June 2024 Challenge: Favorites From Our Archives. Celebrating 15 years of GirlsJustWannaPaint!!!!

 We never dreamed that this group would still be working together, painting and posting on this blog when we started in 2009!  We have all had both blessings and distress in our lives, but painting has been the thread that binds us together.  Here's to many more memories!

Right now our work is hanging in the James Library & Arts Center in Norwell, MA, and we would love to have you visit and let us know (comments here, a guestbook at the show or however you like) how the show makes you feel!  Thank you for all your support through the years, we appreciate every single one o you!

"Inspirational", 20x30 Oil, by Kelley Carey MacDonald

This painting is sold and hanging in a beloved friend's daughter's house.  I love skies and sunsets in particular... they make me feel at one with the universe for some reason.  I always find peace.  I used to live in a place with this sunset, in a different version, every night.  I felt very blessed for that reason.

"Still Life With Lilacs", 12x12 oil, by Jeanne MacFarland

"Beauty", Klimptesque gold leaf and oil by Pamela Copeman

A favorite!

                                                       Art school Drawing- 1981-by Sally Dean

 When I was at the School of the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston I mostly drew- and would teeter on abstraction . I loved charcoal and seeing this makes me want to revisit drawing!

“Holy Cow”   9” x 7”   Acrylic by Tori Chesley Brega

“ I have always enjoyed painting cows, and this is the first in the series of the Holy variety…”

"End Of Day, Yosemite"  24"X30" Oil by Margaret Farrell Bruno

"Yosemite holds a special place in my heart with its majestic landscape 

and also being with my whole family and sharing its beauty."

"That's Entertainment" oil 16 x 12 - by Jody Regan. the North River Arts Festival happens every Memorial Day weekend.  I paint on the street and love this slice of American pie; music, friends, family, art, joy.  This painting was selected as the Festival poster in 2011; exactly twenty years after my Mom, Joanne Regan, painted the festival poster.  There is tradition, legacy, and a little melancholy that my mom wasn't around to share the moment.  

“Stonington Cove” 12x16 oil on panel by Mary Sheehan Winn

I’ve never duplicated the deliberate brushwork I used in this painting of a lone sailboat in Maine. I love everything about this painting. It exceeded my expectations, won a prize and I wish I hadn’t sold it. But, that’s how it goes in the world of art.

May 2024 Challenge: The Artist's Life

 

"Aspirations" 14"X18" Water Media Study by Tori Chesley Brega 

“Sometimes we soar, sometimes crash and burn;  striving  for clarity of vision, inspiration and 

the strength to persevere… “

"Well Rock" 9"x12" oil by Margaret Farrell Bruno

An Artist's life sometimes comprises climbing up with all your equipment onto a tall sea wall for a different angle. You precariously paint your scene making sure if you do stand up, 

you or your equipment and paint supplies don't topple off the edge.

"Time Off For Good Behavior", acrylic 16x20, by Kelley Carey MacDonald

A yearly plein air trip to Maine sees a half dozen artists working hard painting - both plein air and interiors - and playing hard in the evening.  We line up the empties on a window in the entryway.  Good times, traditions and good friends. 

"Festive Facade" 12 x 12 oil by Jody Regan.  Every Memorial Day weekend, the North River Arts Festival  begins the summer with music, art, and fun. I paint on the street for both days each year, chatting with old friends and new while recording the joy of the days and hanging with my artist friends.

"Artist's Gallery", Acrylic, 12x12 by Page Railsback

"An Artist's Life - always looking to other artists for Inspiration", watercolor by Pamela Copeman

Wool seat pads by Sally Dean 

I love to knit and crochet, and recently learned rug hooking with a punch needle. It's a lot faster than traditional rug hooking, and it's great for using up wool, as well as scraps of fabric and other fibers. I loved making these and repurposing old stools for my kitchen.

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April 2024 Challenge: "On For The Ride"

"Car Talk" 18x11 Acrylic by Page Railsback

"Riding The Tide" 12x12 mixed media by Kelley Carey MacDonald

"Side Yard" 12 x 12 oil by Jody Regan
I have been "along for the ride" this spring, painting in my car.  The soft spring colors are alluring as I sit in car with coffee, favorite radio and paints.  This is an oil done in studio from a small car painting.  Happy Spring.

"Along for the Ride" oil 20 x 24 by Pamela Copeman.  

On my Road!

My neighbor plants lupines in her front yard-this is a plein air painting started last summer-finished today!

Looks like Maine in Massachusetts!

11"x14" acrylic on canvas by Sally Dean

“Heron” 9x12

Lino cut on gelli printed background

By Mary Sheehan Winn

I’m along for the ride in my Lino Printing class. 

I love all sorts of printing techniques and love learning new mediums. 

It’s fun to be around and inspired by other creatives.

Stay tuned.

“Not Without Me”  6” x 8”  acrylic wash drawing by Victoria Chesley Brega

“ Dogs know the vocabulary of our movements so well,  

Buster would wait for me in the car when I was getting ready 

to launch, my devoted companion for 17 years.”

"Aqua Reflections" by Margaret Farrell Bruno 6"X6" Oil 

This buoy seemed to cuddle up and be along for the ride beside this turquoise boat.  

March 2024 Challenge: "Space"

"Space And Time" 16x16 inches, mixed media on gallery wrapped canvas by Kelley Carey MacDonald

This one has lots and lots of layers, glazes, marks.  I am NOT SURE I am finished!  But it is enough.

