“Contemplation”, A New Amish Painting and 2021

It has been way too long for me not to post, and again, I’m sorry. With the voting crisis, Christmas and it’s craziness, and all that’s going on with the news everyday, it has just made me somewhat numb. They say “the woman that works with her hands, her head and her heart is an artist.” I tend to agree. I get too caught up in with what’s going on around me, that I can’t settle down..I can’t get my creative “flow” going. All the bad news just “breaks my spirit”. And therefore, I can’t seem to paint.

I had tried to play quiet music, read inspirational books, and even to meditate, to no avail. I still could not find it in myself to just sit down and paint. I found every excuse not to do so. I even had asked my husband if it even mattered anymore…to paint. He told me, “Yes, it does matter… your paintings make people feel good”. That thought had stayed with me, and finally changed my mind. I somehow found the energy and focus to paint again. I told myself I was just going to finish this one. Just start again! This painting of the amish girl by the window had been upstairs unfinished for so long.

But here she is, and I think the title of this is perfect, especially with what’s happening today in the world. We just need to calm down, step back and take a breather. I think we need to do for ourselves, what we have to do..to renew and refresh. Start over, think differently.

Anyway, I wish you all good and better things this year, 2021. I pray it will be a much better and safer new year. Hope you enjoy “Contemplation”. Stay safe. Cheryl

Contemplation by Cheryl McNulty

A Different Kind Of Portrait…Abraham Lincoln

Hello!  I just wanted to share a new pastel portrait I am painting that’s somewhat out of my territory….Abraham Lincoln. I have always wanted to try my hand at painting this portrait since I saw the movie with Daniel Day-Lewis and Sally Field among others. If you haven’t seen it, it is amazing.  It feels like Lincoln is alive again, as Daniel Day-Lewis does a tremendous job, playing the part.  Anyway, I know many others have painted him, but I did this because I had to…for me.  I guess it’s like saying  thank you for everything…for what he stood for and had done for this country, and I wanted to feel a closeness…to the history…the legend. I don’t know. I just had to.

But here are the beginning stages, and I have done more than what you see here now and it is coming out amazing.  I feel like I could touch him. I am painting from a black and white I had found of him and painting it in color. I actually had to look up what his eye color was, which they say is grey…like mine! So I can’t wait to share and  to see what you think. Now go and watch that movie!  I’ll be back in a few to share.  Thanks for following.

The background. I wanted it to be this brown, sepia color with some highlights thrown in behind him. I will have to touch it up near the end stages.

Now this is looking pretty scary…and cool at the same time. I am getting pretty excited at this rate, and I can’t wait for the eyes.

Coming soon in Country Sampler Magazine…

Hello everyone and I hope you all had a great New Year! 2019!  I can’t believe it! “Doesn’t it go by in a blink.” as quoted in the movie, “Meet Joe Black”.

I always feel just a little sad after the New Year, I don’t know quite why that is. I guess it just feels like the years are just racing by and I feel everything is just a big blur. On with the new though!

So I have been making new plans for my Amish Art and I decided I would try to advertise a few pieces in Country Sampler Magazine, a well known publisher of country themed goods.  I had advertised with them many years before for wooden plaques I had painted with amish scenery. (It had worked out well for me then, and that was before computers!) I have been thinking of other ways to reach a wider audience. An audience that has a love for country and simple decor items, where I think my Amish art fits. The process has been great so far.

I’ve decided to advertise “Katie and the Bunny” in the March issue, which should be out near the beginning of February. This will be a small ad in the back of the magazine called “Simply Sampler”. Then I will also be advertising “Daydreaming” (the amish girl in the back of the buggy). This will be a larger ad, and will also feature the framed print in a room scene. This will be out in the June/July issue at the end of May and will also be featured on their Instagram page and Facebook page. So this is a little exciting for the New Year! I can’t wait to see how it all works out. I will keep you posted!

Well..back to the drawing board and on with the new! 🙂

---

Katie and the Bunny will be in the March Issue

“Daydreaming” will be in the June/July Issue

An Example of Country Sampler

The Amish Garden Original Painting, Now On Etsy

The Amish Garden in it’s mat frame. Already to go!

