A Fellows Exhibition

I was recently asked by the Copley Society to submit 5 paintings
to a “Fellows Exhibition” featuring artists who participated in
one of the month long residencies offered each year
in Provincetwon and Gloucester, MA.
The prospectus reads:
”please submit a cohesive group of work,
varying in size, either created during the residency
or inspired by your time there.”

“Downtown Lookout”
16 x 16 oil

I did my residency in Gloucester in 2016,
where I focussed mainly on the working harbor as a subject.
So for this, I decided to focus on the architecture of Gloucester
and used images taken while there as reference.

The Paint Factory
12 x 12 oil

(I had to include the Paint Factory,
it’s motif #1 in Gloucester!)

My residency had a huge impact on my journey as an artist.
I learned so much about the art scene on the North Shore
and the opportunity to experiment and explore
new approaches and techniques
for a whole month uninterrupted, was priceless!

A great big thank you to the Copley Society of Boston!

That's a Wrap

We had our last Modern Painting class today
and once again, I’m amazed at how well
the zoom platform works.
We had 9 artists of all levels
working in different mediums.
Each week we covered ways to manipulate design elements
in order to simplify and energize our paintings.
Here are just a few of the results from some of the quick exercises done in class.

Painting from Memory

High Key, Low Key Value study

Limited Values

Limited pallette

Change the Color, Keep the Value Exercise

I am always very inspired after teaching a class.
The exchange of ideas and interaction with other artists
is priceless; and such a vital part of our journey.
I hope it won’t be long before we can gather in person again.
Paint on!

Simple Value Plan

I just started teaching a 4 week
Modern Painting Class
and it feels good to be getting back to some of the basics.
Each week we explore one element of painting;
line, value, color, and shape
and how to manipulate them for stronger paintings.
To me a strong VALUE pattern is the foundation for successful paintings.

Doing numerous thumbnail value plans
of a subject can help you simplify your values
and design the best composition.
I like the impact of one on the lower right;
the high contrast that makes the white barn pop
so I used that one.

Moonlit Barn
20 x 20 oil

Today I quickly laid in the shapes for this using that plan as a quide.
(While it was wet, I broke up some of the edges
and will “clean them up” when it dries.

Work in progress!)

”Color gets all the credit;
Value does all the work! “

Happy Holidays

How about starting the New Year off by taking a fun
Modern Painting class with me?
There are just a few spots left in my ZOOM class
via the Rockport Art Association
Tuesdays 9:30 - 12:30 in January.
Click here for more info.
I’d love to “see” you there!

“Twilight”

12 x 9 oil

Recently awarded Second Prize at the
South Shore Art Center
Winter Members Show.

Happy Holidays everyone!

End of Year inventory and Sale

I’ve been doing my annual end of year
inventory in the studio.
I find many paintings I did over the year that
got put away for one reason or another.
Seeing them with fresh eyes can be surprising.
I’d forgotten about this one
and actually like it as is.

“Magic Hour” 14 x 12 oil

NOTE:

All painitngs on my website that are
“available in the studio”
are 30% off until Chrsitmas.
(Not including bar/restaurant paintings)
Just contact me at nancycolella12@gmail.com.

Love this time of year!

New Modern Painting class!

I’m excited to announce a new
on-line Modern Painting class
I’ll be teaching in January
via the Rockport Art Association.
This may be the perfect way to kick off
the long winter in the studio!
Tuesdays, 9:30 AM – 12:30 PM
January 4, 11, 18, 25, 2022

“Late Party”
20 x 16 oil

Modern Painting Class
”A new online class designed for artists with experience working in any painting medium who are interested in exploring ways to create more modern, bold, and expressive paintings by taking a less representational approach. 

Each week we’ll explore ways to manipulate the abstract elements of line, shape, color, value, and texture to express an unexpected idea or statement. There will be a short presentation / slide show / demo followed by time to work independently in our studios. The last half hour we’ll share our discoveries with each other. There will be some homework and each week you’ll receive a list of any specific materials needed. Participants may work in any painting medium with materials of their choice. Space is limited. Nancy will send you an invite with the Zoom link before the meeting.

