The Passion of Place

• Mixed Media on Canvas
• 11 x 14 x 0.5 in

The abstract background of red, yellow, bronze, and gold shows through the landscape with boldness and passion.

I painted plein air at the abandoned salt mine in Camp Verde, Arizona. I left my paintbrushes at home. So, I added the paint directly from the tube onto the canvas, providing a highly saturated color and thick texture.

I worked quickly to capture the essence of the energy of the place. The passion of the working salt mine from years prior came through in the process. The salt mine was also a ritual site for local Hopi Indians. I'm sure that energy is here too.

The Passion of Place

• Mixed Media on Canvas
• 11 x 14 x 0.5 in
• $400
• Mary Rush, Artist shown here with her painting

Purchase this painting

Thoughts?

Tell me what you think about this painting in the comments below. I'd love to hear from you!

The Throne of God - Oil Painting Now Dry and For Sale

 

The Throne of God at the Salt Mine
Acrylic and Oil on Canvas
14 x 11 x 0.5 inches

The Throne of God

• Mixed media on Canvas
• 14 x 11 x 0.5 in

A land formation at the salt mine conjures my imagination of being an enormously large chair where God sits. I always feel I am at God’s feet when I encounter it. He sits on his throne and watches over me as I hike and paint.

It’s always a thrill to hit the hiking trail with paints and an easel over my shoulder. As much as I love painting abstract, I love being in nature too. The new process marries both the abstract and the landscape. I have the best of both worlds now. It feels great.

The white, beige, metallic gold, and metallic silver color palette is subtle except for the highly contrasting lines.

Is This Painting for You?

The Throne of God

• Mixed media on Canvas
• 14 x 11 x 0.5 in
• $400 + $50 shipping

Artist Mary Rush with her painting The Throne of God at the Salt Mine.

Purchase this Painting

Your Thoughts?

Please leave a comment on what you think about this painting. I'd love to hear from you.

New painting Salt Mine Plein Air

Old Salt Mine Landscape, 5 x 7 inches, Oil on Canvas
Copyright 2017 Mary Gravelle

Here's a quickie plein air painting I did last week.

I was testing out a new logistical approach for carrying my paintings. I found a neat plastic container at Michael's Crafts and Art in Prescott. I'm trying to stay away from using plastic, but, this worked perfectly. Now, to find something similiar in cardboard.

It was a flat container with a lid. I held the canvas down on the top part of the container with putty that is used for hanging stuff on the wall without leaving a mark. Then, the mixing palette was on the bottom of the container lined with disposable palette paper, held down with the same putty. I could close the lid and the wet painting was fine as it traveled back home in my backpack.

The other new thing I used for this painting was a canvas already prepared with black gesso. I love it! This speeded up the process as I left the black to act as lines.

What do you think?

Until Next Week

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About the Author

Mary Rae Rush (Mary Gravelle) is an artist, author, and creativity catalyst and consultant. She resides in Sedona, Arizona with her loving and efficient assistant, Sir Kitty. Her other services are Sedona Art Hikes and Wisdom Painting.

Contact her today with painting commissions, requests for creative work, consultations, or one on one coaching sessions. She is happy to paint something just for you. Or she can help you delve into your creativity and come out with your own unique expression.

Inquiries

Inquiries can be made through the contact page.

And, as always, I would love to hear from you. Please leave a comment below. 

My assistant, Sir Kitty

The Gift of the Landscape - New Southwestern Landscape Painting of Camp Verde, Arizona

The Gift of the Landscape
Oil on Canvas, 14 x 7 x 0.75 inches
Copyright 2017 Mary Gravelle

This painting was painted en plein air. The location is near the old salt mine in Camp Verde, Arizona. It's still winter here so the landscape is mostly brown and tan. The mountains in the distance are green and blue. The clouds were in the shape of angels. I think the cloud that I painted ended up looking like a rabbit. That makes sense since I have had an encounter with rabbits and their baby bunny nest in my garage with a dirt floor this week.

