30 Paintings In 30 Days Challenge Day No. 6 - "Dinner At Low Tide" - Snowy Egret by Mary Beth Brath

Dinner At Low Tide by Mary Beth Brath

I have taken the challenge by Leslie Saeta to complete 30 paintings in 30 days. Each painting will be 6x6" on canvas paper. I picked a theme of birds to keep me focused. The 30 birds chosen as subject matter are all birds that I have spotted over the years. Most are common in my region.

 Painting No. 6

My husband is from Southern New Jersey and I have been fortunate to enjoy the shore most of my life. Phillip's family owned a marina on a bay and at low tide the mud in the lagoon would attract Snowy Egrets. Being a "birder", I would love to sit on the dock and watch the egrets pull various creatures out of the mud. I found it so ironic how these brilliant white sophisticated birds would eat such a nasty looking meal while standing in the mud. Oh how I love nature.

 

The paintings are available for purchase at $100 each - unframed. Shipping included. Sales tax of 6% if in the state of Pennsylvania. Contact me at mbbbrath@gmail.com.

 

www.marybethbrath.com

30 Paintings In 30 Days Challenge Day No. 5 - Blue Jay by Mary Beth Brath

Blue Jay by Mary Beth Brath

I have taken the challenge by Leslie Saeta to complete 30 paintings in 30 days. Each painting will be 6x6" on canvas paper. I picked a theme of birds to keep me focused. The 30 birds chosen as subject matter are all birds that I have spotted over the years. Most are common in my region.

 Painting No. 5

I thought about painting the Blue Jay in an aggressive pose but his beauty won me over. These guys put on a great show in our backyard. They screech and swoop at the other birds but I still think they are one of the most beautiful birds in our region.

 

The paintings are available for purchase at $100 each - unframed. Shipping included. Sales tax of 6% if in the state of Pennsylvania. Contact me at mbbbrath@gmail.com.

 

www.marybethbrath.com

30 Paintings In 30 Days Challenge Day No. 4 - Why Are Blue Jays So Nasty? says the Northern Cardinal by Mary Beth Brath

"Why Are Blue Jays So Nasty?" - Northern Cardinal by Mary Beth Brath

I have taken the challenge by Leslie Saeta to complete 30 paintings in 30 days. Each painting will be 6x6" on canvas paper. I picked a theme of birds to keep me focused. The 30 birds chosen as subject matter are all birds that I have spotted over the years. Most are common in my region.

 Painting No. 4

The Northern Cardinal is such a common sight yet we all stop and stare when we see one. His coloring and shape are so pronounced we can't help but loose our breath and pause to take in his beauty.

 

The paintings are available for purchase at $100 each - unframed. Shipping included. Sales tax of 6% if in the state of Pennsylvania. Contact me at mbbbrath@gmail.com.

 

www.marybethbrath.com

30 Paintings In 30 Days Challenge Day No. 3 - Black Capped Chickadee by Mary Beth Brath

Black Capped Chickadee by Mary Beth Brath

I have taken the challenge by Leslie Saeta to complete 30 paintings in 30 days. Each painting will be 6x6" on canvas paper. I picked a theme of birds to keep me focused. The 30 birds chosen as subject matter are all birds that I have spotted over the years. Most are common in my region.

 Painting No. 3

The Black Capped Chickadee is a common companion of mine when I paint plein air. In front of our family cabin we have a row of pine trees that have succumbed to various "growths". The chickadees love crawling around the branches and filling their stomachs with whatever chickadees eat.

 

The paintings are available for purchase at $100 each - unframed. Shipping included. Sales tax of 6% if in the state of Pennsylvania. Contact me at mbbbrath@gmail.com.

 

 

www.marybethbrath.com

30 Paintings In 30 Days Challenge Day No. 2 - "A Little Night Music" (Whip-Poor-Will) by Mary Beth Brath

A Little Night Music (Whip Poor Will) by Mary Beth Brath

I have taken the challenge by Leslie Saeta to complete 30 paintings in 30 days. Each painting will be 6x6" on canvas paper. I picked a theme of birds to keep me focused. The 30 birds chosen as subject matter are all birds that I have spotted over the years. Most are common in my region.

 

Painting No. 2

Ahh Yes - that lovely sound as evening falls in Hemlock Valley. Many people do not know about the Whip-Poor-Will. This robin sized bird is nocturnal and during the day he is camouflaged in a pattern resembling tree bark and foliage. At dusk, if you are lucky, you will hear his lovely call that sounds like he is saying "whip poor will". Guests of our family cabin in North Western PA have enjoyed whip poor wills for over 30 years now. I have never actually seen the bird. Last year while hiking near our cabin, I startled a bird out of the leaves on the ground that quickly flew away. At the time I thought maybe it was a quail or even grouse. Now looking back, it could have been a whip poor will. I only caught a glimpse of him as he flew through the branches. Hmmm. Maybe this year.

 

The paintings are available for purchase at $100 each - unframed. Shipping included. Sales tax of 6% if in the state of Pennsylvania. Contact me at mbbbrath@gmail.com.

