April 2022 Challenge: Festive

 

"Festive Friends" by Sally Dean 20"X20" Acrylic on cradled panel

"Independence" by Victoria Chesley Brega 9"x12" Acrylic

"Popping Pussy Willows" by Margaret Farrell Bruno, 

Watercolor and Gouache Sketchbook painting

When the Pussy Willows bloom and then pop like fireworks,

 I cannot help getting festive that spring is here.

 

“Festive Colors” 8x10 Gelli Print and Procreate by Mary Sheehan Winn

Ginkgo leaves and festive colors make me happy.

"Spring Colors" 12"x12" by Page Railsback in Acrylic

"Festive Foil Bunnies" 20"x20" Acrylic by Paula Villanova

"Something To Celebrate" 24x24, mixed media by Kelley Carey MacDonald

I wanted to express what it feels like to have good news.  Shots of color, shapes of bubbles, confetti, streamers, joy and hope. 

"Sunny Day" 8"x8" oil on board by Jody Regan. I love sunflowers, their color, geometry, and attitude. They add a festive feel to any window.

"Cup of Celebration" 6"x8" Oil by Jeanne MacFarland

"What's more Festive than a 3-Tiered Cake" 20"x16" Oil by Pamela Copeman

March 2022 Challenge: "Wave"

                               "Two Kinds of Waves, Royal and Otherwise." by Paula Villanova                                          Acrylic Gouache and felt-tip pen on Bristol 

I wasn't "feeling" this one, I did a "meh" watercolor of a U.S. and Ukranian flag waving together, I really wanted that one to work, then I dragged out my almost 50 year old T-Square, Triangle, and Circle Template and drew some waves. Not developed enough. Found a good reference photo of the Queen, changed it up, and that was that. A silly mash up.

“Making Waves” 

12x16 acrylic paint and paper collaged over gessoed WC paper 

by Mary Sheehan Winn

This multi layered painting is a work in progress, and a plunge into the deep end of the pool for me. I am enjoying the process even when I’m not sure where I should go. 

Thanks to Judy Wood and the Upbeat Artists Group for prompting this journey.

"From Above" 24x24 Acrylic by Kelley Carey MacDonald

The crest of a wave from above.... WIP

" Salt Air" gouache 6X8 by Jeanne MacFarland

"Storm Mist, Moving Out" Pastel 16"x27" by Margaret Farrell Bruno

It is amazing how from one day to the next

you can have raging sea waves and then total calm lapping waves in New England

"Long May She Wave" Acrylic 6"x8" by Victoria Chesley Brega

A beautifully backlit vessel I saw at Monhegan

"WAVES" 8x10 acrylic by Pamela Copeman

I have always been fascinated by the movie stars of the forties - this image was just perfect for our Challenge!

 

 

                                         Q E Wave! Watercolor by Sally Dean

Paula and I have great minds! ( HA HA! my way to avoid attempting to paint real waves!)

"Yellow Sky"Acrylic 12"x9" by Page Railsback

"Parade Wave" ink & watercolor by Jody Regan.  I love a parade, and especially love the big wave by the smallest spectator in this image.  

February 2022 Challenge: A Day in The Life

“Just Thinking” 

Procreate doodle on iPad by Mary Sheehan Winn

I’m an over thinker, so Procreate is a great tool for me to play in while I try out different approaches to ideas. It’s a deep program and I’m gradually discovering different brush tips and ways to manipulate them. My ‘thing’ is color and when I work, I try to make sure color is distributed in a way that leads the eye and captures the viewer’s interest. Just another day in the #100dayproject.

 

A Week of my Life- ( I am also in the #100daychallenge) I paint each morning something I remember from the day before. I like my life!      7- 6"x 6" watercolors on paper Sally Dean

“Checking Messages” by Paula V watercolor 

Trying out a new little watercolor set I bought in Mexico while sitting at the Jardin still in Mexico but going home soon. 

 

"It Felt Like a Day" ink & watercolor by Jody Regan - painted during a recent trip to beautiful San Miguel de Allende; the days merged into one glorious passage. 
  

"A Peek Into My Life" watercolor by Pamela Copeman

"A Day in My Life in San Miguel" mixed media by Kelley MacDonald

"View From My Window" 5"X7" oil by Margaret Farrell Bruno

A color study of the snow that I have been viewing for the last number of weeks 

with all the storms we are getting lately. 

"From Soup to Nuts-An Interesting Life" 40"x30" by Page Railsback, Acrylic

Online Demo on Saturday!

 

https://www.northriverarts.org/event-4678145

This Saturday, February 12 at NOON, join Kelley as she demonstrates her process of making Intuitive Abstract paintings.  It is a Zoom event which promises to be informative!