It's always a pleasure to paint outdoors. I'm still working out the details of painting in oils versus acrylics. I had just gotten the hang of painting outdoors with acrylics so they didn't dry too fast while I was working. With oil paints, it is the opposite. The painting will still be wet when I leave. More logistics to figure out. Also, I seem to be one messy painter getting paint on my clothes, hands, and hat, not to mention my equipment. I hear that baby wipes work great so I will give them a try next time to keep myself as tidy as possible. :-)

I loved this view of the landscape with the way the curves of the mountains were situated. I was facing the sun, but the visor on my hat kept the sun from my eyes. This is probably the first plein air painting that I finished in one outing. Yay! This is a small painting, 14 x 7 inches. I love it.

It will be available for sale as soon as it dries and I varnish it. I'm thinking 2-3 weeks for this one. If you want to purchase it beforehand, let me know via email at Mary@MaryFineArt.com. I would love to reserve it for you.

Below is a photo from the scene on location.

Painting on location near the old salt mine in Camp Verde, Arizona
The Gift of the Landscape
Oil on Canvas, 14 x 7 x 0.75 inches
Copyright 2017 Mary Gravelle

About the Author

Mary Rae Rush (Mary Gravelle) is an artist, author, and creativity catalyst and consultant. She resides in Sedona, Arizona with her loving and efficient assistant, Sir Kitty. Her other services are Sedona Art Hikes and Wisdom Painting.

Contact her today with painting commissions, requests for creative work, consultations, or one on one coaching sessions. She is happy to paint something just for you. Or she can help you delve into your creativity and come out with your own unique expression.

Inquiries

Inquiries can be made through the contact page.

And, as always, I would love to hear from you. Please leave a comment below. 

Until Next Week

• Appreciate art
• Buy art
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The Soft Approach - New Southwestern Landscape Painting from Camp Verde, Arizona

The Soft Approach, Oil on MDF, 12 x 24 inches
Copyright 2017 Mary Gravelle.
The painting does not have the green background around it.

One of the first things I did when I moved into my new place in Camp Verde, Arizona was to paint. I have a fantastic 360 degree view of mountains that seem to reach into eternity. Every window in this place offers inspiration for many paintings to come. I set my easel up to look out my kitchen window.

I painted The Soft Approach with oil paints using my fingers. I have not painted in oils for many years. I found it was easier to put on a latex glove and just dive into the paint full strength. I had forgotten the joys of mixing paint directly on the canvas. I had forgotten the joys of painting wet on wet. I used a lot of paint!

I call this painting, The Soft Approach, for a several reasons. First, the oil paints, being painted with my fingers made it impossible to get straight, crisp edges. I was seeking this new approach. My acrylic landscape paintings seem to have harder edges. I wanted to try something different. The landscape itself looks soft with its rolling hills sitting at the foot of the taller, large, looming mountains behind them. It's like a gentle invitation to the imagination of expansion within oneself. The other reason for this title is the final result of the painting. It looks soft in the way the paint is laid on. It looks soft in its application of colors and shapes compared to most of my vibrantly hued landscapes.

The Soft Approach, Oil on MDF, 12 x 24 inches
Copyright 2017 Mary Gravelle.

This oil painting is still drying. It will be available for sale in about a month. Once it is dry, I will varnish it. Then, I'll put it up for sale on my website. I will let you know when that happens. If you want to pre-buy it, just let me know! Email Mary@MaryFineArt.com. It would be my pleasure to reserve it for you.

Below are a few in-process photos.

In-process photo
The Soft Approach, Oil on MDF, 12 x 24 inches
Copyright 2017 Mary Gravelle.

My paint pile after completing this painting.
The Soft Approach, Oil on MDF, 12 x 24 inches
Copyright 2017 Mary Gravelle.

About the Author

Mary Rae Rush (Mary Gravelle) is an artist, author, and creativity catalyst and consultant. She resides in Sedona, Arizona with her loving and efficient assistant, Sir Kitty. Her other services are Sedona Art Hikes and Wisdom Painting.

