The last time I painted something in my Golden Series was in 2018 and 2017. If you enjoy this painting, you may also like to see other paintings from my Golden Series.
P.S. Just as a reminder: I'm planning to migrate this painting email newsletter to a different service—I'll be moving to one provided by my new website host so that my website and newsletter are housed under the same roof. If you're a subscriber: here's what you need to know in order to keep getting my new painting emails: my newsletter emails will soon-ish be sent from "info@abbeyryan.com"—so if you don't want to miss out on any emails, please add "info@abbeyryan.com" to your address book / contacts list / safelist. Contact me if you have any questions!
Just as a reminder: I'm planning to migrate this painting email newsletter to a different service—I'll be moving to one provided by my new website host so that my website and newsletter are housed under the same roof. If you're a subscriber: here's what you need to know in order to keep getting my new painting emails: my newsletter emails will soon-ish be sent from "info@abbeyryan.com"—so if you don't want to miss out on any emails, please add "info@abbeyryan.com" to your address book / contacts list / safelist. Contact me if you have any questions!
If you enjoy this painting, you may also like to see a bunch of my paintings of pears or blackberries.
As part of my Paintings of Handmade Pottery project, the handmade bowl in this painting is from Patagonia, Arizona. The bowl is called a "wabi sabi bowl" and it's one of my favorite pieces of pottery. I want to re-post what I shared back in April 2013 about wabi sabi and Leonard Koren's book.
If you enjoy this painting, you may also like to see a bunch of my paintings of cheese.
Email Hygiene
If you're considering subscribing to my Painting a Day email, or if you already have subscribed, a big thank you for your interest in my work.
I post periodically now that it's good to check on your email list preferences. I have a few different email lists:
IF YOU'RE ALREADY SUBSCRIBED, look at the email I sent today -- you can adjust your preferred email lists by clicking on the "Update Profile" link at the bottom of every email I send.
If you find yourself just deleting my newest painting emails or marking the emails as spam or just feeling like unsubscribing, it is easy to do so -- again, at the bottom of every email I send.
Bookmark this link [arcadia.edu/livepaint] if you want to tune in to my upcoming November 2nd live painting demonstration in Arcadia University's Grey Towers Castle. It's totally free to watch online or in person.
I've been doing these live painting demonstrations as a fundraiser for Arcadia's Jami Rodriguez Memorial Scholarship since 2011. (Jami was a good friend of mine.) For 2 hours, I will complete my daily painting in front of a live audience, with the filming streamed live online in real time. Mark your calendar if you'd like to attend or tune in online while I'm painting live: [arcadia.edu/livepaint].
Details
My upcoming live painting demo: Nov. 2, 12pm-2pm EST at Arcadia University.
Watch online for free: streaming link is arcadia.edu/livepaint.
If you'd like to find out more about this, feel free to sign up.
In the meantime, here are some time lapse films of my past live demonstrations:
golden series: peach bleu cheese bosc pear and five blackberries (the light, the shade)
4 x 6 inches, oil on linen on panel, 2016.
Available - email abbeyryan@gmail.com for purchase information
This painting is part of my the light, the shade series that I began back in December 2012. I wrote about how Robert Lax was the inspiration for my "the light, the shade" series here.
If you enjoy this painting, you may also like to see a bunch of my paintings from my "Golden Series."
Still Life with Blackberries and Silver Cup (with Self-Portrait in Winter Hat)
oil on linen on panel, 5 x 6 inches, available
Email abbeyryan@gmail.com for purchase information
"To affect the quality of the day, that is the highest of the arts." ~Thoreau
As you can see my brightly colored winter-indoor-hat, there's a self portrait of sorts in this silver cup's reflection (here are a bunch of other reflection self portraits, too).
Golden Series: Two Apricots, Red Pear, Peach, and Blackberries with Two Glass Bottles
9x12 inches, oil on linen on panel, 2016.
Private Collection
This is the 12th painting in my Golden Series. Also, if you're interested, I was recently interviewed by artist Danny Grant for his podcast, The Studio:
peach bleu cheese bosc pear and five blackberries (the light, the shade)
4 x 6 inches, oil on linen on panel, 2016.
Available - email abbeyryan@gmail.com for purchase information
This painting is part of my the light, the shade series that I began back in December 2012. I wrote about how Robert Lax was the inspiration for my "the light, the shade" series here. Generous support for my "the light, the shade" series for the next two years is provided by the Norman Johnston Fellowship at Arcadia University.
Can you see my self-portrait (of sorts) in the bottle? This painting continues my "Paintings of Handmade Pottery" project that I've been working on since January 2008 (bottle by Jury Smith).
