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

November 2021 Challenge : “Whimsy”

 .

        “I thought I dreamed it” Procreate drawing on iPad Pro

By Mary Sheehan Winn

"Whimsical Holiday Gift Tags" by Pamela Coleman

 

                                                            "Releasing Whimsy" by Sally Dean

                                              20"x 20" acrylic, white charcoal and glitter on wooden panel

                             I found a doodle from a 1985 sketchbook- when I lived in San Francisco. 

                                                                   I had a blast painting this!

"Swim on Sistah" 5"x7" Acrylic by Tori Brega

"Friends" 8"x8" Acrylic Gouache by Paula Villanova

This one is an older painting, a couple of years ago, in fact, but I didn't like the painting I did for this month as much as I liked this one. Some days are like that, I guess, but I liked this whimsical gang

 of buddies.

"Bunch of Clucks" 4x4 Acrylic by Kelley Carey MacDonald

This is one from the archives....

"Play" 4.5 x 6 gouache by Jeanne MacFarland

 

"Sidewalk Chalk" ink and colored pencil by Jody Regan. Always fun to see what shows up on the street given a bucket of chalk

 

"Crazy Still Life" 24"x18" Acrylic by Page Railsback
 

October Challenge: "Pink and Orange"

"Boston Icon" Acrylic 12"x12" by Paula Villanova

Everybody at the meeting loves when the tray of coffee comes through the door.

"Ribbon Candy Sunset" 11"x14" Oil by Pamela Copeman

"Plus Turquoise" 12"x12" Acrylic by Tori Brega

A mandala using elements from my garden, I couldn’t help myself from adding turquoise to make the oranges and pinks sing… The central hand and heart are a symbol of their unity in one’s best creative process.

“Pink and Orange Tulips” 8x10 Sketchbook pen, ink, watercolor

By Mary Sheehan Winn

"Color Study, Island Sunset" 5"x7"Pastel by Margaret Farrell Bruno

"Pink Blanket" ink, watercolor & marker  9 x 9 by Jody Regan. Mighty Fred is one of my favorite subjects.  He loves this throw, but only on the pink side, never on its striped side.  Texture?  Color? Pattern?  Who knows?

"Pink Hat"  8x8, oil by Jeanne MacFarland 

"Ecstatic" 12x12 Mixed media on cradled board by Kelley Carey MacDonald

Orange and pink are such joyous colors, and they bring to mind happy times, sunny weather and flowers!

"Blue Bird of Happiness"  

Still processing the wedding last weekend in Maine of my oldest daughter!

30"x40" acrylic on canvas 

( work in progress) by Sally Dean