Miniature Show 2014 at Strathmore Hall

Cat on a Quilt (watercolor)

Evening Light in Georgetown ( oil)

Ever year, The Miniature Painters, Sculptors and Gravers Society of Washington, DC hosts its annual show at Strathmore Hall in Bethesda, Md.  Artists are allowed to submit 3 entries.  It is a juried show so no one is guaranteed to get in.  Luckily, I got all 3 of my entries accepted!  

The paintings that are entered are tiny.  My Georgetown painting is 3 inches by 4 inches. The crab painting is 6 inches by 7 inches and the cat painting is 6 inches by 8 inches (and for the watercolors, that includes the mat!  So the paintings are actually smaller than that.)

If you have never seen the miniature show, it's worth seeing.  The paintings that are entered are incredible.  Strathmore Hall is located at 10701 Rockville Pike, Bethesda, Md.  It's open Tuesday through Sunday from 10-4 .  On Wednesdays, it's open 10-9.  The show runs through January 4, so if you are looking for something fascinating to do over the holidays, go see this show.  You won't regret it.  I'm always blown away by what artists do with such tiny brushes!

Crabs and Mallets (watercolor)

Metalica - Part 2

Metalica
by Jane McElvany Coonce

So here is the finished product, "Metalica", but I will continue on with how I ended up with this painting and the steps it took to get there.

After the first day, the painting was very wet.  To speed the drying time, I put it in front of a heat lamp overnight.  This made the paint dry so that I could continue working on it.  If it were still wet, it would be hard to get my lights on there without blending in with the first coat.

So the 2nd day, I have a dry painting and I begin to put on thicker paint.

Step 4 : I started with the top half and began to develop the plate, the metal cups and pitcher,the apple and the yellow bird pitcher with the stick candy in it.  Notice I paint the stick candy in solidly without stripes.  This is so I get the form of the sticks and make them look 3 dimensional.  The stripes will be added later.  I also block in a background with thicker paint, but I will come back to the background later.  All of this work takes the whole 2nd day.  Again, I take the painting home and put it in front of the heat lamp so that it will be dry the next day.

Day 3:  I focus on the bottom half of the painting (the table cloth) and refine the whole painting.

Step 5:  This time I focus on the cloth.  I work out the folds (the light areas and the dark areas of the cloth.)  At the same time, I add the pattern on the cloth.  The pattern of the cloth repeats the colors of the metal cups and pitcher.  I also to back and refine the upper half.  I put the stripes on the stick candy and add the little hard candies on the table top.  I go back and refine the yellow bird pitcher, adding some of the orange reflected light on the side of the bird.  I also play up the reflections in the metal pitcher and the silver plate.  I add the highlights to each of the items to make them sparkle and shine.  I work on the "portrait" in the plate, but keep it blurred since it's not really the focal point.  I add a little more thick paint to the background, throwing in a few colors from the cloth and the plate to repeat the colors that are throughout the painting.

It's a wild painting, but fun to do.  After 3 days, I'm finished and exhausted.  All that is left to do is sign it.  I usually wait until the painting is dry before I sign it.  That way, if I mess up the signature, I can wipe it and do it again without affecting the paint underneath.

Step 5 

Step # 4

Metalica - Part 1

Metalica
by Jane McElvany Coonce

Many of you have told me how much you enjoyed the step by step process of painting that I did with the Key Bridge.  So I thought I would do it again.  This time it will be of a still life I did.  I worked on it 3 days, straight all day long, drying it at night with my space heater.

Every spring and fall, I go up to Woodstock, VA and paint with a group of friends that I've know for years.  My art mentor and former art teacher, Diane Tesler, comes back from Indiana to see all of her old students.  Still lifes are set up and we paint for 3 days straight.  It's heavenly.  No laundry , no cooking, no waiting on anyone except myself.  It's a tight knit group and it's like going back to a class reunion every time.

So this is the still life I did in November.  I call it "Metalica" because it has those metal cups that we used to have when I was a kid.  There's even a self portrait in the silver plate!

So here is how I started.    I've numbered them so you can see the progression.  I'll do part one today and part 2 tomorrow.


 #1   I begin with a pencil sketch on paper so that I can determine what size canvas I want to use.

#1  Pencil Sketch

#2   On the canvas, I start  by drawing with paint.  I'm concentrating on the composition and placement of the items on the canvas.

