Paper Dolls

A friend of mine recently brought me a fun catalog
from Sweden, Gudrun sjoden;
filled with “unique, comfortable,
and boldly colorful” clothing.
I’ve been using it as a reference for my latest
color aid paper collage project
I’m calling “Paper Dolls”.

7 x 11 color aid paper collage
Below is the outfit I used.
(Page 62 Spring 2025 issue)

Turns out, the model I used is Gudrun,
the founder of the company!
(Zoom in on the description.)

Using color aid paper is so fun because it
forces me to simplify things to the extreme,
and it’s like putting together a puzzle.
It makes me feel like an 8-year-old.

Splash of Spring

During a walk in the woods last week
I saw a patch of green grass
peeking out from the dreary colors of late winter.
I had to play with it in the studio, exaggerating the green grass and the sun on the roof.

A Splash of Spring 12 × 12 oil

Early spring in New England is magical
and inspiring.
All you have to do is notice it!
Happy St. Patrick’s Day

How to "Finish" it

I did a quick four-value sketch
of a painting I’d considered doing.
Then, I mixed up four values of grey
corresponding to the sketch
and quickly applied them to the big shapes.
I wanted to fill the whole canvas,
so I quickly added some color
for the background and sky.

I did this in 20 minutes
12 x 12 oil
I love the immediacy and freshness of this as is,
and I’m glad I stopped at this point.
So now I have the age-old problem.
How do I “finish it” without overworking
and making it too tight?
I’m going to let it sit for a few days
and just look at it.
I’ll keep you posted.

The sketch using copic sketch pens.

Magic Moments

I had a chance to visit the
Boston Antheneum on Beacon Street
a few weeks ago, and I had a magical moment.
Founded in 1807, it is one of the country’s
oldest and most distinguished
member-supported library, museum, and cultural center
and is a gem of Boston’s history.
While sitting in the Reading Room overlooking the burial ground,
I saw this painting across the room and it took my breath away.

Mr. Alcott in the Granary Burying Ground In Boston
oil on board 47 x 38 in 1936
Newell Convers Wyeth
Acquired from Mrs. Newell C. Wyeth

An original NC Wyeth
I'd never seen before.
Being able to sit and absorb my beautiful city
and its rich history,
even for a few minutes,
is a gift.

Less Can Be More

A few weeks ago, I found a small sketch
of a beach cottage I did last summer,
And decided to use it as a reference
for an oil painting.

Dream House 16 × 12 oil

Here’s the simple sketch that I used as a reference.

Using a simple value study (as opposed to a photo)
as a reference forces you to make things up and get back to the basics;
simple shapes, limited values, and color harmony.
No details!
I have to keep reminding myself that
LESS CAN BE MORE

Spring Workshop

Want to kick off a fun spring season?
Join me for a three-day
Modern Painting workshop
at North River Arts Society!
April 25, 26, 27
9:30- 3:30

“Spring Reflections” 20 x 16 oil

We’ll have fun exploring new and exciting ways to manipulate line, value, color, shape, and texture
in our paintings to make them
less representational and more personal.
Open to all mediums (except watercolor)
Please feel free to contact me directly
if you have any questions.
Sign up early!

More Color-aid paper interiors

I’m having a great time doing these simple
8 x 8 Color-aid paper collages of interiors.

The fun is deciding which shapes are necessary
to tell the story.
After choosing the colors, I begin with the background
and build from there.
My self-imposed rule is no measuring or drawing;
just free-form cutting with scissors.
Here is the image I used as a reference.

I stayed in this small cottage in Wellfleet on Cape Cod
with my daughter years ago.
A wonderful memory.

Color-aid Paper

Spent this snowy day having some fun
with an old package of Color-aid Paper.

8 x 8
Color-aid paper on mixed media

The flat, saturated colors and massive range of
values and hues can be daunting,
but working with it forces you to simplify
your shapes, values, and colors.

This is what I love about this time of year;
lot’s of time in the studio to play!

Acrylics vs. Oils

I’m giving a private painting lesson to two
people on Saturday, and they want to use acrylics.
It’s been a while since I’ve used them,
so I thought I’d try them out today.

“Love in the Air”
16 x 12 acrylic on canvas paper
I’d forgotten that acrylics dry so quickly;
the edges are more difficult to manage.
I also miss the thick, buttery feel of oils.
Part of me wants to paint over this in oil.
NOTE:
Frank Siteman of Winchester, MA, took the photo,
and my son sent it to me for possible subject matter!
(He knows me so well)

30 Minute Challenge

A friend recently brought some
blood oranges to the studio
They were delicious; incredibly tart and sweet, like berries.
And the unexpectedly rich colors were such fun to paint.

