Still Life with Silver Cup and Red Pear

6 x 8 in., oil on linen on panel, framed
Available at Tree's Place Gallery

Here is another of my new gallery paintings on view at Tree's Place on Cape Cod. My mom gave me this silver cup (along with this silver creamer) and this is the first time I've painted it. I love to paint just about anything that has reflections in it. Can you see my "self portrait" in the cup?

If you'd like to comment on this painting -- and I hope you do -- click here.

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ENDING SOON
The auction for Old Amsterdam Gouda with Strawberry, Blueberries, and Blackberries ends TODAY at 3 PM EST. View Auction.

Here's what it looks like framed:

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Still Life with Lady Apples in a Cloisonné Butterfly Bowl

8 x 10 in., oil on linen on panel, framed
Available at Tree's Place Gallery

Starting this weekend, a bunch of my new gallery paintings will be on view at Tree's Place on Cape Cod. They are quite a bit larger than my usual paintings, and I've spent the last 7 months working on them.

This first painting includes my grandmother's cloisonné butterfly bowl, which always brings me joy to paint. I'll post the other new paintings in the coming days, and in the meantime, wanted to share that while preparing for this exhibition, I've thought a lot about one of my favorite Thomas Merton quotes:

"Art enables us to find ourselves
And lose ourselves at the same time."

I love reading your comments, so if you'd like to comment on this quote or this painting, click here.

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"Silver Bell" - New Limited Edition Print

Silver Bell is now available as a limited edition signed giclée fine art print. (I used a detail of Silver Bell for my Peace, Love, + Joy post).


To purchase, visit Abbey Ryan Studio | Shop.


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Help

...It's never easy to ask for help. For over two years, my college friend, Casey, has been facing a very rare form of breast cancer. (You might remember my painting fundraisers here and here). Today, she shared her story -- in hopes of raising awareness and funds for research -- and her cause is already spreading like wildfire on Facebook. If giving is not an option, please share the link. Learn more right here.

Old Amsterdam Gouda with Strawberry, Blueberries, and Blackberries

4 x 6 in., oil on linen on panel
Click to view auction

I discovered this beautiful cheese at Delicious Orchards, and I love that -- just like me -- it has Dutch roots. I'm already looking forward to painting this subject again because in the sunlight, the golden color really glows.

If you missed my last post, here is a new time-lapse video of my painting, Still Life with Silver Creamer. It's a live two-hour demo -- from start to finish -- compressed into just 5 minutes. Hope you enjoy it (and if you do, I'd love it if you would leave a comment there). Click to watch me paint.

Ending Soon! 
The auction for Blue & White Cup with Cranberries and Eucalyptus ends today at 9 PM EST. View auction.

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Here's what this painting would look like framed:

New! Time-Lapse Painting Video from Live Demo

CLICK HERE to watch me complete a painting in 5 minutes

I produced Still Life with Silver Creamer during my live painting demonstration at Arcadia University on February 21, and the painting raised $530 for the Jami Rodriguez Memorial Scholarship. Filming by JoLynne Bremmer '10 and Purnell Cropper. Editing by Will Smith ’12.

After you watch the video, leave a quick comment to tell me what you think of it.

Thanks for watching,
Abbey

PS Here is the time lapse from my live painting demo last year. If you'd like to see new videos when I post them, click here to subscribe to my YouTube channel.

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Blue & White Cup with Cranberries and Eucalyptus

4 x 6 in., oil on linen on panel
Click to view auction

This sake cup and eucalyptus branch are two favorite subjects of mine. I'm not sure why, but this painting takes me back to an amazing Sonia Sanchez lecture that I attended in March at Arcadia University. Ms. Sanchez is the Poet Laureate of Philadelphia, and I feel so fortunate that I was able to hear her speak. She recited several poems, recounted her memories of Audre Lorde, and spoke about peace, poetry, life, and the value of teaching children how to really breathe. Her words were moving and have stayed with me.

