Sticks & Stones - Small Kitchen Still Life Painting Fun-A-Day

Sticks and Stones

3 x 3 inches

acrylic on canvas

Yep, I'm having too much fun with this Fun-A-Day Project! I am wanting to re-do just about every one of these paintings as a larger piece. So don't be surprised if you see some of these re-visited.

And speaking of re-visiting....I have had a number of inquiries about whether or not these little ones are for sale. They will be after the Fun-A-Day Boston exhibition - which may not be until spring. You can contact me and let me know  that you would like to be notified when the pieces are available. Or, if you don't want to wait, I can paint a similar piece for you to your size specifications. Just let me know!

Morning Reflection - Small Still Life Painting Kitchen Art Fun-A-Day Project

Morning Reflection

3 x 3  inches

acrylic on canvas

Well, after the mug and plate the other day, I thought I needed some silverware! Actually, I've been wanted to try silverware as a subject for a while, so you may see a few utensil paintings this month.

I am still having fun with this Fun-A-Day Project. It is really making me want to do some of these paintings in a larger format.  I am also enjoying keeping up with Leslie Saeta's 30 Day Painting Challenge and am finding all kinds of new artist blogs to visit. All-in-all, a good way to start the new year!

Spectrum - Still Life Painting

Spectrum

6 x 6 inches

acrylic on gessobord panel

Playing around with some glass and colored liquids......

This is one of those paintings where I had an idea in my head,but it didn't quite workout as I had envisioned. I may still play a little with this one, but I need it for a deadline, so we will see.

Soliloquy - Small Still Life Painting, 30 Day Painting Challenge

Soliloquy

7 x 5 inches

acrylic on gessobord panel

Day 13 of the 30 Day Painting Challenge....just a super quick entry as I am sneaking this one in just under the wire.......

Playing with light and shadows and all the crazy reflections on the vase. This is going to be one of my entries for the Topsfield Fair. More info to come!

Thanks for looking at my work!

Rolling Along - Small Still Life Painting with Marbles

Rolling Along

5 x 7 inches

acrylic on gessobord panel

Brought the marbles out again - this time for a little larger painting. It is always so interesting to paint marbles - I go in and paint all these crazy abstract shapes, and before I know it, they really do some together and look like marbles! I think it would be cool to do some really HUGE ones....

This painting will be going to the Spring Members Open Show at Newburyport Art Association in Newburyport, Massachusetts. The show runs from March 29 - April 20, 2013 with an opening reception Saturday, March 30 from 7 to 9pm. Let's hope this one doesn't get snowed out!

Bottled Up - Small Still Life Painting with Bottles

Bottled Up

6 x 6 inches

acrylic on gessobord panel

Taking a short break from the florals to do a few still lifes for an upcoming juried show. I think I will probably be re-visiting this one in the daylight to see what tweaks are needed, but for now I am calling it done!

And a bit of good news....this group of framed works were all juried in to the Newburyport Art Association's Gift Shop. So if you are looking for some of my work locally, check out this great little shop in downtown Newburyport. They have small works from a number of member artists in addition to some other fun gift ideas.

#18 Wednesday in a Cafe - Still Life Painting

#18 of the 30 Day Painting Challenge

Wednesday in a Cafe

6 x 6 inches

acrylic on gessobord panel

Yep - being that there is only a week of the challenge left, and I still have two large paintings to finish up - I don't think I have any chance of hitting 30! Oh well. It has been fun to follow along and check out everyone's work anyways.....

This is one last painting for the "Reflections" show at MixtMedia Gallery in Ipswich, MA. I took the theme literally - painting all kinds of glass and other reflective surfaces for the show - some of my favorite things to paint! It is always interesting to see the effects of the reflections and the abstract shapes that are formed. For this one, I wanted to add a little bit of a pattern to the challenge. It definitely kept me on my toes!

#17 Both Sides Now - Acrylic Still Life Painting

#17 of 30 Day Challenge:

Both Sides Now

5 x 7 inches

acrylic on gessobord panel

Yes, I know I am behind at this point! I think I will just see how close to 30 I can get, but knowing how many obligations I have in the next two weeks, I think it will end up being closer to 20  ;-(

I'm not going to stress about it though. I have to get ready for a few gallery shows, so I don't really have the time to do some quick little ones right now to try to get caught up.

There had been quite a bit of discussion lately about the daily painting movement and whether it is a good or bad thing. I think it really depends on the artist, and at what point in their work and career they are at. For me, it is really good discipline and it is like exercising a muscle. It is really helping me advance my skills. But then again, I don't really force myself to finish a painting in a day if I truly think it is not ready. I DO think it is important for ME to paint everyday (or close to it) and it is secondary whether or not I actually finish a piece.

Anyhow, I did miss a few days painting this weekend due to family obligations, but this one is now done and will be going to the "Reflections" exhibition at MixtMedia Gallery in Ipswich later this week.

#14 Fleeting Moment - Small Still Life Floral Painting

14 of the 30 Day Painting Challenge - Fleeting Moment

6 x 6 inches

acrylic on gessobord panel

Playing catch-up today... I was just too tired to finish this one up last night....

The "Fleeting Moment" of the title refers to a number of things here: the few moments that the sun lights up the tips of the flowers and makes them glow, and also those fleeting moments of childhood where my young boys gifted me grubby handfuls of dandelions just because "they are such pretty flowers, Mommy", and those fleeting moments that the dandelions will actually last in the glass before they droop and drop white fluff making me sad I couldn't hold on to them for longer.

This painting will be going to MixtMedia Gallery for the Reflections show later this month.

Day 13 - The Collection - Small Still Life Painting

#13 in the 30 Day Painting Challenge - The Collection

7 x 5 inches

acrylic on canvas

I love little colored glass bottles and tiny vases, and am always looking for ways to put them in my still lifes. The theme for an upcoming exhibition at a gallery I show at is "Reflections" so I immediately thought of these little glass bottles that I got from a seller on Etsy. I set them up in different ways on a mirror - I wanted there to be all kinds of wonderful abstract colored shapes that come together as bottles when viewed altogether. I'm still playing around with the concept - I'm sure I will revisit it at some point.

Technically I am caught up with the challenge even though this one took a little longer to complete than some of the others. I had gotten used to being one ahead and posting the night before, so I feel like I am still behind, even though this will be posted on the right day! I can't believe we are approaching the halfway point.....

This painting will be available at MixtMedia Gallery in Ipswich, Massachusetts later this month.