Codorus State Park WIP by Mary Beth Brath

Codorus State Park (current work in progress)

11x14" Acrylic on Canvas

I started this painting a few days ago on site (plein air).  Yesterday I made a few minor changes and am almost finished. There are a couple of places that I need to soften edges and adjust saturation.

My First Gallery Representation by Mary Beth Brath

11x14" Acrylic Streetscape of the Vancura Gallery in the Summer of 2011

In 2005, I was accepted into my first fine art gallery.  The Vancura Gallery of Fine Art in Middlefield Ohio is owned by Donna Vancura.  My professional art career started with 5 gallery wrapped canvases painted in bold saturated colors.  Donna actually painted my wall royal blue to showcase my work.  I was so excited and inspired.  It is so important to have people in your life that believe in you.  Many years ago I read a book titled "Balcony People".  Donna is a balcony person in my life and the lives of so many other artists.  Thank the people in your life that sit in the balcony and cheer you on to reach your dreams.

www.marybethbrath.com

50 Daily Paintings in 50 Days #8 and #9 by Mary Beth Brath

50 Daily Paintings in 50 Days

#8 - "Together Forever"

2 1/2" x 3 1/2" ATC - ACEO Mini Linen Canvas Paper

#9 - "Elissa Gore at the Gettysburg Artist Colony"

2 1/2" x 3 1/2" ATC - ACEO Mini Linen Canvas Paper

 The "50" challenge has made me search through my photo reference files from June and July.
#8 - "Together Forever"  - I came across these trees at Cook Forest State Park PA while hiking this summer. Wish I could have painted it plein air while I was there but my family was eager to find the next discovery along the trail. I would love to see David Bottini and James Browne paint their versions of this scene.

#9 - "Elissa Gore at the Gettysburg Artist Colony" -  This summer I worked as a consultant for the Gburg Artist Colony.  Elissa came all the way from NYC to participate in the event.

www.marybethbrath.com

50 Daily Paintings in 50 Days #6 and #7 by Mary Beth Brath

#6 of 50 Daily Paintings - "Sailing at Pinchot"

2 1/2" x 3 1/2" Mini on ATC - ACEO Linen Canvas Paper

#7 of 50 Daily Paintings - "Gettysburg Festival Plein Air"

2 1/2" x 3 1/2" Mini on ATC - ACEO Linen Canvas Paper

And the challenge continues.  These mini paintings have me longing for a huge canvas!

#5 of 50 Daily Paintings in 50 Days by Mary Beth Brath

50 Daily Paintings if 50 Days Challenge

#5 Cottage Wetlands after the 2011 Flood

Acrylic on 2 1/2" x 3 1/3" ATC - ACEO Linen Canvas Paper

During the flooding this month, a wetland area outside of Mechanicsburg was extra wet.  That night, I decided to do my daily challenge painting from memory.

www.marybethbrath.com

50 Mini Paintings in 50 Days #3 and #4 by Mary Beth Brath

50 Daily Mini Paintings in 50 Days

#3 - This painting was completed for the September DPP Challenge and my personal challenge.

#4 "Helen's Table"

All "50" paintings are 2 1/2" x 3 1/2" Minis on Linen ATC - ACEO Canvas Paper.  The completed series will be available for sale in November 2011 - just in time for Holiday Shopping.  Details to come...

Sunflower on Bible - Number 2 of 50 Daily Paintings in 50 Days by Mary Beth Brath

50 Daily Paintings Challenge

"Sunflower on Bible"

Number 2 of 50 ATC Mini Daily Paintings in 50 Days

Heavy Acrylic on  2 1/2" x 3 1/2" ATC Linen Canvas Paper

On Friday September 2nd, I didn't get a chance to paint until after midnight.  Determined to stay on task, I sat down at the kitchen table and painted this little sweetie.  I attended First Friday in Lancaster PA and visited my favorite Lancaster Artist Christiane David.  So inspired by her work once again, I was driven to do a sunflower. I had a couple in a vase that I gathered while plein air painting at Windmill Creek Studios.  I placed the flower on my bible and intended to have the writing in the background, but I just couldn't get that to look right so I left the background solid.

Banana's - Mini ATC - ACEO daily painting by Mary Beth Brath

Banana's Mini ATC - ACEO daily painting

Banana's is not a part of my current daily challenge.  This one was created during my summer vacation at our cabin in Northwestern PA.  Completed in one sitting late at night.  All of my paintings are available for sale.  Either contact one of my galleries in Ohio or PA or email me directly and I will refer you to the proper dealer.

For information on the galleries and shops that carry my work, go to http://www.marybethbrath.com/.

"50 Daily Paintings" Challenge #1 "Berries" by Mary Beth Brath

50 Daily Paintings Challenge

In April of 2011, I started some new goal setting and heavy analyzing of my career in Fine Arts.  One of my plans was to start a daily challenge for myself on September 1st.  The children are back in school at this time and I have always enjoyed "nesting" in the fall. Well, yesterday my day was packed solid from 6am to 9pm...that did include a 30 minute nap.  I love naps. Sometimes my naps are longer.

At 9:30pm I was determined to get in my first daily painting for my challenge. Here are the details...

I will challenge myself to paint 50 mini ATC - ACEO sized paintings in 50 days.

I finished the first in this series around 10:40pm. Here is the result.

"Berries" 1/50 - 50 Daily Paintings Challenge

2 1/2" x 3 1/2" ATC - ACEO Sized Canvas Paper

See more of my work at http://www.marybethbrath.com/