When Irish Eyes Are Smiling

Irish Eyes

8" by 6"

Oil with a palette knife on canvas board
SOLD

My cousin commissioned this painting of my Aunt Cathleen (his Nana) as a gift this Christmas. He and his wife will be framing it along with the Irish Blessing:

May the road rise up to meet you.
May the wind always be at your back.
May the sun shine warm upon your face,
and rains fall soft upon your fields.
And until we meet again,
May God hold you in the palm of His hand.

Cant' wait to see how it turns out and to hear about my cousin Colleen's reaction to this thoughtful gift and tribute to her mother.

Update:Brian sent me a photo of the final gift-see below. So special. Colleen was in tears!

Christmas Wishes

Santa Hug (from a 1913 postcard)

6" by 8"

Oil with a palette knife on canvas board
SOLD

Here's hoping you got everything you wished for this holiday season and don't forget to give everyone in your family a big, giant, Santa hug!

What's on your list this Christmas?

Just For You

6" by 6"

Oil with a palette knife on canvas

Did you hear the story about Westjet Christmas Miracle? The Canadian airline asked people what they wanted for Christmas while they were waiting for their plane to board, and then had all of the presents wrapped and waiting at the baggage claim when they landed. 

It's awesome. Watch it by clicking here.

Warm and Toasty

Hot Cocoa

8" by 8"

Oil with a palette knife on canvas

SOLD

On a cold and wintery day like today, there is nothing like a cup of hot cocoa (with marshmallows of course) to keep you warm.

Nubble Light in Winter

Nubble Light in Winter

12" x 12" x 1.5"

Oil with a palette knife on Blick Studio Artist Board
SOLD

Our painting group, The Neponset Valley Artists is currently exhibiting a winter/holiday themed show at the Walpole Public Library. I painted this last week and got it in to the show just in the "Nick" of time. My husband and I took a ride up to see this lighthouse in York, Maine last December during our anniversary weekend. I thought it looked so beautiful with just a touch of snow to accent the scene. If this looks familiar on this blog, you may have seen the previous summer version of this painting that I posted a few weeks ago.

Tis the season

Tis the Season
6" x 6"

oil with a palette knife

SOLD

Start your shopping engines! Well-Thanksgiving is over and now the real holiday shopping craziness begins. I am not one of those that will be in line at 5am to get the best bargains. I usually wait until the last few weeks to get going. But for those of you in the mood-go for it. I'll just stay right here, eat some more leftovers, and wait until everything is picked over.

Don't forget to SHOP SMALL this season and support your local businesses like Custom Art Framing and Gallery 9 in Norwood, where this painting will be for sale at their holiday small works show starting December 6.

Happy Thanksgiving

Calico

6" by 6"

Oil with a palette knife on canvas board
SOLD

Wishing a very Happy Thanksgiving to you and all your funny, furry, turkey loving friends. Doesn't she look like she is waiting for you to give her some? The kitchen smells so good!

Indy the cat

Indy

6" x 6"

Oil with a palette knife on canvas board
SOLD

Next in the line up, Indy. I assume she is a girl because all calicos are female. Isn't she pretty? The next one on my plate is also a calico. We are getting nearer to Christmas when all of these pet portraits will be delivered to their new owners. Getting excited!

EBo building commission

East Boston Building

20" x 16" by 2"

Oil with a palette knife on Ampersand Gessobord
SOLD

Scott sent me a photo of the very cool building he lives in located in East Boston (nicknamed EBo) and asked if I thought it would make a good painting. Of course I said yes!! Isnt' it so interesting-the windows, the detailing, the red brick, and the perspective-all fun challenges to paint with the knife.

The Red Inn number 6

The Red Inn VI

12" x 36" x 2"

Oil with a palette knife on Ampersand Gessobord
SOLD

It has been a flurry of commissions lately-people getting ready for the holidays I guess. Here is the sixth in my series of Red Inn paintings. People just can't get enough of this place. This past weekend it was delivered to another lucky couple who was married there a few years ago.

Nubble Light in York Maine

Nubble Light, York, Maine

8" by 6"

Oil with a palette knife on canvas board
SOLD

I painted this during my palette knife painting class last that took place a few weekends ago. We have a fun time painting autumn leaves, pumpkins, and a variety of other subjects of their choice. Here they all are busy at work.

Tammy is 50-palette knife portrait

Tammy is 50

6" by 8"

Oil with a palette knife on canvas board
SOLD

My sister's friend Tammy turned 50 this year so she asked if I would paint this picture for her as a fun present for her birthday. You would never guess she was 50 right?

I am off to Cabo Mexico today to be with my sisters and my aunts. This painting reminds me that I will get to bask in some warm sunshine tomorrow. I better remember to pack some fun shades!

Tiny demos

During my palette knife workshops, we start painting small 4" studies on loose canvas to practice knife techniques. Here is a sampling of the ones I have done in the workshop. 

I like working on the loose canvas because you can go "outside the lines" and be a bit freer to loosen up and not worry about painting a masterpiece right off the bat. The images above have been cropped, but the image below shows you how they are all painted on one sheet of loose canvas. I use Fredrix Canvas Pads for these small studies. Later, I will cut these out and turn them into greeting cards.

