Warming Up - Small Still Life Painting with Apples in Bowl

Warming Up

6 x 4 inches

acrylic on 3/4" canvas

This week I am working on some small still lifes for replacement pieces for one of the coffee shops where I sell some of my work. I had a few planned in my mind, and then I started playing with this one - and all my plans changes. Funny how that happens sometimes, but I have learned to just go with it....

I am suddenly realizing that May will be a very busy month, so I had best stay focused! Hard to do  now that the weather is finally so nice.

Anyways, this piece will be available at West Village Provisions in West Boxford, Massachusetts early next week.

Warming Up - $50 + $4.95 shipping in the US

(please contact me for international shipping)

Benson's - ACEO Landscape Cityscape Painting of Ice Cream Stand

Benson's

2-1/2 x 3-1/2 inches

acrylic on watercolor paper

One more scene from Boxford, Massachusetts for the local school auction. I will be doing more of these local scenes to sell at the town festival in the fall. It has been lots of fun to work on these familiar buildings and to learn a little more about their history.

Anyways, Benson's is a VERY popular ice cream place in West Boxford. They make all their own ice cream in small batches right on the premises and they use all the local ingredients that they can get. Amazingly good ice cream - especially the seasonal fruit flavors made with local fruit (think strawberry, blueberry, raspberry, peach) yum, yum.

Originally a farm stand, Benson's started serving ice cream in 1932 from a side porch. Now it is a local tradition, serving multiple generations from that same location. My kids look forward to opening weekend each year...and many of our family "occasions" are celebrated with a stop at Benson's.

Definitely worth a stop if you are ever anywhere near Boxford!

Regional Juried Show Honor

Taste of Spring

5 x 7 inches

acrylic on gessobord panel

I am thrilled to share that "Taste of Spring" won the Honorable Mention for Work in Acrylic at the Newburyport Art Association's 16th Annual Regional Juried Show! This is a big show and I am truly honored.

If you are in the Newburyport, Massachusetts area, the show runs from April 26 - May 27, 2013 with an opening reception on Sunday, May 5th, 3:00 - 5:00 pm. Hope to see you there  :-)

Jack's (Wayne's) - ACEO Acrylic Painting Landscape Cityscape

Jack's (Wayne's)

2-1/2 x 3-1/2 inches

acrylic on watercolor paper

This interesting building hosts some of the very few businesses in our town of Boxford, Massachusetts. This "one stop shop" contains the post office, a bank branch, a small restaurant and a few offices. You can tell how long people have lived in town by which name they call it. The old-timers refer to it as "Jack's" after the owners who bought the restaurant in 1947. People who are newer to town tend to call it "Wayne's" after the current owners who took over the business in 1978. The people who refer to it by the name on the sign "Boxford Community Store" have probably never actually been there  ;-)

This is one more painting for a fundraiser for local schools.

Nason's Stone House Farm - Small ACEO Landscape Cityscape Painting

Nason's Stone House Farm

2-1/2 x 3-1/2 inches

acrylic on watercolor paper

Another local landmark in Boxford, Massachusetts!

The Nason family originally purchased land for a farm in 1869, originally raising vegetables and livestock. The family began a catering business selling chicken pies around 1959. They are now a retail outlet, selling their amazing meat pies, and baking beans and brown bread on the weekends in addition to some other yummy baked goods. I believe the house itself dates back to around 1845 and was built with stones from the shore of a nearby pond.

This painting will be part of a group of little local scenes available at a fundraising auction for our local schools.

Cummings House - ACEO Original Painting Cityscape Landscape

Cummings House (Town Library)

Boxford, Massachusetts

3-1/2 x 2-1/2 inches

acrylic on watercolor paper

Another interesting old house in our town of Boxford, Massachusetts.
I believe it was originally known as the Howe-Cummings House and dates from around 1841. Julia Cummings and her mother lived there in the late 1800's. The town library at that time was right next door and Julia was such an avid reader that she had her own private key so she could borrow books whenever she liked! When Julia passed away in 1938, she left the house to the town to be used for the village library. It has been serving the town ever since.

