GVAL Benefit Show and Sale 2013

The Gilbert Visual Art League 5x7 Benefit Show and Sale

turned out great.  The Gilbert art walk and farmers market

were right across the street and Postino Wine Cafe has

wonderful bruschetta that we sampled throughout the day.

You can't beat our weather in November!  Any paintings that were not

sold will be offered at a later venue.  Please visit my web site to

view or purchase my paintings http://www.maryopat.com

Gilbert Beautification Award

Here is the Gilbert Beautification Award 2013.  I was

tempted to take it home, but I think a better

spot will be at American Legion Post 39, where the mural and pocket

park is located.  Skip is building a display case for it and it

can be appreciated by the members who were so nice and helpful to me

while I was working there. 

A few photos from the Bruce Marion "Breakout Workshop" Nov 9th and 10th

Receiving instruction on the portrait 

Me making and executive decision on my happy little painting

 Bev, Jean, Barb, me, Jim and Bruce taking a lunch break

I made a new friend

Congrats Barb Janecka

Congratulations to Barb Janecka on her Gilbert Visual Arts League

"Artist of the Month" ribbon!  A well deserved honor and beautiful

painting.  Barb will be one of many artists who have contributed

paintings to the 5x7 GVAL benefit this Saturday.  Click

on the photo below for info.

Paintings from the Breakout Workshop

I spent last weekend at Bruce Marion Studio's "Breakout Workshop"

in Chandler.  We finished five large paintings and here are

two of them.  Each of the five were done using different methods and produced

different looks.  I'll post photos from the class and more of my finished

paintings in a few days.  It was a fun workshop and we worked so fast that

there was no time to think or plan ahead.  It's a good way to get the creative

juices flowing! 

GVAL Meeting

Rather than have a speaker/presenter last night at the Gilbert Visual Art

League monthly meeting, we invited members to bring supplies and 5x7 inch

panels and work on paintings for the fundraiser on Nov. 16th.  It was a fun

social gathering called the Lush and Brush (a few bottles of wine and

yummie snacks were brought).  The night was a hit and it was fun to see

the variety of painting styles used by the members.  There were at

least 150 finished paintings turned in and many more to come.  If

you live in the area, drop by Postino Wine Cafe on Sat. Nov. 16th!
To visit my web site, follow this link http://www.maryopat.com

 

Gilbert Community Beautification Award

 

I'm excited that the Gilbert Leadership Class XXI and the American Legion Post 39

are the recipients of the Gilbert Community Beautification Award for 2013.  The mural and pocket park in the historical center of Gilbert certainly did a lot to improve the area and it is well deserved. 

I've been asked to be a guest at the awards celebration next week.  It should be a fun evening and

a chance to get together again with some of the wonderful people I met through this project.

Historical Mural in Gilbert, AZ  50' x 11'

 

Paintings of Roses

I finished two more small paintings today for the GVAL 5 x7 Benefit

Show and Sale.  If you're in the area, be sure to join us on Nov. 16th

beginning at 9:00 a.m.  We plan on having around 200 small 5" x7"

paintings for sale at only $25.00 each.  We'll be at Postino's in the Gilbert Heritage

District in the outdoor greenspace.  To view or purchase my work, please

visit: http://www.maryopat.com and thank you for visiting my blog!

"Panama Hat" Contemporary Figurative Oil Painting by Arizona Artist Mary Opat

"Panama Hat" Contemporary Figurative Oil Painting by

Arizona Artist Mary Opat

 

8" x10" Oil on Canvas Panel

 

I painted this lady selling flowers today.  I may make a few

adjustments when it dries.  To see some of my finished work,

follow this link to my web site:

http://www.maryopat.com  Thanks for visiting

my blog and Happy Halloween week!!

"Cactus Flowers" Contemporary Still Life Oil Painting by Arizona artist Mary Opat

"Cactus Flowers" Contemporary Still Life Oil Painting

by Arizona artist Mary Opat

 

5" x7" Oil on Canvas Panel

 

This is a small painting that will be donated to the GVAL

5 x7 Benefit Show and Sale on November 16th.  If you're in the Gilbert

area, we'll be at Postino Wine and Cafe from 9a.m. until

the paintings are sold. 

