Showing posts with label NFS. Show all posts
Showing posts with label NFS. Show all posts

Tuesday, October 28, 2014

"Memories" A Special Commission!


Memories, 20x16in. Oil on linen/ panel. Commissioned

NFS 


Memories

Planted with care, a special cherry tree brought life to the space it inhabited. Every year delicate blooms awakened the space with cheer and visual appeal. Year after year it delighted its owner with an abundance of blooms. Finally, after many years there came a time for it to return to the earth.

Preserving its memory was the intention of the owner. Thus, that special tree was rebirthed artistically, creating lasting memories for those familiar with its natural beauty.


Debbie Lamey-MacDonald ©


This was a very special commission I completed for a wonderful collector and person. My collector named Clinton, planted this cherry tree in his backyard. It grew beautifully over the years and delighted his family with its gorgeous blooms. Finally after about 15 years, it became diseased and had to return to the earth. Missing his symbolic tree, Clinton asked if I would eternalize it artistically. It was an honor to paint this for him and his family.

During the creation of this painting, I included Clinton in the process by sending him photographs shot quickly in my studio while I was painting. It was fun including him in the development of "Memories" and he enjoyed watching his painting transform from loosely sketched beginnings to its finish. 

Stages of development while I worked on "Memories".
















Clinton gave me permission to mention his name and share his story on facebook. I always like to respect my clients wishes regarding publication on social media. I appreciated his easy going manner and willingness to share his wonderful story online.

Here is the lovely message I received from Clinton, after I shared his painting and story. 
I love it when I can be of service to others by adding upliftment or stirring memories they cherish. 

" Debbie. Thanks for dropping off the painting today. It felt like Christmas as Lisa and I unwrapped the coverings ..... it was amazing. We are very pleased with your work and I am amazed at how you were able to capture a very special part of our lives. The title "Memories" sure does resonate with our family as that cherry tree was front and centre in all our family photos over the years.You truly are talented and I am hoping you are able to spend more time with your paintings now that you have officially retired from teaching. Thank you again for taking the time to help recreate a part of our lives that will be hung proudly in our house. All the Best!!"

Thanks for reading! 
Warmly,
Debbie



“The earth has music for those who listen.” ~William Shakespeare

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Tuesday, September 23, 2014

30 in 30 Challenge, Day 22, "Layers of Pink"

Layers of Pink, 5x5in.Oil on Arches Oil Paper,
Painted from life--Alla Prima


NFS
( Will be available when I mount it or place in a mat frame)


Layers of Pink

Layers of pink merge together to create an elegant garden guest.

Debbie Lamey-MacDonald ©



Today's painting is a little different than the previous ones I posted for the 3o in 3o painting challenge. I decided to try out arches oil paper as a painting surface. It is an amazing paper that you can paint on directly using oils and it won't buckle and distort in shape. It is very durable, allowing for markings with a knife etc.

It was much different than painting on linen and definitely takes some getting use to! It does absorb the paint to a certain degree, so I felt this was an area I had to make adjustments. I also found I worked more transparently in some passages. I knew I could go back later and place more opaque paint on these areas if needed.

I can see great promise for this paper for me in the future! I thought it would be great for painting quick oil sketches and for jotting down color notes etc. beside the sketch. I could then place all these studies in a binder when dry. For example, I could see myself painting quick oil studies on location of evening clouds etc. These studies would be really beneficial for both practice and future studio work.

I found a wonderful tutorial by Peter Fiore on creating an oil painting on arches paper. Also, on the bottom of that page there is a link for a tutorial on mounting your paper on hardboard by Michael Chesley Johnson.  There are also other methods of mounting oil paper to hardboard different than Michael's approach. 

If you are interested, here is a link for a video on Arches Oil paper. Quite a fascinating paper if you are an oil painter!

The pink rose was picked from my garden and painted from life. Some of my roses are still blooming! I'm enjoying viewing their beauty as fall marches on.

Warmly,
Debbie


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Imagekind --for reproductions
Fine Art America--for reproductions

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