Under Wraps

Glittering Gift, 6 x 6" oil on archival panel, ©2013, Fay Terry

$100. includes shipping

This is one of my Christmas gifts from my dear friend, Birgitta.  I know that it contains Belgian chocolates so I am not opening it just yet since it will be tempting.  After a few more days of really healthy eating and avoiding sweets, I will begin enjoying it slowly and maybe even sharing it with my family.

This was really fun to paint and thanks, Goran, for the photo!

New Kettle

Tea Time, 6 x 6" oil on archival panel, ©2013, Fay Terry

available at Visual Art Exchange, Raleigh

I have a new kettle for my newly renovated kitchen and I bought it because the color is called "Ocean".

It does go well with the new paint color on the walls, which is called "Sea Salt".  Do you sense a pattern here?  You are right if you think that I cannot resist anything which has to do with the beach.  I do tend to choose paint based on the name of the color once I have it narrowed down to three or four options.

I did not get the color just right in this painting, it actually has a little more blue in it. I am enjoying my new cooking space so much, especially after almost a month of eating out every night.

This is my second painting for the 30 paintings in 30 days challenge.  So far so good.

Thirty Day Challenge Begins

Birthday Boots, 6 x 6" oil on archival panel, ©2013, Fay Terry

$100 includes shipping

This is the first painting for the thirty paintings in thirty days challenge that I am doing with Leslie Saeta and about 250 other artists.  It is going to be fun! I did not choose a theme because I prefer to just see what evolves as I go.

Happy New Year!

I want to wish all of you a very Happy New Year!  I also want to thank you for following my art on this blog and for all the wonderful support you have given to me this year. It has been a fabulous art year for me with shows, travel, meeting new friends, and learning so much.

There are good things coming our way in 2013, a brand new year which contains unlimited potentiality.  I have a strong sense that this is going to be a wonderful twelve months ahead of us. Every year brings new challenges and in these we often find our best opportunities.

In looking back over my blog posts for 2012, I thought I might choose my favorite painting for the year, but that was far too difficult so I chose the one that most reminds me of the best way to grow as an artist, and that is to accept challenges and step out in faith to try new things.  The painting below was done last February from a challenge by one of my favorite artists, Terry Miura.  At first, I wasn't going to try painting from the photo he provided on his blog because it looked too difficult and was a subject I had never tried. Well, I did it and was glad.

Tomorrow I will be starting a challenge from Leslie Saeta to do 30 paintings in thirty days.  Check out her blog and you will be amazed at how many people are signed up already to do the challenge.  I am really looking forward to it.

Three Shiny Objects

Tabletop Reflections, 6 x 6" oil on archival panel, ©2012, Fay Terry

It's so nice to paint without thoughts of many things that must be done by a certain time.  There is always plenty for us to do but I am happy all the holiday chores, such as wrapping presents and mailing cards are no longer on my mind. Painting can now take precedence and that's the way I like it.

I am looking for more colorful glass and hope I can find some blue, purple, and amber glass.  I guess beer and wine bottles might be fun to paint, but I really want dishes and drinkware.

I hope you have great plans for New Year's Eve, whether it's a quiet evening or a big party.  

More Colored Glass

Cranberry Glass Admiring Green Dish, 6 x 6" oil on archival panel,©2012, Fay Terry

Today I decided to add another glass color, using a Cape Cod Cranberry glass from my grandmother's collection.  The shadows and reflections are so unique and fun to paint. I wish I had more colors of glass to try out. 

One of my favorite artists, Brenda Ferguson, almost always works in series and I have wanted to paint in series for quite a while so I am hoping this glass  painting will lead me to another idea to try next.

I hope you are enjoying this holiday week and looking forward to the new year as much as I am.  It always feels like a fresh start and I love knowing that the days are getting longer.

Glass Dish

Lemon In Back, 6 x 6 " oil on archival panel, ©2012, Fay Terry

Today I decided to work on painting colored glass. I found this cute little green glass bowl at the Habitat store and finally got around to using it in a still life.  I love using two solid objects and one translucent one since they all have interesting shadows.

I am also working on composition and having at least one object going off the edge, in this case two.  I love the little triangle of red in the back corner.

One Of My Favorite Things

Mugshot, 6 x 6 " oil on archival panel, ©2012, Fay Terry

I love this mug which magically appears full of coffee each morning on my nightstand while I am still getting my eyes open. My husband is such a thoughtful guy and he knows how much I love that early morning coffee.  So while he goes to work-out downstairs every day, I settle into an upright position and enjoy the warmth of fresh coffee before my feet hit the floor.  What could be better than that?

The holidays have been wonderful and now I am officially back at work in my studio so I plan to resume my predictable daily schedule so that you can enjoy more new paintings.

I have lots of new ideas and I am full of enthusiasm for art in the new year.  

Thanks for all your comments, purchases, and encouragement in 2012!

Counting The Days

Christmas Camellias, 8 x 8 x 1.5" oil on gallery wrapped canvas, ©2012, Fay Terry

Everything is falling into place here as the beehive of construction activity winds down and these flowers are going to be adorning our new kitchen as soon as the freshly refinished floor is dry.  I can hardly wait to try out my new gas oven by baking cookies and bread in the next few days.

I loved getting time in my studio to paint these flowers, arranged in one of my favorite handmade pottery vases.  It felt so good to be reminded of the beauty in nature and of flowers that bloom even in the winter.

I hope you find something beautiful to look at today!

Sunny Day

Sunshine On A Plate, 6 x 6 " oil on panel, ©2012, Fay Terry

I have been buying oranges and enjoying them for afternoon snacks. This blue really makes the orange color glow.  

My studio has good light but I usually enjoy working there on a day that really good light is coming in the windows. Today is the exact opposite of yesterday's grayness and rain.  The sun is shining brightly and it is almost seventy degrees. 

I hope you enjoy this bright painting of one of my favorite fruits!