5th Post on the Preston's Mural

Ovechkin and the Stanley Cup 

Sorry I haven't been posting as I work on this mural.  I have been putting in long hours every day, and by the time I get home, I'm exhausted.  It's really coming together, although there is still a lot to do.  The small details will make it really cool.  I have to put shadows under each photograph so that it really looks 3- dimensional.  I also am going to paint a wooden frame and do the woodgraining. I also need to paint push pins that will hold up the "photos."  But as you can see, I've made a lot of progress in the last week.

Working on the last " photograph"

The other views I've done since the last post are Rosslyn with Key Bridge, Iwo Jima Memorial, Arlington House with the Cemetery, the Pentagon, and the Nat's stadium. (I know that is not in Arlington, but we love the Nat's.)

I've met a lot of people as I'm painting. A lot of friends have stopped by to see my progress. It's really been a lot of fun. 

I think of all the scenes I've done, I like the Iwo Jima the best.

Iwo Jima

4th Post on Mural at Preston's Pharmacy

Drawing of Present Day Preston's

Transferred Drawing on wall

 I started the 2nd drawing at home, put it on tracing paper, and transferred it to the wall at Preston's.

I had some finishing touches to do on "Old Preston's".  I had to do the lettering and the telephone wires.

Then I started painting the 2nd image, "Present Day Preston's."  The new Preston's is just down the street from where the old Preston's was. It's at Lee Highway and Edison St.

At the end of the day, I was almost finished. Again , I wanted to do the lettering on the awnings and the door and sign when I was fresh, so I will save that for tomorrow.

I've talked to so many interesting people.
Again a few friends stopped in: Rebecca Croft and Mary Misch.

Looking forward to the next "photograph."

Almost finished "Present Day Preston's"

3rd Post on the Mural at Preston's Pharmacy

White rectangles ready for the "photos" of Arlington

Drawing of Preston's from 1940

 Now that the background was done, I began to prepare the "photos".  I taped off the rectangles and painted them all white.  It took 2 coats so it took most of the day.

I went home and drew the image of Preston's Pharmacy from a photo from 1940. (Preston's was at Glebe Rd and Lee Highway back then. )It's easier to draw at home when I can do it on a piece of paper on the table and erase lines easily.  Once I was satisfied with the drawing, I traced my drawing. I took the tracing back to Preston's. Using transfer paper (carbon paper) I transferred my drawing onto the wall.

Transferred drawing on the wall with reference photo

 Then the fun begins. I begin to paint the scene. I finished it except for small details like the telephone wires and the lettering on the windows. I decide it would be better  to do it when I'm fresh the next day.

Lots of customers stop and comment about the mural. It's fun to meet new people. Even some of my friends have stopped by : Janet Tramonte, Patty Lynch and Robert Twining, all friends from high school ( although technically, Robert has been my friend since diapers.) I love having people stop by. It gives me a chance to take a break and step back and look at my work.

Almost finished "Old Preston's"

2nd Post on Preston's Pharmacy Mural

The next step of the mural is to create the cork board.  I used the warm tan base coat to set the tone. Then I began sponging a layer of dark brown. Next I sponged a layer was burnt sienna. The 3rd layer was yellow ochre. The forth layer was Naples and white. I still wasn't happy with the color so I ended up doing two more layers of sponging. The next part was the most tedious part of the cork board. It was painting the dark lines that separate each of the pieces of cork. Needless to say, I was exhausted after this day!

cork board developing

sponging layers

Close up of the Cork effect

Mural at Preston's Pharmacy

I have a new project. I've been asked to do a mural at Preston's Pharmacy on Lee Highway in Arlington.  I have a long history with Preston's. When we bought our house in the 80's in North Arlington, we started going to Preston's. They moved down the street to their new location at Edison St. and Lee Highway. Both Nicholas and Kevin had summer jobs there when they were in high school.  I've been selling my Key Bridge Cards and my Crabs on Newspaper Cards in their gift shop for years.

Recently, they approached me about doing a mural on their back wall. The idea is to do a "bulletin board" with scenes of Arlington "pinned up" to the bulletin board. The plan is for me to paint a cork bulletin board. We have picked out various images of Arlington that will be painted on the wall. I'll also paint "push pins" that will hold up the painted "photographs" of Arlington.

 So last week I started the project.  I thought it would be fun to keep you posted on my blog as to my progress. But please stop by the store any time and see my progression. 

Base coat , a warm tan
(spaces marked off for "photographs")

original wall color (dark green)

Save the Date: Saturday Sept 15, 2o018

Marshlands
original oil painting by Jane McElvany Coonce

I haven't posted in over a month as I was out of the country.  My family and I rented a car and drove all around Ireland. It was a fabulous trip. Hopefully, there will be some paintings coming from that adventure.

In the meantime, I want everyone to save the date:  SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 15

This is the date of the GRAND OPENING of Gallery Clarendon. It will be an all day event. In the daytime, there will activities and demos. I am teaching a free watercolor class from 2 to 3:30. We will be painting flowers in a window box. If you've never tried watercolor before, this is your chance. I will provide all the supplies. You supply the enthusiasm.  All you have to do is to sign up on our website: www.arlingtonatistsacademy.org . It doesn't cost anything, but seating is limited.
Also, that evening, we will have our grand opening reception from 5 to 8 pm. I hope you will be able to make it. I will be there on the 2nd floor so please stop by and say hi.

Gallery Clarendon is located at the corner of Fillmore St. and Clarendon Blvd. Look for the red awning. That's us!  There is a parking garage on Filmore St, and there is also street parking.
I'll send more about our event as it closer to the time, but put it on your calendar now so that you won't forget!

Gallery Clarendon's Opening Reception is this Friday, July 13

Zebra Stripes
oil painting by Jane McElvany Coonce

This Friday is the opening reception of our new Gallery Clarendon. The Arlington Artists Alliance members started working in January on this. We built walls and display areas. It's finally completed and we are very excited to sponsor our first reception. I have paintings in the gallery on the 1st floor such as the Zebra Stripes painting above. 

I also have a studio space upstairs where I display more of my work such as the one below "Seagulls' Playground."

The gallery is open 7 days a week from 11 am to 7pm.  Our reception on Friday will be from 5-8 pm.

Gallery Clarendon is located at 2800 Clarendon Blvd #R800. It's at the corner of Clarendon Blvd and Filmore St. Look for the red awnings - that's us!  You can park in the garage on Filmore St or on the street.  Hope you can make it on Friday. I will be there and would love to see you.

Seagulls' Playground
oil painting by Jane McElvany Coonce