Day 28 and 29 - The Boathouse and Rocky Coast

Sept. 2017 30/30 Painting Challenge, Day 29 and 30

The Boathouse, 6x6, oil SOLD

 

Rocky Coast, 6x6, oil SOLD

These paintings were available in my Ebay Store - Small Paintings.


Thanks for visiting.

Celene
www.CeleneFarris.com

Day 28 - Walk to the Sea

Sept. 2017 30/30 Painting Challenge, Day 28

Walk to the Sea, 5x7, oil  SOLD

This painting was available in my Ebay Store - Small Paintings.


Thanks for visiting.

Celene

www.CeleneFarris.com

Day 26 and 27 - Dinghy Landing and Mountain Stream

Sept. 2017 30/30 Painting Challenge, Day 26 and 27


Day 26

The Dinghy Landing, Belfast, Maine 5x7, oil SOLD

 Day 27

Mountain Stream, 5x7, oil SOLD

Thanks for visiting.

Celene
www.CeleneFarris.com

Day 25 - Tide's Coming In

Sept. 2017 30/30 Painting Challenge, Day 25

Tide's Coming In, 5x7, oil  SOLD

This painting was available in my Ebay Store - Small Paintings.


Thanks for visiting.

Celene
www.CeleneFarris.com

Day 24 - Wilson Stream

Sept. 2017 30/30 Painting Challenge, Day 24

Wilson Stream, 5x7, oil  SOLD

A portion of the rapids on Wilson Stream in Elliotsville, Plantation, Maine. My favorite spot!


This painting was available in my Ebay Store - Small Paintings.


Thanks for visiting.

Celene

www.CeleneFarris.com

Day 22 - After the Rain

Sept. 2017 30/30 Painting Challenge, Day 22

After the Rain, 5x7, oil  SOLD

This painting was available in my Ebay Store - Small Paintings.


Thanks for visiting.

Celene
www.CeleneFarris.com

Here Comes Trouble

The most dangerous time in my painting process is the finishing stage. That last hour or so when I need to decide what to leave in and what to take out. The time of final corrections, the addition of highlights and accents that can only be added at this stage.

When I reach this point, strange as it sounds, I find I’m not seeing the painting as a whole presentation anymore. After working intensely for hours, my focus has slowly shifted to the individual elements and I could be heading for trouble. I have to force myself to stop, put the brush down and leave my studio for awhile. And often that isn’t easy. I’m tired and I want to finish. “Just one more stroke. Let me fix that spot, etc.” ….. Here comes trouble.

A successful painting is a sum of all it’s elements all working together, balancing and complementing each other. All working together to support the story line or focal point. When you begin to concentrate on each element separately you risk throwing the whole painting off balance. A few times I have gone beyond the point of no return and had no choice but to wipe the whole painting away. Frustrating! Especially when it had a good start and I just couldn’t stop fiddling.

Now I try to keep reminding myself of what my painting is about and ask if the element I am working on is important or a distraction. Discipline! The most important element in your studio.

Three quotes that I read a long time ago and need to bear in mind.

• “A painting is finished when you have simplified or taken out all you can.”
• “If it looks good, leave it alone. Trying to make it better never works.”
• “Working in stages lets the paint dry and your brain rest.”

And yes, I have been painting today. Can you tell?

Happy painting, 

Celene

www.CeleneFarris.com

My Ebay Store

Day 20 - Grimes Cove

Sept. 2017 30/30 Painting Challenge, Day 20

Grimes Cove, Boothbay, Maine 5x7, oil  SOLD

This painting was available in my Ebay Store - Small Paintings.


for visiting.
Celene

www.CeleneFarris.com

Day 19 - Cold Morning

Sept. 2017 30/30 Painting Challenge, Day 19

Cold Morning, 5x7, oil  SOLD

This painting was available in my Ebay Store - Small Paintings.

