July 2026 is Los Angeles

July's Virtual Hike destination is Los Angeles, California.

California Dreaming, 8x10, oil on canvas panel

You are invited to join us in our next virtual painting adventure.  There's a new destination every month!

We'd love to have you. It's free, fun and no strings attached. And no judging. You can interpret the scene anyway you wish and in any medium. You'll be painting in your own studio, from your own computer and at your own time schedule. You can even skip a destination if you're busy... Check us out here on Marla's blog -  The Virtual Hike Painting Group.

This painting is now available. Please message me for more info. Free US shipping.

Digital reproductions on computer screens may not accurately reflect the true colors and quality of the work. Your satisfaction is guaranteed or you may return the painting.

Thanks for visiting and happy painting. And I hope you will check out my eBay Store to see more of my available paintings.

Celene

My Website -  CeleneFarris.com
My eBay Store -  Celene Farris, Maine Artist
My Facebook Page - Celene Farris, Maine Artist
Email me at - mail@CeleneFarris.com

Surprised and honored.

I was wonderfully surprised and so very pleased to have my painting of apple blossoms chosen as the new banner for the Facebook Group - Still Life Artists/Painters on March 25, 2025.

I wish to sincerely thank the group administrator, Lin Anne Luciano Fiore. It is an honor I will always remember.

Apple Blossoms
Framed 9x12, oil on canvas panel. Available.

Celene

My Website -  CeleneFarris.com

My eBay Store -  Celene Farris, Maine Artist

My Facebook Page - Celene Farris, Maine Artist

Email me at - mail@CeleneFarris.com

Lilacs

We are having a wonderful spring here on the coast of Maine. We went from early spring's gray, cool and rainy days, frosty nights and dreary mud season - to glorious sun and color everywhere. My lilacs were a week early and are now beginning to fade, as are my bleeding heart plants. The iris, poppies and lupine are in blossom now, with peonies soon to follow. How could I not paint my lilacs?!

Lilacs and Blue Glass, 8x10, oil

Lilacs and Copper, 8x10, oil SOLD

And, of course, a few little ones. 3x3 Framed, oil. SOLD

A few years back, when I had my studio at our gallery in Belfast, I tried to paint all the spring flowers as they came along. Every day I would bring in new flowers and try to capture them on canvas. Some paintings were successful, some were not, but it was fun trying. This brought in a lot of repeat visitors who wanted to see what I was working on next. Those were fun times and I met some truly delightful people.

These new paintings are available in my Ebay Store or directly from me. 

Stay busy and happy. Thanks for visiting with me.

Celene

My Ebay Store

My Website

Painting is never boring

Well, another few months have gone by since my last post. A friend asked what I have been working on so I thought I would share a few of my latest pieces. 

I have been very busy in my studio getting ready for my favorite local shop, Patchwork Plus in Searsmont, Maine, to reopen for the season on May 1st. She carries a line of my work and we were all hustling to finish up in time. My eBay Store has also been busy, so more paintings needed there, too.

I seem to jump from one painting subject to another. For the past few months it is been miniature paintings - 3x3 inches square. I found some darling frames on-line that, I think, are perfect. These mini paintings give me a chance to use bright colors and quirky subjects - snowmen, colorful songbirds, flowers, a goldfish. Even a few mini still-lifes and landscapes. Here is a sample.

 

My husband cut a stack of 3x3 canvas panels for me and I have a dozen or so left. When they are done, I need to finish my nocturnes. I started one with a pick up truck and a man in a phone booth - so many subjects to choose from. 

Painting is never boring! I could never understand how anyone could say they were bored. I say -"just get busy doing something!" Life is short, don't waste it.

Enough said, time to paint. Stay well and stay busy. Thanks for visiting with me.

Celene

Patchwork Plus

My eBay Store

www.CeleneFarris.com

Welcome 2021. Goodbye 2020

I said I was going to post more often - I just looked and another 2 ½ months have gone by since my last post. Time isn't just flying - it's taking a jet plane and what a ride it's been. We have all survived 2020 unscathed and hope for a smoother 2021.

