Sunday Morning, Cambridge 8x8"

It's hard to beat Cambridge Massachusetts on a Sunday morning in the fall.  The architecture, the boutiques, the Harvard bells tolling in the distance.  Emily and I were lucky to catch what was probably the last great autumn weekend of the year!

To bid on this painting, click on Ann Feldman Sunday Morning, Cambridge.

Portrait of Inna, 10x14"

Inna is a student at Mainstreet who came in to model for us the other day.  After laying in a thin wash of paint with my brush, I took my palette knife to it to punch up the difference in my values and to lend the painting more of an impressionistic feel.  For the background, I brushed on a bright orange color and followed it up with mixtures of white, blue, and green applied with my palette knife.  This technique of layering complementary colors over a bright background allows the color to "sit behind" the model, which is always desirable!

Head of the Charles Regatta, 8x8" (Sold)

Here is another small painting of the Regatta in Boston this last weekend.

If you would like to bid on this painting, click on Ann Feldman Head of the Charles Regatta.

Regatta on the Charles, 8x8" (Sold)

This past weekend I visited my daughter Emily in Cambridge, and it just so happened that the Head of the Charles Regatta took place at the same time.  What a carnival!  Streets in Boston were closed to make room for the hordes of race watchers, food stalls, and rides.  The weather was perfect-- crisp and sunny.  It was the perfect New England spectacle!

A Sunny Day, 6x6"

This tiny portrait of a little girl in the sunlight was my entry into this week's Daily Paintworks Challenge.  I tried to keep this one very loose and impressionistic.  I often find this type of portrait more intriguing than a very detailed one.

Aspens in the Snow, 8x10" (Sold)

This past weekend was Parents' Weekend at both boys' schools in Colorado, so I left a few days early to paint in the Oil Painters of America's Paint Out in Woodland Park, near Pikes Peak.  The Aspens were in full color, and I was in heaven.  This being my first "away" paint out, I wasn't very well prepared!  I sat on my suitcase and balanced my painting on my knees while the wind whipped all around me.  The landscape moved me so much that I lost myself in my painting and didn't realize that I came pretty close to hypothermia one blustery morning...

Next time, I'll be ready!  Fingerless gloves are a must-- as is my easel.  I can't wait to go again!

To bid on this painting, click on Ann Feldman Aspens in the Snow.

Lovely (To Be) Back, 6x6" (Sold)

This is my entry for the Daily Paintworks composition challenge.

Sun Over Mt Sopris, 8x8" (Sold)

This is the last of my Mt Sopris "miniseries".  The area is so beautiful, I couldn't paint just one!

This painting will be up for auction at the Colorado Rocky Mountain School fundraiser on October 15.

John and Anne's Truck, 8x8" (Sold)

The founders of the Colorado Rocky Mountain School drove a truck from Vermont in 1953 to settle and set up their school near Carbondale.  The truck still sits in a place of honor on the campus!

This painting will be up for auction at the CRMS fundraiser on October 15.

Mt Sopris, Late Summer, 8x8" (Sold)

Our youngest son Jordan is finishing high school in Colorado.  He loves it there.  For art class, he elected to take blacksmithing.  His school sport is mountain biking-- a bit of a departure from life here in Illinois! Campus is in the shadow of Mt Sopris, which I couldn't resist painting last time we were there.

This painting will be auctioned at the Colorado Rocky Mountain School fundraiser on October 15.

Illinois Sunflowers, 5x5"

Sunflowers are everywhere in our area right now-- profusions of them!  During a walk in a field, I came upon a huge branch of them hanging over my path.  I could look up into them at the sky above.  I toned a board with hot pink (pthalo red rose) and layered color on top with a palette knife. Sometimes starting a painting with an unexpected color can give a painting extra vibrancy.

If you would like to bid on this painting, please click on Ann Feldman Illinois Sunflowers.

Rain in the Woods, 8x8" (Sold)

This is the other plein air painting I completed in the rain at the Crabtree Paint Out.  A week later now, and my gear is just about dried out from the excursion!  Sure, there was some hardship involved that day, but I'm so glad that I didn't miss out on the beauty of that quiet spot.

If you would like to purchase this painting, please click on Ann Feldman Rain in the Woods.

Edge of the Prairie, 8x8" (Sold)

Can you tell that this little painting was created in a downpour?  Last Sunday's Crabtree Forest Paint Out was nearly washed out by rain, but a surprising number of hearty souls braved the weather with good cheer, and it turned out to be a fantastic day.  Dear husband John stuck with me the whole day-- we resembled a couple of whalers from Nantucket in our rain gear!  We trekked way out to the prairie where the adverse weather toned the grass and wildflowers into glowing fall color.  It was worth the trip!

To bid on this painting, please click on Ann Feldman Edge of the Prairie.

Mainstreet Instructors Show

"Timeless", 18x24"

Did you know that the instructors from Mainstreet have a show going on now at the Elmhurst Art Museum in Elmhurst, Illinois?  It will be up until October 21-- plenty of time to get there!  And we'll have a reception on Friday October 7, at 7pm, and I would LOVE to see you there.

In the meantime, if you'd like to see the art that I have there, please click on Ann Feldman's Virtual Gallery.   Thank you!

Tall Grass Study, Crabtree Forest Preserve, 5x5" (Sold)

The Crabtree Forest Paint Out is tomorrow, so this is the last of my studies before the big event.  I'm looking over my studies today, deciding which type of painting I should paint on site.  So far, I've gotten votes for the thistle study and the tree.  If you have any thoughts to share with me, please do so!  I love your input -- but time is limited! I'm packing up tomorrow morning!

These little studies (and a couple of extras) will be on sale at Crabtree tomorrow.  I've decided to price them at $40 a piece.  If you'd like me to put one aside for you, please let me know.  And thanks!

