30 IN 30 Challenge

I've joined Leslie Saeta's Thirty Paintings in 30 Days challenge for January.  Leslie says that 810 artists from 23 countries will be painting 30 paintings in 30 days!

My goal is to complete this challenge by painting small landscapes that include some imagery of water.  Here is my painting for January 1, 2015.  It is called, "Island in the Marsh". 6"x 6" Oil on canvas.  This is one of my favorite places to paint.  It is hidden away behind a church in Harpswell, Maine.  I was inspired by the golden grasses of September.

I will be adding some of my challenge paintings to my Etsy Shop.  Because I am using oil paint the paintings will take about three weeks to dry.  If interested you can check my Etsy Shop and read the "ready to ship" info for each painting. Thank you for reading this post!
http://www.Etsy.com/shop/DianaJohnsonFineArt

Small Works Show

Here is an 8"x8" oil that I will have in the Small Works Show. It is called "Warm Afternoon Light" and I  painted it at Winslow Park in Freeport a few months ago. The show is at Yarmouth Frame and Gallery and the reception is December 6th from 4 to 7. I hope to see you there!

Saccarappa Art Collective

Come on over to Westbrook tomorrow night! 
The Saccarappa Art Collective's reception for the new show is from 5-8 pm, Oct.17.  I am a guest artist and have six paintings in this group show (ends Nov. 22)  There is always so much energy at this gallery...very fun!

Art Show Reception

Please join me at a reception for a show called, "Irresistible Light" on October 4th from 4 to 7pm.  Some of my new works will be in this show at Yarmouth Frame & Gallery.  Route One in Yarmouth, Maine!

"First Impressions" Series 15 - 20

I am still working on my series of "first impressions".  Here is one of the 6 that I have just finished and listed in my Etsy shop
This painting was started in Pemaquid during last year's June painting retreat.  I finally put the finishing touches on it after this year's June retreat!

Pastel Show

The pastel show opens Saturday in Saco, Maine. This is my contribution to the Pastel Painters of Maine 15th International Juried Exhibition for "Pastels Only".  The show is at the Saco Museum and runs from May 17th through June 14th. The closing reception is on June 14th from 5 to 7.

"First Impressions" Series #14

This painting is filled with "spring greens" and was started last year in May. I was on a Freeport Conservation Trust trail at Tidebrook. More info at http://www.etsy.com/shop/DianaJohnsonFineArt

"First Impressions" Series #13

After a bit of a break I am back to posting my "First Impressions" series.  Here is #13.  This one is called, "Path Through the Trees".  I started this one at Fort Williams Park in August of last year.  See more in my Etsy shop.  Just click this link.  
http://www.etsy.com/shop/DianaJohnsonFineArt

"First Impressions" Series 10, 11, and 12

I finished three more from my series of "first impressions". Here is one called, "Light Through The Trees". I was inspired by the trees that are at the end of Winslow Park's Beach in Freeport.  The other two images, along with this one, are posted in my Etsy shop.  To see them just click this link:

http://www.etsy.com/shop/DianaJohnsonFineArt

 

"First Impressions" Series 7, 8, and 9

I finished three more from my series of "first impressions".  This one is called " Sandbar at Sandy Beach".  This beach is at one end of the Cousins Island bridge in Yarmouth.  The other two images are posted in my Etsy shop along with this one.  To see them just click this link:
http://www.etsy.com/shop/DianaJohnsonFineArt

"Nothing is softer or more flexible than water, yet nothing can resist it."  Lao Tzu

"First Impressions" Series 4, 5, and 6

I finished three more from my series of "first impressions".  Here is one called,"Sun, Sand, and Rocks".  I was inspired by the beach at Lands End on Bailey Island.  The other two images, along with this one, are posted in my Etsy shop.  To see them just click this link:  http://www.etsy.com/shop/DianaJohnsonFineArt

"First Impressions" Series 1, 2, and 3

I finished the first three of my new series called, "First Impressions". Here is an image of one called, "Path Through the Meadow". I was inspired by a path at Gilsland Farm in Falmouth. The other two, along with this one, are posted in my Etsy shop. To see them just click this link: http://www.etsy.com/shop/DianaJohnsonFineArt

"First Impressions" Series

A new year seems like a good time to tackle my stack of unfinished paintings.  When on location I record my first impressions of a scene with watercolors.  Then I finish them back in the studio with gouache.  Once Spring arrives another stack will start to grow!

Small Works Show Reception

I will have three works in the "Small Works Holiday Show" at Yarmouth Frame and Gallery.  The reception is December 7th from 4 to 7 pm.  Hope to see you there!

ART in ME show

Just a few days left to see the ART in ME statewide exhibit. Boothbay Region Art Foundation. My pastel, "Monhegan Twilight", is in the show. October 19 - November 3.

Art Show Reception

The Yarmouth Art Festival reception is Thursday, October 17 from 5:30 to 8 pm.  My painting, "Light in the Shadow" is in the show.  The reception is usually a lot of fun! Come on over to 396 Gilman Street in Yarmouth.

Pownal Invitational

Here are two good reasons to visit Pownal, Maine.  Edna and Lucy's restaurant is exhibiting paintings of the local area by local artists.  I have a painting called "Sun on the Barn" in the show.  And...the food is fabulous!  You can enjoy breakfast and lunch in this colorful, cozy, casual restaurant.

Art in the Park article

This morning's Portland Press Herald has an article about my award from last year's Art In The Park show.  It is in the Special Section insert. The article can be seen by visiting the Portland Press Herald's e-edition and looking at pages 35 and 36.  Here is a link: e-edition

Late Summer Rhythms Exhibit

I  have a new series of oil paintings in a group exhibit called: "Late Summer Rhythms". The reception is August 3rd from 4 to 7 pm at Yarmouth Frame and Gallery on Route One in Yarmouth. Please stop by if you can.  The show is on through October 5th.