I’d love to “see” you there!
Here is the link.

Happy Thanksgiving to all

Best wishes to all for a
comfy, warm, and safe Thanksgiving holiday.
May you be surrounded by lots of
love and yummy food.
Cheers!

“Dinner at Jayne’s”
20 x 16 oil

(To be included in my upcoming show titled
”Drink and Dine”)
Stay tuned for more info..

Having a Show!

I’m scheduled to have a show at the Dolphin Gallery in Hingham, MA
(in conjunction with the North River Arts Society )
in February 2022.
It’s kind of fun to have a “project” to think about
and I’ve been busy!
Here’s one that is in the works:

“The Great Escape”
12 x 9 oil

I’m focussing on restaurant and bar scenes.
It’s one of my favorite subjects and I’ve missed it so much!
The lighting, body language, social interaction (or not)
all offer up some great reference material.
Stay tuned as details become more available.

Collage with Seniors

After a year and half away, I’m finally
back to teaching a collage class at Linden Ponds,
a local retirement community.
Working with “seniors” is incredibly rewarding;
they are so enthusiastic and appreciative.
After a brief power point introduction
they dug right in.

Our first project was to combine 5 different shapes
of varying colors, sizes, and textures
into an interesting abstract
composition.
Here are just a few of the fun results:

(Of course, some choose to just do their own thing)

Collage is my favorite medium
to use with this group.
Anyone can do it and the results are always
surprising and fun.
Next week - landscapes!

Restaurant Scenes

I’m thrilled that restaurants and bars are open again.
For the industry in general and for the patrons!
Pre-covid, I’d started a series of paintings using
restaurant and bar scenes as a subject.
I’d put them aside once I ran out of reference material,
so it’s fun to be back at it.

Late Party
20 x 16 oil

Capital Grill is a favorite spot for so many Bostonians and fun to paint.
It’s very dark so the lit oil paintings, lamps, and lanterns
are a great contrast.
And are very recognizable.

Plein Air painting

I haven’t painted plein air in years, but last week, I packed up my gear
and joined an artist friend in her magical back yard.
I was a little daunted at first, and of course, I forgot a few things
(white paint and paper pallet)
so I just did this quick 7 x 9
of a patch of nasturtiums climbing around her container garden.

I’d forgotten about the pure joy that comes from painting outside.
The simple act of observing nature
with no concern for the result, gives me such solace.

(That said, I couldn’t resist putting it in to
Procreate when I got home to take it a little further.)

I hope to get out there at least a few more times
before the snow flies.

Eeeesh!

Fun with Figures this Fall!

Want to have some fun painting figures this Fall?
My one-day Modern Figure Painting workshop
at North River Arts Society on Saturday September 18
we’ll be exploring some quick, fun, abstract approaches to the figure;
limiting shapes, flattening, exaggerating, color harmony etc.

“Once you can let go of reality when painting the figure,
you can let go of it everywhere.”
Mark Daniel Nelson

“Donna”
16 x 36 oil on paper

All levels and mediums are welcome.
Any questions email me at
nancycolella12@gmail.com

Back to Work

It’s that time again.
I’m hanging on to every minute of summer fun
while getting very excited about all that fall brings;
cooler weather, cleaning closets, organizing the studio, and teaching!
I’m really excited about the one-day
”Modern Figure” workshop I’m teaching at North River Arts
Saturday September 18
9:30 - 3:30

Hope you can join us.

“Making Coffee”
20 x 16 oil

Description:
Let’s explore some expressive, non-traditional approaches to painting the figure by experimenting with the abstract elements of shape, color, line, and composition. We’ll work from observation and our imagination, using images and/or a model. We’ll experiment with flattening / exaggerating shapes, using pattern and texture, and mark making. The exercises are geared to help us create more lively and expressive statements of the human form. An understanding of drawing the figure would be helpful, however basic proportions will be discussed. Open to all mediums. Additional model fee possible.
Limited to 12 students.

These classes will fill quickly.
Sign up HERE.

Let’s all enjoy these last few lazy days of summer,
then get back to work!

