Swedish Bird

This is another bird I have been wanting to paint so I did a quick sketch to get an idea for a little bit larger square painting. 

The snow is melting more today, but schools were closed again and it is still very cold. I will be glad to see some warmer winter temperatures than what we have been having.

Harbinger Of Spring?

Hungry Robin, oil on 6 x 6 x 1.5" wrapped canvas, ©2014, Fay Terry

ready to hang, $75 plus shipping

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We still have our snow and it is fun, but I did a double take when I saw on my phone that the temperature at 6:30 this morning was 2 degrees!  It did get up to thirty-five today, but I think the schools will be closed again tomorrow since the backroads are still icey.

I saw a large group of Robins that seemed to arrive all at once a few days before the snow came and they were searching in the grass for food but now everything is covered with ice and snow so they are crowding around the birdfeeders as are all the other little birds.

On another note, the Tarheels traveled to Atlanta and beat Georgia tech last night. (Go Heels!) They had a difficult trip and ended up riding MARTA and then walking six blocks to their hotel, arriving at 1:45 am, on the day of the game. That seems very minor, though, compared to what many people went through in Atlanta. 

Snowy Day

Yummy Suet Cake, 6 x 6 " oil on panel, ©2014, Fay Terry

$75 special offer

In celebration of the beautiful snow that fell here last night and draped everything in an amazing soft powdery blanket, I am taking 25% off the regular price of today's painting. I photographed this bird outside my kitchen window yesterday morning while there was a nonstop progression of hungry birds.

Just For Fun

Just Beachy, 8 x 8 " oil on cradled panel, 2014, Fay Terry

I am thinking about the beach today when we expect to get our first snow of the year, maybe as much as five inches. It is very cold but I am excited about the prospect of snow and I already see a few flakes. Maybe  it's wishful thinking, but I am hoping to see everything covered in white by tomorrow morning.

Most of the southeast is under a winter storm warning.

I already put bowls out to catch snow for snow cream and have made a big pot of soup. This is a rare occasion where I live.

Boats

Bright Boats, 12 x 16 " oil on canvas, ©2014, Fay Terry

I have worked on this painting since my recent post of the first version. I decided to change and improve it so that it would have more of a sunlit look. I made the middle values darker and strengthened the shadows inside the boats. It was a challenge, but I know it will help me with the future boat paintings I am looking forward to doing. I hope to paint this scene again on a larger canvas. 

This one is being donated to the O'Neal School annual silent auction, which is always in February. 

Bright Fruit

Where's The Tea?, 6 x 6 " oil on panel, ©2014, Fay Terry

$100 and free shipping

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I had fun painting bright colors today. I am using up some tubes of paint that I don't normally have on my palette, such as cobalt violet, which I bought for a workshop years ago.

I have tea on my mind because I promised myself a cup as soon as I posted this and then I am heading back into my studio for more painting.

Almost Time for Flowers

Forced Forsythia, 6 x 6 " oil on panel

I wish I could say that my Forsythia is in bloom but it's not yet.  This is from last year

when I brought some in the house so it would open more quickly. As soon as I see the buds I cut lots of branches and put them in vases. It always amazes me how quickly they open and create the atmosphere of early spring indoors.

All Tied Up

 Boat In Cassis, 16 x 20" oil on canvas, ©, Fay Terry

These are some boats that I would love to paint again and probably will soon. It is not easy to find harbor scenes that are as uncrowded as this one was. I loved painting the beautiful color of the water.

Have a great week-end!

Chasing Spring

Sheep In Spring, 6 x 6 " oil on panel, ©2014, Fay Terry

$100 free shipping

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I love seeing farm animals when the first warm weather arrives after winter. They always seem to be as happy as I am to be enjoying the warm sunshine. I keep finding sheep photos that I had taken a long time ago and can't resist painting them.

My friend and fellow blogger Sharon Graves knows a lot about sheep and goats from firsthand experience raising them on the farm she and her husband have in Kentucky. She also grows beautiful flowers and does all kinds of creative things besides painting.  Check out her blog here.  Sharon is doing the 30 paintings in thirty days challenge being hosted this month by Leslie Saeta. She is one of the many bloggers who keep me going with their support.

Colorful Cat

Max, 5 x 7 " oil on panel, ©2014, Fay Terry

$100 and free shipping

This is today's painting which I did for this week's Daily Paintworks Challenge, "The Creative Color Challenge". It was posted by my friend Patti Vincent to test the theory that value (darkness and lightness of shapes) is more important than color. We know that to be true but it's a good truth to practice. You still think "cat" even though the colors are playful.

Thank you for coming up with this idea for the challenge, Patti. I had fun with it and really enjoyed painting your dear Max.