New Works in Gallery

This week I delivered new works to Wiscasset Bay Gallery for the summer exhibition.  Two are new Monhegan paintings.  For this painting, called "Monhegan Afternoon", I wanted to include a bit of that big rock on the right.  Usually, when I paint on this beach I do not include that rock.

Ekphrasis

An exhibition of poems and paintings will be at the Yarmouth Memorial Library in Yarmouth from April 8 to May 25. The exhibit is titled: "Ekphrasis -  poems speaking to silent works of art." The opening reception is 5:30 to 8 on April 12. My contribution to the show is this pastel called "Monhegan Backlight". 

Pastel Painters of Maine's member show

Please stop by to see a pastel show!
The Pastel Painters of Maine's member show is on view from April 5th to May 24th at Art House in Portland.  I have one piece in this show.  Art House is located on Pleasant Street.  The opening reception is from 5 to 7pm on April 5th.

Follow Your Heart Show

Yarmouth Frame and Gallery is presenting a show called "Follow Your Heart".  The artist reception is February 9th from 4 to 7.  Please drop by and see paintings and sculptures by many artists.  Here is one of my paintings that will be in the show. 

A reception for a 5-person show called "Falling For Color" will be held Saturday, October 6 from 4 to 7 pm at Yarmouth Frame and Gallery. Sixteen of my oil paintings will be on view.  The show is on display through November and I hope you get a chance to visit!

The editor of an online magazine called MAINE ART SCENE, has published an interview with me. You can read it at: http://www.maineartscene.com/Maine-Artist-Interview/Pastel-Artist-Diana-Johnson.html

Pastel Painters of Maine's Juried Exhibition

If you are in Kennebunkport on June 23rd please stop by to see the exhibit. The reception is 5 to 7 pm at River Tree Arts. I have two pastel works in the show.

Reunion Show

If you are joining the Art Walk in Portland on April 6th please stop by the Heron Point Gallery at 63 Market Street to see a four-person show. My contribution is a series of marshes all done in oil on canvas.

Surroundings II

Through the month of March I have 24 works exhibited at the Thomas Memorial Library in Cape Elizabeth. The paintings are mostly of the Freeport and Yarmouth areas with a few from Harpswell and Kennebunk. Please stop by if you are in Cape Elizabeth this month!

A MidWinters Night Dream Art Exhibit

Please join us for the opening of this group show at the Chocolate Church Art Gallery in Bath, Maine. The reception is January 20th from 5-7. I have a series of winter paintings in the show.

Group Show

Group show called "Impressions of Summer". Please join us at the reception May 7 from 4 to 7 at the Yarmouth Frame Shop and Gallery on Route One in Yarmouth. My contribution to the show will be a few of my "August Painting Challenge" oils like the one posted here.

Group Show

Please join us at the opening of a group show called "Painting In, Painting Out". Exhibitors are: Kathleen Daughan, Elizabeth Fraser, Caren-Marie Michel, and Diana Johnson. We will be showing recent work. My contribution to the show will be paintings of flowers. The reception is Friday, May 6 from 3-5 at Lucid Stage in Portland.

Primrose

Since it is a rainy day I am posting a painting that I did of brightly colored primrose. I purchased a German Primrose plant at Estabrooks and worked on a close-up focus of a few blossoms and a bit of foliage.

Quote for this post ... by William Wordsworth 1770 - 1850

"Primroses, the Spring may love them; summer knows but little of them."

Pears in the Sun

It was great to have sun all day yesterday. I painted three pears.

Quote for this post ... by Saint Francis of Assisi 1181 - 1126

"A single sunbeam is enough to drive away many shadows."

Painting Challenge - Color

After a long white winter I am looking for colorful subjects to paint. I am spending the month of March completing as many fruit, flower, and veggie paintings as possible. The grocery store had a great sale last week on red, orange, and yellow peppers so I painted peppers!

Quote for this post ... by Eugene Delacroix 1798 - 1863

"Everybody knows that yellow, orange, and red induce and represent ideas of joy and riches".

Winter Evening

Snow, snow, and more snow ... so this post includes another snow painting. I like to walk by this view in Yarmouth to catch sight of the sunset - when it isn't snowing!

Quote for this post ... by Ralph Waldo Emerson 1803 - 1882

"Not less excellent, except for our less susceptibility in the afternoon, was the charm, last evening, of a January sunset ... the air had so much life and sweetness, that it was a pain to come within doors".

After the Snow Storm

Even though it is still snowing this morning I want to post my winter painting called, "After the Snow Storm". This painting was inspired by the sunset after one of the first storms of the season. It is also in my "Looking Up" exhibit in Yarmouth.

Quote for this post... by Plautus - c. 254 BC - 184 BC

"The day, water, sun, moon, night - I do not have to purchase these things with money."

"Looking Up" Exhibit

I was given the opportunity to exhibit some work this month so decided to display my recent "sky paintings". There are even some winter images inspired by the first few storms of the season. If you are in Yarmouth please check it out at the library. The show is called, "Looking Up...a focus on skies". There are 16 paintings in the series at Merrill Memorial Library, Yarmouth 846-4763. I will try to post more of the winter ones in the next few weeks. The image posted here is called, "Hill-side Farm". The barn and house looked so rooted on the hill-side...like they had been there for a very long time.

Quote for this post....by Rachel Carson 1907 - 1964

"There is something infinitely healing in the repeated refrains of nature - the assurance that dawn comes after night, and spring after winter."