 

 

www.marybethbrath.com

 

 

30 Paintings In 30 Days Challenge Day 1 - "My House!" - Carolina Wren by Mary Beth Brath

"My House!" (Carolina Wren) by Mary Beth Brath

I have taken the challenge by Leslie Saeta to complete 30 paintings in 30 days. Each painting will be 6x6" on canvas paper. I picked a theme of birds to keep me focused. The 30 birds chosen as subject matter are all birds that I have spotted over the years. Most are common in my region.

 

Painting No. 1

My son built a bird house in scouts years ago. Last year I painted the house and hung it in one of my gardens. That very same day, a wren claimed the house and made his presence known all spring.

 

The paintings are available for purchase at $100 each - unframed. Shipping included. Sales tax of 6% if in the state of Pennsylvania. Contact me at mbbbrath@gmail.com.

 

www.marybethbrath.com

Indian Pipes - Fungus Series - Original Painting by Mary Beth Brath

Indian Pipes by Mary Beth Brath

7x5" Acrylic on Board

 

I admit it...I like fungus. This was painted from a photo I took at Cook Forest State Park in Western Pennsylvania in the summer of 2013. This plant is also known as the "ghost plant".

 

www.marybethbrath.com

Cameron State Park Water Lilies - Cape May County New Jersey by Mary Beth Brath

Cape May Water Lilies

30x40" Acrylic on Canvas

by Mary Beth Brath

 

Still can't get enough of this location.

All For Me??...Cherry Pie Original Painting by Mary Beth Brath

All For Me by Mary Beth Brath

10x20" on Linen Canvas Panel

This tantalizing piece of cherry pie took me almost 2 months to finish.  Between running the gallery and curating shows in Harrisburg PA and 2 upcoming shows in New York City...(psst...one in Chelsea), I have not had time to sit and focus.  It feels great to call this painting done and start the next paintings running around in my mind.

Oh - this was not the only painting being worked on over the last few months...many others were given finishing touches. I needed to organize and clear the studio for the NYC paintings. Canvases are ready!

www.marybethbrath.com

The Little Wren House That Peter Built by Mary Beth Brath

 

 

 

Notice the wren on the branch in the top left of the picture below.

 

My son Peter built a little wren house many years ago in Cub Scouts. It was never painted and it sat in the darkness of our garage.  This past Sunday was Mother's Day.  I decided to paint the bird house myself and finally put it to use.  On Monday (yesterday) I finished the project and hung it just off of my porch so I could watch for action. Today (Tuesday) I watched a little wren hop around the tree and chirp like mad. Wow.  So soon??

 

After the school bus came in the afternoon, my youngest son Andy and I went out to measure the hole and make sure the dimensions were up to "spec". (I am married to a Civil Engineer...when the wren was so noisy it worried me that the hole may be too small.)

 

We measured.  The hole was perfect although it should have been higher from the floor.  We walked about 10 feet away and I heard the wren.  We turned and watched the little bird hop onto the bird house and go inside for a look around. He...or she...stuck it's head out of the hole for a few seconds before flying off.  My son and I hugged.

 

While typing this post, the builder of the bird house "Peter Built" (ha ha) came in from school and said "Hey Mom, I saw the bird house and I think a bird was on it."

 

This was such a fun day!

Carpe Diem!

Strawberries and Bacon Original Food Confection Painting by Mary Beth Brath

Strawberries and Bacon by Mary Beth Brath

30x30" Acrylic on Hard Board

$1200

 

Just too gorgeous to eat without capturing it in a painting. I brought home various treats for my boys on Valentine's Day but the kids had to wait until Mom did a photo shoot. Don't worry, they are used to this process and enjoyed the treats.
 

 This photo was taken while work was in progress.

 

See more of my paintings at

www.marybethbrath.com

 

Windmill Creek Wilds - SOLD by Mary Beth Brath

 

Windmill Creek Wilds by Mary Beth Brath

10x8" Acrylic on Canvas Panel

SOLD

 

Another of my sunflower paintings found a home this week.

Thank you Cynthia.

Work in Progress for Winelight by Mary Beth Brath

This is still a work in progress, but just about complete. I see some tweeking here and there. The painting is acrylic on 30x40" canvas. The wall was done with a palette knife and heavy paint. The vineyard was inspired by a photo I took of a local winery while painting plein air last summer.

www.marybethbrath.com

Shy...Yet Seductive Found a Home Today by Mary Beth Brath

Shy...Yet Seductive sold this morning at the gallery. I loved this painting and am so happy that someone will now enjoy it in their home.

As 2012 comes to a close, it seems this was a year of sunflowers for me.

Quilt Art by Mary Beth Brath

"Quilt Art" by Mary Beth Brath

14x11" Acrylic on Board

My son Andy "helped" me hang an exhibit in the Majestic Theater for the Gettysburg Festival Plein Air Paint Out and Colony in June 2012. He decided to lie down on this awesome cushioned bench and patiently wait for me to finish. I had to take his picture of course.

This painting was completed in my studio using the photo as inspiration for the Daily Painters of PA October Challenge to paint something with a Quilt theme. In the photo, the wall hanging is just an advertisement. I decided to make it a quilt.  The carpet and the bench are very similar to the actual decorating in the theater.

The actual painting is very vivid and full of texture. It is a must see in person for sure.