Blessed written in sand, beach, painted on wood

"Blessed"

I grinned and held back a laugh as I watched someone try to run his fingers in the "groves" because he thought the letters were carved out. This is a fantastic illusion! It is all paint, nothing was carved out of the wood.  

I love the curve and the softer colors in the letters.  Captured a bit of perspective too.  

This board has rough bark across the bottom, which I used as dirt and sand. 

ENJOY!

• Exclusive, original art
• Acrylic on wood
• 5 x 12 inches
• Sides and back are painted and sealed with professional materials
• Wired for hanging
• $255.00 (free shipping in USA) 

Email me at: fawn@fawnsartstudio.com for availability

Click here to see more 

 

Bark edge

Side

Related posts:

"Beach Reflections"

Sandy Daze

At G-36, rim canal, knife painting

"At G-36"

© Fawn McNeill 2010

I recently framed this small painting in a custom gold frame to set off the foreground. 

En Plein Air (out on location), I did this a few years ago at lock G-36 on the rim canal.   It was my first try at painting with a palette knife on location.  I had painted with knives before, but not from start to finish while working En Plein Air.

It was early morning and very windy, which made the whole project more of a challenge. I was quite happy with the outcome! 

ENJOY!

• Original palette knife painting
• Acrylic on hardboard
• 8 x 10 inches
• Unique gold frame 
• $295.00 (Free Shipping in USA)

Click here to see more 

Related Posts:

 "Big Lake Sunset"

Indian Hills Morning

 

A Rose is a Rose

"A Rose is a Rose"

© Fawn McNeill 2007

 

While remodeling and organizing things this past year, I am also reframing some of the gems I find in storage.  

This is one of my Daily Paintings, back when I challenged myself to create about 5 paintings a week! Most of them were small, and many were quite impressionistic because I did them en Plein Air (on location) or alla prima (all in one session). This painting took a couple of sessions as I took my time to add more detail to it.

I love this frame. It reminds me of something you might see in a museum.  A quality frame can set off a painting, complimenting and enhancing it.  A frame also helps protect the artwork. This is essential if you have art created on paper or photos that you want to preserve.  These should be framed behind glass, with acid-free matting to slow down the aging process and to keep the art or prints off of the glass.  

• Original art
• Acrylic on hardboard
• 5 x 7 inches
• Elaborate gold frame (has a greenish tint to it)
• SOLD

Click here to see more 

Email me at: fawn@fawnsartstudio.com for availability

Related Posts:

Wedding Roses

 Out Front

Wedding Roses, white roses

 

"Wedding Roses" 

© Fawn McNeill 2007

Here is another one I just reframed.  I think this fancy frame is perfect for it!  

Click here to see the original post.

This is another one of Kathy Papasso's frames that have been on sale at the Okeechobee Arts and Culture Alliance.  Her husband donated her equipment and frames (and many of her paintings) after she passed away from COVID last year.

It brings me comfort and joy to use her frames.

• Original art
• Acrylic on hardboard
• 5 x 7 inches
• Elaborate silver frame
• $125.00 (Free shipping in USA)

Email me for availability: fawn@fawnsartstudio.com

Click here to see more 

Enchanted Morning, water lilies, great egret

"Enchanted Morning" 

© Fawn McNeill 2010

Just reframed this little favorite painting.  I did it on location (en plein air) quite a few years ago at White City Park, in Fort Pierce, Florida.  White City Park has always been one of the best places to do a paint-out.  It is hard to decide where to set up my easel!  By the river or near a pond, it doesn't matter because every painting turns out amazing.  

This is one of Kathy Papasso's frames I purchased at the Okeechobee Arts and Cultural Alliance.  Her husband donated her equipment and frames (and many of her paintings) after she passed away from COVID last year.

It brings me comfort and joy to use her frames.

Enjoy!

• Original Plein Air painting
• Acrylic on canvas
• 8 x 10 inches
• Elaborate gold frame
• $325.00 (free shipping in the USA) 

Email me for availability: fawn@fawnsartstudio.com

Click here to see more art

Related Posts:

Indian Hills Morning

Early Reward

 

Serene Beach, shoreline, accent table, solid wood furniture

"Serene Beach"

© Fawn McNeill 2022

 

This is my first piece of furniture.  I started it two years ago!  I was working on it just before COVID shut everything down and I had to close my gallery.  Most everything has been in storage since.  

Lately, we've been remodeling, and I've been cleaning things out.  It has been good to finish up some older projects.

Originally I did a practice painting ("Invitational") on a canvas after ordering the table. Wanted to figure out how to make the woodgrain appear to be sand under the transparent water and to gain some confidence that I wouldn't add too much paint and lose the woodgrain.  It took a few tries to get the effect I wanted.  (See below.)

I left more sandy areas on this painting because I loved the wood grain showing through.  It required thin layers of paint, so I used a matte medium instead of water to make the paint transparent. I also added more seafoam than on the practice painting.  Just got carried away.  