I tried to jot down some notes so that I would not forget it all. I absolutely love one thought that she shared about our hearts and minds, but I can't seem to figure out a way to explain it here. Instead, I'll just share a great quote that Ms. Sanchez talked about:

"The purpose of art is to lay bare the questions that have been hidden by the answers."      -James Baldwin (1924-1987)

I would encourage all of you to read more about this remarkable woman here and at her web site. I also just found her on Facebook here!

I love hear your thoughts on Ms. Sanchez, or poetry, or the purpose of art.... Click here to leave me a comment.

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Here's what this painting would look like framed:

Afternoon View from Assisi (Italy painting #7)

4 x 5 in., oil on linen on panel
Click to view auction

These are my final paintings from my Italy trip. I painted the one above, Afternoon View from Assisi, Italy, standing next to the Basilica of St. Clare. It's one of my favorite views in Assisi, and if you'd like to see where I did this painting, click here to view my short video -- I added some commentary to the video, so I hope you enjoy it.

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Here's what this painting would look like framed:

Morning View of Mt. Subasio (Italy painting #6)

4 x 6 in., oil on linen on panel
not for sale

These are my final paintings from my Italy trip. I painted the one above, Morning View of Mt. Subasio (not for sale), just before we headed back to Florence from Perguia. On Facebook, I posted a picture of the view with my finished painting still on the easel. As you can see, by the time I snapped that photo, the fog in the valley had started to really burn off! Also, I just remembered that I painted part of this view three years ago when I was in Italy. Here's that painting from 2009 - let me know in your comments if you can see where the views overlap. :)

If you want to read more about my travels and experiences abroad, sign up for my email list HERE, or just email me and I can add you.

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Italian Lemon with Leaves (Italy painting #5)

4 x 5 in., oil on linen on panel
Click to view auction

This is my final still life from my Italy trip last month.

If you want to read more about my travels and experiences abroad, sign up for my email list HERE (or email me and I can add you).

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Here's what this painting would look like framed:

View from the Boboli Gardens, Florence (Italy painting #4)

5 x 6 in., oil on linen on panel
Click to view auction

This is a painting from my Italy trip last month. If you want to read more about my travels and experiences abroad, sign up for my email list HERE, or just email me and I can add you.

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Here's what this painting would look like framed:

Clementine from a Bologna Market (Italy painting #3)

4 x 3.5 in., oil on linen on panel
Click to view auction

This is my third painting from my trip to Italy last month. I made this painting shortly before going to the Accademia and Uffizi in Florence for the day, and I got this particular clementine a couple of days earlier while in Bologna to visit the Morandi Museum (which I will post about soon). At the time, I posted about the wonderful market owner in Bologna (click here to view us). So fun, and such beautiful produce!

First, at the Accademia, I spent time drawing from Michelangelo's David. I had not planned on doing this, but in the moment felt compelled to do more than look at the figure. (my sketch is pictured right) Next, at the Uffizi, I just tried to absorb as much as I could: a female portrait by Piero de Pollaiolo had a lapis lazuli background that rivaled the sky I saw above the Duomo; Albrect Durer's portrait of his father; Vasari's masterful painting of a velvety patterned dress in Portrait of Eleanora di Toledo; a Titian-influenced Self Portrait by Velasquez; the feathers in Goya's portrait of the Countess of Chinchion; and the Frans Van Mieris il Vecchio's interior and still life paintings that just made my jaw drop. Then, I turned a corner in the gallery, and three Rembrandt self portraits literally made me gasp. Finally, it was the still life paintings by Dutch painters Rachel Ruysch, Caspar Netscher, and Abraham Mignon that filled me with the most energy. I may need to devote a whole post just to those paintings.

During my trip, I posted about all of this very briefly on Facebook, and my mom commented, "It's your heritage." :) I am proud to be part Dutch, and would really like to go to Holland someday soon.