 

To view or purchase my paintings, please follow this link:

http://www.maryopat.com  Thanks for visiting my site!

Portrait Artists of Arizona Studio Session

I joined some of the members of the Portrait Artists of Arizona in Scottsdale

Saturday for a studio painting session.  Our model's name was Chris

and he did a great job.  This photo was taken after (2) twenty minute

sessions.  It's amazing how the time flies by when you're concentrating.

Next month the session will last all day, so I'm hoping not to feel so rushed!

I may put this on the shelf and finish it later.  Too many irons in the fire right now.
Visit my website to view or purchase my work at:
http://www.maryopat.com and thanks for visiting my blog!

New display tent

My friends Bev and Barb came over today and we did a trial run

setting up our new display tent.  As with all tents and sleeping bags, etc.

they come out of the case much easier than they go back in!  The art show

season is just starting here, so I'm sure we'll get a lot of use

out of it.  To check out some of my paintings, please follow

this link: http://www.maryopat.com  and thanks

for visiting my blogsite!

 

Phase two color wash

Yesterday I put a thin wash of color over the monotone base.

The initial raw umber and white are showing through.

I'll wait until the paint dries before continuing.  I think I'm

going to like the finished product.  In this process it seems that any

drawing problems are worked out before the color is applied.

Today I'm making weights for my display tent.  PVC pipe,

sand and concrete....oh my!!  Thanks for visiting my blog.

Check out my new website at http://www.maryopat.com

Phase one of transparent wash portrait

You've probably seen this little guy before.  He was the subject

of the first portrait I painted.  In our Tuesday class with

Jean Smith, we're doing a painting by first using raw umber and white

to define shadows and highlights and then we'll add transparent

color washes on top to add the color.  I thought it would be

fun to see how this one compares to the first painting.  I'll
post again when it's finished.  You can

view more of my work at http://www.maryopat.com

Have a good day and thanks for visiting my site!

 

October "Pick of the Month"

Check out fellow artist and friend Beverly Koldon.    Bev won

"Best of Show" at the Constitution Day celebration in

Gilbert with this painting. Follow this link to view Bev's blog

http://www.bevkoldonart.blogspot.com

"Blue Bowl with Pears" Still Life Oil Painting by Arizona Artist Mary Opat

"Blue Bowl with Pears" Still Life Oil Painting by

 Arizona Artist  Mary Opat

 

7" x5" Oil on Panel

 

Here is one of the small paintings that will be for sale at the

Gilbert Visual Art League fundraiser in November.

Please visit my website to view or purchase my work.

Thanks for visiting my website.  I'll be announcing the

details of our fundraiser soon.

http://www.maryopat.com

New Website

If you've tried to check out my paintings by following a link to the Contemporary Fine Art International web site within the past few days http://www.cfai.co/maryopat , you'll notice that most of my paintings have been removed.  The site has made some changes and now only twelve paintings are showcased for each artist.  Also, the paypal shopping cart is no longer available to us. 

I was a little bummed out until I realized that it might be a good thing in the long run.  It forced me to get off my you-know-what and shop around for an individual website.  I'm planning to keep using the international blogs that are available through CFAI.  I add my paintings to 8 blogsites in addition to this one and I'm getting a good presence on Google Images because of that.

Here is a link to my new website: http://www.maryopat.com

Oil Painting of a Girl on Her Horse by Arizona Portrait Artist Mary Opat

Oil Painting of a Girl on her Horse by Arizona

Portrait Artist Mary Opat 

 

16" x 20" Oil on Canvas NFS

 

I finished this one up today.  Please check out some of my

paintings at http://www.maryopat.com

Thanks you for visiting my blog.  Happy

first day of Fall!

 

Day 3 girl on horse

Here's what I'm working on after day 3.  I'll put it away for a few

days to get a fresh perspective on it before I finish it.  Please visit

Contemporary Fine Art International to view or purchase my work.

http://www.maryopat.com 

day 2 girl on horse

I was able to get a few hours to paint today.  At the end of

day 2 both the horse and rider look a little scary! To see some of my

finished work, follow this link:http://www.maryopat.com

Thanks for visiting my blog!