Pam’s Muffins

 

“Pam’s Muffins”

5x7” Watercolor and Ink Sketchbook painting 

Our recent “Painting Safari” took place at the Scituate home of our own “Hostess with the Mostest”, Pamela, who baked us delicious berry muffins and in her usual fabulous style, set them up in a picturesque still life in her front garden. I set up my camp chair in the shade and did this sketch. 

I had to tilt the tabletop slightly because it was at eye level, and I incorporated the windows which were not visible from my angle. Sometimes it’s nice to invent a scene out of different components.

Girls Just Wanna Paint challenge “June”

 

“Up by Newville Lake”

8x8 oil on panel

My husband and I have spent many a rainy June in Parrsboro, Nova Scotia. This is typical weather for the season along with copious  blackflies. Nonetheless, I love it there. 

This was painted in my car because of pouring rain. Check out the paintings at Girls Just Wanna Paint.

My nifty setup 

Lost in Thought and Girls Just Wanna Paint

Burning Bush

“Burning Bush” 9x12 oil on panel

I painted outdoors on one of the last warm days and was struck by the light shining through the foliage of this flaming orange bush, against the dark background. I knew I had to take it on! It was a struggle to “make” something out of the area around the bush, which was actually a stone wall, but I figured it out using temperature and color.  I had only to create some shadow areas with a grayed down mid range dark. I toned the canvas orange which preserved the glow of the bush.

GJWP Challenge “Unity”

“Grays Beach, Yarmouth”

6x6 oil on panel

This month’s Girls Just Wanna Paint topic is Unity. I painted this en plein air, on Grays Beach in Yarmouth a few weeks ago and the unity is the wind, the water and the sand. I love the beach!

Storm On Trouants Island Road

 

Trouants Island is connected to the Marshfield Hills mainland by a dirt road through the marsh, which is only passable at low tide. 

I was out there recently during a summer rainstorm. Suddenly the sun broke through the still black sky and lit up the marsh in a dazzling display of bright greens! Check out our paintings for this month’s challenge “Marshfield Hills”, at GJWP.

Road Trip and Celtic Cross

Celtic Cross

7x9 Sketchbook Watercolor

My desire to participate in a Plein Air event, arose from the advent of the first annual Parrsboro International Plein Air Festival, which took place in June of 2017. My husband’s mother comes from this remote part of Nova Scotia, Canada, located on the North West shore of the Bay of Fundy and we have spent two decades traveling up to visit relatives and stay in a little cottage on the shore.  Thus, when I was alerted to the PIPAF event, I just had to apply, because Parrsboro is mine. I stopped in this cemetery in New Brunswick and snapped a few photos. I love cemeteries for their garden like settings and beautiful monuments. This is my contribution to Girls Just Wanna Paint, “Not New England” challenge.               

The Girls

"The Girls" 

9x12 oil on panel

The dairy herd at Two Islands in Parrsboro, Nova Scotia, one of my favorite places in the world.  Cape Blomidon is in the distance. 

I made this fit into this months Girls Just Wanna Paint challenge, which is 'Women'.  After all, dairy cows are females.

Selfie with Shades

"Bad- itude" 

12x12 acrylic on panel

I have never done a self portrait but I was shopping and found this pair of oversized, mirrored shades and took a selfie with them on. I didn't buy them, but I liked the effect. 

I'm recently enjoying working in acrylics which offer a very different experience. They dry quickly but, you can layer over them with transparent colors. 
Check out the Girls Just Wanna Paint, Sunglasses Selfie post here tomorrow.

Girls Just Wanna Paint June Challenge

"Lotus Flowers"

8x10 acrylic on canvas paper

I love lily pads and waterlilies also known as lotus flowers. They are prevalent in Asian art and culture. The flower opens with the sun and closes at dusk.

*The main meanings of Lotus flower are: Beauty, Grace, Eloquence, Direct and deep spiritual contact, Mysticism, Faithfulness, Patience, Love, Compassion, Purity, Rising out of suffering, Enlightenment, Self-awareness and Rebirth. 

