Brenda Ferguson

Leaning Tower

2012-02-01T16:15:00.000-05:00

I Can See Clearly Now

2012-01-31T18:44:00.000-05:00

Gone But Not Forgotten

2012-01-29T17:54:00.000-05:00

One Sided

2012-01-28T21:14:00.003-05:00

Ripe and Ready

2012-01-27T17:29:00.000-05:00

Bits and Pieces

2012-01-26T21:40:00.001-05:00

One Hot Bunch

2012-01-24T18:05:00.000-05:00

Cling Ons

2012-01-23T18:05:00.013-05:00

Gotta admit...I had a blast with this one. I wanted to figure out a way to get all that texture in...the really coarse sand in the foreground, the periwinkles and the rough rock they were clinging to. To create the sand, I went a little Jackson Pollock. Masked off the rest, thinned down the oils and splattered. Did the big rock next with cooler colors and visible brush strokes. And lastly the periwinkles, keeping them loose and unfussy, but still the focus of the painting. I like the three bands of color/texture that the subject and composition allow. I'm pleased with this one and really had fun with it. Here's some of the musical inspiration. (To continue looking at the art while you listen, right click on the colored word 'musical' and go to Open Link in New Tab.)

And a rollover of the process...

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

or contact brenda@brendaferguson.com

Muddy Waters

2012-01-22T17:25:00.000-05:00

Not to be Pigeonholed

2012-01-20T18:14:00.001-05:00

Tre Vini

2012-01-18T18:01:00.004-05:00

Rock On

2012-01-16T19:49:00.000-05:00

Ewe Too

2012-01-15T19:56:00.000-05:00

Two Suz

2012-01-14T20:36:00.000-05:00

Back in Black

2012-01-13T17:30:00.005-05:00

On the Rocks

2012-01-12T16:59:00.001-05:00

The Lady Next Door

2012-01-11T17:31:00.000-05:00

Tipsy

2012-01-09T18:05:00.000-05:00

The Afterglow

2012-01-08T17:50:00.000-05:00

Christmas Spirits

2012-01-06T20:57:00.000-05:00

Relaxation

2012-01-04T10:22:00.000-05:00

This is Jen. She's my friend, an ex-colleague in my past education life and one of the best teachers I know. Her mom got this painting for her as a Christmas surprise and we pulled it off brilliantly if I must say! You can see the reference photo I worked from and read more about my One Hundred Hands project here.

Oil on panel, 6" x 6"

SOLD

Yin Yangle

2012-01-02T20:14:00.000-05:00

Jingle, Jangle, Jingle

2011-12-25T08:58:00.000-05:00

Tennis, Hennyone?

2011-12-21T13:39:00.002-05:00

The Artist's Touch

2011-12-16T13:37:00.000-05:00

Moon Over St. Esprit

2011-12-11T19:00:00.002-05:00

This is our oceanfront land on Cape Breton Island in Nova Scotia. I've done this subject before but in a different format and medium. It was fun to try it in oils in the square format. Isn't St. Esprit a beautiful name? Funny though...it sounds like it would be elegantly French (Es-pree), but the locals call it St. Es-prit (rhymes with desperate.) Ha! Either way, it's a miraculously beautiful place.

Oil on panel, 6" x 6", SOLD

2011 Open House Reception

2011-12-08T18:04:00.003-05:00

I'm delighted to be able to share with you this year's STUDIO OPEN HOUSE held here on Saturday December 3, 2011. The preparations actually began a year ago as I painted all year with this event and others in mind.

The flurry of activity got underway in earnest about a month ago when I began preparing over 230 paintings for display. The first step was spraying with a light coat of workable varnish to protect them a bit and even out the surface. Our deck is a prefect place to safely do this job in batches.

Once the varnish was dry I brought the paintings in to sort.

Then began the process of backing them for frame-less hanging...again, a small batch at a time.

In order to have a cohesive show that made sense, I planned to sort and display paintings by loose categories such as florals, pears, birds, portraits, feet (ha!), etc.

This sight was a gratifying one and a bit overwhelming, too!

But I had my trusty assistant (our son, Lucas) and his tools and gadgets to help me, so all was well (and FUN!)

We hung...

and hung...

and hung until all 230 paintings were up on every wall of our home.

Next it was time to do the little 'extras' I love to do each year. The free gift tags for guests to help themselves...

and packs of gift cards in both floral and winter varieties.

The house was clean, the artwork hung, the refreshments set out, the candles lit, the music playing...and the guests arrived (my favorite part!)

It was a happy and festive crowd.

The Ferg Girls included. (Our daughters Sadie and Molly)

We pondered art...

we pondered life (and light.)

Guests were able to see where I stand (and dance) to create each painting...

with two brand new pieces still wet on the easel.

Each year I give away a painting. It's always a time of anticipation and a wonderful chance for me to give just a little something back to the people who support, encourage and follow my art all year long.

And the winner is...

Glenice Williams! The same lady who won last year's painting give-away! What are the chances?

As the afternoon wound down...

the refreshments and the crowd dwindled...

but the celebration of a wonderful day (and life) of art and friends was only beginning. To be continued...

With BIG love and gratitude to all who shared this day with us...it means more than you know.

Thanks to Heather Alvarez and Sadie Ferguson for all the fun photos.

I Miss Your Kiss

2011-12-06T18:13:00.000-05:00

X X X

2011-12-05T17:23:00.000-05:00

Let It Flow, Let It Flow, Let It Flow!