Even with all the craziness of the past year, art sales have been good. My Ebay store keeps me busy and that is a good thing. My studio work has run the gamut of sizes - from a large selection of mini 3x3s for a local shop to an eleven foot sign for a local camp owner. Subject matter has been varied, to say the least.

Now that winter is here, the holiday rush is over, my local shop is closed for the season and I am back to a slower pace. I'm looking forward to continuing my nocturn studies. I just love to paint - simple as that.

Here is a sample of last month's work. Most are sold. Sizes range from 3x3 to 9x12.

Any of my paintings can be purchased directly through me. Please contact me for more information.

I want to sincerely wish you all a very happy and prosperous New Year! 

Thanks for visiting with me.

 Celene

www.CeleneFarris.com

My Ebay Store

Small Stuff

When I found these sweet frames, I knew I just had to paint some miniatures. The paintings are on 3x3 canvas panel and the overall size with the frame is a mere 4.25 x 4.25 inches.  

I painted some for my daughter-in-law's shop, Patchwork Plus, but these will be added to my Ebay Store. And I'm going to keep shopping for these little frames. What fun!

Lilacs, 3x3, oil   SOLD

Lilacs and Forsythia, 3x3, oil   SOLD

Geraniums, 3x3, oil   SOLD

Thanks for visiting,
Celene


My Ebay Store 

www.CeleneFarris.com

Lilacs and Hydrangeas

Today I put the finishing touches on two paintings that I started last week. This is a busy time for me with the gardens and the beginning of canning season. Strawberries and raspberries have been turned into freezer jam and sauce for shortcakes. Our early peach tree gave us a small basket of fruit that I canned the other day. Next week I will pick up a bushel of Jersey peaches from our local Amish store. Then it will be vegetables from our garden and local blueberries.

I spent this afternoon in my studio painting with Elvis and Johnny Mathis. Every time I listen to my Elvis CD's I think of my dear friend and student, Lois. We spent many hours painting and singing with Elvis. Those were the greatest of times.

Thank you Elvis, Johnny and Lois for a very nice afternoon.

Lilacs in the Window, 8x10, oil  SOLD

Hydrangeas, 9x12, oil  SOLD

These paintings were available in My Ebay Store - Florals

Thanks for visiting with me.
Celene

www.CeleneFarris.com

More Lilacs

My previous two lilac paintings have gone to new homes. One painting to the new bride and groom and the second painting to New Jersey through my Ebay Store. I really enjoyed painting lilacs. Maybe it was working with purples.

So this week I did two more. I finished them today and listed them in my Ebay Store. The first one sold within a half hour and when it is dried and varnished it will live in Alaska.

Lilacs, 9x12, oil. SOLD

Lilacs and Clementines, 9x12, oil  SOLD

Purples are fun to work with as long as you remember to add a bit of umber in the shadows to help control the intensity. 

Our Virtual Paint Out Group is visiting Malta this month. Maybe tomorrow I'll start on that painting.... or maybe I'll paint lilacs again.

I hope you are doing what makes your heart happy. For me, it's painting.

Thanks for visiting,

Celene

www.CeleneFarris.com

My Ebay Store

Mock Orange - Painting Steps

 Our Mock Orange bush was so beautiful this year. How could I not try to paint it?

For Liz, one of my previous students, who wrote, "Please help. I haven't painted in a long while and I can't remember how we started a still life....."

Reference Set-Up

Set up a shadow box with strong light and dark patterns. The reference set-up is just that - reference. Now you need to make the painting your own.

The initial lay-in. 

Make sure that your subject fits nicely on the canvas. Note the gray toned canvas.

The mass tones.

Working in the middle values and basic colors, keep all edges soft. Work carefully and deliberately. Be sure you are pleased before you continue to the next step. Make any corrections now.

The modeling stage.