Contact her today with painting commissions, requests for creative work, consultations, or one on one coaching sessions. She is happy to paint something just for you. Or she can help you delve into your creativity and come out with your own unique expression.

Inquiries

Inquiries can be made through the contact page.

And, as always, I would love to hear from you. Please leave a comment below. 

Until Next Week

• Appreciate art
• Buy art
• Create art

Finished Airport Mesa En Plein Air Painting

Welcome to Sedona, 12 x 24 inches, Acrylic on MDF.
Copyright 2016 Mary Gravelle.
Sitting against a magical huge pine tree.

Finished! The en plein air painting, a Sedona landscape, from the location at Airport Mesa, Brewer Trail in Sedona is now complete. It took me four visits to the site and a little bit of studio time to finish it up.

This is one of my favorite views in Sedona. Almost a 360-degree view, it is split into two spectacular 180-degree views from each side. The view I chose for this painting looks out toward Village of Oak Creek. From here you can see from left to right, as shown in my painting: Courthouse Butte, Bell Rock, and Cathedral Rock, among other rock formations. The other 180-degree view overlooks West Sedona.

The Southwestern landscape painting was painted in acrylic on MDF. It measures 12 x 24 inch, a size and format in which I am beginning to adore painting. It suits the Sedona landscape well with its expansive views of the red rocks.

What a beautiful way to enjoy the outdoors by painting the beauty before me. Bring home a piece of Sedona.http://maryfineart.com/shop/welcome-to-sedona-landscape-painting/

About the Author

Mary Rae Rush (Mary Gravelle) is an artist, author, and creativity catalyst and consultant. She resides in Sedona, Arizona with her loving and efficient assistant, Sir Kitty. Her other websites and work are: Sedona Art Hikes and Wisdom Painting for Self-Discovery.

Contact her today with painting commissions, requests for creative work, consultations, or one on one coaching sessions. She is happy to paint something just for you. Or she can help you delve into your creativity and come out with your own unique expression.

Inquiries

Inquiries about this en plein air acrylic landscape painting, Welcome to Sedona, can be made through the contact page.

And, as always, I would love to hear from you. Please leave a comment below.

Sir Kitty

Until Next Week

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The Joys of Painting Outside

And this is where my morning painting ended up at Airport Mesa.
I have a few things I want to do to finish it up.

I'm loving painting outside more and more. It's the one thing that manages to get me out of bed early excited to start the day. The thought of going somewhere beautiful to paint really thrills me. I'm in the right place for it in Sedona where beauty abounds.

A really fun day is when I paint in the morning and in the late afternoon at different locations. That's what I did this past week.

The photo in the center of this post is at sunset at Red Rock Crossing with a wonderful view of the iconic Cathedral Rock. A blank board awaits the touch of paint.

Airport Mesa, Brewer Trail, Sedona, Arizona
Plein air painting.

I went to Airport Mesa for my morning painting session. The photo to the right was my view of Sedona looking toward my hood in the Village of Oak Creek. The road you see is the Red Rock Scenic Byway.

So far, I've gone three times to each location this past week to paint on each painting. This is not your typical way of plein air painting. I have not built up my speed yet to complete them in one sitting.

I've come to enjoy a 12 x 24 inch format. It lends itself well to an expansive landscape like Sedona.

Sunset at Cathedral Rock in Sedona,
blank board waiting for painting to begin.

My acrylic en plein air set up.

My plein air setup is still using my acrylic paints. I feel comfortable now with this set up after all these months of trying to figure out the logistics of plein air painting.

I need to figure out my set up for oil paints. I have dragged them out of the closet so I'm getting close to the conversion from acrylic to oil paints in alignment with doing my small part in saving the planet... lol... grandiose? I don't know what impact my converting from acrylic to oil will make on the larger environment, but at least, I will feel better knowing that I'm doing what I can in my own small way.

Below are a few other photos for your enjoyment.

As always, I love to hear from you. Leave a comment below. Share this post.

Cathedral Rock. This is where the painting
is at this stage. I still have work to do.

