Girls Just Wanna Paint - Dog Days

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• This is the teeny tiny front cover of my 2.5x3” book
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• Oh, the dog days of summer! 
• Hot, humid and long. 
• I’ve been hugging the air conditioner while working on a little “concertina” folded book, in my dining room/kitchen studio. This is a meditative way of thinking about how to design each page or spread of pages. I have a hoard of gelli printed papers, ephemera, paint, Posca pens and embellishments. 
• I hope you enjoy these process photos.
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Girls Just Wanna “Paint like Sally”

 

“Somewhere In Time”

Procreate digital Painting

This month’s GJWP challenge was to “Paint like Sally”. Sally Dean is one of the most versatile and creative artists I have ever known. Painting in all media, all styles, mosaic, paper mache, clay, wood carving, there is nothing that she cannot do. Check her and the other ladies out here.

Find me on Instagram

See my work at Daily Paintworks

Girls Just Wanna Paint Challenge Pink and Orange

 

“Pink and Orange Tulips”

8x10 sketchbook pen, ink and watercolor

This month’s Girls Just Wanna Paint Challenge is pink and orange and as usual, I was putting off doing my painting until the last minute dreaming up all of the different ideas I had. 

Luckily, I had this one in the archives because last Wednesday our area was hit hard by a Nor’easter and I spent the past four days doing stuff that involved cleanup and assistance and I was too tired to paint!

GJWP Challenge Chair

“Chair and Sunflowers in a Green Room”

Painting combined with Procreate.

I began painting this simple white chair with a pitcher of sunflowers upon it but I hadn’t set up a background. I liked where I was going so I put it into Procreate to see what could be done to resolve it. I ended up having the most success I’ve ever had with Procreate and loving the result. 

I will post the finished painting at some point and it may or may not look like this.

Check out Girls Just Wanna Paint to see the other chairs.

Pam’s Muffins

 

“Pam’s Muffins”

5x7” Watercolor and Ink Sketchbook painting 

Our recent “Painting Safari” took place at the Scituate home of our own “Hostess with the Mostest”, Pamela, who baked us delicious berry muffins and in her usual fabulous style, set them up in a picturesque still life in her front garden. I set up my camp chair in the shade and did this sketch. 

I had to tilt the tabletop slightly because it was at eye level, and I incorporated the windows which were not visible from my angle. Sometimes it’s nice to invent a scene out of different components.

Girls Just Wanna Paint challenge “June”

 

“Up by Newville Lake”

8x8 oil on panel

My husband and I have spent many a rainy June in Parrsboro, Nova Scotia. This is typical weather for the season along with copious  blackflies. Nonetheless, I love it there. 

This was painted in my car because of pouring rain. Check out the paintings at Girls Just Wanna Paint.

My nifty setup 

GJWP Challenge “Unity”

“Grays Beach, Yarmouth”

6x6 oil on panel

This month’s Girls Just Wanna Paint topic is Unity. I painted this en plein air, on Grays Beach in Yarmouth a few weeks ago and the unity is the wind, the water and the sand. I love the beach!

Storm On Trouants Island Road

 

Trouants Island is connected to the Marshfield Hills mainland by a dirt road through the marsh, which is only passable at low tide. 

I was out there recently during a summer rainstorm. Suddenly the sun broke through the still black sky and lit up the marsh in a dazzling display of bright greens! Check out our paintings for this month’s challenge “Marshfield Hills”, at GJWP.

The Girls

"The Girls" 

9x12 oil on panel

The dairy herd at Two Islands in Parrsboro, Nova Scotia, one of my favorite places in the world.  Cape Blomidon is in the distance. 

I made this fit into this months Girls Just Wanna Paint challenge, which is 'Women'.  After all, dairy cows are females.

Selfie with Shades

"Bad- itude" 

12x12 acrylic on panel

I have never done a self portrait but I was shopping and found this pair of oversized, mirrored shades and took a selfie with them on. I didn't buy them, but I liked the effect. 

I'm recently enjoying working in acrylics which offer a very different experience. They dry quickly but, you can layer over them with transparent colors. 
Check out the Girls Just Wanna Paint, Sunglasses Selfie post here tomorrow.

