Okeechobee Blessings, Florida Landscape

 "Okeechobee Blessings"

I just finished this painting from last year.  I created it during a class as a lesson last summer. It was still unfinished and rough because I helped my students finish up their paintings.  So now I have added quite a bit more detail, including the clouds and sun.  There is also an angel in the sky.  I gave it more texture on the foliage and grass before adding the tiny details.  

This painting was created from my sketches. It is a combination of places I have been here in Okeechobee county.

~ Original Art

~ Acrylic on Canvas

~ 14 x 18 inches

~ Not Available

If you are interested in having something similar painted, please email me at fawn@fawnsartstudio.com.  I would love to put something together for you in a size you would like! (Priced by size.)

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New Every Morning, sunrise, beach, waves, sandy shore

"New Every Morning"

The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; His mercies never come 

to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.

 (Lamentations 3:22-23)

Looking for patterns in the woodgrain for sand and then using that to find the waves is quite satisfying. It is challenging to add layers for the illusion of transparent water and exciting to add the details of seafoam with its interesting patterns and shadows. 

I revisited this painting after hanging it in my bedroom for two months. (I noticed a few things I wanted to change each time I studied it.) This is risky, as I have ruined a painting and had to start over completely.  But now I bravely removed a few shadows, added more seafoam, and brightened some of the splash. I am happy I did it!

I never allowed myself to go back over a painting, thinking, "That was how I interpreted things then, and I should not change it. Don't want to risk ruining it either."  But now I find myself enhancing and correcting some of them, thinking, "It is mine, I can change it if I want!"  (The older I get the the more courageous I get! Too funny.)

This painting is framed in a floater frame. Well, sort of.  I inverted a cradled wood support and painted it to bring out the colors of the sand and then I put the painting in it as if it were a floater frame.  It turned out perfect!

ENJOY!

~ Original acrylic on cradled hardboard

~ Professional Materials

~ 12 x 12 inches (including frame)

~ $800.00 (free shipping in the US)

Click here to see more 

Email me: fawn@fawnsartstudio.com  for availability or to have something similar created.

Click here to read about the trials I have been facing this year.

Related Posts:

 "Sandy Daze"

"Morning Treasures"

 

On My Way, path, palms, cardinal

 "On My Way"

"I am the way, the truth, and the life, no one comes to the

 Father except by me."   (Jesus speaking)  John 14:6

Exploring this path at a paint-out last year gave me some amazing photos! When the sun peaked through the clouds it inspired me to catch the memory in this painting. I've worked on this painting several times in the past few months and recently put the finishing touches on it.

The Plein air works I did that day were watercolor studies from a different area of the Ancient Oaks Preserve in Fort Pierce, Florida. 

~ Exclusive Art

~ Original Acrylic on hardboard

~ Professional Materials

~ 11 x 14 inches

~ Custom Wood Frame (see below)

SOLD

Click here to see more

Related posts:

Tree Tops

Morning Path

Coming Storm, seascape, knife painting

"Coming Storm"  © Fawn McNeill 2022

This painting started as a demo for one of my children's art classes. We used different tools for different textures.  The clouds were made with crumpled paper towels dipped in paint.  The water and waves were created with a painting knife, and the sand was tapped in with a stippling brush and some knife work.

The support is a mat board that was sealed on both sides with a clear primer before we started.  Some of the dark color of the mat board peeks through.

 Love the way it came together. I went back later and finished it up with more layers and details. 

Enjoy!

• Original art
• Acrylic on mat board
• 8 x 11 inches (matted to 11 x 14)
• Suede mat (see below)
• Ready to Frame
• $500.00 (Free shipping in USA)

Email me for availability or to have something similar created in a size you want!

Click here to see more

A note about framing: Artwork on paper should be framed behind glass with a mat around it to keep it off of the glass and protect it.  This includes photographs and prints on paper.  Those on canvas or wood should not be framed behind glass.  Original oils and acrylics are usually done on canvas or wood and need to breathe.  If they are done on paper or mat board they should be framed behind glass with a mat to keep them off of the glass. (Glass can trap moisture and ruin the artwork.) 