#2 Draw with paint

#3  I begin to block in the objects with a thin layer of color.  Things at this stage may move later on, but I need to get something down so I can see what's working and what isn't.  This is all I get done the first day.

#3 Begin to block in

Ft Smith Results

Evening Over Georgetown
by Jane McElvany Coonce

Friday nights reception was a huge success.  Thanks to all of you that came out on such a cold night.  It was great seeing so many of my friends.

Two of my paintings found a new home.  The first one is a Key Bridge painting that I did in very monochromatic colors.  In class, one of the projects I did with my students was monochromatic paintings.  I did a few myself.  This was one of the paintings I did from the monochromatic series.

The other one that found it's way into a new home is the painting that is my Christmas card this year, "Black Capped Chickadee."  I encourage my students to do a Christmas card painting.  That way there friends can see what they've been doing.  I always try to do one, too.

I haven't even started addressing the Christmas cards yet.  I need to get through Thanksgiving first!  Hard to believe that Christmas is only a month away.

Black Capped Chickadee
by Jane McElvany Coonce

Shrink Wrap at Ft. Smith

Summer's Bounty
by Jane McElvany Coonce

As an artist, I do many paintings a year.  It gets expensive to frame everything.  So sometimes, I'll just mat it and put it in a plastic cover and not frame it.  I sell it at a reduced cost because I know the patron has to go out and buy a frame. We call these pieces of art "shrinkwrap."  I also switch out paintings from shrink wrap to frames so that I can show pieces in places where a frame is necessary.  However, at Ft Smith this weekend, I will have both framed pieces and shrink wrap pieces.

Above is a watercolor called "Summer's Bounty."  It's a still life that I painted from life.  It would be great for a kitchen or breakfast nook.

Wintertime for a Chickadee
by Jane McElvany Coonce

Another piece I did was called "Wintertime for a Chickadee." It also is a shrink wrap that is very inexpensive.  This was a fun one to do because I used kosher salt in the background to give it texture.  It looks like ice crystals on the branches.  I hope you'll get by and see the paintings not only on the walls but also in the shrink wrap bins.  Lots of bargains there!

Ft Smith runs this weekend from Friday night to Sunday afternoon.  The reception is Friday night from 6-8 pm.  

Ft. Smith Reception: Friday, Nov 21, 2014

Friday Night Traffic
by Jane McElvany Coonce

T

This Friday night is the reception at Ft. Smith.  If you have never been to this event, you are missing something.  It is a fun event with beautiful art.  I will be there and will be looking for you.  I've got paintings, framed and unframed, and cards!  So come by and have some wine with me.

The show runs Nov 21-23 (Friday - Sunday).
Hours:  Friday 6-8 pm
             Saturday  10-5
             Sunday    12-4
Address:  2411 N. 24th St. Arlington, VA.
There is plenty of parking so stop by if you can.  I'd love to see you.

Evening Time in Georgetown
by Jane McElvany Coonce

Sold 2 Key Bridge Paintings Today

Twilight Over Georgetown"
by Jane McElvany Coonce

I had a good day today.  The Art League, located at the Torpedo Factory in Old Town Alexandria, sold my large painting of Key Bridge.  A classmate of mine from high school bought it, and he has graciously agreed to leave it up for the remainder of the show.  So get down to The Art League and see this massive painting before it goes into a private collection!

The 2nd Key Bridge painting sold at ARTregeous, the first annual fundraiser art auction for the Arlington Artists Alliance.  It was held tonight at the Gallery Underground tonight in Crystal City.  Three of my friends were bidding on it, and one of them finally won!  I'm thrilled that both of my paintings ended up with someone I know.

If you missed ARTregeous, you missed a fantastic event.  You'll have to make sure you make it next year.  It was fun with lots of great live music and delicious food.  McCormick and Schmick's served bacon stuffed shrimp the size of lobsters!!!! ( Well, maybe not that big, but almost!) Everyone had a blast and we have many new art collectors.

