Featured Painting #2 to Brighten Your Day!

A High Perch, 6x12in. Oil on linen/panel. Painted En Plein Air in Powell's Pt. Park, Nova Scotia. 

 Purchase Here

A High Perch

After cooler days, it is a joy to welcome summer temperatures again. I have trudged through a rickety pathway with my painting gear to arrive at one of my favourite views in the park. The distance is muted with the morning's haze. While the rising sun flicks merrily along the ocean's surface, happily touching crests of water. Seagulls dart about enthused with nature's gentle day.

I have set life aside and entered nature's world and easy rhythm. Her ignorance of man made time is a welcome relief. I will follow her lead today and gracefully move from one moment to the next.

Debbie Lamey-MacDonald

Powell's Point Park, Nova Scotia

You may read my "Plein Air Diary Entry" for this painting here.

You may also enjoy the Visual Meditation I wrote for this piece and also an Inspired Space description.

Some quick links:

Fine Art Shop

Imagekind --for reproductions

Fine Art America--for reproductions
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Music, Paint, Action!

A Burst of Cheer, 4x4in. Oil on linen/board.

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A Burst of Cheer

"Pink hues add a burst of cheer, as the earth lays dormant during its winter slumber."

Debbie Lamey-MacDonald


Last week, I had the day off from teaching due to a storm day.  During the early evening I decided to paint one of the tulips I had purchased to add a cheery note to our home during these wintry days.

Once I was set up I decided to share my painting journey with my Facebook and Twitter Friends. I really had a blast and loved interacting in real time with everyone! It was like a mini party right in my studio--friends, music and paint flowing! What fun! Special thanks to everyone who followed along and added nice comments or thumbs up. It was great having you with me during my studio session.


For those who missed my progress shots I have posted them below. My sweet cat Marlee even came to investigate to see what all the buzz was about in my studio. She aptly side stepped my set up and soared up to her favourite perch on the window ledge!

(Close up of my subject.)

(My studio set up and beginning of miniature painting.)

(Progressing along!)

(Getting there!)

( As I was calling it a night, Marlee came to visit. You can see her up on the window ledge.)

My finished painting is shown at the top of this post. I pretty much finished it that night and only did a bit of tweaking on another session. I loved painting this tulip with all its various shades of pink (one of my favourite colors). I don't sketch out all the the areas on the tulip that need various shades of color. I just observe and paint the detail as I move along--allows me a greater sense of freedom and an opportunity to intuitively paint my subject.

Hoping you find simple things to fill your home with cheer during these cold winter months. I would love to hear how you add cheer to your surroundings. It is sometimes the little things that bring us the most pleasure. We just have to be open and aware of their ability to do so.

Thanks for following along!

Warmly,
Debbie

P.S. Before I posted this blog entry this painting sold on my Fine Art Shop! A lovely surprise--feeling much appreciation for my new collector!

Some quick links: 

Fine Art Shop

Imagekind --for reproductions

Fine Art America--for reproductions
Newsletter sign up

Sign up for new blog posts in the side bar on this page. Then enjoy special delivery to your email box!

Thoughts of Spring

Thoughts of Spring, 14x11in. Oil on linen/panel

Thoughts of Spring

As winter blankets the earth in white, thoughts of Spring bring comfort. Pussy willows rescued from last Spring stand happily in their glass encasement. Their soft texture evokes memories of childhood where  imaginations spun stories of these mini felines.

It was even said they mewed softly when unattended. 

Today they are accompanied by a spring bird and ribbon. Their companions gleefully rejoice, knowing that Spring will bring the earth to life within a short while. Patience and time will be one’s keeper as nature continues its journey bringing Spring to our door in due time.

Debbie Lamey-MacDonald ©

Since childhood, I have had an adoration for pussy willows and am always delighted to see them in early Spring. They are one of the first forms of life on trees, a sign that the world is about to awaken from its winter slumber! As children we loved making up stories about them and pretended they were small kittens. Their softness always felt so comforting as we rubbed them against our cheeks. 