There is a time when we think there is no way out of a situation, like we will stay stuck there for eternity. However, all the pain we are coming through will be soothed. Lotus flower is here to remind us that we mustn’t give up, but fight against all the difficulties. We have a chance to rise out of the pain, but first of all remember that no one will do it for us, but ourselves.

Check out Girls Just Wanna Paint to see the paintings of the "together apart" challenge.

*except for the first paragraph, this text was copied from myflowermeaning.com

Swimming Against the Tide

"Swimming Against the Tide"

8x8 Ink and Watercolor 

Swimming against the tide is a metaphor for the way I feel these days. 

Check out the Girls Just Wanna Paint interpretations of FISH here.

"Still Life" GJWP challenge

"Still Life" Acrylic 12x12 

$350 click link to buy

I'm primarily an oil painter, sometime watercolor painter and dabble in other media. I picked up acrylics a couple of years ago when I took a workshop with my friend and fellow GJWP artist, Page Pearson Railsback. 
I love the creaminess of the paint and the way I can create transparent layers over previous passages. The color is rich and not chalky as I remember it from my long ago, art student days.
I'd been working on this abstract piece which seemed like a metaphor for life coming to an abrupt stop. Placing careful brushstrokes next to one another, as I worked out the color harmony on this was fun and meditative. I plan on doing more.
I'm still in Naples and don't plan on returning home until the insanity subsides. 

GJWP Shadow

"Light and Shadow Still life demo"

Painting is all about light and shadow. 

I did this demo for my Naples Art Association, Friday morning Painting A Day class.

This month's GJWP subject is "shadow". I particularly like painting white objects and pushing color.

Dragonfly

"Dragonfly"

4x4 sketchbook drawing

$125 click link to buy

Dragonflies symbolize rebirth and transformation. This sketch was done as part of Inktober. Check out my fellow GJWP homie, Jody Regan to see her fabulous daily sketches.

GJWP Challenge - Chinese New Year

"Chinese New Year" 

4x4 Ink and Watercolor
$125 click on link to buy

Our GJWP challenge is Chinese New Year.

2020 is the year of the Rat.

Girls Just Wanna Paint Challenge "Vintage"

"Vintage Pin Cushion"

4x4 oil on panel

SOLD

This month's GJWP challenge was "vintage" and this little pin cushion, which belonged to my mama is the perfect subject. 

It is so cute and of course, functional.

Expressive Brushwork Workshop

"Tootsie Pops" 6x6
SOLD

I am excited to be teaching my "Expressive Brushwork" Workshop at North River Arts Society, this Saturday. 

As seen in these examples, I limit and vary my brushstrokes so as to keep them fresh. We will focus on edges and transitions practicing with still life items.

This one day workshop will take place from 9:30 - 3:30 with a break for lunch. 

All levels welcome! NO pressure.

Bring your sense of humor and leave your inner critic behind. 

Follow this link to sign up.

https://www.northriverarts.org/workshops

"Over Economy Mountain"

 "South River Marsh" 16x20  block in 

 "South River Marsh" 16x20  finish

Girls Just Wanna Paint Challenge: Forest

"Fundy Shore Forest"

6"x12" watercolor

My entry for Girls Just Wanna Paint, the pine forests of the Bay of Fundy.

Summer's End

Ferris Wheel

12x12 oil on panel
$450 click link to buy

Summer in New England is, sadly, a very short season. 

It seems to go from lilacs to 4th of July, to August's end, celebrated at the the Marshfield Fair.

I love the sparkle of lights against the dark sky. 

This is what's "on my mind", for Girls Just Wanna Paint this month. Stop over and check out the fabulous paintings!

Coast Guard Beach

Coast Guard Beach

6x6 oil on panel $125
Buy now with PayPal

This is my entry for Girls Just Wanna Paint.

Coast Guard Beach is a beautiful stretch of coastline on the outer Cape. High dunes covered in sea grasses slope down to the beach.

This day was windy with big surf.