View From Footbridge of Roosevelt Island
by Jane McElvany Coonce

ARTregeous

Twilight over Georgetown
by Jane McElvany Coonce

There is a really cool event happening this Friday at the Gallery Underground in Crystal City.  It's the Arlington Artists Alliance first fund raiser in the form of an art auction.  It's called ARTrageous.  It will be held this Friday, Nov 7 from 5 - 9 pm.   Bidding starts at 6 pm.  All paintings are priced at $100.
If you have ever wanted to own a Key Bridge/Georgetown painting but couldn't afford it, now is the time to strike.  This painting is 15 x 30 inches and is done in oils.  This painting will be going home with someone on Friday night, so why not make it YOU!

There will be plenty of paintings, sculptures, pottery and jewelry to chose from.  Over 100 works were donated for this event.  There are also some special auction items such as a week at Lake George, painting lessons, pet portrait and many more.  There is even a wine basket you can bid on.   This would be a great place to start your holiday shopping.

Become an art collector and start your collection at ARTregeous.  You can get a look at these works of art ahead of time.  One way is to go over to the gallery this week and pick out what you'd like to have.  Another way is to go to Flickr and type in Gallery Underground.

Friday night should be a lot of fun.  There is live music by Suburban Hearts.  And of course refreshments will be served!  I will be there all evening, so please stop by and party with me!

Wedding Present for Melissa Twining and Kevin Clark

Oudon Castle, France
by Jane McElvany Coonce

The 2nd wedding I went to in the past few weeks was the wedding of Melissa Twining and Kevin Clark.  Melissa was also in the Mother's Group that I was a member of, and needless to say, Melissa sat on the floor and played quietly while I chased Nicholas and Kevin all over the house trying to make them behave so I could get a sip of coffee.  Melissa's dad, Robert Twining, has been a friend of mine since he was born.  We grew up in the same neighborhood and played hours together in his backyard sandbox.  Now that I think about it, I was playing nicely in the sandbox while his mother was chasing him all over the yard trying to change his diapers!  There has to be a special place in heaven for mother's of boys!!!!!  Laura Twining, mother of the bride, was my roommate when we were single and teaching at Wakefield High School.  I introduced Laura to my childhood friend and the rest is history.

The painting is of Oudon Castle.  Both mothers of the bride and groom are French.  About a month before the wedding, the Twining family and the Clark family had a celebration of the wedding in Oudon, France.  This is the place where they had their wedding celebration.

I hope they also look at this painting from time to time and think of their special event in France.

Alysa and Anthony's Row House
by Jane McElvany Coonce

I mentioned that I went to 3 wedding for 3 weekends in a row.  The first wedding was Alysa Regen's and Anthony Cargiulo's wedding in Pennsylvania. I've known Alysa since she was in diapers.  I was in a mother's group where we would meet once a week at someone's house.  The woman that had girls sat around and sipped their coffee while their daughters played quietly on the floor.  The women that had boys (me) stood up and chased their kids trying to keep them from getting into something they shouldn't. I don't think I ever finished a cup of coffee at one of those mother's group meetings!

Eileen, Alysa's mother, had suggested she would like to commission me to do a painting for Alysa, but I said that I'd would just like to do it for a wedding present.   This is the street where Anthony and Alysa live in Washington, DC.  I think it's 12th and W N.W.  I've put a couple in the painting walking down the street to suggest Alysa and Anthony walking together in their new life as a married couple.

I hope Alysa and Anthony remember their first home together when they look at this pictures years from now.  They are a special couple with lots of adventures ahead.

Large Works Juried Show

Twilight Over Georgetown
by Jane McElvany Coonce

I am so thrilled!!!!!  My piece was accepted into the large works juried show at The Art League.  Competition was tough.  There were 80 entries and only 16 were selected!  To be honest, I'm shocked I was accepted.  So often, jurors go for the abstract , especially when it's a big piece.  This show will be hung in November.  Can't wait to see the show hung.

Taking a Group to Greece

I am organizing my next painting trip, and this year it is to Greece.  We have a fabulous travel agent whose specialty is archeological sites.  She will lead us through the ruins of Greece and take us to great places to paint.  We also welcome anyone who just wants to travel with a group.

The trip begins on May 2, 2015, and we will fly to Athens.  We will stay there two days in the heart of Athens and tour around the sites of the city as well as Sounio.  Then we will head out to the Island of Tinos.  It's a place that hasn't been discovered by tourists, but a place where the Greeks love. It's called the most romantic island of Greece.  We will be stationed there for 5 days in a boutique hotel right on the water.  Each morning we go out and paint.  For our travelers that aren't painters, they will tour around the town that we are visiting.

