Merry Christmas 2013

Waiting for Christmas
watercolor
by Jane McElvany Coonce

I wanted to take a moment to thank everyone who has followed my blog; this is a great way to support me.  As an artist, the most enjoyable thing about the business is the creating of art work.  The second most enjoyable thing is sharing what I've created with people who appreciate  my endeavors.  This blog has given me the opportunity to share what I've done with more people than I ever have before.

The painting , "Waiting for Christmas", is a tribute to my beloved Seamus, who passed away in September.  He was a wonderful companion who laid down in my art room while I painted.  He never passed judgement on any of my art work, not even ones that I wasn't happy with.  He was a gentle soul,and he is truly missed.
I decided to dedicate my Christmas card to him.  Every year, I paint something and turn it into a Christmas card.  This is another way I can share what I'm doing with friends and family.

This is my first Christmas card that was a watercolor.  I usually do oil paintings.  But I've been focusing on watercolor this year so that I can do a better job teaching on the cruise ships.

I hope everyone has a fantastic holiday with their friends and family.  I know I'm looking forward to spending this week with my sons, my husband and my brother.  I am blessed, and I thank the Lord every day for the life he has given me.  Being an artist has been one of the most rewarding accomplishments I've ever done.  Thanks, Mom, for taking me to art class.  

Contemporary Acrylic Work Shop- Dec 26, 27, 30

I am going to be teaching a workshop right after Christmas.  If anyone wants to try their hand at painting, this is the class for you. We will only use 3 colors plus white.  It's so much fun!   We start of varnishing the paper so that we can do some fun stuff with the painting later on.  Then we do an abstract underpainting with just the 3 colors.  Next, we  develop the painting into something more representational, but in a loose way.  Even if you've never painted, it's something that is not hard to do and the results are always quite interesting, never what you quite expect.  The class is for 3 days, Thursday Dec 26, Friday Dec 27 and Monday Dec 30.  It's from 10 am - 2 pm.  Everyone should bring a bagged lunch each day.  The class will be held at St. Andrew's Episcopal Church in Arlington.  There is still space available, so if you are interested, you can sign up on the Arlington Artists Alliance .website :  www.arlingtonartistsalliance.org

or call me and I'll help you get signed up.

If you'd like to do it , but can't come all 3 days, let me know and we will make some kind of arrangements.  I'll put up the paintings that the participants do after the workshop is over.

The Gossips
by Jane McElvany Coonce

December 2013 - The Art League Show

Winter Snow on the Potomac
by Jane McElvany Coonce

As I do every month, I entered The Art League juried show and had my fingers crossed.  One never knows what a judge will like.   I put in an oil of a snowy scene of Key Bridge and Georgetown.  I had done it in watercolor, and it sold right away.  So I decided to do the same scene in oil.  I did it from a photo I took when the Potomac had frozen over and was covered in snow.  That doesn't happen very often.  I also realized that as many times as I had painted the Key Bridge, I had never done a winter scene.

Luckily, the judge liked it and selected it for the December show.  I've had a string of luck with The Art League shows.  I've been selected every month for the last 5 months.  It's not an easy feat because there are at least 600 entries each month with only room for around 100 or so paintings.

If you get a chance, go down to Old Town Alexandria and visit the Torpedo Factory.  The Art League gallery is on the first floor.  It's always fun to see what a judge selects.  You might even get some Christmas shopping in while you are down there.

Potomac Valley Watercolorists - Featured Artist

Patiently Waiting
by Jane McElvany Coonce

For the month of December, I am the featured artist on the Potomac Valley Watercolorists website.
Please visit the site: http://www.potomacvalleywatercolorists.org/
It's quite an honor to be in PVW.  It's a juried membership and quite difficult to get in.  It's another honor to be featured on their website.

PVW has many great artists that work in water media (watercolor , acrylic and gauche.)  It's interesting to look at the different styles of the artists.

"Patiently Waiting" is a painting that I sold, and it's one of those paintings that I miss.  There was something special about that painting.  It would be impossible to replicate this pose because of the technique I used with using an abstract underpainting.  I would never be able to produce the same underpainting which influences the finished product.  So I just have to paint different paintings and hope I do another that really pleases me in the same way that this one did.