Miniature Painting

Miniature:  Crab Feast
by Jane McElvany Coonce

Crabs and Mallets
by Jane McElvany Coonce

Some of you might be wondering what I've been up to lately.  I started doing a few miniature paintings because there are two shows for miniature paintings coming up in September.  In the past, when I've done miniatures, I've done them in oil.  It takes forever because you have such a small space to work on, and then you cover it with oil paint and then have to let it dry before you can go back and work on it some more.  So this time, I decided to try doing miniatures in watercolor.  Much easier!  Very little drying time between coats. You can even use a hair dryer to speed things up. They were fun to do.  I based them on the oil paintings I had done in a bigger format.  But these guys are tiny.  "Crab Feast" is 4 1/2 inches by 4 1/2 inches.  "Crabs and Mallets" is even smaller - 3 inches by 4 inches.  I'll take them to the framers, and he will put a tiny mat and tiny frame on them and make them look even better.  There are a whole group of people out there that collect miniature paintings.  The shows are juried so I will enter them and hope I get in.  I'll keep you posted.

Sunday is the Last Day of the Birthday Sale

Along the Amalfi Coast

There are still lots of paintings left at the birthday sale.  Last year, the weather was better and my walls were pretty clear after Thursday.  I think this hot weather makes people want to stay home in the air conditioning.

If you feel like getting out, come over to Stifel and Capra's birthday sale.  All of my framed paintings are $125 and under and the unframed paintings are 50% off.

I tried my hand at a little abstract collage.  These 2 "Secret Garden" and "Why Not?" are 2 from a series I did.  I don't usually paint abstract, but every once in a while, it's fun to do something out of your comfort tone.

After Sunday, I will take down this show and put up other paintings.
I'll keep you posted of what is coming up in the future.

Secret Garden

Why Not?

3rd Day of the Birthday Sale

SOLD!

I never realized how valuable a blog is until I did this birthday sale and wrote about it on my blog.  I put "Canal in Bruges" up last night, and I got a call at 8 am this morning from a friend in Baltimore who says she wants it!  What a way to start the morning!!!!!

I still have lots of paintings left at the birthday sale so I hope you'll stop by and see what's available.  I have a lot more big paintings this year than I did last year.

This is a once a year event that lasts four days.  So come out and take advantage of it because it won't happen again until next July.
Thanks everyone for being so supportive.

Here are a few more that are up for the birthday sale.  Get them while it's hot!

Zebras
(Batik)

"Zebras" is a batik I did a few years ago.  I took a workshop to learn how to do it.  It's labor intensive because you have to paint melted wax on the areas you don't want to dye, then dip the piece in dye.
Once it dries, you have to iron out the wax between 2 pieces of paper.  Then you add more wax to the next section you don't want affected by the dye.  This time you dip in a different color dye.  And the process continues until you have all your colors.  In this piece, I dipped yellow, then green, then black.
Needless to say, I've never done batik again.  I have a high respect for people who have this kind of patience and persistence.

This piece is matted and framed and ready for hanging.

2nd day of the Birthday Sale

Canal in Bruges

Sold!

I had to put up a few more paintings tonight because I had blank spaces on the wall from sales.

Thanks to everyone who came out to the birthday sale.  I sold  a few more paintings so I had to put some more up on the walls.  Here's one that I just put up after the store closed.  It's called Canal in Bruges.  There's a bicyclist going across the bridge and his image is reflecting in the water.  It's from a photo I took when I was in Bruges.  There is still time to go to the birthday sale.  Stifel and Capra is open tomorrow from 10 am to 6 pm and Sunday from noon- 5 pm.  Hope you can make it.
I only have a sale once a year, so here's your chance to own a McElvany original for half the cost.

Sold!

Latest Update for Birthday Sale

Sunset on the Outer Banks
(watercolor)

I need to clarify Thursday's birthday sale hours.  It's by invitation only (which you can be invited to) but I need to put your name on the list.  Stifel and Capra wants to serve wine, but we can't have it opened to the public.  So if you want to attend Thursday evening from 6 - 8, send me an email, and I will put your name on the list.  Otherwise, you can come any time on Friday, Saturday or Sunday.  I will be restocking the walls as things sell.

Here are a few of the watercolors that I will have at the show.
All of these are unframed except for the geranium.

So please let me know if you'd like to attend Thursday night's event and I'll add your name to the list.  Sorry about the confusion.

Misty Morning Lighthouse
(watercolor)

Geranium
(watercolor)

Spring Flowers
(watercolor

Getting ready for the Birthday Sale

Spring Planting
by Jane McElvany Coonce

Yesterday, I posted about the Birthday Sale coming up at Stifel and Capra.  It's this Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday.  All of my paintings will be $125 and under and the shrink wraps ( or unframed pieces) will be 50% off.
I put a painting on the site yesterday called "Tending the Garden".  I got a call from California today from someone who saw it on the blog and wanted to buy it.  She said," I won't be in Virginia on Thursday, but I still would like to purchase it."  So "Tending the Garden" will not be attending the birthday party!  It's found a new home in California.

However, there will be lots more paintings to buy at the birthday sale.  The one on the left, "Spring Planting" is one I did on site at Ft. Smith.  I set up the wagon with flowers in it in front of the archway covered in wisteria.
I'll put some more birthday sale items up tomorrow.

SOLD!

Birthday Sale at Stifel and Capra This Week

Tending the Garden
by Jane McElvany Coonce

Once again, it's the birthday celebration at Stifel and Capra, the place where I've had my studio for the past few years.  Each year, we celebrate by offering unbelievable deals.  I will hang a special show for this event, and all the paintings will be $125 or less.  The shrink wrap (unframed paintings) will be half price. Come early to get your first pick.  The sale starts Thursday morning, July 18, and runs through the weekend.  Last year, things went really fast. It's a great way to own a McElvany original at a lower price.  You can also stock up for wedding presents by getting an original painting to give as a present.

I no longer have my studio there, but I have wall space directly next to the space I used to be in.  It's all up on the 2nd floor.
Stifel and Capra is located at 260 W. Broad St. in Falls Church.
Hours:  M-Sat : 10 am - 6 pm,  Sunday, 12-5.

Hope you can make it for this once a year event!

Gumball Machine

Penny for your Thoughts and More
by Jane McElvany Coonce

The Arlington Artists Alliance has a show coming up in September that is called "Be Squared".  All of the paintings entered must be on a 10 inch by 10 inch canvas.  The show will be hung at the Gallery Underground for the month of September.  In the meantime, I have been racking my brain trying to think of something that would fit on a 10x10 inch square.  We are allowed to enter 2 paintings.  Here's my first one, "Penny for Your Thoughts and More".  This is a gum ball machine that sits in our kitchen.  Tom "won" it at a White Elephant" sale.  He keeps a jar of pennies by it so that people can have gum anytime they like. I think it's his prized possession.
 It was a fun one to paint.  Now I am racking my brain to try to think of another painting to do for this show.  Usually, I don't have any trouble thinking of what to paint next, but when it's on a small canvas that is 10 x 10, it makes it a little more challenging.  I'll think of something. I need to come up with the idea soon so that the painting is finished, dried and ready to hang by end of Aug.