Tuesday, October 4, 2016

Yachting Life


24x24 on Gallery Stretched Canvas

And yet one more large painting.  I often take great photo references in local harbors (I wish this was mine!). and began ithis painting earlier this summer. I the. Got diverted to some great Provincetown paintings and a commission.   It was a bit daunting, but last weekend I picked up where I had left off.  Below is the early sketch and you can see where I have landed so far.

Boats at rest-large


24x 24 Oil on Gallery Wrap Canvas

I am catching up on this blog after being a bit remiss in my postings last week.  I've been spending time working on larger pieces- some from my earlier small originals.  There is a different challenge in scale and color and completion-and a lot more paint.  I really love this one and it will likely enter in some shows later this year.


Gloucester Revamp


16x20 Oil on Stretched Canvas

This weekend I looked at a piece 8 had done several years ago when newer to working with oils in my transition from watercolor.  When I originally finished this one I was very pleased but now- not so much.  So I decided to revamp it,paint over it, brighten it change some compositional elements.  I am happy with it once again!

Wednesday, September 14, 2016

Sail Away


8x8 Oil on Stretched Canvas. SOLD

This was for a friend and I love the way it turned out. Just a small piece, but it captures all that needs to be said about this bright sunny day on a sailing pier.  I was particularly pleased with the reflections and can't wait to work on a large version of this one.


Tuesday, September 13, 2016

Craigville Beach Cottage




8x8 Oil on Stretched Canvas

With summer now in the rear view mirror, I'm still enjoying painting places I love.  There is a set of small house cottages right across the road from this beach that really catch the light at certain times of the day.  The hydrangeas were in bloom- all the better in this dry summer season.

Friday, September 9, 2016

View from the porch



8x8 Oil on Stretched Canvas

This is one of my favorite spots in the summer- a great place to sip coffee or read a book.  I'll use this sketch for a larger painting very soon, but will frame this one as a keeper.

Monday, September 5, 2016

Hyannis Harbor

  

8x8 Oil on Stretched Canvas. SOLD

While picking up our daughter at the ferry, I had a chance to appreciate some of the local fishing boats.



Friday, September 2, 2016

Provincetown Wharf



8x8 Oil on Stretched Canvas

And yet one more!  I am very pleased with this one, painted early one morning this week.  I've always liked yellows and the sun on the old Main Street storefront just glowed.  The flags, too, are a sure identifier of the town -always festive and never boring!

Thursday, September 1, 2016

Plein Air in Barnstable Harbor



8x8 Oil on Stretched Canvas. SOLD

I managed to get out and paint on Sunday in a favorite harbor.  Shortly after I started, the farthest boat moved out!  Always good to map in shapes and darks quickly....

Wednesday, August 31, 2016

P-Town Library


8x8 Oil on Stretched Canvas.  SOLD
Another piece from a visit this month to Provincetown on a very hot and sunny afternoon.  The library has a full sized schooner inside- really interesting.






Sunday, August 14, 2016

Provincetown Wanderings



8x8 Oil on Stretched Canvas.  SOLD

We travelle d to P-town for a date this weekend- great street scenes- wonderful people watching- loads of wonderful galleries.  I had a chance to visit the Anne Packard gallery- one of my all time favorite Cape artists.  Her work is amazing, evoking all that is wonderful about Cape Cod and Provincetown in particular.  I found myself feeling honored to be a painter- to share in some minuscule and remote way this craft with someone who is so talented in ways I can never hope to approach.  Still, we paint.  All of us who do can share in the joy of color and challenge and light and shadow.  We can see the world in different perspectives and notice details in the life around us.   Grateful on this Sunday morning.

Saturday, August 13, 2016

More summer fun




8x8 Oil on Stretched Canvas. SOLD

So enjoying this summer!  I really like the blues in this one.  Lots of loose paint.

Sunday, July 31, 2016

Saturday at the Beach



9x12 Oil on Linen Panel
I had some fun outside yesterday.  This is a special little place for lake friends and I wanted to capture a perfect summer morning.

Sunday, July 24, 2016

Block in for new piece




I'm working on a 24 x 24 painting this weekend and also hoping to get out later today for some plein air fun.  You can follow the progress on my Facebook page - Debra Kennedy Artist-@debrakennedyartist.   All 'Likes' greatly appreciated😎.
 

Wednesday, July 20, 2016

Joy in July


8x10 Oil on Panel

I am really pleased with this one.  After a couple of weeks of painting frustration, I relaxed and focused on this great scene near Harpswell, ME.  A quilt artist had proudly displayed her work for sale- beautiful  works and a wonderfully sunny scene.  Joy in July is my theme for all things this month, and this really made me happy.

Tuesday, July 19, 2016

Cape Marsh Abstracted



8 X10 Oil on Panel

After working on the large piece, I thought I would play a bit more loosely with shapes.  I'd like to move more toward abstraction.  This is not abstract, but I did paint with braid loose strokes and no detail, just representative patterns and shapes.  I like the result!

Monday, July 18, 2016

Cape Marsh '16





24 x 30 Oil on Stretched Canvas. SOLD

I decided to work on this large piece from a small sketch I had completed some time ago.  My summer goal is to complete several larger works in hopes of beginning to approach galleries and perhaps mount a show.  I love this journey!

Sunday, July 10, 2016

Boat Study


9x12 Oil on Panel

This is a small study just to get the brush moving.  I struggle sometimes with motivation- the 'why' question.  A favorite artist friend once said that inspiration will come with action- just do the work and the rest will follow.  Here's to action.

