Taking Time from Being Busy Busy Busy....

Hello Friends!

It's been awhile! Life is happening as with everyone else.... Busy, busy, busy.....and I just want to slow down....... 

Well, one big piece of news is that the shop I have a booth in decided to close!!  It was a surprise to all 27 merchants....and right before Christmas.  Eeek!!  The bad news is that we have  ALL have of our merchandise out by the 21'st of December.  The good news is, I get to slow down!! yay!!  and breath, and enjoy the Season!!

Now here is my slowdown version of slowing down....My Etsy shop is back!  This time instead of all art, there will be some fun vintage/antique finds for sale.  I decided to add the vintage because its a part of what I love to do.  Pick/junk/find.....repeat.  Our home has a nice mix of new and vintage, mostly items that are passed down from family, but also not cluttered with too many things...some collections definitely, just not overdone.

Below are some of the things you will find in my Etsy shop.  If you want,  go check it out and give it a 💚.  I appreciate everyone who has supported me over the years with purchasing, encouraging words or simply showing up!! It really means a lot to us small business people!!  

Barclay Skier dude.  I'm letting him loose on Etsy!  look these up!  the skaters are my favorites I decorate with around a vintage tinsel tree.  

Of course I'm still hooked on painting vintage Bingo Cards! 

 

These little scrappy tree ornaments  are made out of vintage Sugar Sacks! and also vintage buttons that I have collected for years, as well as scrap material.  These where fun to make.  I'm not a seamstress and these are pure randomly stitched and some embroidery. They would also be fun with some ribbon on gift packages. 

I found some pretty Christmas cards in an antique shop.. This one has an almost silky fabric texture to it and sweet graphics of a toasty fireplace setting....inside say's "The Season's best wishes and a New Year of Happiness"  Walter and Edna

Whoever Walter and Edna where, I give the same sentiments to you all as I will be having a slowdown version of slowing down... and at the pace that I blog here, it will be next year.  Maybe.  

Cheers to slowing down, and Thank YOU!!

Renee

Master Painting- The Goldfinch

 

The Goldfinch - Master painting study by Renee Brennan Art ~ 

 8'x10" oil on canvas board

Trying something a little different. Painting the masters!  Wow, it is so much fun and  interesting to push paint around that mimics a painter such as Dutch Master Carel Fabritius  1622 -1654  

It's such a great learning tool to concentrate the subtle color changes of his brushstrokes.

I did leave out the chain on the birds leg as in the original. (see below).  There is a tutorial by

Miss Mustardseed on how to paint this.  Her's turned out wonderful...AND she has other > tutorials < Check it out!  (I did print out a copy to go by as well) ;)

Here is the original painting with signature and chain on birds leg.  

Carel was born in the Netherlands 1622.  

He was a pupil of Rembrandt during the Dutch Golden Age movement

Fabritius died at the age of 32, in 1654, the same year as his painting.  

He was caught in an explosion that left a large portion of Delft in rubble.

His painting now in the collection of the Mauritshuis in The Hague, Netherlands.   

I hope to visit someday.

Another note is Author Donna Tartt wrote a thriller book about this painting 

and has been adapted into a movie.  Both called The Goldfinch- of course!

 

Bingo Paintings

Bingo Paintings

What to do with all those vintage Bingo cards one has been hoarding? 

 Hmmmm paint on them.  Why not?  They make a nice little painting surface!

I purposly didn't completely prime them and was just playing around. After all playing and not worrying about end result is much more interesting right?

 First, I started using oils and then switched to 

Golden Open Acrylics (more on these below)

I liked the effect that the Bingo numbers and letters peaked through.  

What do you think?

Lake & Nest paintings. 

A few left in my Etsy Shop

Sold all of the Cherries but will add more in my Shop at 

The Front Porch and on Etsy soon!

A few thoughts on using Golden Open Acrylics.

As a painter who loves oils, I'm so happy to finally try them.

They are SLOW DRYING, which is the definate benefit when being used to oils.

They mix together nicely and I even used an Open Thinner which extended the drying time a bit more.  Yay!

I started with the basic color kit from Dick Blick and added a few more colors that I like to use such as Panes Gray and some of the Umbers.

SO, in short I do recommend giving these a try! 

One More Shop! The Front Porch

Sooo just like I needed one more thing to do...

haha I go and move into another little shop!!

Well it's a shop within a shop.  I just LOVE this place!! 

It's called Front Porch Goods, in Muskegon Michigan.   

Full of awesome vendors who are pickers and makers just like me.  