Girls Just Wanna Paint June Challenge

"Lotus Flowers"

8x10 acrylic on canvas paper

I love lily pads and waterlilies also known as lotus flowers. They are prevalent in Asian art and culture. The flower opens with the sun and closes at dusk.

*The main meanings of Lotus flower are: Beauty, Grace, Eloquence, Direct and deep spiritual contact, Mysticism, Faithfulness, Patience, Love, Compassion, Purity, Rising out of suffering, Enlightenment, Self-awareness and Rebirth. 

There is a time when we think there is no way out of a situation, like we will stay stuck there for eternity. However, all the pain we are coming through will be soothed. Lotus flower is here to remind us that we mustn’t give up, but fight against all the difficulties. We have a chance to rise out of the pain, but first of all remember that no one will do it for us, but ourselves.

Check out Girls Just Wanna Paint to see the paintings of the "together apart" challenge.

*except for the first paragraph, this text was copied from myflowermeaning.com

GJWP Shadow

"Light and Shadow Still life demo"

Painting is all about light and shadow. 

I did this demo for my Naples Art Association, Friday morning Painting A Day class.

This month's GJWP subject is "shadow". I particularly like painting white objects and pushing color.

Dragonfly

"Dragonfly"

4x4 sketchbook drawing

$125 click link to buy

Dragonflies symbolize rebirth and transformation. This sketch was done as part of Inktober. Check out my fellow GJWP homie, Jody Regan to see her fabulous daily sketches.

GJWP Challenge - Chinese New Year

"Chinese New Year" 

4x4 Ink and Watercolor
$125 click on link to buy

Our GJWP challenge is Chinese New Year.

2020 is the year of the Rat.

Girls Just Wanna Paint Challenge "Vintage"

"Vintage Pin Cushion"

4x4 oil on panel

SOLD

This month's GJWP challenge was "vintage" and this little pin cushion, which belonged to my mama is the perfect subject. 

It is so cute and of course, functional.

Girls Just Wanna Paint Challenge: Forest

"Fundy Shore Forest"

6"x12" watercolor

My entry for Girls Just Wanna Paint, the pine forests of the Bay of Fundy.

Summer's End

Ferris Wheel

12x12 oil on panel
$450 click link to buy

Summer in New England is, sadly, a very short season. 

It seems to go from lilacs to 4th of July, to August's end, celebrated at the the Marshfield Fair.

I love the sparkle of lights against the dark sky. 

This is what's "on my mind", for Girls Just Wanna Paint this month. Stop over and check out the fabulous paintings!

Maine, The Way Life Should Be

"Lupine Field" 10 x10 oil on birch panel

$300 Buy Now With PayPal

I just spent a week in New Harbor, Maine with a fabulous group of painter girlfriends. Girl friend trips are mostly about great, and I mean GREAT food, and laughing. We watched movies and played a hilarious board game, which, because we were unsure about the rules, was even more hilarious. Although the weather didn't cooperate, we did manage to get out and paint. 
On this particular day, the best day of the week, I set up beneath the shade of a pine forest and painted a study of this view for this months Girls Just Wanna Paint Challenge.
We celebrate our tenth year (seriously?) of posting our paintings.
More to come.

Rusty the Boardwalk Cat

 Rusty, The Boardwalk Cat 

8x8 oil on birch panel 

$400 click on link to buy

This was last month's theme for Girls Just Wanna Paint. We had a lovely dinner meeting at Sally Dean Mello's awesome, artsy house and you can see the paintings here.
Rusty lives under the Atlantic City Boardwalk. He and his feline friends are cared for by volunteers from Ally Cat Allies. Rusty's human friend, Tim, told me that through the trap, neuter, release program, they've completely eliminated the birth of kittens in the Boardwalk area. 
Rusty's left ear is tipped, to identify him as neutered. I left that in.

Girls Just Wanna Paint August Challenge: Edges

"Edges" paper collage 5x7

Cut paper has edges and I enjoy a little cutting and 

pasting now and then.

Check out Girls Just Wanna Paint to see this month's interpretations.