to time, coupon codes, etc that are only available to Facebook fans. Share with your friends...Pretty, please ;)
I need to have more than my mom as a friend. Ok, ok, I already. But still!

Thankful Chickadee

8x8 mixed media on paper-matted and framed $100

Painted this the other day and actually forgot to post it...Love these little guys :)
I'm elbow deep in cheescake, cranberries, turkey, and other sundry thanksgiving type foods right now. Figured I would post this before the weekend because I fully intend to be comatose from turkey tomorrow!

Hope everyone has a wonderful holiday!

Sale on all paintings in my studio!

SALE SALE SALE!!!

Serene Beach Umbrella 12 x 30 Oil on Gallery Wrapped canvas Only $100!

Detail of beach scene below. This was painted with a pallette knife.

Set of 2 canvases-above (each 12 x 30) Gallery Wrapped $200 for both

Rockport, MA (above) 9x9 oil on Gallery Wrapped Canvas $50

(Extra Deep sides. Image continues around edge. See post several back)

Crane Sunset (above) 12 x 30 Oil on Gallery Wrapped Only $100!!

Crane Sunrise (above) 12 x 30 Oil on Gallery Wrapped Canvas- Only $100!

SALE SALE SALE!

Clearing out my studio so here are a few paintings I've decided to put on here. Significantly lower than I normally would, but I really need to move things. Great timing for Christmas gifts! I have many more available so if you have seen things you like please ask, or make an offer. Some smaller paintings on canvas are as little as $40 and I have some on canvas board for $30 (will list those soon)! If you are in the Boston area (or within 45 minutes or so from me, Maine, NH, etc.) I would be willing to meet or deliver to save on shipping. If I have to ship to you I will charge you only the cost of packaging and the actual shipping costs.

Donut Run

5x7 Oil on canvas board

6 x 6 oil on canvas board

Did a few of these because my hubby's birthday is coming next week and a couple of years ago he snagged one of my Dunkin Donuts paintings and brought it to work. He loves it. And apparently so do his coworkers. So I thought I would do a few and see what worked.

I think the first one is the one I will give him (hope this isn't the first time he checks my blog in months ;) or the cat's out of the bag!).

The bottom one...I love black backgrounds. Hate the picture glare! Can't seem to avoid it.

Aerial Cupcakes

6x6 Oil on Gallery wrapped canvas

Quite a glare in the left top. Sorry! I believe I am a bit ADD when it comes to art. Notice a difference between this and the last post?...Maybe I was being too serious for a while and had to do something that reminds how light and fun life should be, or maybe the last one was to gray, or maybe my attention span on a new style or technique lasts through 5 paintings or so before I move on...I have said this before but I envy artists that can fill a room with paintings that are "them" . I have such a hard time settling on a style, and move around to different subject matters all the time. I wonder if this is detrimental to me as an artist. Do I not learn enough?

My hubby hates the aerial shots (ok strongly dislikes). For some reason I really enjoy them.

Notre Dame et La Lune

Notre Dame et La Lune 5x7 mixed media on board

Pardon my thumb. Sneaky thing found it's way into the photo! Still dreaming and painting! I often feel like I don't paint something as well when I haven't seen it or experienced it first hand. I definitely have a passion for certain places I haven't seen yet, but I don't know if I could do them justice without smelling, feeling, and seeing it for myself...If I ever get to see these places I will let you know!
I may have to paint something sunny though soon. I am feeling very BLUUUUE that the summer ended suddenly, and while I am NEVER ready for summer to end, I super not ready this year. Every year I tell myself I need to move somewhere warm year round. It would do wonders to boost my spirits. But I love New England too, so moving south isn't something I plan on until I can have two houses. At that will be a while. Someday! :)

Pears are like people....

5x7 mixed media on canvas board

I attended my friend Su's art reception last night. She and 5 other women paint together (and apart) and then exhibit each September. They call themselves the "Confetti Girls" and they are all phenomenal. Inspiring colors, techniques and compositions. Some paintings are similar and you can see their influence on each other. Some totally different and you can see the strong individuality of each artist, but all the work always flows beautifully in one space.

I was talking about pears with one of the women and mentioned I had just painted one and how funny they were as fruits. Seems to me like they are the most human of fruits. They can lean, they have diverse shapes and colors. Some have lumps where they shouldn't, some are short and fat, some are thin and gangly. But they are all beautiful. Just like people!

Off to the Ipswich Bay Yacht Club tomorrow for their Annual Show and Sale. Nothing like last minute, but I am still agonizing over what to bring!

Dream/Paint your way to Paris...

