Bride and Groom- Small Acrylic Painting Commission Classic Toy Still Life

Bride & Groom

5 x 5 inches

acrylic on cradled panel

How much fun is this?
This was a little commissioned piece for a wedding gift. It was extra fun to add some facial features from the actual couple getting married.
Interested in getting a custom creation of your own? Contact me dshirleyart@yahoo.com!

Sunflower Paintings - Available Summer Floral Art

Some of the sunflower paintings from the Sun Dance Series are now back in the studio and available for sale (these summery paintings are on all small canvases with painted edges):

Winter Sun

5x5 inches

acrylic on canvas

$65 + $4.95 shipping in the US

(please contact me for international shipping)

Spring Sun

5x5 inches

acrylic on canvas

$65 + $4.95 shipping in the US

(please contact me for international shipping)

Summer Sun
5x5 inches
acrylic on canvas

$65 + $4.95 shipping in the US
(please contact me for international shipping)

Sun Dance Series - #4

Sun Dance Series - #4

Summer Sun

5x5 inches

acrylic on canvas
available here

Okay...this is the last one for the sunflowers for right now. I still want to do one more, but it will have to wait until I am done doing pieces for the upcoming show, plus a little commission I need to complete.

I wanted to do this one facing full up into the sun, soaking in the sun of summer. Definitely a contrast to the cold days of winter we are having now! Tomorrow I will touch up all the edges and take a picture of the four sunflowers together before I start varnishing.

Sun Dance Series - #3 SOLD

Sun Dance Series - #3

5x5 inches

acrylic on canvas

SOLD

This is #3 of 4. I think I am going to call this series "Sun Dance". A little bit about what is behind this series.....

I found out that the theme for the January show at the MiXtMedia gallery is "Winter Warmup". To me, sunflowers seemed the perfect thing to paint  - just the thing to brighten up the greys of winter. And the effect of the strong morning light coming through my window and illuminating the sunflowers just seemed to make the petals and leaves come alive and dance in the light. I am planning to do four paintings of different views of the sunflowers - kind of representing the four seasons. I have one left to do, but I also have two views that I would like to paint. I think my last one will have to be a face-up towards the sun view - one for representing "summer". I still want to do one more view from the back of the sunflower, but I think that will have to wait until I am done painting for this show. I still have a few more paintings I would like to complete - and they are due at the gallery on Saturday (eek!) - so off to paint some more.......

Sunflower Series - #2 SOLD

Sunflower #2

5x5 inches

acrylic on canvas
SOLD

#2 of 4......
I do have an idea for what I want to do for titles for these sunflowers, but I think I want to see all 4 pieces together first. Can't think of a sunnier flower to be painting on a cold grey day  ;-)
I plan to hang them all together without framing.
Side view:

Sunflower 1

Sunflower Series1

5x5 inches

acrylic on canvas
available here

My meager attempt to add a little sunshine to these cold winter days!
This will be a part of a mini series of 4 pieces. The painting wraps around the sides of the canvas, like this:

And they will get real titles, too........

New Gallery!

Capturing Light

5x5 inches

acrylic on gessobord panel

I am very excited to say that this painting, along with about 8 more of my acrylics, are currently available at a lovely little gallery in Ipswich, Massachusetts. MiXtmedia Gallery is a wonderful place - small, but filled with a range of work of impressive quality. I am very proud to be a part of it! Make sure to check it out if you are local.

The current painting has been going slow lately - with birthday celebrations and holiday preparations and all kinds of last minute orders, there hasn't been much time at the easel. I hope I have something new to show soon!

Wicked Nutcracker - SOLD

Wicked Nutcracker

5x5 inches

acrylic on gessobord panel

SOLD

My nutcracker is a bit beat up. The paint is chipped, he is missing half his moustache. He has seen better days. The first few times I painted him last year, I painted his profile, showing his "best" side. Then I decided to paint him head on, chips and all. He looked decidedly evil....and the "Evil Nutcracker", a tiny 3x3 inch painting, sold earlier this fall. I had a few requests for a new nutcracker, so I dusted him off after Thanksgiving for another go. The angle is slightly different, and this version is a little larger and on a smooth panel surface instead of canvas. I think he looks a little more "wicked" than "evil", don't you?

