Just in Time

 Just In Time, 6x6in. Oil on linen/panel.

Available Here

Just in Time

"In late autumn, a small hydrangea was rescued just in time. Spared from strong winds and rain, its beauty shone for awhile longer.

Debbie Lamey-MacDonald  ©


My thoughtful mom called one day just before we were expected to receive quite a bit of rain and wind, to ask if I would like her to cut a few of her blooming hydrangeas. She has beautiful hydrangeas in a variety of colors and sizes. I was so happy she cut them for me when she did, because a few days later they were gone! The wind and rain swept those beautiful blooms away. I loved how they brightened up my kitchen windowsills and studio. 

Mom thought I would like them as subjects for a painting. I decided to paint a smaller one of varied blues, purples and pinks. This painting proved to be a bit of a rascal. Painting the flower went really smoothly and then the trouble began. I had the back leaf and background painted and decided I just wasn't satisfied with them. Sooooo the wipe out began of both the leaf and background! I made the leaf smaller so it didn't overpower the flower and totally changed the background color. 

It just isn't worth keeping something you are not satisfied with, even after investing a large quantity of time. I am happy with the end result now and glad I fiercely wiped out what I didn't like. I hope it brightens your day today!

I have added another Fine Art Gift Bag to my online shop. This one is a Holiday Gift Bag entitled "Visions of Christmas". It would make a wonderful gift for someone special or for yourself to brighten up your home over the holiday season! 

Visions of Christmas Fine Art Gift Bag

Available Here

On Saturday I'm happily travelling to the city for the Nova Scotia Designer Crafts Council's Christmas Show. It is a wonderful display put on by many talented artisans! Pottery, wood working, glass jewellery and so much more. Hoping to get some Christmas shopping done there as well. 

Wishing you a Wonderful Weekend!

Warmly,

Debbie

P.S. Here is a pic of my studio helper!

Marlee in action!

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New Fine Art Gift Bags/New Blog!

Violet Heads part of  a New Fine Art Gift Bag! Available

Just before Christmas I launched my "Fine Art Gift Bags. I was very humbled and thrilled at how well received they became. 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 my bags here. The collection below is available as a Fine Art Gift Bag. 

"Violet Heads" Fine Art Gift Bag Available Here.


On another note, I have started a New Blog entitled "Small Pauses". As an artist I often take note of my everyday surroundings and occurrences. These happenings and subjects often weave themselves into my work. The blog is about taking small pauses within your busy days. Taking time to acknowledge everyday happenings create subtle joy and a sense of well being. I would love for you to join me, by offering your own experiences or thoughts. Or you can just come visit, read and follow me quietly.

New Small Pauses Blog

You can read about my thinking behind this blog here and follow my posts on the Home Page.

Thanks so much!
Warmly,
Debbie

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Summer Birth

Summer Birth, 3x3in. Oil on linen/panel. Painted En Plein Air in Plymouth, Nova Scotia.

Available Here

Summer Birth

"Birthed from weighted branches, a small apple finds joy in summer's warmth."

Debbie Lamey-MacDonald 

I love painting apples. This was a small apple from an old apple tree in our backyard. I was fascinated with how it glowed on our blue tin table. I sat the table on a blue chair, so the apple was definitely in the blue zone! 

My set up outside. The apple was set on a blue tin table which was set on top of a blue chair.

I enjoyed painting this one so much I painted two more miniature apple paintings. I really enjoyed the summer light and how the apples seemed to glow. I'll post the other two paintings soon. Summer seems so long ago. As I am typing up this post a blizzard is raging outside. We are suppose to get up to 30 cm. of snow tonight!

I thought it would also be fun to share a special Christmas gift I received from my brother and sister-in-law. They gave me a beautiful piece of amethyst that 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. 

In my next blog post I will be sharing more information about my Fine Art Gift Bags I launched just before Christmas. You can click the link above to have a peek at them.

I hope 2014 is going smoothly for you! 

If you are in a winter season right now, let's visualize an early Spring with all those wonderful lime greens and freshness!

Warmly,

Debbie

P.S. You can view some of my Plein Air Available Paintings Here. 

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Dairy of a Plein Air Painter #22

Purple Trails, 3x3in.Oil on linen/panel. 

Available Here

Purple Trails

"Petunia trail happily, spilling over floral bins in the warm summer breeze."

Debbie Lamey-MacDonald

Wednesday, July 10, 2013

Plymouth, Nova Scotia.