Rowboats

Summer Boats, 12 x 16" oil on canvas,©2014, Fay Terry

This was a fun subject to paint on a winter day. I want to make the water a bit darker and a couple of other minor tweaks but I am happy with  this result. It's definitely time to work on some new paintings to take to my galleries at the beach.

Gotta Match?

Tea Lights, 6 x 6 " oil on archival panel, ©2014, Fay Terry

$100 includes shipping

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I like candles, especially little ones. I also like lighting matches and it is getting more difficult to collect boxed matches.  I know, I could buy them, but what fun is that?  I still love bringing them home from my travels and remembering that special restaurant or hotel. Funny, the things we like to save, but at least they are useful when you want candlelight.

Oh, by the way, yesterday's post was number 800 for me. I started this blog in February of 2011!

I still love painting and posting. On to 1000, hopefully this year.

Glass Bottle

Yellow Center, 5 x 7 " oil on panel, ©2014, Fay Terry

$100. and free shipping

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I love Daisies and it's nice to be able to buy summer flowers even in the winter.

Hope you have had a great week-end!

Honey Crisp Apples

Two Apples With Bowl, 6 x 6 " oil on panel, ©2014, Fay Terry

$100 free shipping

These are my favorite apples to eat and they are sweet and crunchy with lots of flavor. I usually have to cut off small pieces to share with my dogs since they love them, too!

Paint First, Then Eat

Winter Breakfast, 6 x 6 " oil on panel, ©2014, Fay Terry

$100 and free shipping

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I got my breakfast ready and decided I wanted to paint this grapefruit, so I ate the other half of the grapefruit and the oatmeal and took the rest upstairs to set up in my shadow box and paint. I am  happy with the result and may start using food as subject matter more frequently.

I am excited that the week-end is here and there will be more basketball to watch tomorrow when we play Boston College in Chapel Hill.

Have a wonderful week-end and thanks for all the nice comments.

Two Plus One

On The Edge, 6 x 6 " oil on gessobord, ©2014, Fay Terry

$100 includes shipping

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It's always fun to see paintings of apples because everyone has a different approach to painting them. It's always fun to set them up in the studio and paint them because they usually come out different every time you do.

I love the colors in this one with two Gala apples and one Granny Smith.

More Citrus

The Line-up, 5 x 7 " oil on linen panel,©2014, Fay Terry

$100 with free shipping

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I still have some grapefruit from a big box of oranges and grapefruit that the high school band was selling as a fundraiser.  The oranges are gone since I made Ambrosia with the ones still staying cool out in the garage.

I am the sole user of grapefruit in this house, so it may take a little while to use up. I did give some to my kids when they were here. I have always called this Pink grapefruit, but now I see it only as ruby red in the grocery store.

Thanks for viewing my art!

Warm Sun, Icy Water

Looking For A Buddy, 6 x 6 " oil on gessobord panel, ©2014

$100. free shipping

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This seagull was near the pier on Campobello Island where I took many photos of the gulls.

At the other end of the dock, there were usually six or seven birds perched together but this guy seemed to be a loner and did not venture over to where the others were. Maybe he wasn't a local there and was just visiting in Canada.

I am just in the mood to paint summer paintings after seeing the The Summer In Winter Challenge on Daily Paintworks.

Cute Bag

Surprise Inside, 5 x 7 " oil on linen panel, Fay Terry

Available at Sunset River Gallery

Calabash, NC

I usually don't save bags but I was charmed with the way my gifts to bring home were given such attractive and careful packaging. That is certainly one nice thing about shopping in Paris, where each purchase is uniquely and protectively wrapped. It's especially fun to buy art supplies,  stationery, and books, which look quite impressive by the time they have been prepared to go out the door sealed with the proprietor's special touch.

We may be getting some snow later this week, but right now it is warm and sunny!

Australian Shepherd Puppy

Walter, 6 x 6" oil on archival panel, ©2014, Fay Terry
$95. and free shipping
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Isn't this puppy the cutest ever? He belongs to my friend Carla and I know he is much larger than this now. It took me awhile to get around to painting him and I had great fun doing his portrait.

He is a Aussie with a sweet disposition and beautiful coloring. He is named for Walter Payton who played for the Chicago Bears.

Kitchen Basics

Let's Get Cookin', 5 x 7 " oil on linen panel, ©2014, Fay Terry

SOLD

This painting reminds me of how much I enjoy experimenting with new recipes along with tried and true favorites.

I have certainly been doing a lot of cooking lately, especially trying some new soup recipes. I like soup for lunch on these cold days, but it has to be homemade. The most recent recipe I tried and liked was a Tomato and Black Bean Soup recipe from a vegan cookbook. Next I am going to try curried sweet potato and parsnip soup. 

