Realism Guild - and Show!

So many shows and exciting events to write about....I'm going to try to just take one at a time!

For this post, I am excited to announce that I have been juried into membership of the International Guild of Realism! One of my goals for this year was to push myself a little to apply to shows and organizations outside of my immediate area. I figured this Guild was a bit of a reach - a number of artists whose work I really admire and look up to are members. I was thrilled to get accepted! You can check out the website HERE - be sure to take a look at the members' work - very inspiring stuff!

The Guild has a few juried gallery shows each year - and have just added an online winter exhibition. I am very excited to not only be accepted into the Guild, but also got a painting juried into the Winter show.

"Cherry Bomb" 11 x 14in, acrylic on canvas

"Cherry Bomb" was accepted into the 2019 IGOR Winter Salon Online Exhibition! You can see the entire show HERE - my painting is in the still life category. Lots of amazing work there - hope you can take a few minutes and look around.

The show will be online until May 20th.

Time Traveler

I frequently get asked about how I come up with a set up for still lifes. This is how I came up with the arrangement that I used for "Time Traveler" - one of my newest acrylic paintings.

I was faced with the deadline for a juried exhibit with a theme. I kinda love exhibitions with a theme - they tend to make me think a little outside of the box. The theme of this show is "The Art of Mapping" - the art had to be related to maps in some way.

So, into my mind pops the idea of using an really old, ornate map in a still life, along with an antique pocket watch I picked up at a flea market and a small old wood chest - with the whole thing just kind of talking about the past. Well, as I searched my prop shelf for the pocket watch, I ran across a tin toy version of a 40's woodie station wagon. I love tin toys - and I start thinking to myself, "why haven't I used this in a painting yet?" I've been thinking a lot lately about how much of my art is about 1940's and 50's era things - signs, diners, motels, toys, cars, etc. Then, with the car, my thoughts turn to the idea of a 50's road trip. I started looking for a 50's era map so that I could align with the mapping theme and I ran into the colorful United States kids' jigsaw puzzle from that same period. Perfect!

A little juggling around with the layout, and soon I come up with a layout that made me happy. Somewhat different from my standard still lifes, but a lot of fun to paint - and it gave me lots of ideas for more paintings.

Time Traveler

10 x 10 inches, acrylic on canvas

And - best of all - "Time Traveler" was accepted into the juried exhibition "The Art of Mapping" at the Newburyport Art Association in Newburyport, Massachusetts. It will be on display through March 19th.

Still Life Painting of Ornaments by Debbie Shirley

Ornamental

6 x 4 inches

acrylic on watercolor paper

This was another painting for the fixed price sale at Newburyport Art Association last month. I love painting the reflections on the ornaments - and the round shapes make it especially challenging. I find it forces me to really look closely at what I am trying to paint - and paint what I actually see, without my brain trying to interpret it. I just look at is as a series of shapes, not specific objects. Yet when I step back and take a look when I am done, it always amazes me how the shapes come together to make the subject come to life.

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!

Cherry Still Life Painting by Debbie Shirley

Cherry Chums

6 x 6 inches

acrylic on canvas

Cherries are always interesting to paint - there are so many colors in that red-ish hue! I added the pattern for fun.

Small Original ACEO Painting of Tomato Still Life

Tomato Tangle

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

acrylic on watercolor paper

Another small ACEO-sized painting. I hadn't painted tomatoes in a while, and felt a need to go back to something familiar.While I love painting signs and buildings, sometimes it feels good to go back to the more rounded shapes and softer angles of things like fruits and vegetable.

This little piece is still available. Contact me for more information if you are interested!

Duck Down and New Berry - Original ACEO Paintings

Duck Down

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

acrylic  on watercolor paper

New Berry

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

acrylic on watercolor paper

Every now and then I like to go back to the ACEO format. I used to paint and sell a lot of these little pieces, but then started to work larger. Once in a while I go back to the smaller size - they are relatively quick and fun to paint, and give me a break from whatever else I am working on. They are also nice to have at shows - people appreciate smaller pieces at lower price points that they can give as gifts.