Thanks for visiting.
Celene

www.CeleneFarris.com

Day 17 - Naples, Florida

Sept. 2017 30/30 Painting Challenge, Day 17

Our Virtual Paint Out Group is visiting south Florida this month, the area below Interstate 75, otherwise known as Alligator Alley. I have started a larger painting of Biscayne Bay but haven't had time to work on it. So today I painted a small version of a scene on Naples Beach. I plan on doing a larger one of that area, too. I really enjoy painting palm trees, why, I don't know. Maybe because they are so graceful and carefree. And maybe because I recall watching them blow and sway outside our windows in Florida. Anyway - here is my quick study for today.

Naples, Florida, 5x7, oil SOLD

This painting was available in my Ebay Store - Small Paintings.
Thanks for visiting.

Celene

www.CeleneFarris.com

Day 15 - Little Wilson Stream

Sept. 2017 30/30 Painting Challenge, Day 15

One of my favorite spots.

Little Wilson Stream, 5x7, oil SOLD

This painting was available in my Ebay Store - Small Paintings.

Thanks for visiting.
Celene

www.CeleneFarris.com

Day 14 - Spencer Falls

Sept. 2017 30/30 Painting Challenge, Day 14

Spencer Falls, 5x7, oil SOLD

This painting was available in my Ebay Store - Small Paintings.

Thanks for visiting.
Celene

www.CeleneFarris.com

Day 13 - Storm Surge

Sept. 2017 30/30 Painting Challenge, Day 13

Storm Surge, 5x7, oil  SOLD

This painting was available in my Ebay Store - Small Paintings.

Today's distraction was extra special -

Watching our friends launch their sailboat in Belfast Harbor. They will be heading south in a few weeks. Happy sailing!

Thanks for visiting.
Celene

www.CeleneFarris.com

Day 12 - Path to the Sea

Sept. 2017 30/30 Painting Challenge, Day 12

Path to the Sea, 5x7, oil SOLD

So many distractions - 

Our peach tree is being very generous this year. This is the second basket I've picked and there are still more peaches on the tree. Thank you, peach tree, but you are seriously cutting into my painting time.

Before

After

This painting was available in my Ebay Store - Small Paintings.

Thanks for visiting.
Celene

www.CeleneFarris.com

Day 11 - Old Farm

Sept. 2017 30/30 Challenge, Day 11

The Old Farm, 7x5, oil  SOLD

This painting was available in my Ebay Store - Small Paintings.

Thanks for visiting.

Celene

www.CeleneFarris.com

Day 10 - Distant Hills

Sept. 2017 30/30 Challenge, Day 10

Distant Hills, 5x7, oil  SOLD

This painting was available in my Ebay Store - Small Paintings.

Thanks for visiting.

Celene

www.CeleneFarris.com

Day 9 - Florida Sunrise

Sept. 2017 30/30 Challenge, Day 9

Recalling wonderful memories of all the winters we spent in sunny Florida.

Thoughts and prayers to the people of Florida as they await Hurricane Irma. 

Florida Sunrise, 5x7, oil

This painting is available in my Ebay Store - Small Paintings.

Thanks for visiting.

Celene

www.CeleneFarris.com

Day 8 - Sunny Brook

Sept. 2017 30/30 Challenge, Day 8 

Sunny Brook, 5x7, oil  SOLD

This painting was available in my Ebay Store - Small Paintings.

Thanks for visiting.
Celene

www.CeleneFarris.com

Day 7 - The Hay Field

 Sept. 2017 30/30 Challenge, Day 7

The Hay Field, 5x7, oil

This painting is available in my Ebay Store - Small Paintings.

Thanks for visiting.
Celene

www.CeleneFarris.com

Day 6 - Storm Brewing

Sept. 2017 30/30 Painting Challenge, Day 6

Storm Brewing, 5x7, oil  SOLD

This painting was available in my Ebay Store - Small Paintings.

Thanks for visiting.
Celene

www.CeleneFarris.com

Day 5 - Summer Day

Sept. 2017 30/30 Painting Challenge, Day 5

Summer Day, 5x7, oil

This painting is available in my Ebay Store - Small Paintings.

Thanks for visiting.
Celene

www.CeleneFarris.com

Day 4 - Lifting Fog

Sept. 2017 30/30 Challenge, Day 4

The fog is slowly lifting in the early morning sunshine. Another beautiful day on the coast of Maine.