Hello all, I just wanted to let you know I have just put up my first original painting on Etsy…which is the Amish Garden. I must say, it was a difficult decision to make as I have never sold an original except for portraits that were commissioned, so this is rather strange.  But I realize I can’t keep every painting I do and just sell prints all the time.  I need to let go!  I realize I need to share more of what I do.

I know how special an original is, as it feel like the artist is right there. That artist touched that paper…the strokes are there and just knowing that the artist had this in their hands, and in their studio, for however long it took them to do this painting is really kind of special.  Also, I know a “picture” of a painting is not near as clear and as bright as the real thing. It’s just different.

Anyway, this is now up on Etsy for however long and I will be putting more of my originals more and more. Thanks for following me and your interest in my work! Cheryl

 

Amish Girl Hugging a Cow continued…

Well,  I have been hard at work finishing this painting and it has been through many changes so far.  Guaranteed there will be more.

In the first painting you see I added the background in the barn and colored the cow in..which took forever. I really liked the way he came out, too!  Then  I added a window in the back so that you get the feeling of depth, a feeling that it’s more than blank, dark space.  Just adding a little interest. Then I added some paint for the bottom of the barn door, just a basecoat.The window has some color here, also (sorry it looks a little tilted here, as I took this at a weird angle). I had finished the barn door after this and it was plain grey with white.  It just looked too dull, and so I thought maybe I could add color like red paint, but make it look like its faded and worn.  Then, here I did something drastic. I decided I did not like the red color on this cow.  I wanted more of a brown jersey cow, a softer color. I ERASED the whole cow…except the nose and eyes, and made him brown. I haven’t completely finished him, but I like the color better. It will look better with the dress color I add to the girl as well.I have even gone farther than what you see here. I have added more to the background to add further interest and I have erased the bottom of the girls face and she is being fixed…I will show you asap…so please come back. I can’t wait to share more!

Paul Newman, A New Pastel Painting

Here he is.  I finally finished him.  I have always loved Paul Newman and every movie he ever was in.  I love the way he was so in love with his second wife, JoAnne Woodward.  You can just see how much he adored her, especially in photographs.

I had done his portrait  in just pencil when I was in my teens and it certainly did not come out to look like this. There is something to be said for doing portraits in color and in smooth pastels.  His eyes are just so amazing, they look like they look down in your soul. I feel like I could almost have a conversation with him right now!

Anyway, I hope you enjoy this portrait. I enjoyed painting it! Good night, Paul!

Paul Newman Portrait

“Pink” completed, and an Amish Painting Redo

Hello everyone. This took some time, but “Pink” is finally completed. Oh, I wish I had nothing to do but paint all day, but there is still chores to do and orders to fulfill, etc. etc. But lately it has been quiet and I have had time to complete some paintings, and even start new ones.

I really enjoyed painting Pink with all that white hair (which I would just love to have myself). She is so beautiful!

The other painting, the Amish Girl,  you may be familiar with. This was a painting I had done awhile ago.  I had started her in watercolor and couldn’t quite figure out what the background would be. Then when I painted a complete background for her, I never was really happy with it.

When I had found the picture I had started with, a picture I had taken with just her face painted in, I liked it so much, I just added a simple quote to it.  I think I rather like the simple look to this better.

Hope you enjoy these two paintings, and I will show you what I have started in the next post. Until then…blessings!

Pink Completed

There is Beauty in Simplicity

Any Ideas anyone? I’m not at Pebbles and Lace Anymore!

Hello everyone. I just wanted to give you all an update on this new news.

Many of you may know that I was selling mugs, pillows, totes, prints and more in a store in Strasburg, Pa. called “Pebbles and Lace”. They just recently made a move to Lititz, Pa in the hopes of expanding the store. It is a beautiful store, and although my artwork was selling well in Strasburg , it has not been the best in the Lititz location. Strasburg is more tourist oriented than Lititz, and it just seemed they weren’t buying amish items that much at all, but more trendy items seem to be popular there.

