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...

www.marybethbrath.com

www.dailypaintersofpennsylvania.blogspot.com

King's Gap Water Lily Mini by Mary Beth Brath

SOLD

King's Gap Water Lily

Mini Painting 2x2" Acrylic on ATC Canvas Paper

Sold through Gallerie 13

This little mini painting sold the first day of the December Mini Art Exhibit at Gallerie 13 in Mechanicsburg Pa. It is just 2x2". I had so much fun with the colors. The painting is so small that I had a difficult time photographing the image.

Daily Painter of Pennsylvania Mary Beth Brath

www.dailypaintersofpennsylvania.blogspot.com

www.marybethbrath.com

New Cumberland Boat Ramp on the Susquehanna River by Mary Beth Brath

New Cumberland Boat Ramp on the Susquehanna

11x14" Acrylic on Canvas

The Susquehanna River provides endless inspiration for artists in Pennsylvania. This is a painting I completed this year. The area is private and I needed permission to paint at this location. Our State Capitol is shown in the distance. This painting is currently available through the Art & Soul Gallery in Lemoyne.

www.dailypaintersofpennsylvania.blogspot.com

www.marybethbrath.com

Just a Sliver by Mary Beth Brath

Just a Sliver

8x10" Acrylic on Canvas

#3 of the Confections Series

This could have been titled "A Few Of My Favorite Things" since it includes my favorite magazine, cheesecake and a plate my husband bought for me while traveling in Southern France. Yes, this is another painting in my bedroom series.

Yesterday I bought another cheesecake "wheel" and took my reference photos before my family enjoyed a slice. I have so many paintings in progress already, but can't wait to start my next "sliver".

Huntley Road Pond by Mary Beth Brath

Huntley Road Pond

8x10" Acrylic on Canvas

Sold

My pond found a home. This painting recently sold through the Vancura Gallery in Middlefield Ohio. This is the scene from my back yard while living in Huntsburg Ohio. The pond was full of fish. Red Wing Blackbirds could always be found around the water and fields. I always found it amusing to watch the birds sway back and forth in the wind while perched at the very top of a sturdy weed!

The house and property were the perfect place to paint.

If you are ever near Middlefield Ohio, stop in at the Vancura Gallery to see more of my work. The entire gallery is a feast for the eyes. www.vancuragallery.com.

Blogging is a Modern Form of Journaling by Mary Beth Brath

I have been told by many people that "journaling" is a great way to sort out ideas and feelings. I usually roll my eyes. Recently I realized blogging is a form of journaling but on a public level. Blogging is a way to communicate our thoughts to others. While staying still and quiet long enough to figure out what to type, I sort out the idea that is running around in my head. This is what I discovered today...

My Paintings Are My Form Of Journaling. I take the scene in front of me and try to communicate my feelings through the piece of art. (Now you are rolling your eyes) I guess I journal in a visual way every time I paint.

This painting was completed "en plein air" this summer at our family cabin in Northwestern PA.
While painting, I was thinking of my past. Mostly my deceased parents and brother. There is a journal in my mind of the day and the memories that only I can read while I look at the painting. My blog post is the public form of my journal.

OK - now back to painting...

Because One Is Not Enough by Mary Beth Brath

Because One is Not Enough by Mary Beth Brath

Acrylic on Watercolor Paper

This is actually the first in my Confections Series. I am so excited about finally getting this series off the ground...or should I say "out of the oven"? The painting has been matted and framed and is currently for sale at Gallerie 13 in Mechanicsburg.

"Five Is Too Many" by Mary Beth Brath

Five Is Too Many

ACEO - ATC - Acrylic on watercolor paper

I have started a series of paintings called Confections. This is an Artist Trading Card that has been matted and framed. It is available for sale at Gallerie 13 in Mechanicsburg.

Enjoy.

King's Gap Garden Corner by Mary Beth Brath

Well...I thought I was finished with this one until I took the photo. I think I will break up the pinks so the bush is not so thick and add some darks to the tree in the distance. This was blocked in on site during a huge Harvest Day Festival at King's Gap State Park. This was painted with a constant stream of onlookers. Not sure at this point if I will consider it plein air since I have made so many changes.

Susquehanna River at Fort Hunter by Mary Beth Brath

5 x 7" Acrylic on Canvas

Mini Plein Air Painting of the Susquehanna River at Fort Hunter. This was painted on a perfect early fall day in September 2009. It is currently available at my studio in Gallerie 13.

Fall in Boiling Springs - Mary Beth Brath

Fall In Boiling Springs

8x10" Acrylic on Canvas

Can you tell I love color? This was painted earlier this year from my own photo. I created it while working at Gallerie 13 in Mechanicsburg PA. My easel was set up in the front showroom and I enjoyed talking to people as they came in to scope out the gallery. I am comfortable painting around a crowd since my entire career so far has been creating art while raising children. It is part of my journey.

www.marybethbrath.com

Dad's Bench

Dad's Bench

Acrylic on 9x12" Watercolor Paper

I am finished. I added more to the rock and changed some things in the background. My camera is not picking up the details well so it is hard to see the small branchs I added to the tree. The coloring between the 2 blog posts is so different. Really odd. It is time to move on.

Thank you for all of the wonderful comments on the blog and facebook.

Work in Progress - Dad's Bench

This is not finished. It is a very personal piece for me. At our family cabin in Northwestern PA, there is this bench under a crab apple tree. The original bench was there for 25 or so years and recently had to be replaced with new wood. It is such a simple bench. The tree has been split right up the trunk for over a decade now and has a huge hole as you can see in the painting.

But you see, this was my father's favorite place to sit at our cabin. The New York Yankee hat symbolizes his lingering presence. Mom and Dad have both passed away, but when I am at our camp, I feel like we are all together as it used to be.

I need to work on the rock some more and vary the design more in my background. Maybe add some twigs reaching out from the crab apple tree through the leaves. It is what it is...Dad's Bench.

Downtown B&B in Mechanicsburg by Mary Beth Brath

Downtown B&B in Mechanicsburg

20x24" Acrylic on Canvas

This spring, my plein air buddies and I painted at a local B&B. I started it on site, took it into the gallery down the street where I work and continued to work on it there when I had a chance. I brought it home last weekend and put on the final touches and varnish.

Lately I have been in a few conversations about scenes that lack people vs. scenes filled with people. Many of my pieces are quiet with a little of the human element. I think this is due to the fact that my life is so packed with people and events that when I go out to paint for my own pleasure, I look for peace.

Happy Artists and Collectors

Artist Deb Richardson and a Happy Collector

Artist Susan Gray and Happy Collectors

Artist Pat Keough and a Happy Collector

Organizing and Curating Events is a very exciting part of my artistic journey. During the Gettysburg Festival I was able to watch these highly disciplined plein air artists work in very humid 90 degree weather. On the last day of the paint out, we had a fantastic exhibit and sale of our work. These photos show 3 artists that sold work at the exhibit.

At the end of the exhibit, I was already busy gathering artwork to show in a gallery Patriotic Group Exhibit in Mechanicsburg. I am currently organizing a large group exhibit for the Daily Painters of Pennsylvania that will hang in the PA State Capitol Building East Wing Rotunda during the month of September.

Curating and Planning Events has become a passion of mine. There is something so special about bringing together the artist and the collector whether it is in a gallery setting or an independent exhibit.

If you are looking for a curator for an upcoming event, contact me at mbbrath@verizon.net.