Thanks for all the lovely emails about the workshop feedback I've been sharing. I have a few more new ones. Here's one:
"Abbey has inspired me and given me hope. The more I read on Abbey's website, the more I knew I had to meet her and take a workshop with her. Since the workshop, her words and instruction have restored confidence in me. No one on earth could ever ask for more! I felt such peace while taking her class -- Abbey set such a wonderful tone for the workshop. Since the workshop, the best changes I have noticed have been mentally, emotionally and spiritually. I want to enjoy the process and now know how to honor the creative part of me that's been dormant too long. After just one day, Abbey made such a difference in my life and I'm sure soooooo many more. I thank Abbey from the bottom of my heart for sharing her gift so beautifully and being the sweet and generous person that she is." -ES
Golden Series: Delft Vase, Blackberries, and Sour Cherry (the light, the shade)
4 x 5 inches, oil on linen on panel, framed, 2015
Available Email me for purchase information
For the new work in my current solo exhibition at Gleason Fine Art, it was my intention in every painting to include a still life object that was given to me as a gift. My mom (who is of Dutch descent) recently gave me the beautiful Delft vase in today's painting.
And one of my best friends gave me the sour cherry -- she only gave me this one cherry because A) she said she knew I would just love the leaf and B) she ate the rest.
This is the tenth painting in my Golden Series. Also, it's a little hard to see the hidden blackberry behind the cherry, but this painting is also part of my ongoing series "the light, the shade" that I began in December 2012. I wrote about Bob Lax and described my inspiration for the series here.
I have received so many applications for my Private Painting Mentoring this spring. Since I am now finishing up preparations for my upcoming August solo show in Maine, I am opening up a limited number of Private Painting Mentoring spots starting in mid-August.
Apply now because spots are first come, first served.
"I'm not sure I have met another teacher who is so willing to give and share, and put in so much effort to finding out the needs of her students.
Abbey is a gem.
I took Abbey's Sedona workshop, so my hesitations about signing up for Private Painting Mentoring were quickly dispelled after I met her and experienced the quality and depth of her teaching. Yes, there were hesitations about signing up for the Private Painting Mentoring. There was, of course, the cost. Not many of us painters have unlimited funds. However, after giving it some thought I realized if there was ever something I wanted to do.... and should do.... it was the mentoring, so I bit the bullet. Good thing, too!
Since my Mentoring session, I feel watching and listening to Abbey up close has been an experience that I will never forget. I appreciate her personalized specific instruction on setting a program to follow to learn about yourself (the painter, the materials, the setting, etc).
I would definitely recommend Private Painting Mentoring. Abbey is a teacher and a person who is concerned about the progress of her pupil ... and she is a person who is so willing to give so much time and effort to her students." ~M. Hershberger
If you prefer private instruction without traveling to a workshop, my online Private Painting Mentoring may interest you. Over the last three years, I've worked with painters in Europe, China, and all across the US. I'm thrilled to mentor and learn from such remarkable folks.
If it's helpful to read more comments from those who have completed Private Painting Mentoring, you can read feedback from some painters in the program (along with a profile on their work, used with permission).
It is an important decision to invest in yourself, so please read the testimonials and here's more information:
Read testimonials from Private Painting Mentoring participants here.
All my best,
P.S. this is another painting from Sedona, and, as promised, I will also post soon about my workshop there and travels in Sedona and Patagonia last month.
I taught an amazing group of painters this past weekend at my Artists of Yardley workshop. I'll be posting my two demo paintings this week. In the meantime, here are a few photos of the workshop, including a wonderful picture of (almost) the whole group.
I discovered this beautiful cheese at Delicious Orchards, and I love that -- just like me -- it has Dutch roots. I'm already looking forward to painting this subject again because in the sunlight, the golden color really glows.
If you missed my last post, here is a new time-lapse video of my painting, Still Life with Silver Creamer. It's a live two-hour demo -- from start to finish -- compressed into just 5 minutes. Hope you enjoy it (and if you do, leave a comment there). Click to watch me paint.
Ending Soon!
The auction for Blue & White Cup with Cranberries and Eucalyptus ends today at 9 PM EST. View auction.
In this painting is a beautiful handmade 'ink bottle' as part of my ongoing "Paintings of Handmade Pottery" project. Workshop Update: There are just two weeks remaining to register for my five-day workshop from August 15-19 at Sedona Arts Center. (Only four spots remaining!) Email me with questions.
This is a whiskey cup made by Chris Gustin (South Dartmouth, Massachusetts) for my "Paintings of Handmade Pottery" project. Also, here's Chris Gustin's Facebook page. I was lucky enough to purchase this cup from Sherrie Gallerie during the recent NCECA Conference in Philadelphia. The other side of this cup has one of the artist's signature "dimples," which I look forward to painting soon.