After we leave Tinos, we will head to Delphi.  We will be stationed there for 5 days and will visit the ruins of Delphi as well as close by seaside towns.  We will paint and tour our way through Greece.

After that, we will head back to Athens and return home.

Breakfast and dinner are included and we will catch a lunch in whatever town we happen to be in that day.

It's going to be a fantastic trip because our guide is one of the best in the whole country.  She was recommended to me by someone who travels extensively, and she told me of all the guides she's ever had in all the trips she's ever taken, she felt this one was the best!  So we are very excited to be apart of this tour.

If you'd like to travel and want to go with a group or if you want to take some painting classes along the way, this is the trip for you.  Space is limited, so please let me know if you are interested.

I'd be glad to send you a brochure if you would like to look over the whole itinerary.  Just let me know.

Opening Up a Can of Worms

Opening Up a Can of Worms
by Jane McElvany Coonce

Once again I entered the juried show at The Art League at the Torpedo Factory, and my painting was selected!  It's kind of a funky painting.  It's a plastic dinosaur getting ready to devour a can of gummy worms.  (Can you tell I've been on a diet for a while?)  There were over 500 entries and the juror only selected 90.  I feel quite honored.  You never know what a juror might like.  But it always makes you feel good when you get into the show.  If you get a chance, go down to The Art League this month and see the 90 works that were selected.

Key Bridge - Part IV

I have to apologize for not posting for a while.  My life has been crazy.  I've had 3 weddings, 3 weeks in a row, and quite a few commissions to do.  Life has been hectic.

  I want to show you the next step in the big Key Bridge painting.  I painted the light hitting the underneath part of the bridge.  I let that dry and then I painted the bridge itself.

Unfortunately, I forgot to take pictures of the other steps so you will only see the finished product.

I've entered the painting in a digital entry form for a show at The Art League.  I hope it gets in, but I never bet the bank on juried shows.  Every juror has his own agenda, taste, and ideas.  Nothing is a sure bet.

Twilight Over Georgetown
by Jane McElvany Coonce

I'll keep you posted if I make it.

Sorry I forgot to take photos of the other steps.  I was just madly painting this as well as 2 wedding presents and several other commissions.  I need a vacation!

Key Bridge - Part III

I worked under the bridge today.  I only had one building, the Potomac Boat Club, and the beautiful stone wall next to it.  I'm not sure what this structure was but it looks like it might have been the foundation for a previous bridge.  If anyone knows, please let me know. The two areas under the bridge are a lot less stressful because there is not as much detail.  It still took me the whole painting session today to do these two areas.

The painting is starting to take shape.  I'll let this dry. The bridge will be painted in two different sessions. I have to paint the underneath part of the bridge and it has to dry before I can paint the main part of the bridge.  Otherwise, if I paint both parts at the same time, and I accidentally hit the section with the other color, it could make a big mess.  That's why these paintings take so long.  I paint a section, then I have to let it dry.    

Key Bridge - Part II

I've made so more progress on the Key Bridge painting.  I forced myself to do the buildings on the left. This area is very tedious as is the buildings on the right.

I went back in and re-drew the area for the houses on the right.  I am using several different pictures and in some photographs -the towers might be clear and in one photograph, but the houses may be a better in another picture.  It gets kind of confusing, and I'm always looking through my pile of photos for a better  close up photo of the area I'm doing. After finishing these buildings, I had had enough and quit for the day. It's mentally grueling.  You can see it's a slow process.  Each photo I've taken is a day's work.

 Then the next day, I did the townhouses on the right and some of the greenery.  I know when I finish this part that the hard part of the painting is over.  It gets more fun now.

Here's a funny story.  I have a painting similar to this one over my mantle.  A woman commissioned me to do a Key Bridge /Georgetown scene and came to pick it up. She looked at the painting over my mantle and said, "Hey, you left out my house."  I remember when I painted it that I ran out of space so I deleted a house.  What are the odds of that person coming to my house and pointing that out to me?

The Start of a Key Bridge Painting

Many people ask me how I paint the Key Bridge/Georgetown paintings.  They are sort of my signature pieces, and I usually do about 4 or 5 a year.  They take a lot of work because there is so much architecture that has to be correct.  I spend hours on the drawing itself.  I've gotten smart over the years, and I save my drawings.  Then sometimes, I trace part of the drawing and do a section of the Key Bridge for a new painting, using an old drawing I had for a previous painting.