Related Posts:

 Transparent Shore

Breathtaking Impact

Sanderlings, shore birds

 "Sanderlings"

© Fawn McNeill 2004

Drip, drip drip. Spritz the paint, tip the painting back to slow the runs, and watch the colors bleed into each other.  Way too cool.

Fun memories! Just pulled this large painting out of storage.  It is part of a 'drippy' series I did years ago.  I believe I did 10 in this style.  The paint is harder to control and similar to watercolors, but on canvas it spreads differently.  The goal is to create an abstract background and then add realism with thick paint and details over the top. This gives it more contrast in transparency against the opaqueness. 

When acrylics are thinned with water instead of with a gloss or matte medium, it is not as permanent and can be easily damaged even after it is dry. Using thin runny paint actually jeopardizes the integrity of acrylics. So I sealed it when I was finished with a few layers of semi-gloss medium and varnish to protect it. (I prefer using professional grade paints and mediums.) Once sealed, the integrity of the painting is restored.  It can be cleaned with a damp cloth if needed without lifting off any of the color.

Acrylic on canvas

24 x 30 in

Thin custom wood frame (see below)

$1,500.00 plus shipping

Click here to see more

Please email me at: fawn@fawnsartstudio.com for availability 

Beach Reflections, blue heron

"Beach Reflections"

This gorgeous sunset with vivid colors set off the silhouette of a great blue heron as he posed for my friend Carol. 

I used a palette knife for some of the dramatic highlights in the foreground, which gave the painting stronger contrast of not only the highlights but also the thick layers against the smooth brushwork.

The frame (see below) is heavily textured wood, which I slightly accented with gold throughout and then gave it a stronger gold inner lip.

Original art

Acrylic on canvas

14 x 18 inches

Unique custom frame

SOLD

Email me about having something similar created in a size you want! Fawn@fawnsartstudio.com

Click here to see more

Enjoy!

 

Palm on a biscuit, nautical art

Coconut Palm

How cool is that?  I tried waves on the shore at first, but the raised flower pattern on the sea-biscuit cried out to me, "Make a flower, or a plant, or something!"  It took a few tries to get it to look like a palm tree instead of a green flower, but it was worth the extra effort!

The sea-biscuit has an interesting texture, which I would like to explore the next time I create something on one of these.  It seems like it would make very nice seafoam and bubbles.  (See the painting below for the back of this sea-biscuit to see the texture. Click on the image to enlarge it.)  The prep for this was a little more involved: used bleach to clean it, and 3 coats of clear primer. 

~ One of a Kind Original Art

~ Acrylic Painting on a Sea-Biscuit

~ 5 1/2 x 4 1/2  inches

~ Painted and Sealed with Professional Materials

~ Front and Back are Painted and Sealed

~ Sold

Click here to see more

Back of sea-biscuit

 

Florida Sunshine, butterfly

"Florida Sunshine"

One of my favorites! I just made this small painting available in greeting cards!

The butterfly landed on the grapefruit, which had a crack in it, and the light was making him glow.  It was captivating!  I took a lot of pictures at different angles until he finally flew off.

(The original is sold.)

5 x 7 cards, blank inside, $5.00 each

Click here to see more

Email me: fawn@fawnsartstudio.com  for information about having something similar created in a size you prefer! (Also we can create: animal portraits, kids with pets or livestock, homesteads, inspirational art, etc... )  Price list by size.

Thanks for stopping by!

Click here for customer feed-back to see what others say about my work!  

Morning Path, knife painting

 

"Morning Path"

© Fawn McNeill 2021

The plants lit up when the sun hit them just right. The orange and yellow really caught my eye along this pathway. I took lots of photos. There were birds and wildlife greeting me at every turn!

I updated this little gem with a couple of palms, a bird, and a little bunny.  I also put it in this custom frame, which I painted with a lacy gold trim.  I love it!

Enjoy!

~ Acrylic on hardboard

~ Original palette knife painting
~ 5 x 7 inches 

~ Unique custom frame (see below)

~ $550.00 (free shipping in US)

~ Email me for availability (fawn@fawnsartstudio.com)

Click here to see more

                                             

Related Posts:

 On My Way

Gravel Path

Relax, beach scene, sunset, coat hanger

"Relax"

I found this wood sign in a thrift store.  Went back to it several times, but I really did not want to clean it up.  It was old, grimy, and smoke stained. It also needed some wood glue to hold the letters in place as they were coming loose.  

