November 2022 Challenge: Vintage

"Light On Pemaquid" 4x8 gouache by Jeanne MacFarland

I love lighthouses and especially lighthouse keepers cottages. This one has such a vintage feel.

 

"Hers and His" oil on board by Jody Regan.  These two lovely rockers sit on a porch in my neighborhood.  I love their age, and their angle, as if they have witnessed decades of conversation and companionship. 

"Mom's Collection" 8x10 oil by Pamela Copeman
My mother collected Flow Blue dishes, she adored them even if there was a petite crack or chip (kind of like us all). Flow blue is a style of earthenware, sometimes porcelain, originating in the 1820’s. The name explains it all, the blue glaze that blurred or “flowed” during the firing process. I am lucky enough to have some pieces from her collection and they are cherished. Vintage pieces for sure.

"Two Moms", 12x12, oil by Kelley Carey MacDonald
This is the best painting I've ever done concerting anything 'Vintage' - my mother's 1950's red whisk and my mother-in-law's Jadeite mixing bowl.  I love it so much I could never part with it.

  

 

"After the Wedding" dress

charcoal, watercolor crayon and ink on Arches watercolor CP paper 19"x 22" 

by Sally Dean

I wore this vintage dress the day I was married, after I changed out of my rented costume wedding dress from Boston Costume (strange-I know!) We left my moms house while the party was in full tilt- now I wonder why? We missed the best part! On our way to Maine , where we honeymooned on a sheep farm B&B, we both realized we hadn't eaten, it was a pretty chaotic and unorganized but fun and wonderful wedding. We drove through a McDonalds on Rt 1 in Saugus, our car was festooned with balloons and streamers. The drive through person said "did you just get married? Good luck!" in a kind of snarky tone, but we laughed so hard. We have had good luck. Still married, 35 years!

"Vintage Bette" Acrylic 6"X6" by Page Railsback

“Mementos of Zela”    8” x 8”   acrylic by Victoria Chesley Brega

“Two cherished pieces of memorabilia from my maternal grandmother Zela Bridgham Dolloff, representing two stages of a long and full life.”

"Joanna" - Charcoal on paper by Margaret Farrell Bruno

The timing couldn't have worked out more nicely for this model at a recent life session 

given our challenge this month is Vintage.

“Dave Saad’s Favorite Machine”

Colored Pencil and Ink 8x10 Sketchbook Drawing 

By Mary Sheehan Winn 

I dug deep into the archives for this drawing of a vintage 1969 Mustang from my art school sketchbook. I had to look up a photo to make sure the details were correct because ‘back in the day’ car designs changed incrementally, every year, mostly around the headlights and tail lights. My friend and fellow student Dave Saad, an avid Mustang owner and fan, added the inscription to my drawing, thus the title. 
 

 

October 2022 Challenge: "Story"

"Rapt" 10x10 Acrylic by Kelley Carey MacDonald

All my life, I have been an avid reader.  I think it is because I loved the time sitting on my Dad's lap as he read to me.  As I grew, books were a reward for good behavior, good grades, etc.  Really, other than painting, is there anything better than a good book?

"A World Within" 4x6 gouache by Jeanne MacFarland

"Sydney's Lesson" Pastel painting by Margaret Farrell Bruno

Every picture tells a story, don't it?

 

“There’s A Story Here Somewhere”

9x12 Watercolor Collage by Mary Sheehan Winn

This collage evolved from some random non dominant hand writing I did in my sketchbook. 

I added the boxes over the text and worked from there, finally using Transparent Mixing White 

(who knew?) to paint over the text that was outside the margins, just to push it back a bit.

 Collage art is subject to change so I may add to this story and I may not.

“One Last Paddle”  12”x16” Acrylic by Victoria Chesley Brega   

“Part of the ritual of closing up our Dolloff camp in Maine for the Winter…”

"The Story," 8x8 Acrylic by Page Pearson Railsback

"Story" 12x16 Acrylic with Gold, by Pamela Copeman

If this Dining Room Table could speak it would tell my Story. All of the laughter, dinners, love and conversations shared. All of the memories created and all my family and friends who have gathered around to simply be together.

 

"Love Story" 9 x 12 acrylic by Jody Regan.  My daughter was maid-of-honor in a friend's wedding this summer.  She asked me to create a painting of their wedding dance.  I stepped through a video of them dancing and found a frame with this gaze of true love.  It tells the whole story.  

 

 

"What's the story?" 

72"x48" acrylic on canvas by Sally Dean

I don't know even yet what the story is !

- its a work in progress.

September 2022 Challenge: "Take-Out"

 

"Take Out" 6x12" Acrylic on Canvas by Pamela CopemanI am so happy with this Take Out painting ~ this is painted from an original photo of my bird feeder directly outside my bedroom window ~ all winter I woke up with my birds ~ 16” x12” acrylic on gesso 

"Small Coffee & A Jelly" 8x8" Acrylic by Kelley Carey MacDonald

My favorite guilty pleasure!  Of course today I got a wonky shaped jelly donut but tastes just as yummy!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Slacktide Coffee by Sally Dean

My neighbors and friend's sons started this company a few years ago, in their garage, roasting delicious coffee! Now Slacktide is doing really well with several locations. 

They have unbelievable artist-made donuts too!

    "Take Out" gouache by Jeanne MacFarland 

I was attracted to the blue light filtering in under the porch ceiling and the patterns that it made on the cellophane wrapper of the fortune cookie 

 

"Dining Al Fresco" ink & watercolor by Jody Regan.  We recently had dinner outside in the North End of Boston.  This restaurant had its tables across the street in a little church yard.  It was one of those nights where the air kissed your skin.  Just lovely.  Take someone out to dinner, or for a coffee.  