I'm more a maker/artist but it's a great mix and I'm having FUN!

 So this shopping season Shop Small, Shop Local, make a Maker do a happy dance when they make a sale!!  I do!! 

Renee Brennan Art at Front Porch Goods

on Instagram

Custom Pet Portraits by

Renee Brennan Art

Watch for more listings on my Etsy page soon and as alway's 

THANK YOU for following my on my slow moving journal we call a blog ;D

The 30/30 Collage

Almost 30 Painting's in 30 Day's Collage

by Renee Brennan Art

Ok so here is the final "TA DA"  

Just a couple of thoughts... doing this for the 4th time.

1.  Carve out more time but if you can't don't stress!

2.  My motto was written on that coffee mug "make it happen" and most importantly "Do it for the Process"!

3.  Yes I faked a couple...my son's Heart painting and the little Teacart. 

haha needed something to go into my little local shop.

4. Grateful for family, friends and new friends genuinely interested in following along!  Thank you!  and Thanks to our host Leslie Saeta who let us upload to her 30/30 page every day.

5. The hardest part was doing all the blogging, posting on FB, & Instagram...Now catching up putting on Etsy...whew!  

6.  It really was fun!

Day 30 - Morning Peonies

Morning Peonies

8"x8" Acrylic on canvas board

by Renee Brennan Art
Available on Etsy

Day 30 - Of the 30 Painting's in 30 Day's Challenge

Whew!!  I did it (minus a couple)  

That was a blast and I hope you enjoyed getting a daily dose of flowery art. 

There wasn't a live model for these lovely peonies but instead I found a beautiful reference photo by Cathy Casey on a site called - Paint my Photo.  She has many wonderful shots of all kinds of flowers.  Also on the site are many other photographers with all kinds of photo's from automobiles to zoo animals.  You can check it out here PMP.  

I also wanted to thank artist Leslie Saeta for hosting this challenge again despite her super busy life.  She is a blogging of her 100 Year Old Home...(it's so pretty!), this lady paints', has a family,  social media guru and OH she also has a radio podcast called Artist's Helping Artist's which is nice to listen to while painting!  I don't know how she does it but THANK YOU LESLIE!!

Stay tuned for the collage of all the painting's tomorrow.

I also will be listing some on my Etsy Shop!!

Day 29 - Tiny Petals

Tiny Petals

6"x6" Acrylic on canvas board

by Renee Brennan Art
Available on my Etsy Shop

Day 29 - 30 Painting's in 30 Day's Challenge.  

Yay!  right?

This is my 4th time participating and I do it because 

#1. I desperatly need practice.

#2.  I have a few pieces to sell...hopefully:)

#3.  I LOVE it!  

If you want to see the 30/30 collages from the past click here

2014, 2015, 2016,

Stay tuned for tomorrow's last painting and then a collage.

I will be listing some of these in my Etsy shop soon.

Do it for the process!!

Day 26 - I Love Tulips!

I Love Tulips!  TBM

8x6 Oil

by Renee Brennan Art

Day 26 - 30/30 Challenge got away from me due to things out of my control,
SO here is a TBM (throw back Monday).

  I painted this one a couple of years ago. One of my favorites!! 

Blank cards with this image you can find here in my Etsy Shop. 

I have a suprise for you when the 30 day's are up...stay tuned

Day 25 - Peonies in Blue Pottery

 Peonies in Blue Pottery

8x10 

by Renee Brennan
Available in my Etsy Shop

 Detail

Day 25 - of this 30 Painting's in 30 Day's Challenge.. Almost there!

I swiped these from my daughter's room.  She had a little silk bouquet of these pretty peonies in a little blue pottery piece that she swiped from me.  

It's ok...we like to share :)

Tried to keep this loose and a bit more impressionistic.  

Sometimes I get obsessed when trying to paint too realistic.  

I agonize over shadows and every little detail...so much more relaxing when there is a self imposed deadline and painting quicker!

Do it for the process right?

Day 24 - Red Tulips

Red Tulips in Old Coffee Pot

10"x20" gallery wrap canvas

Acrylic

By Renee Brennan

The set up

Day 24 - 30 Painting's in 30 Day's Challenge

How can you go into Trader Joe's and not buy flowers?

You can't.  It's not a joke.  The temptation is real!   haha

Anyway, here they are. Still needs some background work. 

The most difficult part still are painting the dang leaves and stems! 

The coffee pot I've painted before.

 It's from my husband when he was on board the Aircraft Carrier, 

USS Ranger CV-61, or as he say's  CV -by God 61 !! 