The scene on it was cartoonish, and the shells were dull browns. I wasn't sure it would be worth the time to clean it and prime it.   

First I repaired it, then I tried to clean it.  What a mess.  It did not come clean, even with strong cleansers and rubbing alcohol.  So I sanded it down to get most of the dirt and paint off.  Then I primed it with a couple of coats of white primer.  

The shells and starfish are made from some kind of hard plastic.  I used a special primer so the acrylic paint would not peel off.  (Acrylic paint does not like slick surfaces.)

 Now I could see it would work.  I drew my seascape on it and got the first layer of color started. That's when I knew it would be worth it! I always love painting the colors of the ocean, and this was one I could really exaggerate.  I also added some pearlescent paint to my colors on the shells and some in the painting too.  When you view it at different angles it shines.  

The idea of taking something I would have thrown away and turning it into something beautiful and valuable really made me feel good.  Made me think about how God rescues us so often, and He turns our lives around for good.

Description:

Original hand crafted art

Acrylic on wood

Coat hanger (see below)

15.5 x 8.5 inches

SOLD

Click here to see more original art

Thanks for looking!

 

Rough Shore, sand dunes, waves, mixed media

"Rough Shore"

"...in this world you will have trouble... Take heart,

 I have overcome the world!" 

 (Jesus) John 16:33

 Learned how hard it is to undo things that have been adhered to with acrylic modeling paste while I was working on this painting (off and on for the last couple of years)!  It certainly is difficult to change my mind once it has dried.  (This was one of my early experiments with mixed media.)

 I started it just before I closed my gallery and teaching center because of the pandemic.  Worked on it several times, but I struggled to resolve the texture issues that are left behind when you remove items that aren't working.

I wanted to contrast smooth areas (created with a brush) with thick areas (built up with a palette knife).  I was after the effect of waves crashing against rocks near the shore.  This proved to be quite a mess at first.  Needed to resolve texture issues and correct the size and placement of waves coming onto the shore. Finally found the effect I was after.

Then I got to have some fun! Added sea glass, beads, shells, and aquarium stones. Rearranged them several times before deciding on exactly where to place them.

I framed it in this lovely textured frame, which complements the whole effect I was trying for.  

• Original Art
• Mixed media on hardboard
• Professional materials
• 11 x 14 inches
• Textured custom frame (see below)
• SOLD

Email me if you are interested in something similar! Custom orders are priced by size.

fawn@fawnsartstudio.com

Click here to see more

Thanks for looking!

 

Sandy Daze, beach, shells, sand dollar, mixed media

"Sandy Daze"

Here is a free art lesson:

I cleaned and sealed this unusually large sand dollar, which was bleached white, before adding color to it.  I used very thin glazes of paint to get subtle value changes.  I would add color and rub it off, leaving a soft stain behind.  This made the flower shape stand out, which is what I wanted.

Next, I tried it in a wooden tray, a shadow box and on a regular canvas.  But I wanted some kind of wood support to give it more protection, without it being so deep.   This inverted cradled wood really set it off!  I liked the way I could use the edges as a frame too.  It was the perfect depth to show off the sand dollar and still give it some protection.  I primed the wood surface and then created the sandy colors for the beach.  I used professional grade acrylic modeling paste (which doesn't crack or loose its hold as easily as student grade) to adhere the sand dollar and build up thick areas of sand at the bottom.  (I added some sand color to the modeling paste before using it.) The shells in the sand gave it more balance and interest.

Painting transparent glazes (thinned paint with acrylic matte medium) for the water gave the illusion of the sand dollar being in the water instead of on top of it.  Then I used gel medium to adhere beads and create some texture for the splash.  (The texture is rendered with a palette knife by tapping gently onto the thick gel medium.)

