Diary of a Plein Air Painter #28

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Nature's Whispers, 7x5in. Oil on linen/panel. Painted En Plein Air in Powell's Pt. Park, Nova Scotia.

Available Here

Friday, July 17, 2014

Powell's Pt. Park, Nova Scotia. 

9:45-12:15 p.m.

The park was so gentle when I arrived this morning. Only a whisper of a breeze and beauty all around. My love affair with wild rose bushes continues. Once again I am determined to paint them at the height of their beauty. Their femininity, hue and cheerful nature are always captivating. How could one resist them?

After scouting around the park, I find the perfect spot. Today I am most comfortable as I park myself at a weathered picnic table. I enjoy the novelty of having my belongings easily accessible, as I spread them out around me. 

 My Subject--Love these wild rose bushes!

Once my surface is toned, the dance begins. Only thoughts of paint and brush strokes prevail. It is the sounds of nature and motion of the brush that gently guides one into a meditative state. It is the best medicine for the soul!

Today I played with a variety of grays. Both the colors and light are soft this morning. Mauves and grays stroke limbs and water. I make new color discoveries that would only happen from direct observation of nature. 

While I write my reflection a special visitor arrives. A little squirrel is looking for tidbits of my snack. He is cautiously playful as he scampers around my feet. To his delight, I toss little pieces of cookie and bread sticks. Suddenly he bumps into my bare feet, startling both of us!

As I pack up to leave, butterflies flit in and out of the rose bushes. The light has shifted. New shadows appear. The scene has changed since I first arrived. I leave contented and grateful for my visit today.

Warmly,

Debbie

P.S. While I fed my little squirrel friend, a blue jay flew in  bedside us. He quickly retreated when he realized I was in close proximity. I was able to grab my camera and take a few shots of him before he continued on. 

Available Miniature on Dailypaintworks Auction with a  buy it now button. Summer Birth, 3x3in. Oil on linen/board.  

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Aglow and New Blog!

"Aglow", 3x2in. Oil on linen/panel. Available

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Aglow 

"A tiny apple sits aglow in summer's warmth."

Debbie Lamey-MacDonald 

This was the second apple I picked from an old apple tree in our backyard this summer. I was fascinated with how it glowed on our blue tin table in the bright sunlight. It was fun to paint on my back doorstep!

In my last post I mentioned a special gift I received for Christmas and then forgot to post a picture of it. Chuckling.... must have had a distraction and moved on to my next thought.

So here is the beautiful piece of amethyst my brother and sister-in-law gave me for Christmas. It is suppose to inspire creativity. I love how it glows with a lit candle behind it. It has found a home in my studio on my apple green bureau.

A special Christmas gift --amethyst.

Last post I also mentioned my New Fine Art Gift Bags I launched just before Christmas. The idea grew after visiting a new shop in my area. I loved the way in which the shop owner/ artisan had artistically set up her new shop. I also loved how her wares were packaged. We had a wonderful chat the day I visited.

That visit along with my love for teaming with other like minded entrepreneurs/artisans helped my vision evolve for these new Fine Art Bags. My intention was to make each bag personal and unique. To hold a special energy of their own. This would greatly align with my philosophy that I take to the creation of my miniature work. Each miniature is like a small meditation; thus these new bags needed to mimic this intention as well. I really enjoy assembling each one and am always delighted to see what my two counterparts come up with in their interpretation of my miniature oil painting. 

You can read more about them on my online shop here.

"Violet Heads" Fine Art Gift Bag Available Here.

New Blog: Feel free to visit my second and new blog "Small Pauses". I would love for you to join in by sharing your own small pauses or thoughts!

Wishing you a Wonderful Day!
Warmly,
Debbie

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New Inspired Space/ Happy New Year!

Welcome to 2014!! It is going to be a year of great happenings and new beginnings. It has been awhile since I posted to my blog. Life has been busy, but I'm getting back on track!

I just posted a new "Inspired Space" to my online shop and thought I would share it on my blog as well. I continue to be intrigued with space and how it affects us. I truly believe that fine art can aid in uplifting your space as well. Art evokes emotion and memory, creating a positive mental break. The piece of work featured in my new inspired space photo is titled "My Brother's Sanctuary". It was painted on location over several sessions in my brother's backyard. A wonderfully peaceful and uplifting experience! 

Relish in this intimate space, where conversation flows naturally and steaming cups of your favorite beverage ensue. Fresh greens and bright drapery echo summer's vibrancy and charm. " My Brother's Sanctuary" conjures memories of times spent within nature. Moments of being tucked away beneath apple trees, while our winged friends flutter about. It is a space where you happily relinquish your cares to a world beyond. 

(You can visit the "Inspired Spaces" section of my shop here.)

Featured Painting: "My Brother's Sanctuary," 11x14in. Oil on linen/panel. Painted En Plein Air in McLellan's Mtn. Nova Scotia.