After it's final cruise before decommisioning, the Officer's got to take a piece of it's history and he chose this coffee pot from the Ward room.  It's probably about 60 yrs old.  I just love all the patina on it!!  

Day 22 - Mystery Flowers

Mystery Flowers

8x10 Acrylic

by Renee Brennan
Available on My Etsy Shop

Day 22 - 30 Paintings in 30 Day's Challenge.

It's a mess but that's ok.

Do it for the process.  

Day 21 - Pretty Petals

Pretty Petals

8x10 Acrylic

by Renee Brennan

Day 21 - 30/30 Challenge.

I don't even know what kind of flowers these are because 

they were just in my head.  

The one in forefront is how I feel today...a little sluggish.

Need a good night's sleep....these Winter Olympics are keeping me up too late!!

Do it for the process.  

Day 19 - Pink Tulips

Pink Tulips

Acrylic

by Renee Brennan 

the set up - Live Tulips!!

Day 19 - 30 Painting's in 30 Day's -  This should count as Day's 17 & 18 because I was actually working on it then!

When I started this one I had some sunlight shining on the flowers then of course the sun moved and it kept changing...I know better but was too lazy to get out a ladder and block it out.  By the next day the open flower had of course changed again!  Made some adjustments and here ya go!!

Do it for the process right?

Edit: This painting has been STOLEN.
It has been reported to authorties and if ever found please contact me.

Day 15 - Pretty Pinks

Pretty Pinks 

8"x10" Acrylic

by Renee Brennan 

Available on Etsy

detail

Day 15 - 30 Paintings in 30 Day's Challenge hosted by Artist Leslie Saeta.

1/2 way there!  

This painting was kind of a mashup of other's from last week.  

Still loving this pallete of colors.  In the past I usually am obsessed with the glass and shadow's.  This time around I'm not worrying about it at all.  It's not all technically correct and that ok with me as I wanted to try painting loosly and quicker.  Much more fun!

Do it for the process :)

Day 11- Just a Daisy

Just a Daisy

6x6 Acrylic

Renee Brennan

Day 11- of the 30 Paintings in 30 Day's Challenge. 

 No Flower model today so I used a website called Paint My Photo.  It's a great photo reference site that photographers allow artist's to use their photo's as long as you reference the source like I did here >  by EvyMiller  PMP.  

 Oh yes the daisy!!  well mostly what I would say about it is that WHITE and all shades of white drive me crazy!!  

Also, I have a dog named Miss Daisy and she is crazy too.

Day 10 - Peony & Buds

Peony and  Buds

12"x18" Acrylic 

Available in my Etsy Shop

The set up.

Day 10 - 30 Paintings in 30 Day's Challenge.

I didn't have any live Peonies so I used an older painting from about 2005 shown on the right.  I liked the flowers in it.  The white jar thingy in the back is wonky and sometimes older paintings get a redo.  Glad I didn't redo because it worked as a decent model!  :)

Day 8 - Tulip Bouquet

Tulip Bouquet

8x8 Acrylic

by Renee Brennan Art
Available on Etsy 

Day 8 - of the 30 Paintings in 30 Day's Challenge. 

I didn't have any live model tulips but painted this one

from a photo of some I got for Mother's Day a couple years ago.

SO what happened to Day 7?  are you paying attention?  

Didn't think so.  No worries.  If you really want to see 

click on the painted furniture tab :) 

Day 6 - Pink Flowers in Jar

Pink Flowers in Jar

4x6 Acrylic by 

Renee Brennan Art

Day 6 of the 30 Paintings in 30 Day's Challenge hosted by artist Leslie Saeta.

I had this canvas panel already primed a nice orangy/red background.  For some reason I decided to just leave it as is for now......I may change it later and claim another painting! hehe.

Day 5 - Pink flowers in Blue Jar

Pink Flowers in Blue Jar

Acrylic 6"x8"
Available on Etsy

Day 5 - 30 Paintings in 30 Day's Challenge.

Not used to acrylics but I like how you can make a "wash" with them.

Have been using up all of my paints...from professional quality to cheap crafty paint.  The only real bummer is they dry out quicker than oils.  

No worries.

Do it for the process!

Day 4 - Peonies in Blue Jar

Peonies in Blue Jar

Acryilic

Available on my Etsy Shop 

The set up. plastic flowers. Yes plastic. 

I'm not a fan but they are good models and don't wilt. 

I added more pink than what they really were.

This is day 4 of the 30 Paintings in 30 Day's challenge.

Oh boy it's good to be up in the art room playing again!