Very Merry

Wishing you a year that fuels your passions, fills your heart and feeds your soul.

All my best, Brenda

Oil on panel, 6" x 6"

SOLD

Man's Best Friend

A couple of weeks ago my husband and I (and our pup, Rocksie) took a snowy hike up nearby Dixmont Mountain. At the bottom, the ice lightly coated the trees. By the time we reached the top, every branch and limb was encased in close to an inch of sparkling ice. It was a winter WONDERland! 

 

I liked how my husband's orange sweatshirt was a spot of color amid all the gray.  This painting is a Christmas surprise...shhhhh.

Oil on panel, 6" x 6", NFS

American Art Collector

Fresh Paint Daily Painters will have its first ad in the February issue of American Art Collector. I'm honored to be one of the featured artists in our first ad. I invite you to visit Fresh Paint and enjoy the wondrous variety of talented artists.

Bay Rum-pa-pum-pum

Beginning with my first batch of homemade soap fourteen years ago, I've not purchased 'store bought' soap since. I love the process and just finished making a fresh batch for Christmas gifts. The house is filled with the scent of Bay Rum! I created this painting to use as tags for the soap. Forgive the title, I'm into the spirit... or maybe it's the intoxicating scent of Bay Rum!

Soft pastel and 22k gold leaf on sanded paper, 11" x 14" (matted and framed), $135 + shipping

SOLD

Toe to Toe

I've painted my Converse Chucks previously in pastel and decided to try them in oil. It's a fun subject...I mean, how often do you get to use such an INTENSE pink?!

Oil on panel, 6" x 6", $100 (with free display easel) + shipping

or contact brenda@brendaferguson.com

Have a Ball

Yarn is such a fun subject to paint because of the endless color possibilities and of course all that texture. Yesterday I painted skeins in pastel...so today I wanted to try balls in oil. I had a BLAST with both! 

Oil on panel, 6" x 6", $100 (with free display easel) + shipping

SOLD

Do the Twist

I recently completed several commissioned pieces for my One Hundred Hands project. They are all pastel paintings, so I was back to using this medium for a couple of days. I've been wanting to paint these colorful twisted skeins of yarn again and the soft pastels lend themselves beautifully to this texture, so I continued using the pastels today.

Soft pastel on sanded paper, 14" x 11" (framed dimensions), $165

or contact brenda@brendaferguson.com

Rosy Glow

This painting is a commission. After attending our recent Studio Open House, a guest was hoping to win the  painting give-away. When he didn't win, he talked with me about painting a similar piece for him. Of course I was happy to.

5" x 7", Pastel on sanded paper

SOLD

Open House Celebration

Yesterday we hosted our annual Studio Open House celebration. 

We had a full house, as guests of all ages browsed one hundred oil and pastel paintings both upstairs and down.

We enjoyed refreshments and art conversation.

Congratulations to Glenice Williams, the winner of this year's painting give-away.

A heartfelt thank you to all who came to share this day with us. It is a success because of you. I'm still basking in the glow...

Annual Open House

The culmination of the month's long preparation for our annual Studio Open House is upon us! Tomorrow we will open our home to share the past year's art, enjoy refreshments together and kick off the holiday season. One hundred new paintings, both pastels and oils adorn the walls in every room. It's an exciting time. We welcome you to join us.

The Wall

(With a nod to Pink Floyd) Last year our neighbors built this beautiful stone wall in front of their farm stand. It's a treat to see the various workers sitting on and lounging in the grass near it enjoying their lunch outdoors.

Oil on panel, 6" x 6"

SOLD

Branching Out

These are some tiny crab apples from our tree. I photographed this painting since it's not yet dry enough to scan. I prefer scanning because it really shows the texture of the brushstrokes better. 
And this is what the crab apple tree looks like tonight...

Oil on panel, 6" x 6"

SOLD

Still Standing

This is a neat little out building just down the road from us. We've lived here for over twenty years. It was here long before we arrived and this shed is still standing. I've painted it several times.
NFS

Focus

I find nautilus shells endlessly fascinating and amazingly beautiful...the shape, the colors, the patterns, the texture. What more could you want to paint? 