  I used a paint brush and more opaque paint as I moved away from the sand dollar.   I love the sandy areas in the water, and put some of those back in when they disappeared. Using small detail brushes for extra shadows under the splash and under some of the shells gives it more depth.  Then small liner brushes are nice for extra details and lacey lines of seafoam. Had fun adding some pearlescent paint for extra shimmer in the water (as well as on some of the small shells at the bottom).

I painted the back and then the edges of the frame before using matte gel medium to adhere the shells to the corners.  Then I sealed the whole piece with two coats of an acrylic semi-gloss clear medium and varnish.

 I use professional-grade acrylic colors and mediums also because they have more intense hues and are thicker in viscosity. 

Feel free to email me with questions if you want to try to create a mixed-media piece of your own! 

fawn@fawnsartstudio.com

About this painting:

Mixed Media on Cradled Wood

10 x 10 x 3/4 inches

$800.00 plus shipping

Click here to see more 

Click here for another free lesson

Thanks for stopping by!

 

Seahorse, shoreline, mixed media, 3D painted plaque

Seahorse Seashore

24 x 6 inches

$850.00

A friend of mine got this plaque for me, it was varnished wood.  I had to strip it, sand it, and prime it before I could even begin painting it!  It was well worth the time and energy!  Once I started painting the blues and teals I fell in love with it.  When I added the beads and shells and more details, I wasn't sure if I would be able to part with it!

The eye is made from a small shell that had a pinkish color to it and a cool spiral pattern on it.  I turned it so the shape of the shell curved up in the back, like the eye is looking down a little. I painted black around it and added black for the pupil. I added pearlescent shine just below the eye and some tiny beads. 

I love these shells for fins!

The tail has beads and a shell, but it needed more, so I added some shallow waves to tie it in with the rest of the seahorse.

Thanks for looking!

Please email me for availability: fawn@fawnsartstudio.com

Click here to see more

 

Morning Splash, beach, seascape, watercolor

 

"Morning Splash"

I painted three of these (three tries), each a little different. (See below for how I tried to fix the sand on the first one.)  I was practicing different ideas for the sand and ended up liking the use of a tooth brush over a fan brush because the grain of the sand turned out smaller and a little easier to control. 

Watercolors are a little more difficult for me because mistakes are harder to correct.  With acrylics, I can paint over things and change my mind as often as needed.  I usually start over with watercolors if it does not capture my intended effect.  In this series, I managed to salvage the two that I was not as happy with at first, and I ended up with three nice paintings.  The one featured below has a little more depth with the extra sand dune.

Watercolor on acid-free paper

11 x 14 (including the mat)

Ready to frame (should be framed behind glass)

$500.00 (free shipping in the US)

Please email me at: fawn@fawnsartstudio.com for availability, thank you!

A note about framing: Artwork on paper should be framed behind glass with a mat around it to keep it off of the glass and protect it.  This includes photographs and prints on paper.  Those on canvas or wood should not be framed behind glass.  Original oils and acrylics are usually done on canvas or wood and need to breathe.  If artwork or photograph is done on paper or mat board it should be framed behind glass with a mat to keep the image off of the glass. (Glass can trap moisture and ruin the image.) 

Thanks for stopping by!

Click here to see more

"Morning Treasure"

watercolor

11 x 14inches (including mat)

Not available

Email me at: fawn@fawnsartstudio.com for more information.

Indian Hills Morning, palette knife, plein air painting

"Indian Hills Morning"

What a beautiful day yesterday!  Wonderful cool weather, partly cloudy, and the birds singing to me!  I haven't been able to do very many paint-outs, so I was excited to get back out there.  It was well worth the drive over!  The Plein Air Painters of the Treasure Coast met at Indian Hills Recreational Area, in Fort Pierce, Florida.

This painting turned out great, but it was actually a failed attempt at a new technique!  I wanted to use a brush to create a dark underpainting and then add the thick knife work over the top in bright colors.  I ended up painting over the underpainting entirely, so I will have to try that idea again.  I am usually a little stingy with the amount of paint I add, so I was also working on applying generous amounts of color.  I got carried away with all the thick textures.  I did like the way the underpainting gave me a guide as I slapped more blobs of paint onto the support!

Here is the painting in progress.  The palms were off to the right of my easel.  I added some more highlights and the egret when I got home.  

