Interlude: a stained glass mosaic

"Interlude"

6x8 stained glass mosaic

NFS

I spent a blissful "interlude" last Tuesday at Derby Academy Summer Arts Camp. My multi talented friend, Sally Dean Mello teaches in the program and invited me over to check out the kids' work and try my hand at creating a glass mosaic. 
She furnished me with a frame into which she glued a sheet of glass, showed me how to score and break the glass pieces and sent me on my way. 
Sally, her friend and fellow counselor Judy Benzaquin, and I sat together working on our pieces along with the kids who were creating their own works. 
It was exactly what my soul needed and this mosaic just seemed to create itself. I'm hooked ;)
Be sure to check out Girls Just Wanna Paint , tomorrow, to see the works for our July topic: Bliss.

Parrsboro Plein Air

Canada Day

8x8 oil on board 

$250 buy now with PayPal

I applied for and was accepted to the first annual Parrsboro Plein Air paint out. 
Not only is this my first ever Plein Air competion, it is taking place in Parrsboro, Nova Scotia, a place I've been visiting for close to 20 years and where my husband's mother's family is from.  
It is one of the most spectacular places I've been and I know it well.
I painted this at Sargent's cottage at second beach. 
Notice the reflection of Blomidon in the windows.

Lilacs in Watercolor

"Lilacs"

4"x8" Watercolor

We arrived home from Naples to the scent of lilacs, fresh ocean air and the unexpected treat of daffodils which I expected to be long gone by. 
The first leg of our trip was to Charleston, SC, a beautiful and charming city in every way. 
We took a delightful Carriage ride during which the driver gave us the lowdown on the care of the horses. They are logged in and out for every trip, regulated as to how many days and hours they can work, get shipped off for two week vacations out to pasture and are very well cared for. The weather was a balmy 75 degrees with no humidity! 
We spent some time checking out Charleston's rich selection of art galleries and had a lovely dinner at the Francis Marion Hotel. 
My hubby was a Navy man stationed in Charleston, but there is no trace left of the Navy Base as he knew it.

The Carriage Horses make Charleston

The next part of the adventure took us over the Chesapeake Bay Bridge and landed us on the DelMarVa peninsula which, brought us near to the Chincoteague National Seashore.
The day out on Chincoteague was spectacularly beautiful and the only horses we saw were spotted from the top of the lighthouse.

Huffing and puffing ;)

Four shades of lilacs!

daffodils

Wolfie and Abba 

Imagination GJWP

"Imagination"

6x8 paper, paint and rhinestone collage

I am struggling mightily with artist's block this winter. 

I have also been working in some different mediums and trying to go in a new direction but, it is taking time.

This paper collage is one of the ways I've been using my "Imagination", which is the Girls Just Wanna Paint challenge theme this month, to find my way.

I started with a piece of watercolor paper that I'd done some random painting on. The verse is from a calendar that I was throwing way but, when I noticed the verses, I cut them all out and added them to my collage files and I drew the dragonfly, glued it onto the paper and embellished it with rhinestones.

I actually first used the dragonfly, in 2012 in a collage piece for the Outside The Box, show given by North River Arts Society. It holds special meaning for me and I will be using it often in my upcoming work.

Stay tuned.

Florida Palms

I did this pen and ink sketch for our Girls Just Wanna Paint March challenge last Tuesday on a most perfect beach day.

But, I forgot to post it! 

Check out our blog here!

Palms and Palapa at Lowdermilk Beach

micron pen sketchbook drawing

nfs

Painting at The Von Liebig

This winter is flying by and my students have been a source of inspiration and joy.

Here are some of my class demos.

Zorn Demo for my Color Mixing Workshop

This palette consists of Cad Red, Yellow Ochre, Ivory Black and White

My Onion demo

My Tomato Demo

My White Dove demo

My Radish Demo

……...and some of my student's work. 

Page Ginns

Marcia Walsh

GJWP Challenge Yearning for Spring

Buzzing Bees 6x8, acrylic on canvas panel

Nothing says Spring like flowers and bees.

Check out the Girls Just Wanna Paint blog to see our depictions of yearning for spring

If you've been trying to sign up for my classes through the Von Liebig website and had trouble finding them, the website is undergoing a redo and it's unreliable.

Here is the schedule and you can call the front desk at 

239-262-6517 to register. 

Class Title:  A Painting A Day - 

Instructor Mary Sheehan Winn

Date: 3/3, 3/10, 3/17, 3/24, 3/31, 4/7

Day/Time:  Friday, 9am-12pm

Member Price: $35

Bees Are the Voice of the Garden

"Float like a Butterfly, Sting like a Bee"

8x10 oil on stretched canvas

This month's Girls Just Wanna Paint challenge was to paint a quote and since I am fascinated with bees I went for this title.

But, I like this one too.

"Bees are the voice of the garden"

Naples and Von Liebig Classes

My Demo

nfs

(because it's on a larger canvas board and can't be cut down)

After a long drive we arrived in Naples on Thursday, January 12th. 

I had a full blown sinus cold but, was happy to see familiar faces in class the next day. Although I felt a bit out of line for exposing everyone to my germs, I passed out the Clorox wipes and everyone was happy that I didn't cancel. Thank you for your warm welcome!

If you've been trying to sign up for my classes through the Von Liebig website and had trouble finding my classes, the website is undergoing a redo and it's unreliable.

Here is the schedule and you can call the front desk at 

239-262-6517 to register. 