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Here's what this painting would look like framed:

Afternoon View from Perugia, Italy (Italy painting #2)

6 x 4 in., oil on linen on panel
Click to view auction

This is my second painting from my trip to Italy last month. One morning, we took a bus from Florence to Perugia. Perugia is incredible, and it has an amazing panoramic view of deep space, the likes of which I've only seen in Italy. In this painting, I tried to capture a glimpse of the space and fleeting early afternoon light -- a most humbling experience. :)

The day before this painting, I spent the day at the Accademia and Uffizi, looking at (and drawing from) the David, as well as life-changing paintings by Piero, Durer, Bellini, Holbein, Titian, del Sarto, Vasari, Tintoretto, Velasquez, Goya, Chardin, Rembrandt, Rubens... and a whole bunch of Dutch painters that just blew me away. I'll share more about the Accademia and Uffizi in my next post. SIGN UP HERE to receive it.

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Here's what this painting would look like framed:

Red Grapes with Tuscan Parmesan (Italy painting #1)

5 x 6 in., oil on linen on panel
Click to view auction

This is my first painting from my trip to Italy last month. I'll be posting more about Italy in the next few posts.

Visit my Current Painting Auctions and All Available Paintings.

Here's what this painting would look like framed:

Thoughts on My Trip to Italy, 2012

I'll soon be posting the paintings I did in Italy, but in the meantime, I am also working on a couple of posts about my travels, including photos and possibly some sketches I did at the Uffizi, Accademia, Morandi Museum....




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The Art Students League of NY

If you're interested, look in the Art Students League of New York's Lines from the League publication -- their winter issue includes a feature entitled, "What's Happening Out There: Life After the League" in which they write,

"The Art Students League takes great pride in the achievements of our former students. Recently, the League has been reaching out to alumni we see in the news. Here's what some of those alumni had to say..."

They included a quote from me, and they also mention my study with David Leffel and my Sedona Arts Center workshops. What a great honor!

Battistero di San Giovanni (Florence, Italy, 2012)

A little mobile phone video of the magnificent mosaic ceiling inside one my favorite places in Florence (read about the Baptistery here).

Still Life with Blue Vase and Farm Eggs

5 x 4 in., oil on linen on panel
Click to view auction

This is my third painting in a series of three that are connected by the color blue. (scroll down to see the other two below: Still Life with Asian Pear & Blue Jay Feather and Blueberries in a Cloisonne Butterfly Bowl).

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Here's what this painting would look like framed:

Blueberries in a Cloisonne Butterfly Bowl

5 x 4 in., oil on linen on panel
Click to view auction

This is my second painting in a series of three that are connected by the color blue. (The first painting is Still Life with Asian Pear & Blue Jay Feather). As I mentioned in my last painting email, I thought this series was perfect timing because I'm in Italy right now, where I'm looking at Italian paintings containing ultramarine & lapis lazuli. While I'm in Italy, I plan on posting updates about my trip on Facebook. Click here to "like" the page so you will see the updates.

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Here's what this painting would look like framed:

Still Life with Asian Pear & Blue Jay Feather

4 x 5 in., oil on linen on panel
Click to view auction

This is my first painting in a series of three paintings that are connected by the color blue -- a series that was sparked by a request I got to paint a blue vase. I thought it was perfect timing because in this very moment I'm packing for Italy, where I'll soon be looking at Italian paintings containing ultramarine & lapis lazuli (referred to as "the most expensive blue of all time").

For this painting, I was interested in the ultramarine blue feather in relation to the Asian pear. According to Wikipedia, ultramarine derives from Middle Latin ultramarinus, literally "beyond the sea" because it was imported from Asia by sea. Keep an eye out for the next two "blue" paintings to see what other blue things I love to paint. By the way, the two blue paint colors on my palette are W&N's ultramarine and phthalo blue.

While I'm in Italy, I plan on posting updates about my trip on Facebook. Click here to "like" the page so you will see the updates.

Comments are welcomed. If you'd like to comment on this painting, click here.

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Here's what this painting would look like framed:

Tangerine with Leaf

4 x 6 in., oil on linen on panel
Click to view auction

I'm leaving for Italy this Friday!!! I'm bringing along my paints and brushes, and I will be posting more info along with some photos from my 2009 Italy trip on Facebook this week. Click here to "like" my page and see the photos when I post them.

