Busy Bees by Daily Painter of Pennsylvania Mary Beth Brath

Busy Bees by Mary Beth Brath

8x10" Acrylic on Canvas

Bees are amusing in the fall.  They seem lethargic, yet still goal oriented. Interesting.

I am too tired to think any deeper.

Fungus Among Us by Mary Beth Brath

So many fascinating forms of fungus, so little time to paint.  I created this from one of my own photos taken while hiking in Northwestern PA. The Daily Painters of Pennsylvania Challenge Blog has given me a reason to paint different subject matter.

 

"Fungus Among Us" by Mary Beth Brath

6x12" Acrylic on Panel

Sunflower Commission by Mary Beth Brath

In May 2012, I was commissioned to create a large Sunflower painting. The entire process was so much fun. The canvas was 5x4 feet and was delivered to my gallery on a semi truck.

 

 

The request was for sunflowers in a blue vase. I drew out a few ideas on paper and blocked in the painting one evening after the gallery closed.

Next came a very busy June with the Gettysburg Plein Air Colony,Paint Out and Quick Draw and the Daily Painters of PA Annual Capitol Exhibit. I did manage to continue work on the sunflowers.

 

July brought more wonderful events including an exhibit in New York City. The work on the sunflowers continued to completion and the painting was picked up by the happy client on July 7th.

 

Steve's Sunflowers

5x4' Acrylic on Gallery Wrapped Canvas

Why Do I Paint? by Mary Beth Brath

Pinchot State Park (plein air)

5x7" Acrylic on Canvas

Sold

Hmm...Why do I paint?  Let me count the reasons...millions.

When I painted this scene at a local State Park in 2009, I was not alone.  My son John, then age 11,  sat with me on a blanket and we painted together. It was a wonderful day that I will never forget.

In 2011, a tragedy happened on the lake when a man drowned.  Someone I know tried to save him but it was too late. It deeply effected many people.

Last week, the wife and daughter of the man that passed away were at my gallery.  His wife bought the painting to remember how much her husband loved the lake.

Life moves so fast.  As an artist, I paint and paint and paint. Then I paint some more. It is very time consuming and leaves me mentally exhausted.  I could be getting a regular paycheck and paid vacations if I would just conform to the corporate world.

The thing is, I am an artist. Why do I paint? I must paint. It has been in my soul since childhood when my Mother sat and colored with me. I have many personal reasons that I paint, but when I realize that total strangers share in my paintings...that seems to be the ultimate purpose.  I have found the true reasons are much larger than myself.

G-Man by Mary Beth Brath

G-Man by Mary Beth Brath

8x10" Acrylic on Canvas

Sold

I started this painting in the spring of this year during a Wine Tasting Walk in the town where I live. It was finally finished in August in preparation for the Fall Architectural Stroll in our town. The painting is currently on exhibit in my gallery until the end of September.  It sold on opening night.

It has been a very busy year and I have worked from deadline to deadline. Sales have been wonderful.