Beer & Wine - Acrylic Painting of Bowling Alley and Neon Sign

Beer & Wine

(Danvers, Massachusetts)

16 x 12 inches

SOLD

Love this sign from the Sunnyside Bowladrome in Danvers, Massachusetts. I am always surprised at how many locals don't know where this is! The colors are great - and the building has some interesting shapes. Every time I go by it, I see another angle that I want to paint!

This painting was one of my recent favorites - and I am happy to say that is SOLD at this year's Topsfield Fair.

Home Style - Small Urban Landscape Painting by Debbie Shirley

Home Style (One Way)

(Gloucester, Massachusetts)

8 x 8 inches

acrylic on canvas

What exactly would "Home Style" laundry be? Seems like a funny claim to fame! But anyways, I found myself fascinated by this building, sign and shadows each time I drove by, so I decided to paint it. A little different than my paintings that just highlight a part or a sign, but I am enjoying doing this kind of urban landscape - so there will be more!

Little Red - Acrylic Painting of VW Beetle by Debbie Shirley

Little Red

8 x 8 inches

acrylic on canvas

I enjoyed doing the small version of this old VW so much, that I decided to paint it a little larger for the Newburyport Art Association's 8 Cubed exhibition.

Do you have a classic car that you would like to have painted for a memento (or gift)? Contact me to discuss!

By My Side - Small Acrylic Still LIife Painting of Strawberries

By My Side

6 x 6 inches

acrylic on canvas

contact me regarding availability

Another little 6 x 6 inch painting for the Chococoa Cafe exhibit. Love how these two paintings look paired up, in their little floater frames. I may have to play with a few more of these if I can squeeze them in between other projects.

Back to painting a bunch of smaller pieces for a new venue that is opening up at the end of this month. More information on this coming soon!

Walk the Line - Small Acrylic Painting Still life of Fruit, Food Art Kitchen Decor

Walk the Line

6 x 6 inches

acrylic on canvas

I haven't done 6 x 6 inch canvases in a while! I wanted a few small pieces to help round out an exhibit and decided to go with 6 x 6. I forgot how cute they can be in floater frames!

Anyhow, I have hung a "food art" themed solo exhibit at the Cococoa Cafe in Newburyport, Massachusetts. What a fun cafe! Great coffee (from Atomic Roasters) and, oh yeah, the WHOOPIE PIES! Anyhow, my paintings there are all food themed and will be on exhibit through May. Be sure to stop by if you are in the area!

Here are two (not-so-great) photos of some of the pieces I hung at the Cafe:

Gather 'Round - Kitchen Still Life Painting Food Art

Gather 'Round

12 x 16 inches

acrylic on canvas

For some reason, my reds never seem to scan OR photograph well! A lot of the subtlety is lost, and the tones are a little funky, but hopefully the picture still gives you an idea of what the painting really looks like.

This is the painting that I used for two recent demos. I finally finished it up - and it will be a part of the Newburyport Art Association's wonderful Annual Fine Art Auction on June 11. More details to come!

State Street - Architecture Cityscape Acrylic Painting of Newburyport by Debbie Shirley

State Street

12 x 16 inches

acrylic on canvas

I finally finished up some small changes that I wanted to  make on this painting, painted the edges and varnished and framed it. It's an angled view down State Street in downtown Newburyport, Massachusets.

It will be on exhibit during the Spring Members Show at the Newburyport Art Association  from April 8 - April 30th with an opening reception on April 9, 7-9pm.

Rocket Fighter - Acrylic painting of Vintage Painted Tin Toy by Debbie Shirley

Rocket Fighter

12 x 12 inches

acrylic on canvas

I had a lot of fun with this one - can you tell?
Love this cute little printed tin toy. I hope to have the time to squeeze in more toy paintings soon!

Yes, things are still crazy. If you take a look on the right side of this page, you will see my ever-growing list of upcoming events - and I am not even close to being done entering them there! If you are local, you will have lots of opportunities to come see my work in person. Stop by and introduce yourself - I'd love to meet you!

Beer & Wine - Acrylic Painting of a Neon Sign and Bowling Alley

Beer & Wine

16 x 12 inches

acrylic on canvas

I've been frantically working on some larger pieces to enter into upcoming exhibitions all while trying to move into my new studio space. It has been a little crazy! Now this week will have to be dedicated to catching up on some smaller pieces for some new shops I will have work in this Spring.

But first, here is one of the larger pieces. Love the Sunnyside sign from Danvers, Massachusetts. The day I went to take photos of it, the shadows were so perfect, I knew I'd need to paint more than just the sign....