About the Author

Braylee Rush (Mary Gravelle) is an artist, author, and creativity catalyst and consultant. She resides in Sedona, Arizona with her loving and efficient assistant, Sir Kitty. Her other websites and work are: Wisdom Painting for Self-Discovery, Igniting Your Intentions, Sedona Art Hikes.

Contact her today with painting commissions, requests for creative work, consultations, or one on one coaching sessions. She is happy to paint something just for you. Or she can help you delve into your creativity and come out with your own unique expression.

Inquiries

Inquiries about this en plein air acrylic landscape painting can be made through the contact page.

And, as always, I would love to hear from you. Please leave a comment below.

Sir Kitty

Until Next Week

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May the Vortex Be With You

May the Vortex Be With You, Acrylic on 140 lb. Watercolor Paper,
11 x 14 inches, copyright 2016 Braylee Rush.

"May the vortex be with you", these are the words that came to me after this painting was completed, playing on the famous, "May the Force Be With You".

Sedona and the Vortex

Living in Sedona, it's all about the vortex and the beautiful energy that emanates from them. A vortex energy is a force of its own.

End of day results of painting at Bell Rock.

All of Sedona is a vortex. But there are four main vortexes (or sites where the vortex energy can be strongly felt) according to the website, A Guide to Sedona. Bell Rock is one of them, which is where I began this painting while on one of my Sedona Art Hikes locations. It's a place where Cathedral Rock, one of the other four vortexes, can be viewed as well as Courthouse Butte and Baby Bell, and many other Sedona sites. Cathedral Rock is painted in partial site on the upper left of this painting.

En Plein Air Painting

To the right you can see my set up and the final stage of the painting after my en plein air painting session for the day. Can you tell that the view is spectacular from this site?

It was windy that day and my easel fell over a few times. It's all part of the plein air painting process. A little Sedona dirt dust does a painting good. lol

A rough sketch begins the painting process by
mapping out the shapes and the part of
the scene I want to paint.

Sketching the Scene

I like to begin my plein air paintings and most of my other acrylic or mixed media paintings with a sketch on the painting surface. As you can see, it's a rough sketch! Especially in nature, I find this an important part of the painting process. Mother Nature is immense. This makes it important to narrow down the scene and focus on one area to paint.

The blank canvas, or paper in this case.

The Blank Canvas

And, of course, it all begins with a blank canvas. Many artists from time to time dread the blank canvas. But, this is where all the potential lies.

Possibilities await the paint, brush, and the artist's ability to listen. I feel more and more that the painting is already painted before I begin. All I need to do is show up, listen, and paint as best as I can to honor it.

The last plein air painting I did, Walking in Paradise, was on watercolor paper. I wasn't sure if I liked that super dry and absorbent surface. So, for this one, I gave the paper a heavy brushing of gel gloss medium before I began. In the end, the texture added another dimension to the final painting.

The Painting Has a Life of Its Own

At the end of the day, there was a beautiful light shining through the trees over the mountain. The wildflowers glistened its glow.

I sat my painting, for reasons unbeknownst by me, facing the light. I was taking photos of the glistening wildflowers. When I saw this photograph, it amused me because it looked like the painting was enjoying the end of the day light as well.

Your Turn

What are your thoughts on anything I have said or shown you today? Have any memories arisen? Please share in the comments below. I would love to hear from you!

And, if you would like to own this painting, let me know. Email me at Mary@MaryFineArt.com.

Until Next Week

• Buy art
• Appreciate art
• Create art

Mary Gravelle (Mary Rae Rush)

About the author: Mary Rae Rush (Mary Gravelle) is an artist and writer who resides in Sedona, Arizona with her beloved assistant, Sir Kitty. Her art can be seen on her website. Book a Sedona Art Hikes tour to have your own experience of painting in the vortex energy of Sedona.

Sir Kitty

Not Everyone is an Artist

The Place to Be, Acrylic on Wood, 24 x 48 inches. In private collection.
Copyright 2006 Mary Gravelle. Prints Available.