With all that said, they had to remove my things eventually, but are still holding on to the products for now in the hopes I can find a store in another touristy area  of Pa.  ( or another State), that would be interested in selling my products. If the store was nearby , the manager said she could drop off what she has on hand instead of sending it all back to me. At the moment, she has also brought some of my things to “Discover Lancaster Visitors Center” on Greenfield Road in Lancaster to see if anything would sell there. Fingers crossed!  So in case you are in  the area, please check it out!

I have also heard that Yoder’s Restaurant and Amish Village Gift shop in Sarasota, Fl.  would be a good place to try. I am gathering photos and writing up some drafts now to reach out to some other places I am familiar with in Pa. (from past trips) and other amish gift shops that may be interested.

So, if you have any ideas or know of anyone that may be interested in having some of my items to sell, please let me know here in a comment or reach out to me at mcprop@cox.net.  I thank you in advance. 

“Daydreaming”, Another Amish Pastel Painting Completed

Hello again!  Wow, this took me awhile to complete, but here she is!  The outcome surprises even me whenever a new painting is completed. I must say, I am VERY happy with this one.

This painting took me awhile only because I could not proceed to the last stages until I could decide if I wanted her to be holding flowers or some other object. I felt like it needed more in the painting than just the amish girl to add interest. I don’t know why, as I wanted the girl to actually be my center of interest from the very beginning.

When I looked at the painting as a whole, I realized there was actually more going on than I  first realized.  For example, hinting that the parents are in the front seat by their  silhouettes. The amish girl,  her cap strings blowing in the wind, letting the viewer know that the buggy is in motion. Her calm face and daydreaming eyes, making us wonder what she is thinking as she rides along in the buggy, watching the world around her. Where is she going? What is she seeing?

This was painted to recreate what I would see on our many  family trips to Pennsylvania as we drove along the country…and well-traveled roads. We would always get stuck behind a few buggies, and you could not help but notice the amish children peering out the back. They always seemed so calm and serene, just glancing around from that small rectangular opening, taking everything in. Occasionally, one or two would smile and wave at us,  and I would be ecstatic if they did, but all the while I would wonder what they were thinking. What was their life like?  This is the image,  or the “feeling” I wanted to share with you.  That’s when I realized this painting was enough on its own the way it was.

I hope you like it.  On to the next one…again!  Cheryl

Amish Girl Daydreaming

Pink and The Amish Girl, Update

So I am trying to get as far as I can on my paintings, but I have had to do some of the painting at night in small increments(?) just to complete a step here and a step there. Slowly advancing….

My son, Patrick, is coming home in a week from Tennessee, and you see, my art room is his old bedroom.  So I have been busy trying to tidy and clean up what I can before he gets home so he won’t be sleeping in my pastels!!! I just want to sit and paint and all I can think of is “Clean!” Anyway, I just had to show you something, so this is how far I have gotten on Pink and the little amish girl in the buggy.

The little amish girl is taking a little longer only because I feel like I need to add something else in the picture for interest, like a flower in her hand or something…I really don’t know what it should be, if I even need anything.  So I put the painting in front of me, and hesitate…that’s why her hands are not completed yet. I want to complete her hair and cap and shading while I wait for something, if anything should come to me. But that’s where I am with this one.

As for Pink, she is coming along nicely, but I was hesitating on what the background color should be that would show of her eyes and that awesome white hair! So I finally came up with blue and darkened it around her face so I can make everything “pop” and look brighter. I can’t wait to do her hair. Anyway, I am hoping I can finish these by Friday as that’s when Patrick comes home.  We are all getting together because my youngest daughter is graduating from college, University of RI for Nutrition and Dietetics, although she has still 2 years for her masters. Yay! So, I will touch base as soon as I can. Until then…blessings!

Amish girl daydreaming. Her cap strings are painted and blowing to the side. The bottom of the buggy is painted as well.

Pink…she is getting there. The jacket is blacked in ready for highlights and shading. Can’t wait to do the hair!