These two little gems are still available - follow these links to purchase from my DailyPaintworks gallery if you are interested:  Duck Down   and   New Berry

Cupcake - Original Mini Paintings Cupcake Still Life by Debbie Shirley

A couple of cupcake minis! These measure 3 x 3 inches and are on mdf panels. Occasionally I throw in something super fun just to break things up a bit. I enjoy playing with the colors of these - plus who can resist CUPCAKES??!

These little guys will be heading to Zenobia in Ipswich, Massachusetts later this week.

Cupcake #4 - Food Art Still Life Painting by Debbie Shirley

Cupcake #4

4 x 4 inches

acrylic on mdf panel

Just because it looks cute with the last one - thought it would make a good display to have a pair (and they are fun to paint too!) I will have this cupcake pair, along with cupcake notecards - and lots of other fu things - at the Haverhill Art Market this weekend, Saturday July 16, 12-5pm at 90 Washington Street in Haverhill. I will be working on a small sign painting during the Market and selling some of my paintings and prints. Hope you can stop by if you are local!

Cupcake #3 - Original Acrylic Still Life Painting

Cupcake #3

4 x 4 inches

acrylic on mdf board

Because painting cupcakes is so much fun, I decided that there needed to be more....

Police - Small Still Life Painting of Lego Toys

Police

5 x 7 inches

acrylic on canvas panel

This little piece was donated to the O+ Haverhill Silent Auction to help them raise money for their festival that promotes art and wellness. For more information, check out their face book page here.

I stopped by the event on Saturday night to hear some music and bid on a few pieces of art. And I am excited that won this lovely piece by Linda Germain:

Cupcake #2 - Original Small Acrylic Painting, Food Art, Dessert Still Life

Cupcake #2

4 x 4 inches

acrylic on MDF panel

Because two cupcakes are better that one.

(Not to mention seriously fun to paint!)

The cupcakes are available at the new North Shore Makers Mart in Topsfield, Massachusetts. Are you interested in a limited edition print of this painting? Contact me! I am thinking I may just need to paint two cookies with sprinkles to make a notecard set with the cupcakes.

And speaking of the North Shore Makers Mart....check out the photo that accompanied the article about their opening:

Cupcake #1 - Small Acrylic Painting Food Art Cupcake Still Life by Debbie Shirley

Cupcake #1

4x4 inches

acrylic on MDF panel

Why cupcakes?
I always thought that they looked like they would be fun to paint (they are!).
But my  kids were just happy that it wasn't yet another vegetable!

Available at the North Shore Makers Mart, Topsfield, Massachusetts

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!

Moving On - Acrylic Still Life Painting of a Classic Game by Debbie Shirley

Moving On

8 x 8 inches

acrylic on cradled panel

I actually finished this piece quite a while back. However, there were a few things on it that really bugged me, so this weekend, I went into it and made the changes and am now revarnishing it. I don;t very often go back into a piece after a while has passed, but I am glad that I did with this one!

It is available in my Etsy shop.

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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!

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!

Trio - Small Still Life Painting of Tomatoes for #twitterartexhibit

Trio

4 x 6 inches

acrylic on watercolor paper

This is my entry for this year's #TwitterArtExhibit. For the exhibit, artists all over the world donate a piece of original postcard size art. An exhibit is held and all pieces are available for sale at a flat, affordable price and all proceeds go to a particular charity or non profit. This year the exhibit is being held at the Trygve Lie Gallery in New York City and the charity is Foster Pride’s “Handmade” Program, in which young women in foster care learn to create and market a unique line of goods. It is very cool to follow all the pieces coming in (see their twitter feed here) - over 1200 artists all over the world participating! If you happen to be in New York City, the opening is on March 31 from 6:30-8:30. For the rest of us, much of the opening will be broadcasted on Periscope.

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?!!