There are folks out there that say everyone is an artist. I used to be one of them, not anymore.

Everyone is a cook, but not everyone is a Cook. Every DIY person has the potential to be a plumber, lawyer, gardener, artist, and whatever else they want to do themselves instead of paying a professional. However, not everyone that cooks, plumbs, fills out their own legal paperwork, paints something for their wall is a professional at that particular occupation.

To say everyone is an artist, demeans the profession of the Artist. It buys into the cultural feeling that artists do not deserve to make a decent living because they are somehow trading doing what they love and what feeds their soul for a right to live a financially secure life. Hogwash! Some even think that if an artist expects to get paid for their art, they have sold their soul to the Devil. Again, hogwash!

New Dawn on Boston Hill,
Acrylic on Canvas, 22 x 28 inches.
In private collection.
Copyright 2008 Mary Gravelle. Prints Available.

This has the potential to be a very deep conversation that includes questions like, "What is art?", "What is the motivation behind the work of art?", "Does the artwork have to serve some political, cultural, religious purpose in order to be worthy of being considered 'art'?" We could go down the rabbit hole with this one. For now, I just want to get the conversation started.

Everyone is creative, that is their birthright. I am a huge advocate of everyone realizing their creative power. There is a huge difference between being creative and being an artist. I think that is where the problem lies. Confusing creativity with art is a big problem. It is a heinous act against the professional Artist.

Lush Two, Acrylic on Canvas, 12 x 16 inches. Original available at
Marketplace Cafe Sedona or by contacting me at Mary@MaryFineArt.com.
Copyright 2008 Mary Gravelle. Prints Available.

Yes, doing activities that are considered art such as painting, sculpting, singing, all lead to creativity, but not necessarily to an art career as an Artist. Art making feels good and can open the heart to the person hiding behind the cold wall of exterior living. Art making and creativity can lead one inside oneself to discover their creative power. Their creative power will bring new ways of doing their chosen profession. It will also bring a new passion to the way they live their life.

The way to turn this around begins with the Artist. Every Artist that has bought into this cultural nightmare, must tune into their hearts and souls and turn it around in their own head and change their belief.

Every person that is out there saying that everyone is an Artist must dissect their own belief and reasons why they are preaching this way of thinking.

Everyone is NOT an Artist. Stop thinking otherwise.

Do you think this a problem? How do you think we can change this cultural belief around and begin respecting the career of the Artist?

Until Next Week

• Create art
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• Buy art

Braylee Rush (Mary Gravelle)

The handsome, Sir Kitty. Meow.

About the author: Braylee Rush (Mary Gravelle) is an artist and writer who resides in Sedona, Arizona with her beloved assistant, Sir Kitty.

Art for the Office

Desert Arteries, 24 x 48 x 3 inches, Acrylic on Wood.
Copyright 2006 Mary Gravelle. In private collection, Tucson, Arizona USA.

I recently sold one of my southwestern landscape paintings to be hung in a new office space in Tucson, Arizona. Desert Arteries is 24 x 48 x 3 inches and an acrylic landscaping painting on wood. It's a handsome piece, or perhaps, pretty, since it's pink.

There is a possibility that more of my southwestern paintings will be purchased for the same office. The person who bought this painting is a friend. Not only does she love my paintings, but also wants them to be seen by the international audience that will be coming through the office space. It's always nice to have a champion of my art go to bat for me.

Original paintings lend themselves to commercial spaces such as offices, lobbies, or healing centers as well as personal home spaces. The energy that emanates from the original paintings enhance and uplift the ambience of any space.

"Original works of art have certain energies about them that reproductions and mass-produced decorative items simply don't have. You know just by looking at it that another human being made it, and not a machine." – http://www.artbusiness.com/whatgood.html

Follow the link from the above quote to find many more reasons for owning art, especially in the workplace.

What are your observations about original paintings hanging in office spaces? Does it detract or attract your attention and interest in that office? How does it affect your time spent there?