This is a painting I've just started for an upcoming show at The Art League (in the Torpedo Factory). It's called "Large", and all paintings have to be 30x40 inches or larger.  This one is 30 x 40 inches! I have to have it done by October 1st, so I've been madly painting to try and get this done.

If you look at the picture on the right, you'll notice tape on each side of the openings on the bridge.  I tape it because it's easier to get a clean straight line this way.

I also always start with the buildings.  I do this for two reasons.  The first reason is because the first time I ever did a painting like this, I did the sky first.  Then I did the buildings.  But I needed to reshape the building and cut them down a little, which meant I had to go back and mix up sky color and fix around the buildings.  Of course, it's impossible to match up the paint because it dries a different color than when it's wet.  So then I had to paint the sky all over again.

But the main reason I do the buildings first is because it's the part I hate.  It's so tedious and one must be so precise.  So I tell myself, "Ok, today, you must do 1/3 of the buildings. " It's like taking bad tasting medicine in small doses.  When I finish a third of the buildings, then I let myself paint something else. In this case, I painted the small opening archways.

After I finished all the small openings on the bridge, I remove the tape.  Then I stick the painting in the back of my car where it's nice and hot and this helps dry it by the next day.

Notice that the top of the towers are a little bit smudgy.  I will correct this when I put in the sky.

I will take pictures as I progress in this painting so that you can see how the painting evolves.

Let me know what you think as I work on this.

Save the Date!

I want everyone to save the date of Sunday, September 21 from 5:30 - 7:00.  We are having a reception for an art show of all the paintings done in Italy by the group of artists I took to Umbria last May.  The show will be at Cassatt's at the Lee Heights Shops in Arlington.  There are 13 artists participating in this group show.  It's amazing how many paintings were finished in the two weeks were there.  The show will hang from Sept 14 until Oct. 19.  I will post more info about the show in the next few weeks, but I wanted everyone to put it on your calendars so that you can meet the great group of artists that painted Italy this spring!

Todi Hillside
by Jane McElvany Coonce

"Left Out" juried art show

Teapot and Pears
by Jane McElvany Coonce

In the Afternoon Cafe
by Jane McElvany Coonce

The Arlington Artists Alliance is sponsoring a juried art show for September.  Artists are allowed to enter 2 pieces for possible acceptance.  I enter "Teapot and Pears" and "In the Afternoon Cafe."  An artist always has their fingers crossed when they enter a juried show.

I am thrilled to say that both pieces were accepted!  I think only 5 artists got both pieces accepted.  There will be a reception at the Gallery Underground on Friday, Sept 5 from 5 to 8 pm.  I hope everyone can come.  If not, the show will hang for the month of September.  It comes down Sept 27.  

The gallery is located in Crystal City in Arlington.  

The theme "Left Out" is about the process that an artist goes through when producing a piece of art.  The artist might leave out or add something into the composition to make it work as a painting.  In both of my pieces, I left out specific colors. 

 In "Teapot and Pears", I limited myself to colors that were opposite the color wheel ( blue and orange).  The table cloth is blue and the background is peach.  There are a few other colors in there, but the majority of the painting is the blue/orange spectrum.  Colors opposite on the color wheel have a tendency to make the eye vibrate.  The color combination is a little jarring.  Yet the painting as a whole is a very soothing subject matter.  

In the painting "In the Afternoon Cafe" , I used a limited palette again.  This time I used purple and a yellow that are also opposite on the color wheel.  I think if I had painted this scene in the colors that were really there in real life, the painting wouldn't have been nearly as interesting.  So I wouldn't be tempted to use the colors of reality, I painted this scene from a black and white print out of this photograph and only used the two colors to complete the work.  By leaving out the real colors, I think I achieved a much more cohesive painting.

Gretta Bader

Gretta Bader's obituary was in the Washington Post last week.  She was a sculptor and had taught down at The Art League in the Torpedo Factory in Alexandria.  I had taken sculpture lessons from her back in the 90's.  She was a great teacher.  She left the area, and I never knew what happened to her.  Her son was a movie star in Hollywood.  He was in the movie, The Beverly Hillbillies.  Diebrich Bader played Jethro.  When I watched the movie, I giggled through the whole thing because it was like looking at Gretta dressed as a man.  He looks just like his mom.

