Save the date: Friday, July 1 from 5-7 pm- My solo show reception at Gallery Underground

My solo show is coming up in July at Gallery Underground. The show title is "Four Seasons." It's all the paintings I did during lockdown and then some. There are paintings of autumn and of winter.

There are paintings of Springtime: waterfalls and Cherry Blossoms.

And there are paintings of Summer, glorious summer! Save the date, Friday, July 1 , and plan to come to the opening reception from 5- 7 pm. Show runs until July 29. Hope you can make it.

Art A Fair at Walker Chapel this weekend

I hope everyone can make it to the McLean Art Society's show at Walker Chapel United Methodist Church this weekend. The church is located at 4102 N. Glebe Rd in Arlington, VA. There is a reception Friday night, May 13 from 5 to 8 pm. Stop by, I'll be there. Also, the art show is open on Saturday, May 14 from 10 am to 5 pm (I'll be there from 10 am to 1 pm) and on Sunday, May 15, from 10 am to 2 pm.

Georgetown with Morning Light (oil) by J McElvany Coonce

American Crab Feast (oil) by Jane McElvany Coonce Hope to see you at the show.

Iris Outside the Box

The Potomac Valley Watercolorists are having a show at Green Springs Gardens in Alexandria, VA. I entered 2 paintings. I won an honorable mention with my painting called "Iris Outside the Box." Very honored to receive an award with so many fabulous paintings. The show will be there until June 26, so stop by and see the show. It's a really beautiful exhibition of watercolor paintings.

Nassau Valley Vineyard Art Show in Lewes, Delaware

I became a member of the Delaware Watercolor Society whose home base is Rehoboth Beach. I just received notice that I received signature status which in the watercolor world is a big deal. I entered my first show with them. It will be at the Nassau Valley Vineyards for the month of May.

Every artists was allowed to enter 3 paintings which I did. I was hoping to get at least one in. To my surprise, I got all 3 into the show. The juror was Kathleen Conover. I dropped off my paintings today. The reception for the show is this Thursday, May 5 from 5 to 7 pm. So if you live up that way or are visiting the beach this month, stop by and see the show.

Crabs, Old Bay and Butter

Here's a watercolor I did about 2 months ago. It's large, and I did it because I love eating crabs. It's a social thing. My grandparents lived in Norfolk, and as a kid, my dad and I would go crabbing with chicken necks and string. We would throw the chicken necks out, wait a few minutes and then slowing pull the line back, keeping the chicken neck on the bottom of the bay. Then when it was close enough, I would slowly pull the crabs up. When we could see the crabs on the chicken neck, my dad would take the crab net and quickly scoop up the crab and chicken neck. He had a wooden basket that he would float inside an inner tube, and we would dump are catch in there. When we were done for the day, we would bring home our load. My grandmother would steam them and then the whole family (aunt, uncle, cousin) would sit around the table, picking crabs and talking. It takes quite a while to get your fill so there was a lot of talking going on. To this day, I love a crab feast. Not just for the delicious taste of crab meat, but also for the talk that goes on for hours.

Seagulls by the Rough Water

Here is a painting I did recently. I had assigned my students to do rough ocean waves and turbulent skies. After I finished my painting, I thought it needed more so I added some seagulls in the distance. Then after looking at it more, I decided to make some bigger seagulls. I'm please how it turned out. I started with one idea and kept adding to it until I was satisfied.

Daisies in a Coke Bottle

I haven't posted in quite a while. I had surgery almost a month ago and recovery has been slow. I decided to show some things I did before I went under the knife. This is a still life I set up with some old coke bottles and some daisies. It was fun to paint. I started off as a still life painter so whenever I do one, it takes me to my happy place. I'm still too sore to paint yet, but I'm looking forward to the day that I can get back to picking up a brush.