Paris En Nuit - 5x7 Mixed Media on Board

I recently bought my daughter a tank top that says "dream your way to Paris". It seemed perfect because I have dreamt year after year after year of going somewhere like Paris. I hatched a little plan recently of traveling alone to france and saving little by little. Hubby was all for it. But real life gets in the way. Money gets in the way. And it's not happening. Another trip planned to the t in my head. So when it comes to the girls I am always telling them to dream. BIG. No HUUUUGE! and then don't just dream it, but do it!

I love working with the mixed media background, but I HATED painting over the bottom half of this piece. The text was so beautiful and I really hated to lose it, but without putting in the sketchy buildings, the tower was just kind of floating around. SO I felt I had to sacrifice the text to make it work :(

What do you expect to find?

Truthfully.....

Little Chickadee

6x6 mixed media on board


Cecelia's necklace left, mine right

Had a crazy couple of weeks that sort of took the wind out of my sails, so painting took a back burner for a little. In the meantime Cecelia and I did some beading with beads we picked up at the flea market a couple of weeks ago. Cecelia made me the butterfly pendant to cheer me up. She did such a good job on it that I told her she should sell them. Then she decided that she wanted to donate some of it to Child Fund International like I did for the art show. So she plans to start making them soon. I promised I would post them here when she is ready.

The painting is from a photo I took of a little bird last spring. I LOVE these little birds. They are so sweet! I just ordered a bunch of boards to make various backgrounds. This one is from an 1853 Godey's Lady's Book with some texture added to it. The white on the background is actually sheer shimmer that doesn't show that white in real life. I am excited to see how these work out!

Art show time!

I won't be posting any new paintings for a week or so, because I'll be at the Hall Haskell House all week for my art show...
Funny thing...I was sooooo excited for this show and that I have finally carved more time out of my insane life to create. I had all my paintings ready to go and felt relatively proud of my body of work. Recently I was talking with a friend's husband about my upcoming art show and about pricing and other tidbits regarding the art world and he informed me that I wasn't "a real artist". I sheepishly, stupidly, dumbfoundedly agreed with him when he said this. He told me his definition of a real artist was someone who didn't create paintings to sell and didn't worry about what others thought. I didn't realize how much this got under my skin until I was hanging my show today and I just felt like everything I was hanging was simplified into a commercial peice of crap because 1. I was selling it and 2. I was showing it, making it evident that I cared what people thought.

Then I realized...Wait a minute! What about Sargeant who had a flourishing career painting commisioned portraits and murals, or even Michaelangelo who painted the Sistine Chapel at the request of the Vatican or the Impressionists who began the Salon de Refuses because they were tired of being rejected by the Paris Salon (hence they CARED what people thought). Anyway, I have a nasty habit of not thinking of good comebacks til after the fact. Meaning I am bothered and hurt, and the person who did the hurting isn't thinking a bit about it....I had really hoped to go into this week and my reception on Friday with a different vibe and I am STUPIDLY letting one negative comment bother me when I get so many compliments on a regular basis! Man I gotta learn to stick up for myself!

Helen's "No Joke" Blueberry Pie

6x6 Oil on Gallery Wrapped Canvas

In all seriousness this pie is no joke. There is a little diner in Machias, Maine called Helen's Restaurant and they have an entire case of row after row of mile high pies. They are enormous, and filled with more fruit than I can even illustrate in a painting. I didn't even come close to doing it justice! I noticed when I posted that there is a bit of a halo at the top of the picture from the glare. Maybe it's angelic pie too!
My art reception is next Friday, August 19 from 6-9 pm at the Hall Haskell House in Ipswich. I will be there during the week as well; August 16-19 from 2-5pm and Saturday from 10-4 pm. I decided to donate 20% of my art sales to Famine Relief. And 40% of food related paintings to Famine Relief. I think I will be donating through ChildFund Internation, an organization that my family is involved with. However, depending on what organization needs it most, I may change who I donate through.

Dunkin Run....

Dunkin Run...6X6 on gallery wrapped canvas

The other day we met my parents at the cabin they are staying at in Maine and came armed with 2 DOZEN Dunkin Donuts. The girls were in their glory as I don't think they have ever seen that many donuts in their possesion at once. The count on donuts eaten that they gave me was 3 each, but given that they were hanging out with Grandma I suspect the count is more like 6 each! Poor Cecelia took a bite out of this donut and I made her wait while I found my camera and took a pic. Poor kid was salivating!

No matter how proud I am of a painting I do, I don't think I ever get as much guilty satisfaction as I do when I paint a donut. Kinda like eating one ;)