STAU - Acrylic Painting of a Neon Sign, Chinese Restaurant Sign Painting

STAU

20 x 10 inches

acrylic on canvas

I enjoyed going bigger again with a sign painting - and the larger than normal difference in the dimensions of this one really appealed to me - it was a good challenge to go so vertical! And - best of all - I am excited that "STAU" was accepted into the Newburyport Art Association's Winter Juried Show. This wonderful show will be at the Newburyport Art Association through March 5th. Be sure to check it out!

Work in progress shot (after sketching it out, I started out painting by blocking sections of all the colors to see how the colors and shapes would work together):

Along for the Ride - Acrylic Painting of a Classic Toy by Debbie Shirley

Along for the Ride

12 x 12 inches

acrylic on canvas

I liked the little 3x3" painting of these Fisher-Price Little People so much, that I needed to do a larger one! It was great fun to paint. Now I am thinking I need to do more large Little People paintings. I love the irony - Little People who aren't so little. A child's toy becomes almost threatening when its head is bigger than your own. Too crazy?

Double Ducky - Original Acrylic Painting of Rubber Ducks

Double Ducky

8 x 8 inches

acrylic on canvas

Because two ducks are better than one, right?
This painting is framed in a nice black floater frame is is available here.

Rear Reflection - Acrylic Painting of a Classic Car

Rear Reflections

12 x 12 inches

acrylic on canvas

This painting was also accepted into the Newburyport Art Association's Fall Juried Show! On exhibit through November 21st.

I did a similar painting of this vintage Hudson a few years back. I'd like to get back into painting some of these classic cars - but a little larger this time around! Gotta admit my favorite part...notice the landscape reflected in the bumper......

Cherry Bomb - Original Still Life Painting Food Art by Debbie Shirley

Cherry Bomb

11 x 14 inches

acrylic on canvas

Oh, how much fun this was! Kinda a love/hate relationship with painting that pattern, but it makes me eager to try another one.

This painting was juried into the Newburyport Art Association's Fall Members Juried Show. And I am very pleased to announce that it won an Honorable Mention Award! The exhibition continues through November 21st.

More Ornaments - Potatohead Mini Paintings

Ornaments - 2x3", acrylic on mini canvases

Yes, even more ornaments!
It is amazing how early people are looking for these this year. I am playing with some new imagery this year -  not strictly Christmas, but something fun. There definitely will be many Potatohead ornaments - these ones were snapped up as soon as they were finished!

I won't be posting all my ornaments on my blog - don't want to bore you, especially with many of them being similar. But if you are interested in seeing what is available, check out the ornament section in my Etsy shop which I will do my best to keep stocked and updated daily.

Hilltop - Acrylic Painting of a Classic Sign

Hilltop

16 x 12 inches

acrylic on canvas

I just had to paint a  Hilltop sign for the displays at Farley's of Newburyport. I need to stop by this week to see just how that used it. It is so  much fun to take part in a collaboration with a different kind of business - I'd love to see more art in all kinds of venues!

OW - Acrylic Painting of Vintage Neon Sign and Newburyport News!

OW

12 x 9 inches

acrylic on canvas

Back to the old Fowles sign...love the shadows that the neon tubes make!

The Fowles sign is a Newburyport landmark.....and rather apropos for the little exhibition I have coming up! I am thrilled to be a part of the partnership between the Newburyport Art Association and Farley's of Newburyport! My work will be exhibited as part of the creative displays in the store and in the window of Farley's for two weeks this month. There will  be a "Meet the Artist" reception on 9/8, from 6-7:30 and my work will be displayed from 9/9 - 9/23. There is more information about the collaboration here:
NewburyportNews

Bedazzled - Acrylic Painting Still Life with Grapes

Bedazzled

8 x 8 inches

acrylic on canvas

My second entry to the 8 Cubed exhibition at the Newburyport Art Association, opening today, August 7 running through the 22nd. There is a public reception tomorrow, Saturday August 8th from 7-9pm. Hope to see you there!

Trapped - Acrylic Painting of Classic Toy

Trapped

8 x 8 inches

acrylic on canvas

A fun painting! One of my entries to the "8 Cubed" exhibit at the Newburyport Art Association. Around 200 8 x 8 inch canvases are filled by member artists and displayed together in one of the galleries. The show runs from August 7-22 with a public reception on August 8th from 7-9pm. It is always a great show - be sure to check it out if you are in the area!

Service - Acrylic Painting of Signs, Cityscape Haverhill, Massachusetts

Service

16 x 12 inches

acrylic on canvas

A view of signs in downtown Haverhill. This is quite the landmark - I have painted it a few times from different angels, and people always tell me great stories about going there as a child to get their first radio or record player or the family tv set. These wonderful stories are one part of what makes painting signs and buildings so much fun - thanks for sharing them with me.