Last Spring I rescued these pussy willows before they turned to seed. I took them home to my studio, set up my still life and began this painting. Then the warmer weather came and if you have been following me for long, you know that nature becomes my studio! Painting on location beckons and I'm off playing in nature's vast outdoor studio. Needless, to say my painting remained unfinished until recently. 

I am so happy I decided to complete it during the time we were receiving frigid weather.  It made me happy and gave me hope that Spring would be coming along soon. 

I would love to hear your stories about pussy willows. Did you pick them as children? If you are an artist do you like painting them?

Cross your fingers for an early Spring if you live in a four season climate. 

Cheers to one of nature's beautiful offerings!

Warmly,
Debbie

P.S. Love to have you sign up for my Ezine. Also, don't forget to sign up for my new blog posts, so they can be delivered to your inbox! Sign up form is on the side bar. 

Visit my online Fine Art Shop! Thanks for visiting! 

Featured Painting #1 to Brighten Your Day!

I thought I would highlight one painting and reflection from my Shop every few days. It's my way of adding a little ray of cheer to your day! So often our days are hurry, scurry and it is nice to take a short pause to catch our breath. I hope "Strokes of Light" will serve as a little escape from the bustle of your day! Enjoy!

Strokes of light, 6x6in.Oil on linen/panel, Powell's Pt. Park, Nova Scotia.

Purchase Here

Strokes of Light

After a few days of overcast weather, a clear evening has arrived. The park is calm tonight as the air remains still and fresh. Various winged friends rejoice in nature’s beauty. Strong light has captured my attention tonight as it strokes sides of buildings and tops of trees.

Decisions must be made quickly and brush strokes kept fresh, as the sun lowers in the blue above. There is no time for needless thought. Reacting intuitively to the moment allows time to pass unknowingly. A quiet mind quickly brings joy and refreshment to spirit.

Debbie Lamey-MacDonald

Powell’s Point Park, Nova Scotia

P.S. You can read my "Plein Air Diary" Entry for this painting here.

Love to have you sign up for my Blog Posts and Ezine. Find the sign up info on the side bar of this page. Thanks!

Movie Making and Egg Shells!

Well I am getting adventurous! I am taking Leslie Saeta's WebinARTS course, which I was lucky enough to win in her Christmas Giveaway Contests. It is a great course and one of our assignments was to try making a movie using our artwork.

I decided to create a movie of progress photos I had of a miniature painting of egg shells. Their are several programs to create these movies in, but I found Windows Movie Maker to be quite straightforward and pretty easy to use. I made the cover page as a button, saved it and used it as my intro and ending page with my shop link on it. Hope you enjoy watching it!

On another note I started adding more work to Imagekind a printing company where you can order prints of my paintings. Collecting prints is another economical way to enhance your space and let your mind wander as you reflect on the memories or feelings fine art evokes. Imagekind have several different formats in which you can buy your prints: framed, on canvas etc.

The following two paintings have been added recently to Imagekind.

You can purchase prints of "Rolling Along" here.

You can purchase prints of "Petal by Petal" here.

Thanks for looking! I'm heading to my studio to work on a larger still life I hope to finish this weekend. Trying to stay warm in these frigid temperatures in Nova Scotia this past week! Wishing you a great weekend!

Warmly,
Debbie

P.S. I will be sending out my Ezine soon. You may subscribe here. My current Auctions can be found here. Also you can have new blog posts delivered to your inbox through the link on the sidebar of this page.Thanks!

Together

Together
2x3in. Oil on linen/board
Available on DPW Auction
 
Click to Bid


Together

"Happily rolling along together."

Debbie Lamey-MacDonald


Painting is really like a sport. It takes continuous practice to stay in tune with  your skills.  I loved painting these marbles, but had 3 starts before I got rolling along. In my first start I realized after I had the drawing done I had drawn it upside down when I looked at the notch for possible hanging on the backside. On my second drawing and after I started painting I felt they were too big. Finally on my third attempt all worked out; they were "just right". Needless to say I felt a bit rusty after the holidays. Happily it doesn't take much time to get back in sync with an old love!

