Saturday Outing

Painting for a show at the end of April.  This is one piece that will be included.  It's a 5x12. Finding a composition that works for this size is challenging. Feel it needs a few "tweaks". Want to play down play some areas of red so that other areas can sing.  I'll live with it for a week or so and then tackle the few changes that will allow me to call it finished.  Comments are welcome.

Challenge Accepted

Thanks to those who challanged me to interpret a master painter.  I've chosen which painting I'm going to attempt.  It's Edward Hopper's Morning Sun.  Not an easy interpretion for me but it's a challenge after all.  Watch in the next fews weeks to see what happens, good or bad.

Yellow Shoes

7x5 $95 + $10 s/h

This is from a trip to Italy several years ago.  I came across it and remembered how much fun it was to watch this little boy in his yellow shoes.  His mom trying to hold onto him as he sought the adventures that lay just out of reach.  Just a reminder to approach life as one big adventure awaiting us around the corner. 

Serene - SOLD!

 

6x4    $95 + $10 s/h

Can't seem to stay away from painting anything at or near the ocean.  Currently life is a bit crazy, so I truly miss an ocean view.  While living in St. Augustine, after a stressful day, all I had to do was walk onto my deck and look at the ocean.  The stress just melted away.  With this piece, I tried to capture that one serene moment.  Hope this provides a stress free minute at week's end.

The 1st Challenge

The painting challenge is on!  Hopefully every month or so, I will post a challenge asking for photos or request that represent the subject of each challenge.  Sometimes it will be a specific subject matter, a phrase or word or interpreting a famous painting.  The rules are simple, from the information that you respond with, I will choose one photo or request and paint it.  The painting will be featured on my blog with the winning person's response.  Good or bad, I'll post it, maybe.

Now for 1st Challenge.  Because I've only given you a short period of time, I won't ask for a photo.  Instead, choose a fairly well known artist.  It will need to be from a deceased artist & I will have to be able to obtain a good image of it.  It could be a Monet, a DaVinci, Sargent or any number of wonderful artists.  I will "interpret" the painting to the best of my ability.  If you are unsure of where to obtain a painting image, just google any artist name & there usually are a few sites that provide a number of paintings from a particular artist.  Then just email the name of the artist & painting or link the site for me. You will have until Friday, March 26th to email me your challenge.  Then I will have until the end of April to paint & post it.  I hope to post it before then but I have a couple of events that so it may take me until the end of April.  I'm not sure what I'm getting myself into but go to it!  Challenge me.

Email:  kelleyart@gmail.com

What's Up?

Alas no new painting today but I promised to share some news.  First, starting in April you will be able to find my "small works" at Interiors Marketplace in Myers Park.  I will have an average 10-15 small pieces at a time.  If you've not been to Interiors, go!  They have a little bit of everything now including my work.  Secondly, watch my blog because I will be announcing a painting giveaway soon.  All you have to do is either be a follower or send me your email address to have your name entered.  And last but not least, I'm also working on a painting challenge.  I will do a painting based on the best or most interesting photo (subject to be determined) that you will provide.  So if you want to put me to the test, watch & have your pictures ready.  Thanks for the support, encouragement & being my "peeps".  Promise a new painting soon.

Knife Crazy

8x6  

Had so much fun with the palette knife, I tried it again.  This was painted over a unsuccessful painting but it adds some additional texture.  I painted this from a photo I took at a friend's farm a couple of years ago and never painted it.  There were a few cows in the shade of the tree but if you know my history of painting animals, you'd understand why they didn't make it in.  I just applied my artistic license & presto, No Cows!  Enjoy the day.

Warm Up

5x7   

I usually dive right into a painting but this morning I decided to "warm up" with a palette knife painting.  What fun!  Having painted this marsh view a few times, it was nice to approach it from a different perspective.  Can't be too literal with the palette knife.  Tell me what you think. 

Over the Dam

6x6 

Seeing a theme in my work lately.  The last several paintings are of places along the coast or water.  Guess I'm feeling a bit landlocked this days.  Wishing spring would permanently arrive with constant sunshine.  Also, sometime this week I will have few "fun" announcements.  Just ironing out a few details & then I'll be able to share them with you.  Thanks for following "Fresh off the Easel".

"On the Tour" SOLD

7x5 

 This is a favorite haunt of mine, Charleston,SC.  Visited many times but never took a horse drawn carriage tour but somehow every group of photos that I come home with, there seems to be at least one carriage photo among them.  Love strolling Charleston's cobblestone streets, feeling the coastal breeze, shopping & eating at the many fabulous restaurants featuring something with "grits".  It's a southern thing, I know.  You might think you have seen this painting before.  You have.  I posted a few months ago but it wasn't for sale until now. You will also notice I have figured out the stupid button thing.  All you have to do is click on the "buy now" button & off you go. I will also over the next day or so, add the "buy now" button on my previously offered paintings. Thanks for waiting while I get up to speed on the wonders of blogging.  Enjoy.

Struggling

7x5

Ever had one of those days.  Teaching class today & trying to show how to eliminate the "chatter" in the photo to achieve a better painting.  The background originally had some bushes but as I was finishing I realized it was too much so I  painted it out.  I still think it has too much something but that's what a study is for. What I was thinking in painting this, I don't know.  Yes, I do.  I wasn't thinking.  I'm blaming on the rotten, rainy, dismal afternoon.  Calling it a day. 

Charlotte Street, St. Augustine

 

8x6 

I so didn't remember the name of this street until I googled it.  What a coincidence...my memory is worst than I thought.  And I lived just two streets away.  I may not remember the street name but I clearly remember the colors, wonky windows & balconies, cobblestone streets & cool shade that you seek out on the hot summer days.  Love how you get a sense of place & atmosphere on a canvas.  Think I'll go grab a glass of tea and comtemplate my next painting. 

If you are interested in this piece, please contact me at kelleyart@gmail.com

Standing Tall over St. Augustine- SOLD

6x6 

It's done.  I hope it lived up to the "teasing" start that I posted yesterday.  Having lived & loved St. Augustine, it took me 10 years to paint it.  I might have to do a few more images from there.  This painting was a bit of a challenge.  The underpainting was red which is difficult to paint onto top of with all the warms in the buildings.  It certainly tested my abilities.  Hopefully it makes you want to go sip a beverage on the balcony of A1A Brewery and partake in the delights of St. Augustine.  Happy Day!

If you are interested in this painting, you can email me at kelleyart@gmail.com.

From Cinque Terra to St. Augustine

Thought I would show a progression of a painting.  I will post the completed piece tomorrow.  Missing St. Augustine this time of year.  I lived there for a few years and loved it.  Had the best view of the Bridge of Lions from one window and a view of the "skyline" of downtown St. Augustine out the other.  Favorite spot in March (actually anytime) was sitting out on the upstairs balcony at A1A Bewery watching the tourists below and boats sailing under the Bridge of Lions drawbridge while drinking a glass of wine & feeling the ocean breeze.  Okay, now I'm depressed.  Glad it's Friday.

Revisiting Italy

8x6  

 Here's a demo that I did for a student today.  It's from a photo that I had taken in the Cinque Terre region of Italy several years ago.  Cinque Terre is a series of 5 villages set along the coast of Italy.  You can walk between these towns along the rocky, rugged coast.  Not a journey for the height challenged but beautiful nonetheless.  I  hiked between three of the villages before taking a gelato break, catching a boat &  train for the last two.  Worth the hike to see the beautiful coast dotted with terracotta colored buildings & turquoise waters.