Maluhia Farm

9"x12" acrylic on canvas by Sally Dean

My Dad lived in many places, this was his last, a sheep farm on the Big Island of Hawaii. It was a truly magical place and I got to go many times in my 50's. I painted this from a photo taken  on my last visit there. The sky really looked like that, fingers of light beaming up. I knew then that he was dying and it was very meaningful see this.

"Space for Reflection” 

by Victoria Chesley Brega   “18” circular acrylic

A work in progress,  our dock “ upta camp” in Maine, one of my favorite places on the planet…

"Healing Space" 

by Margaret Farrell Bruno Watercolor 

The quiet and solitude of the ocean and waves at Melbourne Beach 

was a much needed healing space. 

“Heron” 6x8 linoleum cut

By Mary Sheehan Winn

Linoleum cutting is all about negative and positive space.

"Lobster Fest with a Friend" oil 24 x 24 by Pamela Copeman

"Courtyard" ink & watercolor by Jody Regan - this beautiful centerpiece of the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum is a heavenly space.  After touring the museum, eyes, heart and mind filled with sumptuous details, I find time to sit on the wall of the courtyard, drawing its longer view.  One of my favorite spaces.

"Car Talk", 11x14" by Page Railsback, Acrylic

February Challenge: "Norwell"

"Winter" 12x8 inches by Page Railsback

"Flower Farm Greenhouse" 9"X12" oil by Margaret Farrell Bruno

The beautiful Norwell Cross Street Flower Farm.

"Norwell Center Montage" 22''x 30" watercolor on paper by Sally Dean

I grew up in Norwell, so the Center is near and dear to me- the buildings, the UU Church, the common, the fire station, the boathouse at Norris Reservation and trees. The round door was where I once co-ran a tiny art gallery, back in the early 90's. I played around with colors and patterns quite a bit with it, because, it was fun!

"A Corner at the James" 4 x 4 watercolor by Mary Sheehan Winn

 

 

 

"Jacob's Pond" gouache 9 x 12 - by Jody Regan This winter, I have taken to painting from my car; radio on, cup of favorite coffee, handheld palette, and the world is my oyster.  Love winter sun bright, but thin in the afternoon.

"Dreaming of Cross Street Flower Farm" watercolor by Pamela Copeman

 “Twilight at Hornstra “  9” x 12”  Acrylic by Victoria Chesley Brega

“An unfinished work of the lovely Hornstra Farm in Norwell, a bit more refinement and glazing of the shadows to come…”

"Winter Shadows, Norris Reservation", 8x10 acrylic by Kelley Carey MacDonald

January Challenge: Winter/Snow

 

"Winter in Provincetown", Procreate Painting by Mary Sheehan Winn

Procreate painting of a wintery full moon over the Provincetown Monument. 

I love winter, but I wish it would snow ❄️

"My House in Winter"

Woodblock print, colored in on procreate 

by Sally Dean

My original woodblock print is 24"x48" and was printed in 2022 at the event "BIG INK"

at the Art Complex Museum in Duxbury, MA,

Big Ink travels the country with their oversized press . It was my first and biggest woodblock. I loved coloring it in on Procreate, learning new tricks on my ipad!

And I also hope for SNOW!

"Winter Bun Bun" WIP 4X8 gouache by Jeanne MacFarland

 

"Donuts in the Snow" 7 x 11 gouache by Jody Regan It's been days and days of gray... sometimes it's nice to find beauty in the lack of color. 

 

 

 

 

"Peace Talks" oil 8 x 10 by Pamela Copeman

"Long Winter" 10 x 20 acrylic by Tori Brega "I’ve had a longtime artistic love affair painting reflections.  Along with the feeling of cold beauty, my goal was to do a banded composition balancing the activity in the background and foreground and making it all  “read” well…. “

"Marsh Snow" 8 x 6 acrylic by Page Railsback

"Pug in Snow" 6 x 6 acrylic by Kelley Macdonald

"10 Below" 5 1/8" x 3.5" oil by Margaret Farrell Bruno 

A beautiful snow covered field and Barn in the White Mountain region on a very cold day. 

December 2023 Challenge: Intention

"Reaching For The Stars", 6x6 oil on panel by Pamela Copeman

"Let It Begin With Me", Acrylic 12x12 by Page Railsback

"My Heart", 7x5, acrylic by Kelley Carey MacDonald

I don't ever, ever have an 'intention' for a new year.  I have PLANS.  And one of my plans is to practice figures and faces.  Another is to experiment with gouache paint.  Another is new types of workshops.  And hanging with this little gem, Elizabeth, because she inspires me.  She is smart,  intuitive, capable, artistic and compassionate.  She is also spicy, which I love, even if it isn't always easy or smooth.  I feel that women need to be able to have strength, and even now (this was from an old photo, she is 3 now) she is a strong little woman.  So much love. Happy 2024, all!

“Sketchbook Intentions” 

Watercolor pen and ink 

by Mary Sheehan Winn

I opened my photos and sketched 6 photos intended to be made into paintings. Stay tuned.

Happy New Year to all!

 

My intention is to get this done to send out as a New Years card. Still carving- need to carve more time out to finish it! 

"Happy 2024" linocut in progress by Sally Dean

"A Peaceful Dwelling Place" WIP 8x8 gouache by Jeanne MacFarland

My intention is find a peaceful habitation, a secure home this year

 

"Try, Try Again" 7 x 5 acrylic by Tori Brega 

I find inspiration in the symbol of the phoenix rising, a mythical golden bird associated with renewal and reinvention, aided by knowledge gained from surviving adversity.”

"Contemplation"  9 x 5 gouache by Jody Regan - I plan to spend more time painting with gouache this coming year, spend a little time each day finding quiet, and will be painting in some of the churches in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico during a planned trip.