Sun Kissed

Sun Kissed
by Jane McElvany Coonce

This is a portrait of an artist I know. She is a very dramatic person, and I asked her if I could do her portrait.  She said yes.

I started the piece this spring. Then I put it down as I got ready to teach on the cruise ship.  It was about 3/4 of the way done, and I needed to sit down and finish it.  So that's what I did this week.

This was a painting that had a lot of detail.  The hat in itself took a lot of time. The face had the added challenge of all the sun light dots coming through the hat and hitting the face. But it was also a painting that I really enjoyed doing.  (Not all paintings are fun!)

I'm also trying to get better at naming paintings.  Diane Tesler has been giving me guidance.  I'm trying to become better at naming paintings which is an art form in itself.  So what do you think of the title "Sun Kissed". Can you think of a better one?  I'd love to hear your suggestions.

Early Morning Commute

Early Morning Commute
by Jane McElvany Coonce

This is my first attempt at using the techniques I learned from the Frank Eber workshop.  I took the class last May and really haven't had time to practice what I learned.  But I love Frank's work and am determined to practice the technique that he taught. It's a very wet into wet technique that has about 3 or 4 steps.  It's also a very nerve racking technique.  After you draw your subject matter on the paper, you mix up a big puddle of your light background color and begin putting it on dry paper, leaving a bead as you stroke across the paper.  You keep the bead moving down the paper so that you don't end up with a hard line.  You can't stop and answer the phone, and you have to plan where you are going to leave the white of the paper without using mask. You have to make sure the bead doesn't go into your white areas.  It's very stressful.  After that layer dries, you go back into it and build up the next darkest part of the painting.  I learned a lot by doing this piece, and I'm sure the more I do, the less stressful it will be.   I started this one a while ago but finally finished it this week.  I've got another painting, a portrait,  I started eons ago that I'm almost finished with and I'll post that next.
 Let me know what you think.                    

My Next Cruise Assignment for 2016

Beach in Tazmania

Kangaroo at Sunset

Sheep of New Zealand

Mt. Cook, New Zealand

Teaching the cruise ship this July was the highlight of my summer.  Ireland, Iceland, Faroe and Orkney Islands were amazing to visit.  However, I was thrilled to find out that I got my first choice for next year!  We are going to Australia and New Zealand!  The trip will be in January (summertime there) and we will be leaving the cold weather at home.  We are going on a smaller ship on the Azamara line.  We did this line before when we went to Vietnam and Thailand, and it's really special.

Koala

Kangaroo

Needless to say, we are very excited. The preparation for teach on the cruise ship is extensive.  I have to plan what the people are going to paint.  I research photos on line and come up with a plan for the places we are visiting.  Then I do each one to see if it's easy enough to complete in an hour or so (and also easy enough for a beginner to do.)  I write all the directions out, step by step, so that after I demonstrate, if they forget what I did, they have it written down on paper.  I worked all week on this, and here's what I came up with.  I think I have at least one extra.  Which one would you eliminate if I had to pick one that we didn't have enough time to do?

I'm so glad I have all the lessons done.  Now I can sit back and relax.

Akarok, New Zealand

Last Art about the Cruise to Ireland-Iceland

Rebecca Strong
Bristol, England

This will be the last post about my teaching on the Queen Elizabeth to Ireland, Iceland, Faroe Islands and Orkney Islands.  For the final project, I asked people what they were going to do when they went home and had no Jane to coach them.  I gave them a plan on how to draw the subject matter.  Then using the techniques they had practice while on the cruise, I felt confident that they would be able to handle a painting without watching a demo.  They would have to figure out the puzzle of how to do the painting.  So here is what some of my fabulous students did.

I had some extra photos there that they could work from.  All of these paintings below are ones where the student drew the subject first.  Then they figured out what color they should put on.  Then from there, how to build up the painting to it's finished state.  Debra Sult did 3 puffin heads.  She plans to mat and frame each one and give them as presents.  Wouldn't you love to have an original painting from one of your friends?  Julie Micallef and Rachel Strong did the beautiful Botanical Gardens of Akureyri, Iceland.  The flowers there are magnificent. Rebecca and Julie did a nice job of capturing its charm.  Julie also did a painting of boats in Isafjordur, Iceland.  From these paintings, you really get a feel of what Iceland is like.  Lastly, Barbara did a painting of the Northern Lights.  Although we didn't see them since the sun doesn't set in July, Barbara had fun experimenting with the wet into wet technique to give that atmospheric look.  My son, Kevin, is going to Iceland in December, so maybe he will get to see the spectacular aurora borealis.  He certainly won't have to worry about too much sun in December!

I have to say that the students on board the Cunard were one of the nicest groups I've ever met.  They were all so enthusiastic and they worked hard on each project.  I will miss all of them and hope that they send me paintings that they do back home.  If they do, I'll post them.  Hopefully, I've exposed people to the joy of painting.

Puffins
by Debra Sult
Phoenix, Arizona, USA

Northern Lights
by Barbara Corfe
Potters Bar, England

Botanical Gardens in Iceland
by Julie Micallef
Buckinghamshire, UK

by Julie Micallef
Buckinghamshire, UK

Closing of the Show at Allen Lawrence Fine Art

Evening Sky Over Georgetown
by Jane McElvany Coonce

I took my show down today after a very successful closing reception.  I want to thank Allen Pierce for all the work he did on this show.  He was the one that made is so successful.  He is so hardworking, and so diligent about getting the word out about the show.  He never stops thinking of ways to promote the art work.  He really is an amazing gentleman.  If you haven't met him, you need to.  He's a man going places!

All of the paintings below found a new home.  I helped install the top one, Evening Sky Over Georgetown, at the home of Carol and Steven Goldman.  They have such a beautiful home and I feel honored that they selected one of my paintings to hang in their home among their art collection.  And they have quite a collection!

As Evening Sets on Georgetown
by JMC

Fleeting Light Over Georgetown
by JMC

Pansies in a Blue and White Bowl
by JMC

Bright Skies Over Georgetown
by JMC

Rowing Past Key Bridge
by JMC

Closing Reception at Allen Lawrence Fine Art

Fleeting Light Over Georgetown
by Jane McElvany Coonce

Allen Lawrence Fine Art is having a closing night reception of my work this Saturday, August 8 from 6 - 9.  The show, "The Magnificent Riverscapes of Jane McElvany Coonce,"has been very successful.  I want to thank Allen for all that he has done for me.  Allen is also a realtor for Keller Williams Capital Properties and if he sells houses the way he sells art, this is the man for you!  Come meet him and visit with me.    The location is 2115 Newport Place, NW, Suite A, Washington, DC. Kindly RSVP to allenlawrencefineart@gmail.com or call 202-600-5377

Hiding in Plain Sight

Bottles by Candlelight
by Jane McElvany Coonce

The Arlington Artists Alliance sponsored a juried show called "Hiding In Plain Sight."  It's a show with virtually no theme except you have to hide the search icon in the painting somewhere.  The search icon is that little magnifying glass that's on the computer. Can you find it in my painting?

I entered the juried show and was excited I got accepted.  I was even more thrilled when I found out I won 2nd place!!!!  The awards ceremony is Friday night at the reception.  I hope you can come.

The show is at the Gallery Underground in Crystal City located at 2100 Crystal Drive.  The opening reception is this Friday form 5 to 8 pm.  If you can't make it Friday, the show hangs until August 29.