New Show Up at Ventress Library, Marshfield

From January to March 4, Kelley MacDonald and her Abstract students from North River Arts Society will have work hanging at the Horan Gallery at the Ventress Library, Marshfield, MA.  Kelley feels fortunate to have such creative and brave students, and is proud to have her work hanging alongside theirs!  Please stop by and let us know in the Guestbook what you think of the show! 

 

And my student's work!:

January 2022 Challenge: "Self Care"

 

"Bed and Window" by Page Pearson Railsback 10"x8" Acrylic

  

"Healing Garden" 9"x12" Acrylic by Victoria Chesley Brega

“ A work in progress,  about the many rewards of nurturing other living things, gardening just makes me feel great, and brings back lovely memories of time spent with my Mom”

"Tune in to Nature, Turn off My Electronics" Acrylic Gouache on Paper (study) 

15"x15" by Paula Villanova

It's ok to keep up to date, but still trying to wean from 24/7 access for me. It feels harmful. Also, looking forward to traveling to Mexico soon, a beautiful, visually stimulating and inspiring place. Also trying to learn the language, but I need my electronics for that! (And also to post this!) 

"Queen of Hearts" 10"x10" Oil with Gold Leaf by Pamela Copeman

Voila ~ The best care I know of is to paint fantasy faces, I love to live in my imagination

"Heart To Heart To Heart" 8x10 Acrylic by Kelley Carey MacDonald

The best self care, for me, is time spent with friends.  My girlfriends refresh me, make me laugh, teach me, understand me. This painting is from a GirlsJustWannaPaint meeting on a deck overlooking the Atlantic Ocean.  We were enthralled by the sky, the water and the love we have for each other. 

“Cardinals in a Snowstorm”

6x6 collage with cut paper, ink and paint by Mary Sheehan Winn

I’ve always found nature to be the most soothing escape from the everyday ‘noise’of the world. 

Watching my backyard birds is most peaceful respite. 

"Snow Fields" by Peggy Farrell Bruno

Sketchbook, Plein Air, Goauche 

Spent a great weekend of "Self Care" and fun up in the White Mountain area with family 

and even had time to paint the beautiful view from the window. 

 

Crochet and Candles by Sally Dean

8"x 8" acrylic on panel

My winter activity this year is crochet! 

I finally used some yarn that I had dyed at my Dad's farm in Hawaii back in 2007 with my stepmom. They raised sheep and she spun this wool.They are both gone now, as is the farm.

Working with fiber and learning how to crochet has truly soothed me- especially since covid.

I now see why so many women love to knit, weave, spin and crochet.

This yarn bowl is wonderful , a gift  a while ago from my friend Lisa at Local Pottery in Norwell. 

"Sunflowers" ink & watercolor by Jody Regan. Every Sunday, a member of our church congregation brings flowers for us to take home.  I choose the sunflowers for their vibrancy and casual elegance.  Arranging them, looking at them during the week, and drawing their various faces centers me, as does each of my daily drawings. 

 

 

December 2021 Challenge: "Light(s)"

 

"And Sophie Awaits," acrylic 5"x7" by Victoria Chesley Brega

This is my brother's family's sweet Golden Doodle, every bit as soft and fluffy as she appears, a perfect subject for "Light..." 

"Christmas Light" 6x6 Acrylic on Board by Kelley Carey MacDonald

The photo couldn't capture the vibrancy of the color, but this was a gift set near a window and when the morning sun came up it just made a brilliant cadmium red on the light side.  The light hitting the foil was a challenge, but important to the painting, too.

"Humarock Light" 8"x10" Pastel on Archival Board by Margaret Farrell Bruno 

The glow of light in Humarock during sunsets at times is a wonderful thing to behold. 

By Mary Sheehan Winn

As soon as I saw this image I knew I had to paint the glow around the two silhouettes. 

 

"Listen" ink & watercolor by Jody Regan.  Each year, this candlelight service at New North Church is peaceful, moving, bright, and hopeful.
  

"Beacon" 6x6 gouache by Jeanne MacFarland wip

 

 

Improvised Mayhem- 24"x30" acrylic  by Sally Dean

I totally winged it here using acrylics. If it got too dark I kept layering the lights. Push, pull, apply, remove. No rules, except letting go.

"Through the Trees" Acrylic 8"x8" by Page Railsback

"Deck Flowers" 10"x10" Acrylic by Paula Villanova

I painted this plein-air last summer, and added more to it this month from memory. I wished I could have simply gone back out and finished painting it from life, but there's always next year. 

"Light" 4x4, Oil, by Pamela Coleman