My Artist DNA

I’m coming to realize that most artists have a certain DNA
that comes through in most of their work.
We, the artists, don’t see it especially when
experimenting with new approaches and styles,
but somehow it exists.
I did this the other day; simplifying the scene,
exaggerating the values,
and using simple flat shapes.

“Ever Changing”
16 x 20 oil

The way light plays on architecture, especially near the ocean
has always been a favorite subject of mine.
Here’s a painting I did in 2012.

Glorious Fall
12 x 20

I think our artist DNA is much like our handwriting.
It’s ours alone and no one can really copy it.

NOTE:
If you want to see your artist’s DNA, google your name
and look at the images of all your paintings together.
It’s all right there.

Self-portrait Collages

I was recently asked to teach a two hour collage classs
to a small group of gals who were having a reunion.
They’d been high school friends and the woman hosting
had been doing a weekly zoom art class
with this group all during covid.
(None of them are “artists”. )
I did a quick presentation where we talked about
the choices offered with self-portraits;
full face? profile? expression?
Most importantly, what objects/ symbols
can you include to express YOU?

They all dove right in.

Each one of these tells a personal story,
and it was so fun to be a part of
such fun and creative self expression!
(They call themselves the “sassy girls”
and it’s very appropriate. )

Re-visiting "Starts"

This week I’ve finally begun to finish up
some of the many “starts” hanging around my studio.
Like so many artists during Covid,
I did a lot of exploring and experimenting;
never really completing anything worth showing.

I’d started these two in a Jennifer Pochinski workshop
when we were using a grid to deal with foreshortening.

Happy Camper
16 x 20 oil

“Beach Nap”
16 x 20 oil

Again, knowing when to STOP is such a fine line in painting.
I’d like to think that these say everything they need to say now,
so that’s a wrap!

Enjoy.

Back To Work

For the past week I’ve been busy
celebrating summer with friends and family,
so it felt good to get back in to the studio today!
I’d done this quick “mass in” of shapes (no drawing)
as a demo for my class…

and I wanted to take it further.
Jennifer Pochinski says
”never say you want to “fix” a painting,
say you are “making adjustments”.
Fixing almost always leads to over working.
It’s such a fine line.

“Air Dried”
12 x 12 oil

The summer subject matter is everywhere now
and i’m looing forward to taking advantage of it.

Happy Summer everyone!

Letting Go of the Reference

Most of the exercises we do in my Modern Painting class
are geared toward letting go of the reference
(the sooner the better!)
in order to allow the painting to take over.
My favorite exercise is zooming in and cropping.
I set up a very busy still life with lots of odd, colorful objects.
We zoomed in on the objects, using view finders or phones
and did quick thumbnails focussing on design;
thinking about shapes of
varying sizes, values, colors, and textures.
We then did quick paintings of our favorite design.

Phil nailed it on this one.

Sharyn made up these colors
and it all works beautifully.

Robin used her new Himi gouache set
for this and the colors just sing!

I’ve always loved this exercise
because the reference becomes irrelevent
and the painting itself, becomes “the thing”.
I’m discovering that that is the first step to more
impactful and expressive paintings.

Magic of Collage

This week in our Modern Painting class
we explored ways of using SHAPE to
design compelling compositions.
We got out the colored papers and glue and
did some fun quick exercises focussing on limiting our shapes.

I gave them each an image of a well known classic painting
and they were to use 5 shapes to “describe” it.
This is just one of the awesome results…

Then we all did quick collages using images on our phones
or old paintings as a reference.
This gal chose her fringed poppies and came up with this.
As always, I was so excited about all of the results,
I forgot to take pictures!

To me, collage offers great opportunities
for some wonderful, spontaneous magic to happen.
And it’s fun!

Bring on Summer

Summer has arrived and I’m more than ready.
I say BRING IT ON!

“0pening Soon”

20 x 16 oil

I finally got inspired to finish this
after teaching my first LIVE class this week.
(It’s been in the works for weeks)

I was so happy to be working with fellow artists in person again!
The exchange of ideas and interaction wih each other
is priceless…and very inspiring!