This takes the longest. Don't rush through it.  Work your shapes, colors and values. Work your edges and background. Finalize the foreground. When you are pleased, put it aside to dry.

The finishing stage.

Mock Orange Blossoms, 11x14, oil

Add the final highlights and accents. Respect what you have already done. This is not the time for major corrections. Then put it aside to dry. Look at it again in a few days, add bits and pieces if needed. Done.


There you are, Liz. Hope this helps. The main thing is to work deliberately and correctly each step of the way. Don't worry about copying the reference exactly as it is - make this your painting. Happy painting. Send me a picture when you are finished.

This painting is available in my Ebay Store - Florals

Happy painting, everyone. And Happy 4th of July!
Celene

www.CeleneFarris.com
My Ebay Store

Lilacs, New and Improved

As I mentioned in my last post, I have been working with still-life again. Switching between still-life and landscapes requires a bit of thinking. The techniques are different because of the obvious differences in the two subjects. In still-life painting shapes are more exacting, details are sharper, colors more intense and the light is controlled. Aerial perspective is present but to a different degree. Maintaining accuracy and freshness without overworking is always a concern.

My second lilac painting is finished and I can see an improvement. It may need a bit of this and that, but it is basically done. I need to put it aside and look at it with a fresh eye. This new painting will now be the wedding gift. The first one will be seriously evaluated and portions may be scraped away and repainted.

(Update: The first lilac painting was modified and refined, then listed in my Ebay Store and now has a new home in New Jersey.) 

Painting is great fun. The challenge of different subjects with their different requirements is a fascinating battle and I look forward to each day in my studio. I think one of the reasons I enjoyed teaching so much was to explore this whole concept with my students. We all worked very hard and my reward was seeing them reach a new and deeper understanding about the theory of painting. And in teaching, I continued to learn. It was a great partnership.

So here is the new and improved painting of lilacs that will be my gift to the new bride and groom.

Lilacs for Her Wedding, 9x12, oil

Tomorrow I begin another painting.

Thanks for visiting with me,

Celene 

www.CeleneFarris.com

My Ebay Store

Lilacs for Her Wedding

A friend is getting married in a few weeks. She was disappointed that the scheduling didn't allow her to have her favorite flower, lilacs, at her wedding. So that solved my problem of what to give as a wedding gift. I've painted  "Lilacs for Her Wedding" and now it has to dry and be varnished. 

I enjoyed the painting so much that I’m currently working on a series of lilac paintings. 

Still life has always been my favorite subject to paint, especially flowers with copper, brass or transparent glass. I’m fascinated with the contrasting textures – the soft, delicate flower petals vs. the hard, reflective surface of metals and glass. And the colors! And the shine!

The colors on my palette have changed from the general, soft landscape colors to brilliant colors. I’ve dug into my supply and pulled out all the purples and violets, bright rose and magenta for the flowers and the brighter earth colors for the copper and brass.

A few years ago, in my studio at the gallery, I tried to paint as many of the spring flowers as I could. Every day I brought in a new arrangement and worked feverishly, trying to capture them before they wilted. Our visitors enjoyed watching the process often returning the next day to see the results. Many paintings went home with them. One flower I could not capture was my very favorite, the peony. I couldn’t get the lush softness, try as I might. So this year I will try again.
 

Lilacs for Her Wedding, 9x12, oil SOLD

Yesterday I started a new lilac painting. The pictures below show my initial lay-in and the first full layer of paint. There will be many subsequent layers added as I make adjustments and build up to the lightest values. Tomorrow I will add another layer and put it aside to dry before continuing. Since the paintings need to dry between layers, I usually have a few paintings at different stages to work on. My technique for still life painting is slow and deliberate while trying to maintain a feeling of energy and freshness. The danger of overworking is always present.

The initial lay in.

First full layer of paint. Many more layers to go.

Thanks for visiting with me. Happy painting.

Celene

www.CeleneFarris.com 

My Ebay Store