(My still life set up)

I continue to be enamoured with marbles. They bring back a plethora of childhood memories. My friends and I had fun playing for hours with them! I remember every Easter I would be delighted to receive a new bag of marbles. 

As many of you know I am in love with reflections and anything shiny! Marbles hold all these characteristics. I love their glassy look and how one can see depth when you peer into  these glassy globes. I am also fascinated with their appearance and reflections on a glass table top. They are a bit mesmerizing!

When I was a child it was these simple pleasures that created cherished life long memories. Marbles existed before the advent of technology and brought hours of fun!

Do marbles hold special memories for you?

Wishing you cherished childhood memories!

Warmly,
Debbie 

Diary of a Plein Air Painter #18

 (Sharing one of my Plein Air Diary Notes I didn't get to share in September. These light filled photos made me yearn for warm autumn days! )

Sunday, Sept. 16, 2012

Plymouth, Nova Scotia

3:30-6:00 (30 min. Supper Break)

Painted En Plein Air in my own Backyard.

"Before The Frost"

"Nasturtiums glow in the autumn light, before the first frost makes its debut."

Debbie Lamey-MacDonald 

3x3in. Oil on linen/panel.  Available Here

Today the sun presents warmth, but when it disappears behind a drift of clouds the cool autumn air is evident. Ian is taking down our pool while I make a stew and roast chicken. I have decided to paint in my own backyard while supper cooks.

Ian hard at work. Lots of baby powder drifting in the air as he packs up the pool. Some even drifts my way!

As I scout around our property, I am drawn to my small raised garden beds. The small nasturtiums I planted in my herb garden have ballooned to quite a size. I love their rounded mottled leaves and bright flowers that peek above their green discs.

My Set Up

My small raised herb garden. I loved the glass bird feeder I bought this year!

My subject

I have decided to do a miniature painting of the backside of a nasturtium. I love back lighting and how the values shift in direct sunlight and shadow. An earthy smell from my garden and the fresh scent of herbs permeates the space around me. It is a beautiful September afternoon to paint in my own backyard!

Warmly,

Debbie

P.S. While I painted bees buzzed nosily around me as they feasted on many garden delights.

P.P.S. Our Persian Cat Marlee came to visit while I painted. She hopped over my box of brushes and paints as she snooped around the garden.

(You may read more of my diary posts by clicking the link on the side bar labelled "Diary of a Plein Air Painter or the link here.)

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!

New Online Fine Art Shop!

I am thrilled to finally share my New Online Fine Art Shop with you! After much thought and many hours it has finally come together! The concept for my shop has been brewing for some time. As long as I can remember I have always been interested in one's space and its effects on the individual. 

As a child I remember playing with this concept innately. I loved to imagine special rooms in the space around me. During wintertime I would find little nooks and pretend a small room existed. Here I would envision furniture within the space. Often my friends and I would build snow furniture to fit into this special niche. These were fun times and ones that stayed with me throughout adulthood.

As an adult I still love creating special spots in my home or quaint vignettes where I display fine art. The paintings and the world or objects they represent create a sense of comfort and adventure, allowing one's mind to escape everyday responsibilities. Thus, fine art serves as a mini retreat without ever having to leave your comfy spot.

Throughout my shop and blog I hope to merge "fine art" and philosophies about "space". I will share new work, books, ideas and visually inspired spaces that will assist in helping you incorporate fine art into your own personal or business space. Follow along with me by subscribing to my posts. You will then receive new posts in your email!

I love hearing from you and welcome any comments or thoughts you have about my shop or about creating inspired spaces. Wishing you much inspiration in creating your own uplifting spaces!


Warmly,

Debbie

P.S. Be sure to sign up for my Fine Art Ezine as well!