I used a semi-gloss finish, sanding between each coat with fine-grade sandpaper. Five coats of finish! It made a beautiful hard surface that should not scratch easily.

• One-of-a-kind, hand-made original.
• Acrylic painting on a custom-made table.
• Solid wood accent table (a little taller than a coffee table).
• 5 coats of clear sealer.
• 22W x 40L x 21 H inches.
• SOLD

Click here to see more

"Invitational" 

© Fawn McNeill 2020

Acrylic on canvas

12 x 24 inches

Sold

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
• $175.00 (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 

Healing Shores, sunset beach

 

"Healing Shores" 

© 2019 by Fawn McNeill

I created this for a friend  a few years ago. I love these colors and the angel hiding in the clouds. 

I just made this image available in greeting cards. (The original is not available.)  Published from an original acrylic painting.

Cards: 5 x 7 inches, blank inside, $5.00 each

Email me at: Fawn@fawnsartstudio.com for more info, or to have something similar created in a size you prefer.

Click here to see more

Thanks for stopping by!

To and Fro, beach, crabs, waves

 "To and Fro"

Palette knife painting on a small wooden plank.  This was actually a failed attempt at transparent layers of water rushing up over the sand.  The wood grain was perfect for the sand and made interesting patterns that I wanted to exaggerate.  But the wood its self was damaged in a quite a few places and the thin layers of paint exaggerated the odd scars in the wood, which went in the opposite direction of what I was trying to achieve.

So I squished out large blobs of paint and took my palette knife and covered the scarred wood with wonderful mixtures and textures!  I added some pearlescent paint in the water and two little crabs running back and forth on the beach, which made me laugh.  Good memories.

About this painting:

Acrylic knife painting

(mixed media)

Wood support, wired and ready to hang

12 x 5.5 inches

SOLD

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

$270.00 plus shipping

Click here to see more original art

Click here for another free lesson

Thanks for stopping by!

 

Blessed Shores, painted bowl, seascape, angels

"Blessed Shores"

I found this interesting bamboo bowl at a thrift store.  It goes perfectly with my seascape theme.   The painting is small, and the large bamboo sides of the bowl frame it out dramatically.  

I painted it with thoughts about when I lived on Guam, where I graduated from high school.  I was part of a youth group that put together island adventures frequently.  We explored hiking trails that led to hidden waterfalls, swam in crystal clear pools in deep caves, and had many beach parties and retreats.  Amazing memories!

This bowl was in rough shape.  I cleaned it up and repaired the broken corners before priming the bottom. The bamboo was gray and dingy at first, so after I cleaned it up (with alcohol) the colors came back to a warm brown tone, which I loved.  From there I tried to use similar colors in the sand to give it harmony.  The angels were added for symbolism of my new found faith as a teenager.

Enjoy!

Acrylic in a bamboo bowl

image: 5.5 x 5.5 inches

Overall size: 12 x 12 inches

SOLD

Click here to see more

Email me: fawn@fawnsartstudio.com  for availability or 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.

Thanks for looking!

 

Time Out, boxer dog and butterfly

 "Time Out"

Started this as a portrait of a friend's boxer.  It didn't turn out too well at first, so I scrapped it.  I changed the colors and then added a butterfly.  (It is always better to start over if things aren't working out, then I can play around with the one I wasn't happy with).    I like it much better now. It will make nice greeting cards. 

Acrylic on canvas

12 x 16 inches

Ready to frame

$575.00 (Free shipping in the US)

Click here to purchase

Click here to see more 

email me for information about having a custom painting of your pet!

Fawn@fawnsartsudio.com

Related Posts:

 Maggie Mae

Black Jack

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 I want.  I usually start over with watercolors if it does not capture my intended effect.  In this series, I did salvage the two that I was not as happy with, 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)

$175.00 (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)

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

Transparent Shore, small wave

"Transparent Shore"

Just finished this one! It is a take off from "Invitational" (see below), but this is much smaller.  Also, I experimented with painting it on a royal blue mat.  I primed the matboard with a clear primer so I could use the deep blue for some of the shadows.  I used the acrylic paint in glazes to get some interesting layers of colors. Then I used the paint thicker for a more opaque and solid effect in the sand area.  I added the foam and splash last to give it more movement and contrast.  I sealed the whole painting with professional grade semi-gloss acrylic sealer.

This small painting took longer than most, but I enjoyed it immensely!

Acrylic on mat board

Ready to frame (should be framed behind glass)

8 x 10 inches (including mat)

$125.00 (Free shipping in the US)

or bid at a lower price by clicking here

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

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.  Artwork on canvas or wood should not be framed behind glass.  Original oils and acrylics are usually done on canvas or wood and need to breath.  If they are done on paper or matboard they should be framed behind glass with a mat to keep them off of the glass. (Glass can trap moisture and ruin the artwork.) 

Thanks for stopping by!

"Invitational" © 2020

12 x 24 inches

Acrylic on canvas

SOLD

 

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),

$275.00

Click here to purchase

Click here to see more 

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

Thanks for stopping by!

Related Posts:

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Garden Falls

 

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"