Lifting Fog 5x7, oil  SOLD

Thanks for visiting.
Celene

www.CeleneFarris.com

This painting was available in my Ebay Store - Small Paintings.

The Working Art Gallery Remembered

Today is the 3rd anniversary of the closing of our gallery and the sale of our great old building. This is a repost from three years ago.

The Working Art Gallery, a day of mixed emotions. 9/3/2014.

Today we had the closing on the sale of our building.  I would like to share the history of the gallery that has been such an important part of my life. 

In January 1999, three Maine artists, Louis Masciovecchio, Celene Farris and Dianne Horton, established The Working Art Gallery on Front Street at the Belfast waterfront. The name was chosen because the three artists maintained their studios at the gallery. Visitors were encouraged to watch and ask questions. Celene also offered art classes at the gallery. The three artists helped to establish The Belfast Art Association, working closely with the other galleries to create a vibrant art community in Belfast.

Mid September of 2003, the gallery moved to its own building at 65 Main Street in historic downtown Belfast. (The William Crosby Building, 1857). The gallery expanded to two floors and added a visiting artist’s gallery giving new, up and coming artists the opportunity to display their work in a gallery setting. A classroom on the second floor was now used for Celene's expanded oil painting classes. The gallery continued to grow, representing over 30 local artists.

In November 2006, Maine artist, Sheryl Tripp, became the gallery’s new manager and added The Aina Moja Shop, a project of Expanding Opportunities, a non-profit organization supporting native African artists in Kenya and other Kenyan charities.

When the local newspaper began its “Best of the Best” People’s Choice Awards Competition in 2007, the gallery was voted the top art gallery in Waldo County.  The gallery continued to receive recognition each subsequent year.

At the close of 2011, after thirteen busy years, Celene and Louis decided it was time to downsize the gallery and give themselves more free time to paint. They moved their gallery to the second floor and exhibited the works of Louis Masciovecchio, Sheryl Tripp and Celene Farris. 

On the first floor, noted Maine artist and antique collector, Jude Nickerson, opened her new signature gallery, Raven’s Nest Gallery, featuring an exciting mix of Maine art and Maine antiques. She offered to oversee the upstairs gallery as well.

In March of 2014, Louis and his wife, Mary, returned to Maine. The second and third floors of the gallery building became their new temporary home. The physical gallery closed and a new virtual gallery was created. The first floor remained the home of Raven's Nest Gallery.

On September 3, 2014, Celene and Louis met to sign the sale papers on their building. The great old building was about to begin its new life and the artists are free to paint and travel. Celene will continue to maintain the gallery's website.

It has been a remarkable journey and I would like to sincerely thank our patrons and participating artists for making this a wonderful and exciting experience. The success of our gallery would not have been possible without your support. It has been a great pleasure to be part of Belfast's vibrant art community.

We are extremely pleased to be voted one of the top art galleries in Waldo County by The Republican Journal's "Best of the Best" People's Choice Awards. It is an honor we will always treasure and we sincerely thank all those who made this possible. 

I hope you will visit us at www.TheWorkingArtGallery.com 

"Art washes away from the soul, the dust of everyday life."   Pablo Picasso (1881-1973)

Thank you for visiting on this day of mixed emotions.
Celene

www.CeleneFarris.com

Day 3 - The Birch Tree

Day 3 of the 30/30 Painting Challenge.  My corner garden.

The Birch Tree, 7x5, oil  SOLD

This painting was available in my Ebay Store - Small Paintings.

Thanks for visiting.
Celene

www.CeleneFarris.com

Day 2 - Beach Roses

Day 2 of Leslie Saeta's 30/30 Challenge. Thirty paintings in thirty days is a challenge!

Beach Roses, 5x7, oil  SOLD

This painting was available in my Ebay Store - Small Paintings.

Thanks for visiting.
Celene

www.CeleneFarris.com

Day 1 - North Country

Happy September 1st and the start of the 30/30 Painting Challenge.

North Country, 5x7, oil

This painting is available in my Ebay Store - Small Paintings.

Thanks for visiting.
Celene

www.CeleneFarris.com