On site Plein air Seven Hills Homedays

Seven Hills HomeDays


Here is a picture of my set up at the fair. This is where I painted Saturday and Sunday, it was a little off the path, but perfect for the scene I wanted to capture.
I am so glad that Lisa had this umbrella to paint under it was scorching hot both days and I still managed to get a gentle sunburn .
The fair continued around to the left.

Here is a better shot of the view and one the I'll be working from in the studio.



It was pure joy to be onsite painting. The kids were home and I was out doing something that I loved.

Everyone I met was very kind and Lisa was a fabulous organized promoter.

I have learned a lot about myself painting such a different subject and being on site in public.

What did I learn?

I learned I have to do this a lot more in more ways than one!!!

I was nervous at first but by Sunday it was all in stride. It was the first time that I wasn't a vendor but painting on site with many people of all ages watching, sharing their stories of art and asking questions it was a lot of fun to hear how different people have some connection to art in their life.

I finished this 8" x 10" study Saturday.

click for a larger view
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On Sunday I began an 18" x 24" and was only able to get half a general sketch finished and will be completing it from photos. Here is the WIP (work in progress)


It's going to be rich, textural and impressionistic.

A carnival has so many fascinating colors, it could be visited over and over again without exhaustion.

ps There wasn't a fish game ;) but the kids loved the fried dough and fresh Monster bag of Cotton Candy.
Thank you to everyone who follows my journey here!
I also have some paintings in progress I'll be working on and posting this week too.
Watch for more WIP updates.

All the best Rebecca ~Stay Cool it's going to be scorching hot this week!

Rebecca Grantham.Com,

Modern Art Gifts from Plein Air Cafe

on site show prep and more

Whew' What a week and it's only uhh Wednesday that's right!
It's been an electrifying week. I have started my first plein air gear workshop with a collector/friend first who loves to create and loves nature. She's an angel and perfect to explore this with.
I'm having so much fun sharing some exercises that have helped me heighten my awareness of nature and art. It's a joy to give this back to someone who loves the same things.

I am glad to be working with a client for a custom order of my pleinaircafe tiles for her oasis sun room.
and I am getting prepared to paint the Seven Hills Home days Festival on site both Saturday and Sunday. I heard there was a Ferris wheel last year and hoping it's there again.
I would love to paint it! The change of subject matter is going to be challenging but am looking forward very much to it.
I'll get some pictures. We might bring the whole crew Sunday for some fair fun. My favorite is tossing the ping pong ball, watching it bounce and hoping it lands into a fish bowl winning a small gold fish.
I won this as a child and my fish got huge and lived a long time.
Ohh and cotton candy is a must, there is something special about fairs versus huge theme parks and that is something I am definitely going to capture this weekend.

That reminds me we were going over the first day exercise and she mentioned how the clouds were rolling in with a thunderstorm coming and they looked like dirty cotton candy, I love that picture description and am going to be watching the skies for them ;)

So shipping some work out this week for sales and running for paperwork printing all the while juggling my 5 rascals who always seem to run a muck in Office Max.

I've started the base painting for our Rose of Sharon that's in Bloom and am on way out right now to paint some more. The humidity is dreadful and loves to give me a headache but it's worth it!

All the best,
Rebecca
remember to "Get Out There!"


Rebecca Grantham.com
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$5 off a purchase of $20 or more now through July 31st

Here is the right face of the box.
One project for today is reshooting these. But I am excited for it to be done.
Moving on with priming some more illustration board for the gorgeous Rose of Sharon that is beginning to bloom teee hee.

This picture shows the top and front face of the box and you can see how my last aceo inspired this work. I painted them simultaneously and what's great is my aceo's fit prefect inside this deep unique box.

Brand New Cigar Box Painting en plein air
I love this piece it was so much fun to paint in the square. Taking pictures is another story. The painting wraps completly around the box, each side is different.
Imagine if you want a medium size canvas painted then wrapped around the box. That is how I approached this box.

ACEO #18/18

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I love this one. It's an ending of my 18 card series and the beginning of the next!