Shadows on Stripes

Shadows on Stripes

5x5 inches

acrylic on gessobord panel

Now available for purchase!
Is it safe to say I have a thing for tomatoes? And for shadows?
Now I think I am getting addicted to stripes......
Can't wait until I have a chance to set up some still lifes with the vintage wall paper I recently acquired.

available at MiXtMedia Gallery

Thankful

Capturing Light

5x5 inches

acrylic on gessobord panel

This floral painting is back from the show and is now available. Over the next few days I will be posting recent paintings that have been on exhibition, but are now available for sale.

I am thankful for being able to spend this Thanksgiving holiday with my family.

I am thankful for the health of my kids and my family.

I am thankful for the support of my friends and my followers.

Thanks to all of you for your support and encouragement over the past year. Happy Thanksgiving!

Capturing Light available at MiXtMedia Gallery

Capturing Light - New Painting

Capturing Light

5x5 inches

acrylic on gessobord panel
available at MiXtMedia Gallery

I know, I know...the work is coming slower these days! This was basically finished last night, but wanted to fix a few little things this morning, so I waited to post it. This is another piece for the Wine and Art Reception at Veasey Park in November. 3 more to go!

Shadows on Stripes

Shadows in Stripes

5x5 inches

acrylic on gessobord
available at MiXtMedia Gallery

Back to the tomatoes!

I was playing around with different still life setups - using different objects and backgrounds - when the morning light began to shine through the window, creating wonderful shadows.  I was drawn to the color of the tomatoes against the striped background and the shapes that the strong shadows made.

This one is not currently for sale - I'm considering it for inclusion in the upcoming Art and Wine Event.

Connections (again!)

Connections

5x5 inches

acrylic on gessobord panel

Okay  - now I have a better picutre (pictures?). The red didn't really scan quite right, and you couldn't really see the highlights, so I wanted to try again. Plus I now have the purchasing information as well.

This the kids' first full week back in school and the week is crazy with teacher meetings and open houses and all the back-to-school stuff.....can't wait to get back into the normal routine again. I am working on a bunch of tiny miniatures for an upcoming show, some of my smallest yet! I also hope to clean up my little paint box soon and hopefully get out to enjoy some of this nice weather while we still have it.

Connections - $55 + $3 shipping & handling in the US

(please contact me for international shipping)

Connections

Connections

5x5 inches

acrylic on gessobord panel

Still putting finishing touches on this one - the red doesn't really scan well - I may have to try taking photographs in the morning!

Got all my matting and framing done for now - 20 pieces off to shows and exhibits. Now I have to do some little pieces for another upcoming show in West Virginia....crazy time of year~and I'm still making a final decision whether or not to participate in any holiday shows.....

Into the Light - SOLD

Into the Light

5x5 inches

acrylic on gessobord panel
SOLD

Finally done with this one...I think! I plan to look at it with fresh eyes tomorrow and see if I need to make any changes.

It's been a busy couple of days - but we spent today hunkered down indoors as Hurricane Irene came to town. We were fortunate - lots of debris in the yard, but no real damage. The power went on and off all day, but fortunately it never stayed off for very long.

I'm thinking about entering this painting and maybe one other in the Topsfield Fair. It will be the first time I try to enter. I'm a little intimidated by the whole process - I have to enter as a "professional" (!) but I also get the opportunity to sell some pieces in the "Art Room" if I get juried in. So I expect I will spend the next few days doing some framing and getting some entries ready. It should be interesting!

Fruitful - New Still Life Painting by Debbie Shirley SOLD

Fruitful

5x5 inches

acrylic on gessobord panel
SOLD

It's been a couple of days since I posted last....painting went way too slowly on this one - I seem to have the concentration of a flea! I guess having three screaming little boys constantly running around me probably doesn't help much either.....but at any rate, I've been trying to do some stuff with the kids - summer always seems to go by way too fast!

This is for the DailyPaintworks.com Reflections Challenge from Abbey Ryan. If you haven't checked out the DPW site yet, you really should! Some amazing artists on there, lots of interesting challenges (it's always fun to see how different people interpret the various themes) and art auctions, too. I hope to give the auctions a try some time in the near future.

The next few weeks are looking awfully busy, and my posting may remain pretty sporatic, especially when we go camping in Maine (no internet access!), so I hope you will stick with me.......

Fruit of the Vine

Just finished this little painting:

"Fruit of the Vine"

5 x 5", acrylic on Gessoboard

My first time working on Gessoboard.

Very, very smooth. I think I'd like to try it for some tiny miniatures. It is taking some getting used to, but I think I like it!

I am not putting this one on Etsy yet - it will be in the "Barn Treasures" show from November 11 through November 14th here in Boxford, MA. Join us if you are local!