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/

Gettysburg Paintings Find a Happy Home by Mary Beth Brath

So many changes happening in in my career this month. Some doors closing and some doors opening. God's timing is so perfect.  What a joy to get a phone call yesterday that 2 more of my paintings sold.

Sold - View From Hauser's Estate Winery

Sold - View From Steven's Knoll - Gettysburg Battlefield Auto Tour - plein air

Tomorrow I will be plein air painting in Brooklyn along the waterfront just outside of BWAC.  If the weather does not cooperate, I have a plan to paint inside next to my art exhibit. Life is good.

www.marybethbrath.com

Evening at Camp by Mary Beth Brath

Painted plein air in 2 evenings last month as the sun was dipping behind the mountain.  What a wonderful vacation.

Recently Sold Paintings in North Jersey by Mary Beth Brath

Sold - The Willow at Pheasant Field Inn Bed & Breakfast

20x24" Acrylic on Canvas

Last month a long time client and supporter of mine from Northern New Jersey bought 2 paintings from me while I was visiting.  Thanks C!

The other painting that sold was a smaller romantic french scene that may be used for a dust jacket on an upcoming novel she plans to publish. That image has not been released online.

My Final First Friday with the 7 Lively Artists at Gallerie Thirteen by Mary Beth Brath

I have really enjoyed my time directing Gallerie Thirteen over the past 18 months.  The gallery will be consolidated back into the parent gallery named 2nd Floor Gallery at the end of August.  My time at Gallerie Thirteen has been filled with wonderful artists and patrons.

This Friday is our opening reception for a well known group of artists named "The 7 Lively Artists".

When I first moved to the South Central PA region in 2006, the "7" were being honored with a group show in Carlisle PA and a lovely book was published showing various works and great history about the group that has met for over 50 years to paint.  I stood in front of the paintings thinking how exciting it would be to meet some of these artists.  The group reminded me of the New Hope Pa Impressionists.

One opportunity led to another. Not only have I come to know a few of the members, I can call them my friends and have painted with them.  This week I am helping to hang a large featured show of the group's work at Gallerie Thirteen.

Friday night will be bitter sweet.  Personally, I am realizing how far I have come in my art career since moving to South Central PA in 2006.  Perhaps this month will be a milestone marker in my artistic journey.  Many exciting projects are waiting for my attention.

I wish the artists of Gallerie Thirteen and the 2nd Floor Gallery the best of success.  Dream Big and Work Like Crazy.

The 7 Lively Artists

Photo shows many of the members during a group exhibit held at the Mechanicsburg Arts Center.

See over 50 original paintings and meet the 7 Lively this Friday Evening at Gallerie Thirteen from 6 - 9pm.  Free and Open to the Public. Live Music and Refreshments.

 

 

Time For Dessert by Mary Beth Brath

Time For Dessert

Currently Showing in Brooklyn New York at BWAC

MB Surrealism hits NYC.  Guests at the reception enjoyed my rendition of Time's Square.  My New York Style Cheesecake is falling and it is "Time For Dessert". Notice that the billboard ads below the cheesecake are re-makes of other paintings in the show.  The top one is a wheel of cheesecake.  The middle one is titled Lady Liberty of the Susquehanna.  The painting on the bottom is one of my landscapes titled "Spring Peepers".

It was so fun looking out the window near my display and seeing the Statue Of Liberty and then looking at my painting titled Lady Liberty of the Susquehanna that depicts the statue that stands in our river north of Harrisburg. Come to think of it...it was surreal.

Beech Springs Farm during 2011 Gettysburg Colony by Mary Beth Brath

In order to get a decent photo, I had to take it from an angle and use a flash.  Straight on muted all of the colors and softened edges.  Anyway, I kept at this painting this morning until I felt that I could move on.  The gold finches visited often while I was painting on site so I had to add them in to the composition.

Studying with Bill Schmidt at the Gettysburg Art Colony by Mary Beth Brath

During the juried artist colony at this year's Gettysburg Festival, Master Artist Bill Schmidt http://www.billschmidt.net/ taught onsite at Beech Springs Farm.  I started to draw out my idea on canvas and block in some color when Bill came by to take a look.

He asked if I would mind if he made some suggestions.  Well, I was more than happy to have him help. He pulled out a piece of charcoal and this was the result.

I continued to block in colors and adjust lines but ran out of time to finish.  Below is the current state of the painting as it was at the end of the plein air session.

I hope to work on this today to completion. Sometimes a plein air painting is not completed onsite.

http://www.marybethbrath.com/

http://www.dailypaintersofpennsylvania.blogspot.com/

Coming Soon by Mary Beth Brath

Coming Soon by Mary Beth Brath

Acrylic on Canvas

This is a streetscape of Brooklyn in early March.  The elderly woman is carrying a box that reads "MB Confections".  This is one painting that will tie together my Pennsylvania Landscapes with my Confections Series.  The other painting that ties my show together will not be shown online until the night before the opening reception.

http://www.marybethbrath.com/

http://www.dailypaintersofpennsylvania.blogspot.com/

Vancura Gallery of Fine Art - July 30th - 11am - 4pm

I will be painting en plein air and enjoying the afternoon at the Vancura Gallery as a featured artist on July 30th, from 11am to 4pm.  I will have 6 new paintings along with me. Come and enjoy an afternoon of food, fun and laughter.

Congratulations to the gallery for celebrating their 5th Summer Season!

http://www.vancuragallery.com/

http://www.marybethbrath.com/

http://www.dailypaintersofpennsylvania.blogspot.com/

Tonight is the Daily Painters of Pennsylvania Reception

Can't wait to see everyone tonight at the DPP Public Reception for the 2011 Capitol Exhibit!

New Growth to Restore the Battlefields of Gettysburg by Mary Beth Brath

8x10" Acrylic on Canvas

Plein Air - painted on location during the 2011 Gettysburg Festival

This was the fourth year for me to paint at the Gettysburg Festival.  This was painted at the Bushman Farm along the auto tour of the battlefields. The landscaping is being restored to what it was like during the Civil War.

http://www.marybethbrath.com/

Do you know emerging artist Brownyn Jean Hughes??

Brownyn Jean Hughes has started her own blog site. She has been selling her original paintings for the past ten years, but is now ramping up her career. I encourage all bloggers to follow her blog.

www.brownynjeanhughes.blogspot.com

Congratulations Brownyn!  Thank you for supporting local and regional artists!

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.