This piece will be part of a set for a local fundraiser.

Holyoke French House - Small ACEO Painting Cityscape Landscape

Holyoke French House

2-1/2 x 3-1/2 inches

acrylic on watercolor paper

I am currently working on a small series of little local scenes - some of the recognizable buildings in our town of Boxford, Massachusetts - for a local fundraising auction to be held next month. A group of four will be matted and framed and available at the auction - I will be working on others to be sold at a local festival this fall.

Boxford has lots of interesting history - for the first part of this series, I will be painting some of the more locally recognizable historical buildings. I will probably do some other historical houses later.

I have painted the Holyoke French House a few times before....I really love this building - it is a truly beautiful example of early American architecture (the current building dates back to 1760) and it is one of the iconic images in our town. It is currently maintained by the Boxford Historical Society and is home to some wonderful historical artifacts that are available for viewing during a few events each year.

I hope you will stay tuned for the next few days as I give you a mini tour of our lovely town of Boxford!

One Heart - Floral Still Life Painting of Pink Rose

One Heart

12 x 12 inches

acrylic on canvas

Can't believe it has been a week since my last post!
I've been working on the piece above -  a little bit larger than usual for me. And we spent a long weekend away at Cape Cod with the kids. We came home while the horrible events were unfolding in Boston. My thoughts and prayers continue to go out to everyone involved. I've kind of been floundering since then....the kids have the week off on break from school, and I am alternating between not wanting to let them out of my sight and needing some quiet time alone to process things. Anyhow, I think I need to get back to work and keep busy at this point....

This 12 x 12 piece is part of my "wallflower" series - and will be going up to Pop Gallery in Gloucester, Massachusetts very soon. Here is quick shot of the six 6x6" pieces that I have so far to go with it:

Hope to have more to post soon!

"Taste of Spring" Acceptance!

"Taste of Spring"

5 x 7 inches

acrylic on gessobord panel

I am very pleased that "Taste of Spring" was juried into the Newburyport Art Association's 16th Annual Regional Juried Show! With over 630 pieces submitted, I am thrilled to have had a piece selected to be a part of this wonderful annual exhibition.

The show runs from April 26 to May 27, 2013 with the opening reception Sunday, May 5th, 3-5pm. Hope to see you there!

Tomato Twist - Acrylic Still Life Painting with Tomatoes, Kitchen Art

Tomato Twist

5 x 7 inches

acrylic on gessobord panel

This piece is headed over to the Spring Members Open Show at Newburyport Art Association in Newburyport, Massachusetts to replace the painting "Come Over" which sold last week!

Still filling out applications and making decisions on shows for this year - my weekends are filling up quickly! With three boys and all their activities it is hard to find weekends where all the schedules work out in a way that will let me spend a weekend at a show. And it seems the few weekends I have open, there are multiple shows, so I have to make some decisions.....

Empty Easel Interview

I just had to share....my very first interview!

Check it out here:
http://emptyeasel.com/2013/04/04/interview-with-acrylic-artist-debbie-shirley/

Flame Thrower - Small Floral Still Life Painting

Flame Thrower

6 x 6 inches

acrylic on 1-1/2" canvas

Trying to sneak in a few more for my Wall Flower Series so I can deliver them to Pop Gallery next week. This one with the crazy petals gave me the fits! I figure at this point I just need to finish it, so I can move on.....

I hear that warmer weather is on its way (finally!). I am looking forward to getting out to do some plein air painting. I think I need to find a way to schedule myself so that I make sure that I get out there in the field - last year I just kept finding I was too busy and had too many things to do, and only made it out a handful of times. I need to get a lot of practice - I'd love to see my landscape work improve. I wish I could find someone local to paint outdoors with - I think it would really help with the motivation!