Class Title:  A Painting A Day - 

Instructor Mary Sheehan Winn

Date: 1/13, 1/20, 1/27, 2/10, 3/3, 3/10, 3/17, 3/24, 3/31, 4/7

Day/Time:  Friday, 9am-12pm

Member Price: $35

Class Title:  Color Mixing Workshop

Instructor Mary Sheehan Winn

Date: 2/17

Day/Time:  9am-4pm with a break for lunch

Member Price: $75

Frosty Kisses GJWP

Frosty Kisses

6x6 oil

N/A

This one is pulled from the archives for the GJWP challenge, "Frosty". 

I did this a few years ago and since it fit the theme, and since it's a busy time of year and since I've been hanging out with my 'Little" (not so much, anymore) boys, I went with it.

Wishing you all well and looking forward to shaking things up this year.

Christmas Angel

Peace, love & Joy to all and a blessed New Year.

This special Christmas angel was given to me last year by a dear friend and is a centerpiece on our table year 'round. 

This painting is for her 🎄

GJWP Group Show

We had the most lovely opening party last night for our Girls Just Wanna Paint group show at South Shore Natural Science Center.

Despite pouring rain, we were pleased and honored to have a substantial turnout of supporters to cheer us on. 

Thank you to all!

The Girls: Left to Right. Sally Dean Mello, Victoria Chesley Brega, Jeannie MacFarland, Jody Regan, Mary Sheehan Winn, Kelley Carey MacDonald, Pamela Copeman, Paula Villanova and Margaret Farrell Bruno. Missing: Page Pearson Railsback.

My Paintings

The Party

 Our Bartender Doug with his helper 

Marshfield Mariner Feature 

Open Studios

 

My fabulous studio!

Come and visit!

12-5 this Saturday & Sunday

83 East Water Street

Rockland, MA 02370

"Standish Shore" 8x10 oil on panel

One of the many painting available at studio sale prices.

Most between $50 and $150

Absecon Inlet Sentry

"Sentry, Absecon Inlet"

8x8 oil on panel

$100

This brick house sits on the very edge of Absecon Inlet in Atlantic City, New Jersey.

Don and I have used up a couple of expiring time share weeks at the Flagship, a high rise that overlooks this little house and the distant boardwalk. It is so close to the water that the surf pounds it and the tenants park their cars far from the building.
Walking to and from the boardwalk at different times of day I was struck by the light on this place and the desolate fields around it. This view is late afternoon and I framed it to include the gnarled, vine covered tree. 
We really enjoy the time here. Don plays poker and I paint and we walk the boardwalk. There's something for both of us.

The Zorn Palette

"Zorn Sunset" 

6x6 oil on panel

SOLD

Anders Zorn was a Swedish painter who sometimes used a palette limited to Cadmium Red, Yellow Ochre, Ivory Black and White. With these colors he was able to create paintings with a seeming full range of color, with black acting as blue.
He was an international success and painted portraits of three U.S. Presidents. 
This month's Girls Just Wanna Paint challenge was to use the Zorn palette.
I decided to choose a simple subject and mix my colors ahead. This amazing array of colors is the result.

Flag Reflections

Flag Reflections

6x6 oil on panel

The most important consideration when you begin a painting is composition or design. 

I was most interested in the shapes of the piers and the shapes of the reflections in the water. There was another boat docked across from this one and after struggling with it, I just eliminated it. Problem solved, and the composition is stronger without it anyway. Think about things like that when you are composing your picture.

What a beautiful summer it has been! Hopefully, it will continue for quite some time. We aren't ready to make the transition.

Also, stay tuned for information about my color mixing workshop!

Parrsboro Changing Tide

 Parrsboro Changing Tides

6x6 oil on panel

It's that time again. 

The Girls Just Wanna Paint monthly topic is "Saved".

I saved this painting from Parrsboro for this post!

This is my second painting of the changing tide from Parrsboro.

Parrsboro

"Cape Blomidin"

6x6 oil on board

I painted two in a row of this view from our little cottage on the Bay of Fundy. 

I love the simple shapes and composition as the tide rapidly returns, erasing the sandbars. 

You'll notice a slightly warmer tone when I post the second one as the light was changing more toward the "golden hour". 

I have been traveling and visiting friends and family this summer. I've visited Monhegan Island, Block Island, Provincetown and of course, I love spending the summer in my backyard oasis here in Marshfield by the sea, watching my birds and bunnies and hanging out in my pool :D

Yes, it's a kiddie pool, but that's all I need.

Monhegan Garden

Monhegan Island Garden

I was painting on Monhegan at the beginning of June with my cohorts Bobbi Heath and Carol Douglas. 
While waiting for the ferry we decided to try and slam another painting in. This has remained two thirds completed until last week when I got serious about finishing it. 
I probably had FOF, which is painter lingo for, "fear of finishing", just one of the many phobias affecting most of us painters.  A whole post could be written on artist's phobias and maybe I will, but, that's for later.
I have two more very good starts from that trip to finish up and you will, hopefully see them soon. 
I the meantime, Don and I are back in glorious Parrsboro.

Daisy

"Daisy"
6x6 oil on panel

Our subject this month is Daisy.

She is a newborn preemie and first grand child born to our fellow GJWP homie, Pamela Copeman's daughter, Emily and her husband Nick. 

Despite her premature birth she is making progress and each milestone is a big one. 

We are going to create a print of all of our "Daisy" paintings and gift it to baby Daisy and her parents.

Love you baby Daisy!