Making Progress

I worked on several paintings that I have going right now. This one is very close to finished but I made a couple of changes that I still want to work on. Sometimes you just have to stop and work on another painting and come back later. It's been a good day for painting, mostly rainy with one little peek of sun around lunchtime.

Hope you have a great week-end and I hope my team wins their basketball game tomorrow!

Go Tarheels!

Longer Days

Monhegan Rooftop, 5 x 7" oil on panel, ©2014, Fay Terry

I have been wanting to paint this small study to see if a central part of my photo might give me the effect I wanted. I am happy with it but I can't wait to do a larger, wider  version of it with more of the rooftop and some of the ocean showing. The sky was a beautiful peach color when the sun was setting behind Manana Island.

Cutting Up Apples

Braeburn On The Block, 5 x 7" oil on linen panel

DONATED

I am always cutting up apples for something so I decided I might as well paint this one while I was at it.  I cut it yesterday and got as far as the drawing before I decided it was too cold in my studio and getting dark.  Today it looked pretty fresh, but was turning somewhat yellow so I had to paint the flesh as I remembered it. At least it didn't end up in my apple crisp last night.

Almost Finished

I have been working on this painting for awhile and I am having fun painting all the fabric which is a wonderful peachy color. It has been a long time since I have paianted folds in fabric and I really want to do more of this kind of thing. I promise to get this completed before the week is over and I will post it again. There are a few other things I want to change about this painting( like the shadows under the table) so you will see it again soon.  Thanks for looking! Stay warm.

In other news, Pixie is back home and feeling better. She is a Maltese/poodle mix and loves her big sister Camden who is a Standard poodle. They hated being separated, even for a day.

Found A Home

Open The Door, 8 x 8 " oil on panel, ©2013, Fay Terry

Sold

I am so happy that this painting just sold because it is one of my favorites and is a scene from Monhegan Island. I love this dog and I hope to see him again and maybe paint him once more.

Gotta run, I have to pick up my own little Pixie from the vet where she has spent the day. She has been pretty sick, but hopefully will be getting better soon.

Öland island

Baa, Baa, Black Sheep,  6 x 6 " oil on panel, ©2014, Fay Terry

$100. free shipping

These two sheep live on a beautiful island off the coast of Sweden. It was summertime and I met an artist living there and visited her studio.  Her watercolors were beautiful and unique. When we walked outside, the sheep were watching us while they enjoyed the sunny day.

National Citrus Month

Citrus Show-Offs, 6 x 6" oil on panel, ©2014, Fay Terry

$100.  free shipping

Oranges are one of my favorite fruits and I eat one nearly every day. I get a little pushy sometimes with my family, encouraging them to eat citrus. Don't get me started on all the health benefits of citrus fruits.

 I am also fond of some other members of this category including grapefruit and, my special favorite, kumquats, which I always buy at Christmas time when they are plentiful in the stores.  If you are not familiar with these little gems, they are to be popped into your mouth without peeling and to my way of thinking they are the fruit equivalent of a "Sweet Tart" candy. No one else in my family enjoys them, however the up side is that I never have to share.

Sheep

Enjoying The Snow, 6 x 6 " oil on panel, ©2014, Fay Terry

$100. free shipping

This little lamb looks happy in the snow.  Having mom close helps, and so does having a thick wool coat. I hope all the animals in the areas that have heavy snow are safe and warm along with all the people who have been affected.

I hope we get some snow this winter in North Carolina, but not an excessive amount.

Have a great week-end and thanks for following my art.

Red Purse

Undisclosed Contents With Pears, 9 x 12" on canvas panel, ©2014, Fay Terry

This was a fast and fun painting, trying to finish this from life in a set amount of time and just barely making it.

 I do love pocketbooks!  (Something you can never have too many of.)

I would really like to be in Boston to see the John Singer Sargent watercolors at mfa like someone I know who flew up early this morning. However, in light of the big snowstorm, I am kind of glad to be where I am.

2014

Special Gift, 6 x 6 " oil on panel, ©2014, Fay Terry

How happy I am to be starting another year of daily painting and blogging! After a fantastic holiday break and quite a few days under the weather with the flu, (good thing I had my flu shot in October, right?) I am ready to fall in love with painting all over again.

I have some new ideas and insights about how I want to proceed on my art pilgrimage in 2014, so I sure hope you will travel along with me and keep me company as I post my newest daily works.

I am working on paintings for the Compass Center Art Show in Chapel Hill at Top Of The Hill, more details soon. Also, I will be donating a painting once again for the O'Neal School Auction in early February. 

Thanks for all your support and interest!