Blood Oranges
10 x 10 oil on board

As a challenge, I set my timer to 30 minutes
and used my go-to approach:
-do a quick “map” of the big shapes
-start with the darkest dark
-build up to the lightest light,
filling in just the large shapes
-add limited detail
-STOP

(I did smudge some of the edges
after the timer went off)

This is a great way to loosen up and let go.
It reminds you how much fun painting can be.

Tulip Tradition

Every year, after all the holiday decorations are put away,
I love having just a big bowl of tulips on our harvest table.
Also, this time of year, I am searching for any inspiration
to get me back into the studio.

I love how, after a few days in the warmth,
they get leggy and floppy.
While painting this recently,
I realized that I’d painted the post-holiday tulips
pretty much every year!

These are from the past 5 years.
You can see how I approach the subject differently each time.
That’s what I love about this time of year.
Playtime!

New Year / New Ideas

A friend gave me an orchid last spring,
and it’s been blooming like crazy ever since!
Over the holidays, I counted 17 buds.
I thought I’d try it out with my new set of
Holbein Acrylic gouache.

Craig’s Orchid 9 × 9 acrylic gouache sketch

I love this time of year.
I limit my obligations and commitments
so I can just play and experiment in the studio;
new materials, new subject matter, and new approaches!

Bring on 2025!

Something Different

I just received a new set of
Holbein acrylic gouache paints
and tried them out on this gray day mid-value scene,
captured during a walk very early this morning on the Driftway.

4 x 7 gouache on mixed media

I love how simple and direct the medium is.
It’s transparent yet can be layered.
And it dries flat.

I‘m lucky to have a dear friend who is willing and able
to go for a walk at dawn in 40-degree rain.
And she loves it as much as I do.

Need a fun gift?

How about a private or semi-private
painting lesson in my studio?
Private lessons are offered at
Salty Dog Studio in Norwell, MA.
Private or semi-private classes are
open to any level and any medium
Three hour sessions start at $125 (for intro) up to $175.
We can tailor each session to your needs!

“Two Apples”
Done by a 45-year-old who has never painted before!
Contact me at:
nancycolella12@gmail.com
for more information.
All materials included.

Refreshments served!

Never a dull moment

Mother Nature is at it again!
I was walking by a local pond recently
in the late afternoon when the light suddenly
hit the surface.
It turned the whole pond bright pink and purple!

Red Water Fern 14 x 12 oil

Turns out it is a weed called
Red Water Fern.
Who knew there was such a thing?

Here is the quick watercolor sketch I did the oil from.

There are so many surprises in nature.
All you have to do is notice them.

Who knew?

I caught this image on a farm up in Vermont
a few weeks ago and was compelled to paint it.
(The light on her hair and the straw)

“Farmerette”
10 x 10 oil
I goggled “female farmer” and this is what came up (AI)

Who knew?
You’ve gotta love AI
sometimes.

The Perfect Pencil and Paper

I was recently given the most wonderful gift;
one that I didn’t even know I needed.
The perfect pencil and paper!

I was given a Blackwing medium sized Slate notebook,
with a Matte pencil,
and a one-step long point sharpener.
The pencil responds beautifully to different pressures and the paper in the notebook features 160 pages of high-quality100GSM paper.
And it has a durable dual-sewn binding.
(So it lays flat!)

What a pleasure to have something so satisfying to use.
A wonderful tool to “unplug and live mindfully.”
Thank you Blackwing.co!

More Works in Progress

I’ve been working on a series of
”architecture in the landscape” paintings
using quick thumbnail value studies as references.

South River Boat House
16 x 16 oil

The Gordon’s Barn
16 x 16 oil

I’m heading up to Vermont for a few days
next week so I’m gearing up for lots of inspiration.
Barns galore!

Value Thumbnails

We talk often in my classes about the importance
of doing quick value thumbnails before painting.
I find that it gives you a chance to work out
design and composition issues ahead of time,
making the doing of the painting more fun!

Outer Cape Shed
(WIP))
16 x 16 oil

The above is something I’m working on from this quick sketch.

Just a few seconds with some markers
can make a huge difference!

Teaching

We just completed my 5 week
Modern Painting class
and as always,
I am thrilled with the student work.
This group was so entusiastic and willing to try anything.
Here are just few examples from
some of the quick exercises:
”Designing with Values”

“Two Value Crazy Color Notan”

“Simplifiying Shapes with Collage”

”Collage Self Portrait Using Exaggeration”

All surprising and so expressive. Teaching gives me such joy
and inspiration.
I actually learn more than what I teach.
I’m now excited and ready to
”practic what I preach”
Thank you!