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MMMAH Sidewalk Sale July 16th -26th

Sunday July 16th - July 26th Ten days only

Ebay group Moms Making Money At Home is having its
1st Biannual Sidewalk Sale
With Over 1100 Members there are a lot of items on sale Now
Search ebay titles and descriptions for MMMAH Or click here to search now for all running sale items.

I have some art tiles available with special pricing only available through this sale and will be adding an original aceo and a brand new hand painted cigar box Monday and Tuesday.

The cigar box needs to be retouched first. My two year old aspiring artist son decided that the blue sky needed some Cadmium Red and a dash of Lemon yellow.

Cheers to kids & art,

Rebecca :)

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One Red Paperclip & a Dream

Dreams can come true.
If you know anything about me, one thing you should know for sure.
I am a hopeless Romantic! Always have been always will be.
The good guys should always win, every story should end with a happy ending
and yes Dreams should come true.

I just saw Kyle MacDonald's story of One red paperclip on 20/20 ABC last night as I was trying to comfort my two year old after some large thunderstorms.

It's truly amazing . Kyle was able to trade one red paperclip for a house!
It took 14 trades and one year to happen. Some of his trades included a fish shaped pen and time with Alice Cooper.

Visit his site for more information and to see all the trades.

I've traded my art work for custom business stationary from Kelli of Charmed Stores -> She's the best when it comes to the pickiness of artists and has done a fabulous job.
I love all my goodies, including notecards, business cards, and custom labels.

and I've traded artwork for artwork.

But I never thought trading could take some so far as owning their own home.

Kyle MacDonald I raise my glass and solute you for making other people's dreams come true as well as your own.

Thank you for being an inspiration!
I wish everyone Dreams come true.
Rebecca


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One Red Paperclip

Almost There ACEO's #15 -17

Here are no's 15-17 of the 18 ACEO Art card series I've been working on.
No. 18 will be posted tomorrow.

What I've learned through this series as others is when you start you think surely by the close of 18 or however many, you will exhaust some inspiration of the ideas you had in mind at the end. And be ready to leave it behind for something new.

Not so, this series is only serving to inspire similar works of which I dream could and will be full size. Little studies of love.
and no. 18 is surely a spring board for the next series. I started with the simple idea of dark and light.
And have found so much joy in pursuing this little thought bordering the line of natural and abstract.
Titled Imagine, this series has allowed me to imagine the possibilities of small works and large dreams.


Rebecca :)

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plein air - landscape painting - art - aceo

Pink Nights

8" x 10"
Oil on panel
I really enjoy twilight, sunsets and finding the unique patterns of light, color and shape.

I love the natural patterns found in seeing past the details.


Rebecca

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plein air - landscape painting - art

Simply Sky oh so Simple

Before & After
click the pics for larger images

You may remember the first piece.
but my soul says ahhhhhh much better is the second!
Same panel, same artist, new day, new piece.

I really enjoyed painting this panel the first time and even better the second.
I love black or near black, I don't ever use black straight from the tube but prefer to mix.

I love it, I have heard that black isn't found in nature.
Well it comes pretty close.
Next twilight watch the sunset, go on keep watch until twilight comes and dusk approaches.
It creeps in quietly and suddenly you find yourself among the shadows of the trees or buildings.
Where I live the fireflies begin their dance and my children chase them wildly.

Just before the last shades of light pass from this day there will be a moment where the trees you know as green become very dark, dare I say BLACK.
Your mind will want to tell you those leaves are green but look again and let me know what you see.

Rebecca


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Make it Beautiful Monday

Little reminders to Make it beautiful wherever you go during the week.

Sometimes it's the little things that matter the most.

A smile, a word of encouragement, a friendly ear, a note, and extra patience with understanding. These kinds of things can lift someone up.

Also for yourself take some time to stop and soak in the beauty around you.

I challenge you to find time this week to see beauty in something or someone you maybe hadn't before.

Rebecca

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plein air - landscape painting - art

ACEO Imagine Series #1/2 - 13/18