On another note, it is a great time of year to take stock of where we are and the direction we would like to be taking in various areas of our life--career, personal etc. One of the more common practices this time of year is to write New Year's Resolutions. I think they are a good idea in some respects because they help focus our dreams and desires. However, they are sometimes another "thing" to do and fall by the wayside because they do not align with our internal desires, only our "shoulds"! That is why a few years ago I began picking a word of the year that I felt intuitively aligned with where or what I wanted to experience more in my life for the upcoming year. 

You can fine Christine Kane's Word of the Year booklet Here.

 I got this idea from Christine Kane. She also has a great little workbook you can print off to get you started on picking your word. You can find her workbook here. I like to type my word and post it around the house, in my studio etc. Thought you might like to give it a try! Good Luck!

Hoping all your Dreams come True in 2014!!

Warmly,

Debbie

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Diary of a Plein Air Painter #21

Bends in the Journey, 6x6in. Oil on linen/panel. 

Available Here 

 (You can also read the reflection I wrote on location that accompanies this painting here.)

Monday, July 8, 2013

Big Island, Nova Scotia

10:15-11:30 A.M.

When I awoke this morning a fog had blanketed the world outside. It looked as if the sun would break through. The sun was not predicted to appear today. Excitedly I knew it was a day for a plein air adventure. Quickly, I raced to get ready and get on the road before the moment faded. Big Island was on my mind with its wild and carefree personality.

Once on route, I somehow missed my turn off and had to travel an extra distance to finally reach my destination. What a treat when I arrived; not a soul in sight--the whole island to myself! After doing a couple of walk abouts and jutting to a couple of spots, I settled on a distant view. I loved the little sea path leading around a bend and the swirly sky. Strokes of light colored water streaked across a darker blue.

My Subject

The light would change fast especially near the ocean with a moving cloud cover overhead. I set up quickly and intuitively began a brush dance with my canvas. The sky appeared much lighter that the ocean today. The ocean looked cool with its darker color.

My Set Up

Beginning

As I painted visitors passed by on bikes. Tourists I could tell as they began to speak French. One proceeded to take my picture enchanted that they should come upon such a sight. One set of visitors stopped their car directly beside me and had complimentary expletives. Once again tourist were upon me, as two of the occupants spoke a foreign language to me. They were all very nice. It is these momentary encounters that add interest to a plein air painters life!

Almost finished

One of my visitors was curious about what scene I was painting as my easel was sideways and the scene before it did not look like the one I was painting, I quickly explained that I had turned my easel sideways to avoid having direct sunlight on my canvas. I told him I would make my values too dark as I over compensated for the bright sunlight on my work. (A plein air tip for today.) I have made that mistake in the past and my painting turns out much darker than I thought it would.

Looking down Big Island Road

A peek hole to the wide open ocean on the other side of the road.

As I was leaving the sun was becoming more scarce. I was so happy I had spontaneously followed my instinct this morning and ventured out into the world of plein air!

Warmly,

Debbie

P.S. While I was writing my reflection, I noticed a shiny spot in the long grass. It was a little ladybug twinkling in the sunlight. A sign of good luck they say. :)

P.P.S. My car made a great side table today as I had my cup of tea and snack while I wrote this entry. Adjustments; that is what plein air painting is all about. Cheers!

Special Note: If you had signed up for my blog posts to arrive in your email inbox, I finally have that enabled! Thanks so much for your patience. 

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Diary of a Plein Air Painter #19

4x4in. Oil on linen/panel

Available Here

First Day of Summer

"Raspberry bushes dance happily as their blossoms announce the arrival of summer."

Debbie Lamey-MacDonald

Friday, June 21, 2013

MacLellan's Brook, Nova Scotia.

9:00-10:45 a.m.

Finally on the first official day of summer I have escaped life's duties and returned to one of my old haunts. It is my first plein air painting of the season after a cold and rainy Spring. I have decided to paint a miniature painting to get reacquainted with the rhythm of being on location again.

Raspberry Blossoms, MacLellan's Brook, Nova Scotia

This morning as I drove down an old lane I was attracted to the abundance of raspberry blossoms swaying in a gentle breeze. I liked the grayish background and how they rhythmically arced to and fro with flicks of white blossoms scattered along their branches. They reminded me of butterflies and seemed to be happy to dance about.

Almost Finished!

My goal was to capture their movement and wildness omitting fine detail so as not to look laboured. Fresh strokes of paint without fiddling was necessary. This was an easy painting to go " too far" in completing, which would result in losing its freshness. I had to mentally tell myself to stop painting and resist the urge to add a bit more detail or flicks of paint. Knowing when to stop painting is a discipline in itself!

 Photo of the scenery around me

It was such a joy to be back out on location! How I have missed having all my senses engaged and the solitude of nature. Cheers to future outings!

Warmly,

Debbie

P.S. As I painted in the open field, butterflies fluttered past me, while bees buzzed close by. A gentle breeze made the trees rustle softly and helped keep the black flies at bay.

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