Not the trillium, which I'm painting from a photo of my sister's garden. Our grandfather always had white trillium on the shady side of the house, along with wood violets (yellow), and a few other precious woodland plants that he planted back in the 1930's, before it was illegal to do so. My sis just took some from our folks garden, which came from Pop's garden, and there you have it. I love them and hope I can do them justice. Also working on some blue violets in a glass jar. Spring is here, no matter what the weather does or doesn't do!
Monday, March 25, 2024
Not the trillium, which I'm painting from a photo of my sister's garden. Our grandfather always had white trillium on the shady side of the house, along with wood violets (yellow), and a few other precious woodland plants that he planted back in the 1930's, before it was illegal to do so. My sis just took some from our folks garden, which came from Pop's garden, and there you have it. I love them and hope I can do them justice. Also working on some blue violets in a glass jar. Spring is here, no matter what the weather does or doesn't do!
Wednesday, February 14, 2024
Current Inventory!
It's been over a year since I've taken the time to continue writing here. I do apologize! The past two years have been super busy and suddenly, with the advent of 2024, there are a LOT of changes happening in our lives. All are good, but there are always down sides even to the positive aspects of change. Adaptation is key to moving through any change, let alone a host of changes!
Have I mentioned that our granddaughter and her twins moved in with us 2 years ago after losing their place in Vermont. That transition was tough for us, but much more-so for them. They lost all of their friends and support systems to venture in a new direction. Granddaughter eventually found a good job with benefits and has been saving up for the family to move to their own space.
That happened this January/February and plenty of turmoil has happened in all of our lives. The twins still come here after school, which we enjoy. Their mom picks them up after work so we get to see all of them almost daily - except for school closings and her days off from work.
As of this week, my favorite shop, Art ala Carte in Bellefonte, PA where I've been selling for 4+ years is suddenly closing. The owner, another artist, decided she needs more time to create and sell her own work. She has mentored a large number of us along the way and always has been encouraging. We all are now encouraging her in her new life changes. We'll continue to see her work and watch her grow along with the rest of us. Here is her website: Elizabeth Hay Designs.
Thankfully, I still have two other locations where my work can be shown and sold. The Gallery Shop in Lemont, PA and the Bellefonte Art Museum's gift shop, Twiga. And I will be exhibiting in May-June at the Elk Creek Cafe & Aleworks in Millheim, PA.
At the moment I have a fairly large inventory, since Art ala Carte is closing. She has some of my work on sale for the nest two week, but those not on sale have all come home to me. The header photo is one wall. Here are the other studio walls today!
As you can see, I'm full up with no spaces left! I will be delivering to The Gallery Shop in early March. And I will select the ones for the Elk Street Cafe and keep them here until it's time for the show. But still, I have a LOT of paintings that would like to find new homes where birds, wildlife, and plants are fully appreciated! And I can mail paintings to their new addresses. Contact me through the Facebook Messages at this website: https://www.facebook.com/pat.dolan.artist
Hope your year is full of wonder as we move forward into the unknown future ahead.
Wednesday, February 01, 2023
Updating the Progress Since the Last Post!
The painting process varies from painting to painting - much depends upon the type of watercolor paper being used - and I used 3 different types of paper in the 15 drawings that I'd prepared.
It also depends upon the way I want the completed painting to be - super realistic, impressionistic, somewhat realistic, and more. And the techniques required for those choices vary in approach from very wet to very dry, depending upon the level of realism desired.
As you can guess from the above photo, I usually prefer the wildlife to be quite realistic, perhaps with a bit of a flare on occasion. But I want the background to be just that - background! A vague background that compliments the bird or animal in color either with similar or opposing colors.
Here are a few images of works still in process - #2. Lynx and 5. Bobcat above.
And finally, the two loons #8. & 9:
#8. Loon among the Rocks and #9. Loon in Grassy Water
Saturday, January 14, 2023
Preparing the Backgrounds for My Paintings
I rarely work on one or two watercolors at a time. It's far more often that I draw up a dozen or so subjects on the stretched watercolor paper, then when it's time to paint, I have a large selection of choices before me.
Saturday, January 07, 2023
Happy New Year 2023!
Monday, November 07, 2022
HOLIDAY SHOPPING for Songbird Art!
In preparing for the holidays, I've created a series of 4x6" prints (matted in 8x10" mats and sold in plastic envelopes) from my original bird paintings. There is a good selection of song birds available, plus a few raven prints.
More Christmas Cardinals plus One Raven
Each print sells for $32.00. However, if multiples are purchased, a reduction will be made for such sales. The prints can be sent anywhere in the USA by US Priority Mail Envelop for $10.00 per envelop.
If you are interested in making a purchase, you may contact me via my Facebook page, using Facebook Messenger to ask questions, select a print, provide the mailing address and arrange payments via PayPal.
Here's wishing you an easy shopping season and joyous holidays!
Sunday, October 30, 2022
As October Draws to a Close
I've added another location for my work to be exhibited and sold: The Gallery Shop in Lemont, PA. So there are three locations where one can purchase original art, including my paintings. Art a la Carte in Bellefonte and Twiga, The Bellefonte Art Museum's Gift Shop.
At this time of year, the Bellefonte Art Museum hosts an annual Holiday Art Show & Sale. I will have two pieces hanging in the exhibit - shown below. And my 8x10" prints will also be available for purchase at the show. "Meadowlark Singing" and "Raven in the Grass #2" - framed watercolors measuring 14" wide x 11" high.