Wildflower Study, Crabtree Forest, 5x5"

This is another tiny plein air study I did in preparation for the Art in Nature event at Crabtree Forest Preserve this Sunday.  These studies will be for sale at the event, but if you'd like me to reserve one for you, just let me know!

Tree Study, Crabtree Forest 5x5" (Sold)

This is a little tree study that I painted in preparation for the Art in Nature event at Crabtree Forest this weekend.  All of these tiny studies will be for sale at the event-- if you would like me to reserve one for you, please let me know!

I'm trying to arrive at a final painting idea for the event, and I'd love to have your vote!  I'll post a couple more, so please stay tuned.

Thistle Study II, 5x5"

Here is the finished study in color.  While I was outside and in front of my subject, I mixed some of the colors that I was observing and made little swatches of these colors on a toned board.  When I came inside, I had my swatches, my three value study, and a photo or two to guide me. Taking the monochrome study from my previous post, I layered color on top.  I tried to keep to the lights and darks that I had mapped out, and I adjusted some problem compositional areas as I painted along.

I may decide to use this study to paint an actual painting, but sometimes I like the spontaneity of little studies like this one!

My plein air studies will be on sale this Sunday at the Crabtree Forest Paint Out-- come visit me!  The Preserve is on Palatine Road, near the intersection with Barrington Road.  I'll be there from 11-4.

Thistle Study I, 5x5"

I'm getting ready for the great Crabtree Forest Preserve Paint Out this weekend. Whenever I paint outdoors, I have a hard time getting color right, so I paint monochromatic studies like this one to get me started.  For this one, I took a new canvas and covered it with wet purple paint mixed with some Gamsol.  To find the light parts, I used a clean brush or paper towel to wipe away the paint.  Then I went in with a brush loaded with thick paint to find the dark areas.

Now that my composition is figured out and my lights and darks are defined, all I have to do is match my color with what's already happening.  Sounds easy, right?  Well, as I looked again at my composition, I decided to tweak it a bit and move things around as I painted.  I'll post the finished product so you can see the difference.

Wednesday Afternoon (Sold)

I challenged myself with this setup to paint white things without using much white at all.  I held back until the last little highlights at the end to indicate that the surfaces were indeed white.  After all, you can't paint a light highlight if everything behind it is already white!

If you would like to bid on this painting, please click on Ann Feldman Wednesday Afternoon.

Orange You Blue? 8x8"

I've entered a dangerous phase in my life-- ordering antique glass objects on Ebay!  The "buy" button on my computer just seems to click itself.  This is an antique inkwell that is one of my newest acquisitions.

To bid on this painting, please click on Ann Feldman Orange You Blue?

Best of Luck (Sold)

I hope that opening a cocktail umbrella inside brings the opposite of bad luck!

Just Peachy, 6x6"

Here is another still life setup that I painted while on vacation.  Michigan peaches!  This one had to be done pretty quickly, using a palette knife.  So many hungry people in one house means that edible still lifes have a way of disappearing pretty quickly.

If you would like to bid on this painting, please click on Ann Feldman Just Peachy.

Cape Cod Morning, 6x6" (Sold)

Sometimes vacations can be hectic, but this time, I had the rare opportunity to sit on a screened-in porch with my niece and paint for a few days.  We'd put together a still life setup and go at it for a few hours at a time.  What a luxury!

Customer Appreciation Sale-- Free Frames!

Dear Friends,

I haven't been posting much lately and I apologize for that.  I've been away on vacation and rehabilitating my broken wrist.  But I'll make it up to you!  I'm selling several of my paintings with FREE FRAMES!  These paintings are on display now at the Good Shepard Health Club, sponsored by the Barrington Cultural Arts Council.  

Please visit my virtual gallery by clicking on Ann Feldman Virtual Gallery. Let me know by email (Ann.Feldman@comcast.net) if you would be interested in any of these paintings.

Thank you for your patience and your support all through the year!

Here We Are, 6x6"

So, here we are, the beauties that you've been waiting for all summer.  All it took was a little weeding, some pruning, a wee bit of watering, fertilizing, eye rolling, and tongue clicking.  But here we are, at long last.  Now go sit down and enjoy us!

To bid on this painting, please click on Ann Feldman "Here We Are".

Tishomingo Blues, 8x10" (Sold)

Last weekend, John and I went back to New Orleans, my home town.  One morning, we went to The Court of Two Sisters for brunch on the patio.  A live jazz trio was playing in the background as we feasted on Shrimp Creole, french bread, and Bananas Foster.  I bought the trio's CD (Charlie Fardella and his Sensation Jazz Band) and have been playing it all week as I paint.

This morning, I turned the music up and painted this scene as I listened.  One of my favorite tunes is Tishomingo Blues, so I named the painting after this one.  I learned that it's hard to keep serious and "in the lines" when you're listening to New Orleans jazz!

Morning Reflections, 6x6" (Sold)

This was a really good challenge-- getting those cherry reflections in the silver almost made me cross-eyed!  I entered this one into this week's Daily Paintworks challenge.

The Perfect Day, 10x8" (Sold)

What could be more perfect than a day spent outside when the shadows and sunlight are "just so"?  Sometimes when I'm out with my plein air group, I can't resist trying to capture my fellow artists at their happiest and most industrious.

And Now For a Brief Intermission...

Dear Friends:

A bit of bad luck has befallen me.  Day before yesterday, I broke my right wrist while I was playing tennis.  Since I'm now saddled with a rather cumbersome cast, I may be forced to take a brief intermission from my painting.  But I'll be back!  And I did ask them to cast me with a couple of fingers free, so I may be back at it before we know.

It's a good thing that my husband John is the cook around here.  At least we won't starve.

See you soon!