Plein Air in the Evening at Pinchot State Park by Mary Beth Brath

On May 29th, our family went to the lake to canoe and explore.  When we went to unload, we realized we forgot the oars.  My husband headed back home, the boys played and fished and I set up my easel OF COURSE.

I finished most of the painting before my husband returned - about 30 minutes - I was in my own race against time.

I came back to shore with my canoe a little before dark so I could finish the painting.  My son took a picture of me at the easel.  The next morning, I cleaned up the colors in the water and called it complete.

This is the third painting of this same area. All are different. One sold last year, one is in my home and this one will go out to one of my galleries.

8x10" Acrylic on Canvas
Pinchot State Park.

Romance on Depression Glass by Mary Beth Brath

Romance on Depression Glass by Mary Beth Brath

8x10" Acrylic on Canvas

NYC Bound

Another new piece for my show in New York City. What a wonderful time I have had preparing fresh work for the Big Apple! Mmmm...Red Velvet Cake!

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Trout Run Preserve by Mary Beth Brath

Trout Run Preserve by Mary Beth Brath

3 1/2" x 3 1/2" Mini on Acrylic Paper

Trout Run Preserve is an area between housing developments in Cumberland County PA. I am so glad that people stepped up to keep this small piece of land natural. Really, I think it is too wet to build on anyway so it is perfect for a small park with gardens.

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King's Gap State Park Mansion by Mary Beth Brath

King's Gap State Park Mansion

10x8" Acrylic on Canvas

This painting was created for the Garden Harvest Day Festival 2009 at King's Gap State Park in South Central Pennsylvania. I paint with a plein air group that was invited to exhibit in the mansion on the day of the festival. We demonstrated in the gardens and enjoyed talking to the public on the day of the festival. In preparation for the event, we painted several weeks in a row at various locations in the park.

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Leave It Plein Air or Fix It by Mary Beth Brath

A Gettsyburg Battlefield

8x10" Acrylic Plein Air Painting on Canvas

Well - yesterday I was in Gettysburg for festival meetings about the paint outs. I also managed to get out to the battlefields and paint. This painting is plein air, but now that I am home, I would like to change the green in the closest shadow and clean up a couple of small items in the distance. This area is along the Auto Tour just past Culp's Hill.

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I Want Some More by Mary Beth Brath

"I Want Some More" by Mary Beth Brath

6x6" Acrylic on Gallery Wrapped Canvas

Yup - I am really stuck on this genre. Absolutely loving the Confections Series. This little piece will be shown in Brooklyn in July. The Confection Series is starting to fill a wall in my studio. This experience has already been a huge turning point in my artistic journey.

Don't Let Anyone Steal Your Dream.

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Eat Your Fruit By Mary Beth Brath

Eat Your Fruit

11x14" Acrylic on Canvas

Fruit with cheesecake is the best! The slice in this post came from the "Wheel" in the last post. Starting another one today. I actually have a landscape and a still life on easels this morning. If I only had more arms.

My studio at home is filling with new works. I have 4 exhibits for 2011 planned out on my walls. Andy and Linda Smith reminded me to keep my inventory fresh. Also need to supply fresh work for 4 galleries. The good part? I love all of it...even the business side of it.

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Wheel of Addiction by Mary Beth Brath

Wheel of Addiction by Mary Beth Brath

18x24" Acrylic on Canvas

NYC Bound

Watched a movie last night...Julia and Julia. Happened by it while filling Easter Baskets and plastic eggs. What a total "chick flick". Really related to parts of it.

Anyway, I had a great time playing with perspective in this painting. Funny thing is if I turn the painting on its side, it is more readable, but to traditional for my purpose. In addiction, nothing is balanced.

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The Braths Go To New York - BWAC

In March Phillip and I went to NYC with our 4 boys. Great trip! The photos are from a huge fine art gallery in Brooklyn called BWAC - Brooklyn Waterfront Artist Coalition. I will be having my first NYC exhibit this July at BWAC. The above photo shows the boys taking part in an interactive piece of art at BWAC.

