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.

Thanksgiving

Teapot and Pears
by Jane McElvany Coonce

I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving.  It's my favorite holiday.  No presents to buy, no cards to send, no presents to wrap.  It's all about cooking and being with your family.  I always enjoy the Thanksgiving dinner.  It's a simple meal with the same ol' menu which makes it easy to plan and to pull off.

"Teapot and Pears" is a painting I completed this month.  It's got the colors of autumn.  It's a simple arrangement, but I loved how it turned out.  It's at the framers as we speak.

I hope everyone enjoyed their Thanksgiving and rested up because now the hectic season begins: the shopping, the wrapping the decorating, the parties.  Hopefully, I will see many of you before the year ends.  I am thankful for all my friends and family that have supported me through the years.  Life is good when you have good friends and family. That's really what is important in life.

2014 Calendars

For the past several years, I have been making calendars with the paintings that I've done that year.  They have become quite popular, so I decided to order more this year to meet the demand!  Many of my students buy them as well as people who enjoy my art.  

I will have them at Stifel and Capra, 260 W. Broad St in Falls Church.  You can also get them from me.  I may even put them on Etsy, my on line store.  

Here's a sample of a few of the paintings that are featured.  I have picked out my favorite paintings that I did this year.  Actually, I have painted 76 paintings so far this year.  So I have to narrow it down to my 13 favorite ( one for the cover).  This year I've featured both oil and watercolor paintings.  And of course, December, is always my Christmas card painting.  

June

November

January 

February

Ft. Smith Show -Fall 2014

Snowy Day on the Potomac
by Jane McElvany Coonce

Tonight is the opening reception of the Ft. Smith Show, the biggest show of the Arlington Artists Alliance of the year!  I will be there tonight so I hope you can stop by and say hi.  The reception tonight is always lovely; it's like going to a cocktail party.  If you can't make it tonight , you can always stop by on Saturday or Sunday.  Ft. Smith is located at 2411 N. 24th St. in Arlington.

Hours:
   Fri, Nov 22,   6 - 8 pm
   Sat, Nov 23, 10 am - 5 pm
   Sun, Nov 24,  12noon- 4 pm


The painting above is the first winter scene I've ever done of the Key Bridge.  As many times as I've painted that bridge, I never did a winter scene, much less a snow scene.  My husband asked me why I'd never done a winter scene of the bridge before, and I guess it's because I don't go over to Roosevelt Island as much in the winter.  It's too cold!  But maybe this winter, I'll try to get over there more and take some new photos.  I'll take the new puppy, Leila, and introduce her to Seamus' favorite walking spot. He loved going over there and taking a swim in the Potomac.  Some how, that doesn't sound too inviting in the winter, but as crazy as Leila is, she'll probably jump in.

Hope to see you tonight!

The Art League's Small Works Show- Nov 2013

Piper Playing Cello
(watercolor)
by Jane McElvany Coonce

The Art League had the jurying today for the small works show.  I entered "Piper Playing the Cello" and it was accepted!!!!  That always puts me in a good mood when I get into their shows.  Competition is stiff, so it's not an easy feat.

This is a watercolor I did of my great niece, Piper.  Her mother, Leighanne, took the photo and I couldn't resist.  I've really been working on my watercolor techniques.  I am more comfortable as an oil painter, but watercolor is intriguing.  I think when an artist tries a new medium or a new technique, it makes them grow as an artist. Watercolor is a lot less messy.  Easy set up and easy clean up.

This is my first watercolor that has been accepted in a juried show at The Art League.  The show will hang for the month of November, so if you get a chance, take a trip down to Old Town Alexandria and see all the small works in The Art League Gallery.