New Energy for the New Year

"It's A Wonderful Life" 07

 10x8 Oil NFS

Renee Brennan 

Happy New Year Everybody!

I will be starting a new challenge  called 30 paintings in 30 day's

hosted by Leslie Saeta beginning Jan 1, 2014. 

 Hopefully I will have not knocked 

myself out thinking what the heck did I get myself into,  

and have a painting posted by the 2nd and so on for 30 day's.  

Oh did I mention there are about 300 other artists also joining in, 

 so it should be like a big painting party right? 

Wish me luck.

  Yikes!

On the Easel

2 weeks ago I had the opportunity to take yet another workshop with Abbey Ryan at the 

John F. Peto Studio Museum in Island Heights, NJ.  

It is a lovely restored home/studio of the artist who was known for Tromp l'oeil (to fool the eye). 

 Peto's props where all over the home as well as a gallery upstairs which had an amazing Tromp l' oeil exhibit including 3 pieces of Abbey's.  One of the props that caught my eye was a ceramic beer bottle just like the one I had brought from home, so I knew I had to use it.  

Thank you Vintage Stew for selling me that bottle!

The small unfinished painting in the middle is from the workshop.  Abbey helped me get the correct colors of the pear and there were supposed to be some figs on the right...those got scrubbed out.  SO  it was used as a study for a larger painting when returning home.  I used the same props from the workshop except added an old green book, and yes that is the same pear.   

 

This is my alomost finished 12x16 version.  I think it needs a little tweeking on the symetry of the bottle and not sure what else yet, so going to let it sit a few more day's...  Thoughts and comments are welcome.

This finished painting is available framed $300 please contact Renee Brennan

"Let's Play"!

My Wall for the "Harvest of Artist's" Show at
Greenstreet Gardens.
It was HOT setting up the show  but opening day, the
weather magically turned to fall.  Very happy for that!

"Hear No"  8x8 oil Sold
 Giclee print available  

"See No"  8x8 Oil - Sold
Giclee print available  

"Speak No"  8x8 0il - Sold
Giclee print available 

"Let's Play!"  12x4 oil
Sold

"Mr. Red Robot"  10x20 oil
Available $200
Giclee prints also available
contact Renee Brennan

Getting Ready and the Color Red

As usual, I am down to the wire getting ready for an upcoming show.  Partly because I am co chairing it and partly because I just can't stop painting!

  Multi tasking and painting are not a very good idea, paint on my keyboard, paint on the dog, phone, ugh!  Here is the largest painting,  "Red Wagon" to go along with the "Red Robot".   Loving RED right now!

The Show is Muddy Creek Artist's Guild "Harvest of Artist's"
 Sept 13-15 at Greenstreet Gardens, Lothian MD

Mr. Robot

6x8 oil $150 framed

"Mr. Robot" is the inspiration for painting a retro toy series, 

to be shown at the next Muddy Creek Artist show in September.   

I adopted him from a fun little store called 

Vintage Stew in Deale, MD. 

 The top photo is him in progress at my good friend Barbara Moore's studio. 

 I had my Ipad,  a printed out version and the "live" model. 

 Live works best for accurate color.  

What do you think?

"The Day Sailor" Revisited

"The Day Sailor" Oil   20 x 16  NFS

I painted "The Day Sailor"  couple of years ago for my husband Casey.

 He loves this painting, not only because it was a painting for him, of him, and his boat,  

but of more what it represents to him.

Serenity, Calm, Stress Free and Freedom are some of the adjectives that come to mind when he or we are out there sailing on the Chesapeake Bay. 

 I call it his girlfriend.  Her name is Patriot.

 See the American Flag on the stern?  He will not leave the dock unless his colors are flying. 

 No kidding.

Where am I going with this post you say?  It is a stretch but,

HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY!!

From Rain Barrel Renee To Propane Tank Painter?

So you know those gianamic propane tanks that some of us have on the side of our homes?

Well I have one, but these are not mine.  I  got commissioned to paint "something" on them.

I had done this design before on some Rainbarrels (see pages to the right)

Mr. Van Gogh has inspired these with his Iris & Poppy paintings.  

I think they look much better than boring ole white don't you?

 Before

 After, Ta Da!

Losing my Marbles!

"Jar of Marbles" 8x10 Oil Sold

This week I was going to post about our upcoming group artshow with the Muddy Creek Artists Guild. 

The Artist's on the Halfshell show is the show where we all have to have new work.  Good thing right?  Yes and no.  Yes because it keeps us fresh and on our toes...well me at least, and No because I have no time for anything else but getting ready for it.  I wanted to post 10 of my new pieces starting with "Jar of Marbles"  So here it is.  Never coming back to my house because it SOLD!  Here are 2 more from the marble group.   More later...maybe :)

"Marble Duo" 4x4 Oil  SOLD!

"Marble Trio" 4x4 Oil 

Available $60 framed

Video from Abbey Ryan Workshop

10x8 oil by Renee Brennan

Last Fall while participating in a workshop at Artists of Yardley (AOY) 

 Artist Abbey Ryan, had her cousin Colin put together

a very nice video highlighting her workshop.

This was my setup and painting, so much fun going alla prima!

Sneak Peek of Spring on the Eisel

"Daisy" in progress  oil on canvas panel 7x5

I am so ready for Spring!  

With our new works show coming up in May I felt like 

a Spring flower was just the thing to paint...now I have to admit

MY daisy's are still in the ground and I'm not going to tell where I got this one from. 

More to come later! 

If you sign up to recieve blog posts I promise not to fill your

mailbox with them...as you can see this is a slow moving painting journal.

"Sugar Bowl and a Cutie"

"Sugar Bowl and a Cutie"  6x6 oil 

by Renee Brennan $150 framed

  

This painting I did in spirit of the Glass Challenge on 

the Daily Paintworks website.

Having never attempted painting cut glass, 

I found it kind of fun to do.

The reflections are fragmented, and I think it looks interesting.  

What do you think?

"Good Morning"

"Good Morning"  6x8 Oil sold

by Renee Brennan

This painting should be called "Mikes Morning Ritual"

 because it really is! 

 My step-son Mike, is a certified coffee nut, I mean guru, ha ha sorry Mike. 

 I do admit he himself makes an amazing cup of coffee

 from his favorite brand called Ritual.  He has all these gadgets for measuring, grinding, timing and POURING thee PERFECT cup.  If you want to sneak in creamer, forget it!!  NOT allowed!  Once you taste coffee prepared this way called a pour- over, it is clear as to why creamer is a no no.  

While visiting him in NYC this summer, Mike took my husband and I to his favorite coffee shop called Sweetleaf in Long Island City.  This was my little shot of espresso and sparkling water...I forgot why we had the water,  probably just to clear the pallette, so please forgive me,  I am still in coffee training.

This painting was also submitted to the Daily Paintworks challenge Paint your Mug.  It was why I took the photo in the first place!  cards & print are available by contacting me.  

A Pear

"A Pear"  6x6 oil on panel

by Renee Brennan
$150 available framed

I painted this one in the Fall from a still life set up in my
"studio"...uh hem kitchen.
 I really wanted to paint something for the New Year but the truth is,  I need some inspiration, motivation, inclination and all that.
SO( a pear antly) this girl needs a trip to a museum soon!