Let it Shine, blue zebra

"Let it Shine"

. . . Let your light shine before men . . .  Mathew 5:16

I took pictures of this little zebra out at Antlered Acres last year.  Her name is Karen.  She is not tame, but she did let me get close enough for some nice photos.  The sun lit up her stripes and her main to show all kinds of subtle color changes. Of course the photos only captured a little of that, so when I sketched different ideas for this little painting I knew I wanted to exaggerate the colors.  

I zoomed in and cropped the composition so I could make her eye the focal point and try to capture her intense expression.  Plus I wanted some detail of the fur instead of making the stipes all smooth (which some of them absolutely were on her face, especially close to her muzzle).

Originally I thought I would create her all in sepia tones (as a monochrome), but the shadows of the white were such a beautiful light blueish gray that I kept dipping into blues and purples, which led to the stripes getting more of the same. This accented the wonderful contrast of the browns and oranges in the highlighted areas.  

I have worked on this painting of and on for almost a year. It was a tough year.  I closed and moved twice and then had to have major repairs on the home studio as well.  So I ended up moving things in and out of storage again! (Click here to read about this past year ).

 But more than all that, I think I just didn't want to be done because I enjoyed it so much. It was one of the bright spots in the middle of such difficult times. I just kept going back and changing the placement of the stripes, or shadows, or the shape of the eye.  I finally made myself stop and sign it!

About this painting:

Acrylic on gallery wrap canvas

The sides are painted, framing is optional

8 x 8 x 1.5 inches

$395.00

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!

 

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

 

Mountain Rush, waterfall, knife painting

 

"Mountain Rush"

I have done this scene as demonstration paintings a few times. This one I decided to go back and rework the entire painting with palette knives.   This makes it unique and more interesting as it becomes full of new color mixtures and thick textures.  Knife paintings are a little harder, especially if I want details and realism, so I have to remind myself to keep it suggestive.  I do use tiny brushes for the extras (like the eagle). 

I wanted to use knives because of the rough texture of the rocks, which a palette knife renders very nicely.  

Original knife painting

Acrylic on canvas

11 x 14 inches

Ready to frame

$650.00 (Free Shipping in US)

 Click here to see more

Email me: fawn@fawnsartstudio.com   for information about having something similar created in a size you would like!

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.

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 to use the deep blue for some shadows.  I used acrylic paint in glazes to create 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)

$500.00

Email me for availability: Fawn@fawnsartstudio.com

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 breathe.  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

 

Hot Pink, hibiscus flower, knife painting

 "Hot Pink (hibiscus)"

original knife painting

This started as a yellow flower when I did the demo for an art class in 2019.  I never finished it, so when I came across it last week I decided to use a knife to add some detail and strengthen the contrast. For some reason, I was just not in the mood for yellow!  I wanted to play around with red violet and really push the shadow in the center by adding dark purple.  

I also love the softer background, which is part of the original demo.  So the contrast of the softer (more blended) brushwork in the background is emphasized by the thick almost abstract effect of the texture from using the knife on the petals and the small leaf.  That was what I was experimenting with.  I tried this a couple of times recently but did not get the results I was after.  This one turned out as I had hoped it would!

Enjoy!

Original knife painting

Acrylic on canvas

8 x 10 inches

Ready to frame

$550.00 

Click here to see more 

Email me: fawn@fawnsartstudio.com  for availability or for information about having something similar created!  
Price list by size.

Related Posts:

 Out Front

Last Glimmer

Spring Breezes, seascape with flowers, knife painting

 "Spring Breezes"

Original palette knife painting

This was started as a video lesson, but when I went back to finish it later I decided to add the flowers blowing in the wind.  I love the thick impasto effect of the knife work in the flowers. It was fun to use more paint than usual and challenge myself to leave it alone and not detail it out!

Enjoy!

8 x 10 inches

Acrylic on canvas

Ready to frame

Not Available

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.

Crashing Waves, shore line, mixed media knife painting

"Crashing Waves"

I love these transparent waves! This was originally a knife painting, then I got carried away with extra thick gesso and gel medium for the texture in the splash.  After that I added some beads and clear aquarium stones for extra bling.  I put it in a custom wood frame with a gold lip.  The frame really sets it off (see below).

9 x 12 inches

Original mixed media

Custom wood frame

$790.00

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.

 

Morning Flight, angel, knife painting

"Morning Flight"

This was a demonstration for a video lesson, but the video cut off during the session and I didn't know it. I did the whole thing thinking I was still recording!  LOL.  I went ahead and did another demo knife painting with the angel facing the other way, which recorded fine. I think this one turned out better, so I framed it. 

 I like the transparency of the angel and the soft colors. I also like the way the bottom could be sky or water.  Palette knife paintings lend themselves to abstract qualities which leaves room for the imagination. It is also fun to load up thick amounts of paint and smear it all together.

Thanks for stopping by!

Original Art

Acrylic knife painting

11 x14 inches 

Ready to frame

$720.00  (free shipping in US)

Click here to see more 

Email me: fawn@fawnsartstudio.com  for availability 

Click here to see the video

 

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

 

Christmas Joy, painting of an ornament, mixed media

"Christmas Joy"

This was originally a demonstration painting from a year ago that I did for one of my classes.  I finished it up recently by splattering it with white and then adding bits of silver glitter (and I also added chunky glitter where I wanted the snow to pile up more).  The gold is metallic paint and the red has some red glitter paint.  I love all the extra sparkle it added.  When you view it at different angles the light catches on it and it shines.

I put it in an expensive custom gold frame to really set it off.  

Enjoy!

Merry Christmas!

About this painting: 

Mixed media

8 x 10 inches on canvas

Custom gold frame

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.

 

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.

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 "New Every Morning"

"Blessed"