8 x 8 x 1 1/2 inches,

Acrylic palette knife, original Plein Air painting,

Sides are painted, framing is optional (see below),

$700.00

Click here to see more 

Please email me at: fawn@fawnsartstudio.com  for availability 

Thanks for stopping by!

Related Posts:

 Enchanted morning

Garden Falls

 

Star of the Sea, shore line, mixed media

 "Star of the Sea"

© Fawn McNeill 2020

Absolutely love this piece!  A little harder to put together, but well worth the extra effort!  I painted the outside edges and the back of the tray.   I also added a wire on the back if someone wanted to hang it on a wall instead of setting it on a shelf or table.  

Most of the objects were found at the beach, except the starfish. I found it at Walmart, all bleached white.  I painted it the colors I wanted.  Before adding it to the tray, I used a painting knife with gel medium to build up interesting textures in the sand and the water.  Then I added different shades of colors to get the textures to show up better.

Enjoy!

Exclusive Art

Original Handcrafted

Mixed Media

8.5 x 11 x 2.5 inches

$225.00 plus shipping

See it on YouTube

Click here to see more 

Email me: fawn@fawnsartstudio.com  for availability.

Deep Calling, shells on the shore, mixed media

"Deep Calling"

Deep calls to deep at the noise of your waterfalls; All your waves and billows have gone over me. The LORD will command His lovingkindness in the daytime, and in the night His song shall be with me—a prayer to the God of my life.  Psalm 42: 7-8

This painting went through a few phases.  It started with an underwater scene, which became very dark and uninviting.  So then I added more sand and deep blue water to get a better bird's eye view of the transparent water on the shore, which has been a recurring theme for me lately.  I love the challenge of getting things under the water to show up and still capture the feeling of movement in the water.  Plus I love finding shells and sea glass at the beach.

I used the brush for most of the painting and then used a palette knife to build up some interesting textures in the waves and sand.  I used gel medium for the thicker impasto areas, and then did a dry brush technique with white paint to enhance it. 

I decided to add found objects after leaving it alone for a few days.  (I wasn't sure if it was finished yet.) I set a few on and took them off.  I didn't want to take away from the painting.  But in the end the little girl in me showed up and dictated the outcome!

I finally adhered the seashells and the aquarium stones with gel medium.  Something about that always makes me laugh.  I feel like a kid while arranging them.  I think it has something to do with breaking all the rules of fine art and making something more of a fine craft.  I was never crafty, and I was taught that it devalues the painting when it looks more like a craft project.  However, I have found it to be a wonderful expression of art, and I feel comfortable with lowering my prices on the mixed media pieces.  This is because they are smaller works for the most part, and they don't take as long to create compared to all the hours of adding tiny details to my realistic paintings.

10 x 10 x 1 1/2 inches

Mixed Media on cradled hardboard

(Painted sides, framing is optional.)

Sold

Enjoy!

Click here to see more

Email me: fawn@fawnsartstudio.com  for information about having your own custom painting created! (Animal portraits, kids with pets or livestock, homesteads, vistas, inspirational art, etc... )  
Price list by size.

RELATED POSTS:  

 "New Every Morning"

"Blessed"

Along the Boardwalk, seascape, mixed media

 "Along the Boardwalk" © 2019

9x12 inches Mixed Media

Acrylic on canvas

SOLD

Last year I reworked this painting from a few years ago. The sea-grapes definitely needed some attention.  I enhanced the shadows and added more detail to the boardwalk and the sandy path.   I couldn't wait to add some charms and beads in the flowers! I camouflaged them well, so they are not noticeable until you see them at an angle.  It catches the light and then you want to look for others.  I also added a few shells.  I love the way it turned out!

I made a custom frame in rustic wood, which complements the boardwalk perfectly.  (See below).

I would love to create a painting for you!

I am accepting orders for custom paintings for another week.  If you want something before Christmas we need to get started!  I will need more than a month for large paintings.  

Click here to see more

Email me: fawn@fawnsartstudio.com  for information about having your own custom painting created! (Animal portraits, kids with pets or livestock, homesteads, vistas, inspirational art, etc... )  
Price list by size.