My car was in for repairs, so I decided to paint en plein air on my back doorstep. With my flower gardens in bloom, there is never a loss for subject matter. I love how these miniature petunias happily trailed over top of  a flower bin and how the light created varied violet hues in their petals. 

My Subject

My Set Up

I view these little miniatures as meditation in motion. With nature strumming on around me it is a wonderful feeling to feel present while a peaceful shift occurs. As I painted, our beautiful sunny day turned into a cold and cloudy one. Such strange and unpredictable weather! I'm glad I seized the moment when I did as it passed quickly. Truly something to keep in mind as we navigate through life; screening out what is really important and enjoying small moments that are right in front of our eyes.

Warmly,

Debbie

P.S. While I painted hummingbirds nosily zoomed to and fro to my feeder hanging on the deck. They really are quite entertaining for such small creatures!

P.P.S. Visual memory really does come in handy when the weather decides to change in the midst of a painting. It is important to not change what you have already completed and continue on your initial plan for your painting. 

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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"Violet Heads" -New Miniature

Violet Heads, 3x2in. Oil on linen/panel. $55

Available Here

Violet Heads

"As the herb garden awakens, violet headed chives sway about in a gentle breeze."

Debbie Lamey-MacDonald 

This past Spring when my herb garden was overgrown and full of weeds a bundle of chives decided to bloom in spite of their surroundings. Their violet coloured heads made me smile and were a wonderful discovery after a long winter.

I love puttering around my herb garden, filled with lovely scents and little discoveries. It seemed fitting to capture a couple of these interesting looking flowers in a miniature painting. I really enjoyed observing their intricacies and various hues.

During my creation of this miniature, I posted various stages of my process on Facebook. Here are a few photos of my various stages. I hope you enjoy viewing my process.

My subject--chives from my herb garden.

Subject set up--sketch in charcoal--bring on the paint!

In progress

Subject comes to life in paint!

I hope you get to wander in nature and drink up her intimate glimpses of beauty. Beauty is often not the grandeur, but the little glimpses of something incidental. These little moments of observed beauty make us stop and come into a present moment. For me...that is how I renew my spirit. How about you?

Warmly,

Debbie

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Spring is.....

With Easter comes a feeling of renewal. It seems to bring a sense of anticipation, knowing that Spring is just around the corner. As a child I remember feeling the excitement of shedding winter coats in exchange for light spring jackets and new rubber boots!

Come along as I take you on a  journey of what

                                          

                                               Spring is....

              Spring is... 

                                                  pink rubber boots and enticing mud puddles!

"Together" Available

... shiny new marbles and twirling earth pots. 

"Rolling Along", Prints Available

                          Spring is... 

                                                                 muddy fingers, earthy mud pots...

and the sight of our winged friends' arrival!

"Announcing Spring", Prints Available

                                  Spring is ...

                                             the softness of pussy willows 

"Thoughts of Spring", Available , Prints Available

and their timelessness captured in glass bottles. 

                            Spring is ... 

             a rainbow of blooms...

"A Burst of Cheer",  Prints Available

...and delicate petals of varied hues.

                             Spring is ...

             renewal of spirit,

"A Sweet Scent",  Prints Available

...blossoms unfolding,

and mother nature's rebirth.

"Spring Dance", Prints Available

Wishing you a Happy Easter,
and 
May the sights and sounds of Spring 
bring you joy and upliftment!

Warmly,
Debbie

P.S. Featured work is available as prints and/or an original painting. Just click on the links below the photo. :D

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Happy New Year and News!

Iris Harmony, 6x6in. Oil on Sretch Canvas

Available Here.

Taking a moment to wish you a Very Happy New Year!! It is such a great time of year to take stock of where we are and the direction we would like to be going 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.

Christine Kane's Word of the Year Booklet

Another technique I have used over the last couple of years is to pick a word of the year that is in line with your goals for the future. 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!

News:

On another note I have published a new Blog. I loved my old one, but the framework on my old website and blog needed to be totally reconstructed due to it being quite an old template. It would have taken way too much time for my son. So I found a great platform called Weebly, that I used myself to build my New Online Shop and I  linked my Blogspot Blog with it as well. Sooooo everything is new as I begin 2013! It feels like is it is going to be a great year ahead!

A nice surprise also occurred recently. Annie Strack a super artist who is very supportive of her fellow artists included me in a lovely post highlighting several wonderful artists. I was both honored and humbled to be included with these artists. You can read the post here.

Hoping 2013 brings you much Joy!

Warmly,

Debbie

Feel free to sign up for my Ezine and Visit my Online Shop! Cheers!