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New Workshop - Yardley, PA - April 28 & 29

I'm excited to announce that I will be teaching a 2-day workshop at Artists of Yardley on April 28 & 29, 2012. Space is limited, and the workshop is now open for registration.

CLICK HERE to register and read the workshop description


Please direct any questions about the workshop, payment, or historic Yardley's B&B's to Susie at aoyworkshops@gmail.com. (Susie is the wonderful workshop coordinator at Artists of Yardley.)

To read about Artists of Yardley, visit their web site here.

Artists of Yardley, Patterson Farm
949 Mirror Lake Road, Yardley PA 19067-5514
Phone: 215-493-1205

Comments are welcomed. If you'd like to comment on this post, please click here.

Noticing Things...

Limited Edition Prints Available

If you're interested, there are just a few prints still available in the edition of Two Local Bosc Pears.

Click to View My Available Prints

On Facebook, I sometimes post collectors' snapshots of my framed paintings and prints in their homes (for example, this is a view of the Oyster print in a frame). Here you can view photo albums with more snapshots of my framed works out in the world.

Please note: if you are ordering a print between March 9-18, I won't be shipping out any prints until March 20th. View Available Prints Here.

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Apple with Ceramic Jug

4 x 3.5 in., oil on linen on panel
Click to view auction

Visit my Current Painting Auctions and All Available Paintings

Here's what this painting would look like framed:

The Tradition of Painting

I just sent out a few of my recent thoughts about what the "tradition of painting" means to me.

SIGN UP HERE if you'd like to receive it !

Still Life with Silver Creamer

4 x 6 in., oil on linen on panel
Click to view auction

This is my painting from Tuesday's live painting demo. First, I am sending a HUGE thank you to all those who came to the event in person or online. There were over 300 online visitors during the event, and over 200 more have viewed the archived video since Tuesday. I am so thankful that you all joined me!

If you'd like to watch the demo, click here to view the archived video.

As I've written before, to remember and honor my friend, I will donate all of the proceeds from this auction to the Jami Rodriguez Memorial Scholarship. If you're interested, please consider making a donation directly to the scholarship (link). Be sure to designate "Jami Rodriguez Memorial Scholarship" in the donation comments section.

Watch my demo.

And here are some photos of the event.

I'd love to know where you tuned in from to watch the demo. Let me know in a comment here. I already received a comment from a viewer in Malaysia - how wonderful!

P.S. They are cranberries. :)


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Live Painting Demo TODAY (Streamed Live Online) 12noon EST

Join in today for my special live painting demo from 12noon - 2pm EST! The session is free and will be streamed live online at Arcadia's UStream channel. If you're in the Philly area, come watch in person at Grey Towers Castle (it's a real castle) at Arcadia University. Click here for more info.


If you'd like to send me a note about this, click here to leave a comment.

Hope to see you today either in person or online! :)

P.S. The last time I did a demo, it was for this Fox 29 Good Day Philadelphia piece: click here.

Still Life with Blueberries

5 x 6 in., oil on linen on panel, sold

This is another one of my demo paintings from my January Sedona workshop. (It's already sold to one of the participants.) My next workshop in Sedona is this June.

If you're interested in sharing your thoughts on this painting, I'd love to hear your observations. Click here to leave a comment.

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Summer Blueberries & Palm Beach Art Show reminder

Summer Blueberries No. 2, 5 x 6 in., oil on linen on panel, framed
Email Gleason Fine Art for purchase information

This painting is available framed through Gleason Fine Art. Email info@gleasonfineart.com if you're interested in purchasing it.

Just a little reminder that Gleason Fine Art has brought my paintings, along with the work of some great artists (Fairfield Porter [an old favorite of mine], Charles Woodbury, Abraham J. Bogdanove, among others) to the Palm Beach Art Show. The show is going on right this very minute, and it ends Tuesday, February 21.

If you go to the Palm Beach show, leave a comment to let me know how it was! Click here to leave a comment.

Here's what this painting looks like in its frame:


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