Skittles the lab

Skittles

8" by 8"

Oil with a palette knife on Ampersand Gessobord
SOLD

Skittles the dog has a great face. Amy sent me several photos of him and I combined a few of them together for this painting.

Welcome to Truro

Entering Truro

8" by 8"

Oil with a palette knife on Ampersand Gessobord
SOLD

If you live in Massachusetts, this sign will look very familiar to you. As you enter each new town, a similar sign will appear to welcome you. This particular sign from Truro, Massachusetts on Cape Cod had been weathered and rusted-no doubt from the years of being hit with salty air and sandy dune breezes. Amy wanted to commission a painting of this sign from a photo she took before they replaced it with a brandy new one. This was an interesting challenge to get the feel of the rust and cracks in the sign using the palette knife. I added the hit of scenery at the bottom to give it a little more color and interest.

Guinea Pigs!

Guineas

6" by 8"

Oil with a palette knife on canvas board
SOLD

After all of the cats and dogs that I have been painting lately, this was a fun challenge. I tried to make sure to push the difference in their fur color and I also exaggerated the eyes and noses a bit so you could more clearly make out their faces amongst all the fur. Especially fun was painting the colorful blanket that they were sitting on. I thought about simplifying it at at first, but then, decided it added some nice color and interest to the composition.

Milo

Milo

6" by 6"

Oil with a palette knife on canvas panel
SOLD

A tiny white bib under his chin is what makes Milo very unique. He looks to be a very sleak black cat. A beauty and a cutie.

The Red Inn V

The Red Inn V

12" by 36" by 2"

Oil with a palette knife on Ampersand Gessobord
SOLD

Another Red Inn painting off to a lucky person who wants to remember this magical place forever. I've got two more to paint before the holidays. Better get busy...

The Zullo Show

I mentioned in an earlier post that September was going to be a busy month for art shows. And it was...

A few weeks ago, we went to the reception for Zullo Gallery's 19rh Annual Juried Show. Here I am with my entry, "Beacon Hill Beauties" show at the bottom in this photo.

And Polo is shown below with his accepted entry, "Marilyn" one of his hamburger scultpures. My favorite part was on the sheet with the entries listed by title, name and medium, etc.. and seeing "hamburger" among the list with oil, acrylic,.. SO fun.

Ziggy

Ziggy

6" by 6"

Oil with a palette knife on canvas board
SOLD

Next in the line up of my catapalooza is Ziggy. I love that he has a little goutee on his chin which makes him very distinguished looking.

Sunlight, Shadow, and a Kindle

After Homer "Sunlight, Shadow, and a Kindle"

18" x 24" x 1.5"

Oil with a palette knife on cradled board
SOLD

I painted this for a show taking place this weekend and next, at The Artists' Studio and Gallery at Patriot Place called "Masterpiece Masquerade". The idea is to copy a work of art by a famous artist, but add your own "twist." I have been wanting to paint a mini master of this Homer painting for awhile now, and so I thought instead of a mini, I would paint it large for this show. There are 5 area art associations that are participating and I can't wait to see all of the creative entries.

You really have to see each painting in person to appreciate all the "twists" but here are a few images from the show. Do you recognize each paintings?

And as I like to include from time to time, here are a couple of chunky delicious close ups of my painting. I love how these look like little abstract paintings.

Mojo

Mojo

6" by 6"

Oil with a palette knife on canvas board
SOLD

Here is the latest kitty in my Christmas Pet Portraitpalooza. Mojo is a cutie, no?

Opening Reception for UNTAMED

Last night I took some photos of the art reception for the show UNTAMED at the Massachusetts Audubon, Moose Hill Gallery. Great turnout, great food, and great art. It was fun meeting the other artists. 

 Polo discussing his painting with a fellow artist.

 You can see my painting of the Alpaca on the wall in this photo

One of the artists brought his saxophone and entertained us with his other creative talent.

Pumpkin Spice Kitty

Pumpkin Spice Kitty

8" by 6" 

Oil with a palette knife on canvas board
SOLD

This was my demo during the palette knife painting workshop I held on September 14. I was already in a cat zone, having painted so many for my 15+ Pet Commission extravaganza, so why not? And this cat has such wonderful fur that was calling to be painting with my knife. It seems that everything this time of year is called Pumpkin Spice so I decided this kitty would be too.

September Palette Knife Workshop

Last Saturday, I conducted my first palette knife painting workshop, held at The Artist's Studio and Gallery at Patriot Place. I had 5 very enthusiastic participants and we all had a great time painting together, each of us completing 3 paintings. Polo took lots of photos for me that I will share with you here. My next workshop is October 26 and is already full. On December 7 I will do my last one for 2013, hopefully to schedule more in 2014.

 A one on one knife tutorial.

 Everyone setting up their palettes-I supplied all materials so they could just "show up and paint."

 Demo time.

 Joanne, wearing her "Make Art Not War" sweatshirt is hard at work mixing her colors.

 Very focused.

They all stayed a little late to finish up their paintings before they left.