This is Phillip and the boys standing outside of the gallery on the Brooklyn Waterfront.

Culture Happens!! Ha Ha. Not sure if the boys will ever be the same.

This is Fritz Weiss and his wife and I. Fritz is on the board of BWAC and he now has a studio within the gallery that I help run in Mechanicsburg PA. Thank you Fritz for the opportunity to show in NYC! I can't wait!

See the website for BWAC at www.bwac.org.

United Water Facility by Mary Beth Brath

8x10" Acrylic on Canvas

Finished. Two hours outside yesterday, about 10 minutes in the studio today. This is my second plein air of 2011. This one really shows my love of the Pennsylvania Impressionists of New Hope.

Plein Air at United Water by Mary Beth Brath

April 4th, 2011 was an overcast but warm spring day. My husband and I decided to spend part of the day outside together. He fished in the Yellow Breeches and I set up my easel. We enjoy the area around the United Water Facility. Phillip is an environmental/civil engineer and I love painting landscapes on location. I have heard artists say "there is no color" on a day like this. I don't agree. This is one of my favorite times of the year to paint. My sketch is done in burnt umber with a very stiff short hair brush. I did not have time to tint my canvas yesterday. Usually I prime the canvas with burnt sienna mixed with gesso.

I only had about 2 hours to work. Before I leave a location, I try to have the painting completed enough to only make small changes back in the studio. Hopefully today I will touch up some tree structure issues and add my husband in with his fishing pole.

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Room For Dessert by Mary Beth Brath

Room For Dessert by Mary Beth Brath

5x5" Acrylic on Acrylic Paper

Many changes going on with me lately. I am preparing for a very special show that will open just 3 days before my birthday in July. I have been a dreamer since birth. My elementary report cards prove it in the teacher comments section. A dream without action is nothing. A dream with passion and constant perseverance becomes reality...in July.
I completed this painting yesterday in one sitting. Yes...it is another "bedroom" painting and is a part of my Confections series. I photographed the cheesecake quite a while ago, but pulled up the reference photo in order to add it to the still life yesterday. I have always wanted to paint pictures of my early 1900's Art Pottery. This was so fun. This series has been like self portraits for me.
The story unfolds as July approaches...

Most of my Confections series paintings are currently at the 2nd Floor Gallery in Mechanicsburg.

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Corner of the Bedroom by Mary Beth Brath

Corner of the Bedroom

4x4" Gallery Wrapped Canvas

Holbein Water Soluble Oils

This is a quick study using Holbein Watersoluble Oils. I was not feeling well last week and I decided to get some painting done while resting. The picture hanging on the wall is of another one of my own paintings. The jewelry box was my Mother's and the vase is 1920's Art Pottery in my favorite color. In the left corner is my guitar...no, I don't know how to play, but would love to learn. Really this little painting is a self portrait.

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Fall In To Winter by Mary Beth Brath

SOLD
Fall In To Winter

2x2" Mini on ACEO ATC Paper

Sold through Gallerie 13

This mini painting is just 2" x 2". Very fun to create and challenging. I used a toothpick for the details. This sold during the month of January at Gallerie 13 in Mechanicsburg. The still life was set up in my dining room at the end of November. I still had a pumpkin out for fall and the floral and pomegranate were ready for the Christmas season.

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House in Boiling Springs by Mary Beth Brath

House in Boiling Springs PA

12x16" Acrylic on Canvas

Sold through Gallerie 13 in December 2010

Selling artwork is funny. An artist studies for a lifetime and ultimately paints for thousands of hours. We invest our lives and money in our work. When we finish a painting what do we do? Sell them to buy more canvas and paint.

I find myself wondering about the pieces after they sell. Even miss them. But mostly overwhelmed with the thought that they are making someone happy. And my passion for painting grows even more. I will never paint enough and the journey goes on...

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