Oil on panel, 6" x 6"

SOLD

Spooning

These spoons were in my grandmother's 'good sterling' set. We use them everyday. I like their shape and enjoyed the challenge of painting the metallic surfaces.  I think that's probably some of her linen, too.

Oil on panel, 6" x 6", $100 (with free display easel) + shipping

or contact brenda@brendaferguson.com

Diamonds and Emeralds

Every once in a while I create a painting I can't bear to part with. It's happened twice in nine years. It happened today. This one is mine. My friend Kath says I deserve it...so I'm going to take her word for it. These aren't actually diamonds and emeralds. They're smooth beach stones from Cape Breton Island. I'd rather have them than diamonds or emeralds.
Oil on panel, 6" x 6"
NFS

Snow Glow

I am in full swing preparing for my annual Studio Open House which we host on the first Saturday in December. We open our home (which houses my studio) to the public, offer refreshments and hang about one hundred of my newest paintings. It's festive and fun and full of great friends, old and new, who gather to talk art and celebrate the season together. Each year I give away a painting. Snow Glow is this year's choice. 

If you're in the area...stop by and join us! 
Oil on panel, 6" x 6"
FREE PAINTING GIVE-AWAY 

Reverence

I find all sides and angles of sunflowers interesting.
Oil on panel, 6" x 6", $100 + shipping

Snow Caps

Every summer my husband plants hundreds and hundreds of sunflowers all around our property. We harvest the seeds to have plenty more for the next growing season. I enjoy them in bloom, I've painted them again and again...and they're even 'cool' in winter.

Oil on panel, 6" x 6"
SOLD

Silver Lining

I am always amazed at the lightness of the underside of some leaves compared to the dark front. They are almost silver. I enjoyed using all kinds of icy blues and greens to create this effect.

Oil on panel, 6" x 6", $100 (with free display easel) + shipping

SOLD

The Three Graces

I love the color, smooth texture and glow of nectarines. These seemed quite dramatic.

Oil on panel, 6" x 6"

SOLD

Glide

This one was FUN to paint! Though I've always wanted to paint fish, (they can be so colorful and all those sparkling scales!) I think this was my first one...the only one handy at the time...in my husband's small aquarium. Aren't we lucky to be able to paint whatever strikes our fancy each day?

Oil on panel, 6" x 6", $100 (with free display easel) + shipping

or contact brenda@brendaferguson.com

Pine Parade

No, it hasn't significantly snowed here in Maine...yet...though we did get an inch and a half on Halloween that briefly stayed on the ground. I love each season though I admit I do tire of winter after a long one, so often find myself painting sunflowers in winter. I guess I must be longing for some snow now since I'm painting winter scenes in the fall!

Oil on panel, 6" x 6", $100 (with free display easel) + shipping

or contact brenda@brendaferguson.com

Layered

This was a fun one to paint. There's so much to an onion like this...peeling layers, end roots, top stalk and all kinds of squiggley things I don't know the names for!

Oil on panel, 6" x 6", $100 (with free display easel) + shipping

or contact brenda@brendaferguson.com

Fall Field

Still life has always been my favorite to paint whether in pastels or oils...but I'm trying more landscapes...and really enjoying them.

Oil on panel, 6" x 6", $100 (with free display easel) + shipping

Folds

Cherries are such luscious little jewels of nature, aren't they? And fun to paint.

Oil on panel, 6" x 6"

SOLD

We All Fall Down

I liked the back lit leaves in this image. It was fun to try capturing the leaves themselves and the shadows they cast. This was the first time I used a linen panel. I liked the ease of blending with it, but think I prefer the texture of the smoother Gessobord panels. Any thoughts?

Oil on linen panel, 8" x 6"

SOLD

Sitting Pretty

Several years ago I attended a friend's wedding. I was delighted to see these beautiful tangerines her daughter had picked off the tree in California scattered on the refreshment table. Immediately after the reception I went back to the kitchen and begged to take a few home. The things we do for art! They just don't come with stems and leaves in my grocery store.  I've painted them several times.

Oil on panel, 6" x 6", $100 (with free display easel) + shipping