"Pizza", 8x8" Acrylic by Page Pearson Railsback

 

 

 

"Take Out the Trash" 8 x 10 acrylic by Victoria Brega 

"Can you take me out?" 5"x7" gouache by Margaret Farrell Bruno

This little old pup still asks me to take her out always with this inquisitive expression. ❤️

For some of the strokes of fur I used a new "comber". Really loved playing with that brush. 

August 2022 Challenge: "Two Roads Diverged In A Wood, And I - I Took The One Less Traveled By, And That Has Made All The Difference"

 

                        "I Chose the One Less Followed and That Has Made All the Difference"                                                by Pamela Copeman, Acrylic, 8"x10"

"Bangs or No Bangs? I Just Don't Know" 

9"x12" Concept Drawing in Acrylic Gouache on paper by Paula Villanova

Sometimes I approach a decision on what to request for a haircut like I'm preparing for a G7 summit. I usually go with whatever's easiest, but sometimes I think I'll "have a little fun" and shake it up. I mean, it grows back, right?

“Which Way Should I Go?” 12”x15” 

mixed media on watercolor paper

By Mary Sheehan Winn

Every single decision we make changes the direction of our lives. It’s just that simple. 

I’m lately working in various genres of art. Some traditional and some experimental. This is a multilayered piece including crayon, paint, and gelli printed papers. For a traditional painter like myself it’s a constant struggle to cover up elements and make changes, or to know if it’s finished. 

I’ll let the viewer decide.

"Two Roads Diverged In The Yellow Wood", 12x12 Acrylic by Kelley Carey MacDonald

Mixing it up a little, I applied paint in an untraditional (for me) way.  I smeared with paper towels, scraped on with palette knives and used paint markers as well as used my brush.  For me, right now, as a painter, I refuse to be pigeonholed: Traditional Painter or Abstract Painter - as my Hero, Theresa Girard says "I AM A PAINTER!". So after the general paint was applied I went in with paint pens and let the lines rip.  I chose the path that is not the 'usual'.... and I guess that has made all the difference?  I love the excitement of the lines here!

"California One" 4x6 gouache by Jeanne MacFarland

Still hoping one day to drive the Pacific Coast Highway

 

"Flying High" 36"x36" by Page Pearson Railsback

 

 

"Turning Point"  14 x 10 gouache by Jody Regan. Years ago, sitting on the stairs in my mother's hall, I accepted a job interview for the next day.  That phone call changed the course of my life.  Sometimes the small choices make the big difference. 

 

Two Trees , watercolor, by Sally Dean

We recently had to cut down  some giant trees in our yard that. They were huge - one hiickory was leaning toward the house, another oak was totally hollow and a hazard. There were two more we considered removing, but in the end we decided to keep them both. I cant help but feel that they are stronger as a pair. Maybe sometimes no decision is the right one!

July 2022 Challenge: "Dissent"

"Oops" 5"x7" Watercolor by Pamela Copeman

"Herring Run" (Detail) designed and fabricated by Sally Dean 23' Ceramic fish, glass, and pebble mosaic on permanent display on grounds of The Art Complex Museum in Duxbury,  MA.

 

"Status Quo?  No." Concept drawing/painting on bristol board by Paula Villanova. I had a few ideas in mind for this month's topic, but I just ran out of time. Meanwhile, back at the drawing board...

"Realism Rebels" 8"x8" acrylic by Page Pearson Railsback

"Dissent" 6x6 Pastel by Peggy Farrell Bruno

For our democracy to remain intact, do not be a blind follower. You were lied to and the courts proved it.

The election was fair. 

"The Ghost of Ruth Bader Ginsberg" by Kelley Carey MacDonald

Missing this careful, brilliant Justice.

“I Dissent” 

6”x6” paper collage by Mary Sheehan Winn

"Can We Talk?" oil 6x12 by Jeanne MacFarland

“Squawking” ink and watercolor 9x12 by Jody Regan. We have to speak up.

"Nature of the Beast" 9"x9" acrylic by Victoria Chesley Brega

June 2022 Challenge: "Wild"

 

       "A Girl, Her Princess Dress, and Her Skateboard" Acrylic Gouache on bristol board 11"x14"                              by Paula Villanova 

Yep, I know this girl, and this was from her birthday 

“Wild Birds” paper collage 5x7 by Mary Sheehan Winn

I had to reach into the archives for this as I’m out of commission with a fractured wrist. It’s not all bad though. I can watch YouTube art videos all day without feeling guilty (sort of) and catch up on reading.

    

"It's Hard to Get By Just Upon A Smile" 8x16 oil on linen by Jeanne MacFarland

"Dancing In The Moonlight", 12x12 Collage by Kelley Carey MacDonald

This pice was layer upon layer of wild marks and brushstrokes!

"Wildly Tall Wild Flowers" 10"x20" Acrylic by Pamela Copeman

 

 

 

"Osprey" 16"x 20" acrylic by Sally Dean

“Squatch” 12”x 16”  water soluable crayon by Tori Chesley Brega

"Wildflowers" 3"x3" Oil by Margaret Farrell Bruno

These tiny flowers, about the size of a fingernail, bloom wild around my neighborhood. 

One of my obsessions-tiny flowers. Can't get enough of them. Anyone know what they are?

"Wild Sunflowers" acrylic on board 12 x 21 -  by Jody Regan.  I love these bundles of bright, angular excitement.

"Tommy Can U Hear Me?" 18"x16" Mixed Media on Paper by Page Pearson Railsback