Thursday, July 7, 2016

Cars and Emotions


9x12 Oil on Panel

We recently went to the summer classic car show in Hyannis, MA.  It is a major annual event held on Fathers' Day and there were thousands of people and hundreds of great cars.  As we strolled, we would comment-' I had that car once' or 'remember those beauties'!  Classic cars spur emotion if you are over a certain age.  I took pics and can't wait to play a bit more with these!


Tuesday, June 14, 2016

Bailey's Island 2


6x6 Oil on Panel

Another little gem from a beautiful harbor in Bailey's Island, ME.

Sunday, June 12, 2016

Baileys Island



9x12 Oil on Panel  SOLD
 We came across a great harbor on our drive and this peach dinghy caught my eye.

Harpswell 3



16x20" Oil on Gesso Panel
I'll be working on paintings in Maine this week, after a wonderful wedding for our son in Harpswell.  So much to see-and paint.  

Tuesday, May 31, 2016

Maine Series 2


8x8" Oil on Stretched Canvas
The long weekend provided much needed rest and time in the studio.  I worked a bit on a tutorial, and then decided to paint this little gem.  I'll be spending time in the Harpswell, ME area in the next few days for a wedding and have made several trips this spring.  Beautiful bay views and amazing light.  Anyway,  I so enjoyed my time painting this one!

Tuesday, May 24, 2016

Ohio Roots


16x20 Oil on Panel
We travelled back to Ohio last week to honor the passing of my brother-in-law.  Once again, I found that when I move through Cleveland and on across the flat farm landscapes I can feel 'home'. It's where you come from, where your early connections, memories and morals are formed.  This is one I started while there and finished in the studio with palette knife, playing with texture and brush strokes.  Still learning every day.

Thursday, May 19, 2016

Maine Morning



9x12 Oil on Linen Panel

I caught the sunlight on a historic farmhouse during a drive near Harpswell, Maine last week.  I've been experimenting a bit with surfaces, blues, and brushes which has been stretching and fun.  Looking forward to a productive painting summer!


Tuesday, May 3, 2016

Sunset at the Glades




















9 x 12 Oil on Linen Panel
We had great fun earlier this winter on an airboat tour through the Everglades with 'Captain Gerald' who owns a home 6 miles in on a small island.  The scenery is amazing - remote and quiet.  We got to catch the sunset before loading back onto the boats for the trip through the twilight back to the docks.


Tuesday, March 29, 2016

Harbor 2


8x8, Oil on Panel

Another from my recent trip to St. Pete.  Harbors have interesting shapes, reflections and verticals. I'm enjoying the challenge of complexity in all of the pieces of these subjects.


Saturday, March 19, 2016

Small Boats




6x6 Oil on Panel

I took a day off to continue painting.  What a great way to spend time!  So refreshed.  These little favorites are always fun to paint.


Thursday, March 17, 2016

Safe Harbor



8x8 Oil on Panel. SOLD

Well, I'm back.  It has been a month since I have been able to paint.  My teaching load has taken its toll this semester.  I miss my brushes!  Is is a painting of St. Petersburg harbor from a trip earlier this month.  Ahhh!  Feels good to paint!

Sunday, January 31, 2016

Guardian


6x6 Oil on Panel

I am still enjoying painting these sunny Arizona landscapes.  This bright pathway at Taliesen West had a wonderful, large, spiked plant that caught my eye.


Friday, January 29, 2016

Trail Walk


6x6 Oil on Panel. SOLD

I'm painting from photo references during the winter months and generally choosing whatever brings a smile.  I loved my visit to Phoenix in November and so enjoyed the scenery- the different color palette and the plant life that is so different from my New England home.  This is the second small gem this month.  They look fabulous in gold 2" frames and I can't wait for this one to dry.

Sunday, January 24, 2016

Rock Meadow Snow Day



11x14, Oil on stretched Canvas
I went out to paint in the snow for the first time.  Warm boots, coat, snow pants- but cold fingers and hard to adjust to gloves.  The light was fantastic and you realize how many people are out and about in our local conservation land- hiking and skiing and walking dogs.  It was a great way to spend the afternoon and I am very happy with the result.

Monday, January 18, 2016

Arizona


6x6 Oil on Panel

Today's little gem.  Snow here in Boston today, but certainly it's warm in Phoenix!

Sunday, January 17, 2016

White Barns


6x6 Oil oN Panel

Whew!  That was a bit of a long stretch without paintng- almost two weeks.  So good to be back.  I return to this barn grouping often because it brings a smile and a sense of home.  I took several photos of these groups this summer and it called to me as a great way to gear back up for the new year.

Tuesday, January 12, 2016

Respite

No painting for a bit this month.  I've been readjustung  to work, traveling and just trying to catch up after a very busy December.  I also got stuck with a painting I started and couldn't finish.  Somehow I can't quite abandon it yet.  I've also been thoughtfully taking in information and thinking about the painting year ahead.  I'd like to see more accomplished this year than last, enter some shows, paint outside voraciously, take one or two great workshops.  In order for any of this to happen, I need to be very intentional with my time and resources.  The respite is great for quieting and planning and refueling.  I can't wait to get back to the easel!

Sunday, January 3, 2016

Maryland Visit



8x8 oil on Panel

I like the lines of old houses with great porches.  This little gem in MD had nice detail and the light was falling just right.

Saturday, January 2, 2016

St. Michael's Boats #2


8x8 Oil on Panel

This is another from the stroll through the harbor in St. Michael's , MD. 

Friday, January 1, 2016

Nantucket


24x36 Oil on Canvas
Progress on this piece this week.i have taken this painting to the place where I need to stare at it for awhile to see what it needs.  Great lessons learned!