The sad thing about hearing about a death of someone you admired is that you wished you had told them.  I wish I had told Gretta how much I enjoyed her class and what a great teacher she was.  Unfortunately, I've lost that opportunity and will never be able to tell her how much I loved her class.
It makes me realize that we need to tell people around us what they mean to us while they are still here to appreciate the compliment.

Obit picture of Gretta Bader

Sharon - Version #2
by Jane McElvany Coonce

Sharon - Version #1
by Jane McElvany Coonce

Gretta had a model one time named Sharon.  Sharon posed for us for 8 weeks.  I started my sculpture of her, and after about 3 weeks, Gretta told me to stop and start over.  I was a little surprised because I liked what I had done so far and didn't just want to tear it down and start over.  So I put it aside and started a new one.  I'm glad she did have me do this.  I have 2 pieces, both which are in my living room.  One is the "sketch" of only a couple of weeks and the other is a more finished product.  I learned a lot from doing this, although it was very painful at the time.  Thanks, Gretta, for pushing me to do more!  I cherish both of these portrait sculptures and what they taught me.

Eagle
by Jane McElvany Coonce

My classes are over for the summer, and therefore, I've been doing so much painting!!!!  I'm getting tons of paintings done because I can stay home and paint all day.  Teaching takes a lot of time.  It's not just the hours that you have class, but it's also the preparation of getting things lined up in order to do proper demos for the classes.  Since I have both oil painters, pastelists and watercolorists in my class, I've got lots of prepartions to do in each of the mediums.

I've had several commissions that have been piling up and slowly being worked on, but this week , I've managed to finish up 3 commissions.  The one above, Eagle, is a painting I did for Nancy and Dave Mulligan.  It's rather large, and I'm thrilled with how it has turned out.  It's going to the framers this week. Rob Plati, my fabulous framer at Underground Industries, helped me pick out a beautiful frame of brown wood with a white linen liner.   Can't wait to see it in the frame.

Nancy and Dave wanted an eagle painting.  I have a great photographer friend, Bob Currie, who is one of the best photographers I know.  I asked him to take some pictures of eagles for me that I could work from.  He took so many beautiful photographs, and I had a hard time picking one.  But this was the final choice of the bird in flight, with its' enormous wing span stretching out across the water.

Can't wait to deliver it to Nancy and Dave.  Hope they enjoy it as much as I enjoyed painting it.

Peach from the Tree

Peach from the Tree
by Jane McElvany Coonce

I did a little watercolor sketch today to take a break from two commissions I'm working on at the same time.  They both take a lot of concentration.  So I decided to take a morning to do a sketch of a pear from the farmer's market that still had a branch and leaves attached.  It was fun and quick.

Now it's back to the grind stone to work on my commissions.  Hopefully, I'll have one of the commission pieces done by the end of the week.  When it's complete, I'll post it.  Stay tuned.

'Scapes Show at the August juried show at The Art League's

Friday Night Traffic
by Jane McElvany Coonce

Every August, The Art League has it's landscape show endearingly called 'Scapes.  It's the one show a year dedicated to the landscape.  There were over 600 entries and they could only accept 140.  Competition is always tough at The Art League shows, but the landscape show is always the most competitive.  So I was thrilled when one of my paintings was accepted into the show.

"Friday Night Traffic" is an oil painting from my night series.  It's one of my favorite ones from my night scene series. It will hang at The Art League in the Torpedo Factory for the month of August.  I hope you will get down to Old Town and see the show.  The landscape show is always worth seeing.

One More Gone From the Crab Series

Crabs, Old Bay and Beer
by Jane McElvany Coonce

I sold another painting from my crab series.  That series is slowly dwindling. I had it at the July show at The Art League located in the Torpedo Factory.  I was tickled it sold.  Nothing makes an artist feel better than when they sell a painting.  That is actually the 2nd crab painting I sold down there.  I think, too, that summer makes people think of eating crabs and they gravitate to those types of paintings.  It's hard to sell a snow scene in the summer!  Artists have to think about what paintings to put in what shows according to the time of year and the theme of the painting.   Certain paintings can only be hung for several months of the year before you've missed that window of opportunity.  I guess it's like anything else; Macy's doesn't sell shorts in December!