2011-12-02T20:17:00.004-05:00

Drifting

2011-11-29T19:36:00.001-05:00

Transparent

2011-11-26T18:49:00.000-05:00

See Through

2011-11-23T19:30:00.000-05:00

Shine On

2011-11-21T18:21:00.001-05:00

Winter Line Up

2011-11-19T19:06:00.000-05:00

Beaming

2011-11-17T16:43:00.000-05:00

I'll be giving away this painting at my studio open house soon. If you're in the area (the rural hills of Dixmont, Maine) please stop by and join us on Saturday, December 3 between 1:00 and 4:00. There's always lots of good food, great friends and I'll be displaying over 200 of my recent oil paintings from the past year. I'm busily planning and getting ready...can't wait for the celebration!
Oil on panel, 6" x 6", NFS

Shadowed

2011-11-15T19:59:00.000-05:00

Outdoors In

2011-11-14T17:55:00.000-05:00

In Triplicate

2011-11-12T19:02:00.001-05:00

One Down Two to Go

2011-11-10T20:57:00.000-05:00

Perfect Balance

2011-11-09T20:17:00.001-05:00

Upbeat

2011-11-07T17:22:00.002-05:00

And the Beat Goes On

2011-11-06T18:01:00.001-05:00

Beatniks

2011-11-04T21:22:00.000-04:00

Off Beat

2011-11-03T20:39:00.002-04:00

We Got the Beat

2011-11-02T16:52:00.003-04:00

The Kiss

2011-11-01T20:12:00.000-04:00

Trick or Treat

2011-10-31T18:07:00.000-04:00

Gourd Horde

2011-10-30T18:45:00.000-04:00

Shall We?

2011-10-29T17:41:00.001-04:00

Rocky III

2011-10-27T19:11:00.012-04:00

Ready

2011-10-26T20:08:00.010-04:00

Have We Met?

2011-10-25T18:36:00.000-04:00

Gourd Galaxy

2011-10-23T19:26:00.001-04:00

Conga!

2011-10-22T20:30:00.000-04:00

Sunny With Clouds

2011-10-21T21:19:00.001-04:00

Back To

2011-10-20T20:36:00.001-04:00

Stone Crazy

2011-10-19T18:40:00.000-04:00

This one's a gift...for a dear person. And here's some of the music that inspired it. Apropos? (To continue looking at the art while you listen, right click on the colored word 'music' and go to Open Link in New Tab.)

NFS

It's Crunch Time

2011-10-17T21:00:00.000-04:00

Stuck in the Middle with You

2011-10-16T19:11:00.000-04:00

Thanks a Bunch

2011-10-14T19:14:00.001-04:00

Basking in the Glow

2011-10-13T18:48:00.000-04:00

Back to Back

2011-10-12T17:50:00.000-04:00

Your Yin to My Yang

2011-10-11T17:28:00.001-04:00

Point of Attraction

2011-10-09T18:56:00.000-04:00

Invited Guest

2011-10-07T18:06:00.001-04:00

Uninvited Guest

2011-10-06T17:11:00.000-04:00

Topped Off

2011-10-04T19:21:00.001-04:00

Round and Round

2011-10-03T21:11:00.001-04:00

Pumped

2011-10-02T19:37:00.015-04:00

Backside

2011-09-30T17:50:00.004-04:00

Gone By

2011-09-26T14:35:00.000-04:00

The Down Side

2011-09-24T19:59:00.000-04:00

Cluster

2011-09-23T17:46:00.001-04:00

Borrowed Beauty

2011-09-22T14:58:00.000-04:00

Well Hung

2011-09-20T19:38:00.000-04:00

A Little Closer

2011-09-19T20:06:00.000-04:00

Body Heat

2011-09-18T19:11:00.001-04:00

Fine Form

2011-09-16T17:03:00.001-04:00

Gull's Day Out

2011-09-15T16:13:00.000-04:00

Somebody to Lean On

2011-09-13T19:23:00.001-04:00

Rasta Ram

2011-09-12T20:11:00.001-04:00

About Face

2011-09-11T19:37:00.000-04:00

Geometry

2011-09-10T18:56:00.000-04:00

Over the Edge

2011-09-09T21:03:00.000-04:00

Pure Peach

2011-09-06T19:34:00.002-04:00

I'm really pleased with how this one turned out. I wanted to be confident enough to go dark. I love the drama of that high contrast, so I began with a black background and my intent was to remain dark enough in the shadows, that the lights really popped. Sometimes all goes as I envisioned and this was one of those joyous times!

Thought I'd share the steps with you.

As I said, I began with a background of black gesso that was dry.

I placed my peaches where I wanted them and began with my lightest/brightest colors. Wow! You can already see the drama begin to develop.

I continued to add color and develop the form of the fruit.

I was happy to see the peaches really beginning to glow. My plan was working.

On to the background. A few tweaks...and the piece is finished.

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

or contact brenda@brendaferguson.com

Little Red Hen

2011-09-05T18:05:00.001-04:00

Buzzer

2011-09-04T19:50:00.001-04:00

He Loves Me

2011-09-02T21:21:00.001-04:00

Profile

2011-09-01T20:07:00.001-04:00

Bold

2011-08-31T21:42:00.002-04:00

Aflame

2011-08-30T19:37:00.001-04:00

Plump Rump

2011-08-27T18:53:00.000-04:00

Three Amigos

2011-08-25T21:55:00.000-04:00

Full

2011-08-23T20:13:00.001-04:00

Robin Remembered

2011-08-21T19:45:00.002-04:00

Lean

2011-08-21T00:02:00.000-04:00

The Nearness of You

2011-08-18T20:27:00.000-04:00

Bottoms

2011-08-17T20:15:00.000-04:00

Rejoice

2011-08-16T18:49:00.000-04:00