Original Acrylic Potato Head Still Life Painting by Debbie Shirley

Gone Shopping

6 x 4 inches

acrylic on watercolor paper

Having fun with Mrs. Potato Head....I always enjoy painting classic toys and Mr/Mrs Potato Head is definitely a favorite! This was for a fixed price sale that was held around the holidays at the Newburyport Art Association. I painted it with acrylic on watercolor paper - leaving the white of the paper around the image. I then spot varnished only the painted area - the varnish really  makes the image pop!

Mischief - Small Acrylic Painting of Mr Potatohead

Mischief

3 x 3 inches

acrylic on mdf panel

Doing a mix of little pieces for shops and some bigger pieces for exhibitions. Keeps me on my toes!
This little piece is available at Zenobia in Ipswich, Massachusetts. Gotta keep going back to the Mr. Potatohead. Each one has such a distinct personality - makes it so much fun to paint!

I am pretty much moved into my new studio - still some little things to be done, but I am pretty swamped with work, so I can't take any more down time. It will all get done eventually - right?!!

Surrender - Small Acrylic Painting of Mr. Potatohead

Surrender

4 x 5 inches

acrylic on cradled panel

I still can't get enough of Mr. Potatohead! I like playing with the edges of the panels, and the negative space - makes the image more dynamic.
This fun little piece is available at the Newburyport Art Association's Gift Shop.

First Challenge Day - Looking Forward Mini Painting

Looking Forward

3 x 3 inches

acrylic on 1/2" MDF block

Well, I do know that is it actually the SECOND day of January, but I really wanted to squeeze in yesterday's post, so I am posting for my challenges a little bit late.....

This January, I am participating in BOTH the Fun-A-Day project and Leslie Saeta's 30 Paintings in 30 Days Challenge - kinda killing two birds with one stone, right?

The 30 Paintings in 30 Days is exactly as it sounds - around 1,000 artists from all over the world have signed up with a goal of completing 30 paintings in 30 days. I have done this challenge in the past and have found it to be a great way to jump start my year.

The Fun-A-Day Project is just a really fun and creative way to see what other artists are up to. People all over the country pledge to do something fun and creative each day in January, document it somehow, and then participate in a show creatively exhibiting their project. People paint, write poetry, draw on bananas, take pictures of strangers in coffee houses, do landscape art, creative stitchery, all kinds of incredibly fun and different "creative" acts. It is really neat to follow along online to see what people come up with! I've exhibited with a great group in Boston for the last three years - I am looking forward to seeing what projects are done this year. Mine always seem kind of boring in comparison to some of the others, but they mean a lot to me and I have fun doing them (which is the point, right?!). This year, my project is called "Fun and Games" and I am doing little paintings each day on 3 x 3 x 1/2" MDF blocks of classic toys and games. I am sure I will repeat some subjects - like Mr, Potatohead, of course - but I already have a ton of ideas and can't wait to get going on this. I am kind of informally planning to do 33 3x3" paintings and eventually exhibit them at one of the Haverhill Art Markets as well.

Of course I will  be keeping up my regular exhibition schedule with all of this, so there is a lot of painting to be done. I have also just found out that I will be needing to move out of my studio space suddenly, so if someone knows of a small space with cheap rent in Haverhill, Massachusetts, please get in touch with me  :-(

So - here is to starting off 2016 full of fun and lots of painting!!

Surprise - Small Acrylic Painting, Still Life with Potatohead

"Surprise!"

4x4 inches

acrylic on gessobord panel

Yes, even more Potatoheads! People keep asking for them , so I keep painting - and I have to admit, they are fun to paint.

For this one, I have some really neat custom floater-type frames made specifically for mounting panels. I thought this would look super cute in that kind of frame. I haven't been using gessobord in a while -  - I forgot how pleasant it is to work with!

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.

Greetings - Small Acrylic Painting of a Classic Toy

Greetings

4 x 4 inches

acrylic on cradled panel

Yes, I am totally obsessed with Mr. Potatohead!
I've been painting him on ornaments, cradled panels, large canvases, small canvases, gessobord - even watercolor paper. So much fun to set up as a still life - and they make me smile when I paint them. And with the holidays coming up, wouldn't they make a fun gift, too? I love taking them to shows - kids get so excited when they see them, it's kind of neat to combine a toy that everyone recognizes with art - kind of makes art more "approachable" for some.

And, I picked up one more vintage "model", so there will be even more coming up! Hope you don't get tired of this silly little guy......

Greetings - Small ACEO Acrylic Painting of a Classic Toy

Greetings

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

acrylic on watercolor paper

Some more Potatohead paintings - by popular request!
This one is headed to Positive Images Gallery later this week.

I actually picked up a new vintage Potatohead - so you will soon be seeing some different "outfits" soon!

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!

Tater Tot - Small Acrylic Painting ACEO of Classic Toy

Tater Tot

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

acrylic on watercolor paper

Loving Mr. Potato Head! I have a few new pieces for him, so I just jave to play some more.....

Spuds Surrenders - Acrylic Painting of a Classic Toy by Debbie Shirley

Spuds Surrenders

10 x 20 inches

acrylic on canvas

Okay, I was having a little fun with this one....toys are just too much fun to paint, and Mr. Potatohead is one of my favorites. In my mind he just kept peeking in from different edges of the canvas, so I might have to play with this some more. One of my friends said it looks like at Potatohead photobomb - hmmmmm....I like that idea......

Spuds is currently on exhibit at the Provident Bank in Seabrook, NH. He is peeking out over the top of the coin machine there - let me know if you spot him!