I have a special affection for my crab series, and I'm always a little bit sad that one more has left the nest to find a new home.  I guess it's bittersweet.

Monochromatic Paintings

St Peter's Basilica
by Jane McElvany Coonce

In my class this summer, we have been working on monochromatic paintings.  Generally, people think of monochromatic paintings as picking one color and adding either white or black. If you google "monochromatic paintings", you will see a lot of bad paintings that do just that.  It's boring to use one color!

To me, monochromatic paintings is when an artist limits his palette and keeps the colors analogous and then uses white or dark.  ( I don't use black - it's ugly and deadens a painting.)

It's not easy to do a monochromatic painting.  An artist who loves color has a hard time pulling in the reins.  But I did these 3 paintings and was quite happy with the results.

Rowers at Key Bridge
by Jane McElvany Coonce

Evening in Georgetown
by J.McElvany Coonce

3 more days Until the Stifel and Capra Birthday Sale

Crab on Deck
by Jane McElvany Coonce

 The count down is on.  I know some of you have gone over to check out what is at Stifel and Capra.  Hope you are seeing paintings that would make nice presents (even if that present is for yourself!)

This crab painting was one from my crab series.  I did about 15 paintings for my solo show at the Gallery Underground.  I only have a few left.
This is a small painting that would fit almost anywhere, even on a table easel on a bookcase.
It's a great painting for anyone who loves the beach, has a beach house, or loves to eat crabs!

Collage of Phillips Crab House
by Jane McElvany Coonce

I also did a collage using the obituary of the founder of Phillips Crab House.  As a kid, my parents would always take us there.  It was such a treat.  Although I haven't been there in years, I still have fond memories of the place.

I did 3 of these collages where I used real newspaper and then added the crabs on top.  It's just like when you put newspapers down to eat crabs.  How ironic it would be to eat crabs on the obituary of the Phillip's Seafood Chain.  I bet the crabs would like this as a fitting end.

Anyway, come see the show at Stifel and Capra.
260 West Broad St. Falls Church.

5 days to the Birthday Sale

Along the Amalfi Coast
by Jane McElvany Coonce

The birthday sale at Stifel and Capra is coming up fast.
In case you haven't heard, once a year I put selected paintings on sale.  Framed pieces are all under $125 and unframed pieces are half price (ranging from $22 to $63.)

The sale is Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Hours on Friday and Saturday are 10-6 and Sunday they are 1pm to 5.  Stifel and Capra is at 260 West Broad St. in Falls Church.

There is the sneak preview on Thursday from 6 to 8 , but you have to sign up at:  bdaybash@stifelandcapra.com
They can't let you in unless you are on the list due to the liquor license.  You have to be an invited guest (everyone qualifies as long as you sign up ahead of time.)

I will be there throughout the weekend so I hope I'll see you there.

Rainy Night in Georgetown
by Jane McElvany Coonce

Hanging the Show for the Birthday Sale

Hip Hip Hooray
by Jane McElvany Coonce

I hung my show today for Stifel and Capra.  I put in 20 framed pieces and 20 shrinkwrap pieces (unframed works.)  I only had the small wall where my studio used to be.  It's on the 2nd floor over in the corner.  I used every square inch I could to get as many pieces ups as possible.

The sale doesn't officially start until next Friday.  It runs for 3 days:  Friday, July 18, Saturday July 19, and Sunday July 20.  There actually is a sneak preview night next Thursday, July 17 from 6-8.  However, you have to let Stifel and Capra know that you are coming because of liquor license laws.  Yes, there will be wine and hors d'oeuvres served.  I will be there at the beginning, but I have to teach that night so I can't stay for the whole time.  Here's your chance to own a McElvany original at a very discounted price.  There are all sizes, from small works to larger pieces.  I will also have boxed cards there, too.

I have several themes.  I have my boat series - about 6 of the boat theme.  I have florals and gardens - about 5 of those.
And I have some from my crab series - 3 of those. I also have some miscellaneous ones that don't really fit those 3 themes. You'll just have to come and see.

All art work is $125 or less.  I only do this once a year.  Don't miss your chance.

Boat Dry Docked
by Jane McElvany Coonce