To see more of my southwestern landscape paintings, go to my website.

Until Next Week

• Create art
• Appreciate art
• Buy art

Mary Gravelle (Braylee Rush)

The handsome, Sir Kitty. Meow.

About the author: Braylee Rush (Mary Gravelle) is an artist and writer who resides in Sedona, Arizona with her beloved assistant, Sir Kitty.

Two Paintings Now Showing at Yavapai College Sedona Center

Keep It Light, Acrylic on Canvas, 24 x 30 x 1.5 inches, painting continues around edges.
Southwestern acrylic landscape painting of Silver City, New Mexico.
Copyright 2008 Mary Gravelle.

Two paintings are now showing at the Small Business Development Center office at Yavapai College Sedona Center.

I hope to hang a couple more. In the meantime, these two are showing: Keep It Light and Paradise; both are southwestern landscape scenes, one from Silver City, New Mexico, the other from Oracle, Arizona.

Yavapai College Sedona Center, 4215 Arts Village Drive, Sedona, AZ 86336, (928) 649-4266. Find them on Facebook.

Painting purchase inquires, please email Mary@MaryFineArt.com. Find Mary's Fine Art on Facebook or on my website.

Keep It Light, Acrylic on Wood, 36 x 48 x 3 inches
Painting continues around edges. Copyright 2007 Mary Gravelle.
Southwestern acrylic landscape painting of Oracle, Arizona

Until Next Week

• Create art
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Mary Gravelle (Brianna Rush)

The handsome, Sir Kitty. Meow.

About the author: Brianna Rush (Mary Gravelle) is an artist and writer who resides in Sedona, Arizona with her beloved assistant, Sir Kitty.

Works in Process

2 Works-in-Process

These two paintings are still in process. It seems like it is taking me forever to finish either one.

The one in the back (upper portion of the photograph) is a 36 x 36 inch painting, working with acrylic paints on canvas. I would like to use it as a book cover for my upcoming book.

The one in the foreground is an experimental landscape 12 x 12 inch painting. It is acrylic on wood. I built up texture with spackle and gel medium. As I painted it, a southwestern landscape evolved. I added a thick layer of gel gloss medium mixed with paint on top of it. I didn't really like that experimental layer as it covered over the paint strokes I had so deliciously spent time on. I have added gold metallic and violet interference paint which I will sand off in my next session.

I'll keep you posted either in process or when I complete them.

Until Next Week

• Create art
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Mary Gravelle
(Brianna Rush)

Sir Kitty

About the author: Brianna Rush (Mary Gravelle) is an artist and writer who resides in Sedona, Arizona with her beloved cat, Sir Kitty.

The Completed Paintings in the Studio Views

Gold and Delicious, 54 inch triangle, Oil on Canvas.
Copyright Mary Gravelle.
Original painting is for sale.

As I was writing about my art studio setups over the past several weeks, I became aware that most of the photographs contained paintings-in-process. So, this week and perhaps over the next few weeks, I'll post the final paintings along with the studio set up.

Vernon, CT 2004

From my first post, Studio Setups Past and Present, the first studio set up I shared with you was from my basement in Connecticut in 2004. The final painting was from my triangle series, Seeking the Truth of the Triangle. This painting was a "female" triangle titled, Gold and Delicious.

Studio Set Up, 2004. Still Life.
Gold and Delicious painting-in-process.

Oracle, AZ 2006

Passage, 16 x 20 inches, Oil on Masonite.
Copyright Mary Gravelle.
Original painting is not for sale.

Studio set up at Rancho Linda Vista.
Oracle, AZ. "Passage"
painting-in-process.

In 2006, my first studio painting experience in the southwest was a two-week stay as artist-in-residence at Rancho Linda Vista Artists' Ranch in Oracle, Arizona. The painting to the left is the result of that visit. It turns out to be a transitional painting from abstract to the landscape. At the time I had never painted a landscape and had no interest in it. That was until I began a mutual love affair with the land of Oracle, Arizona.

Studio set up while painting
"Paradise".

Paradise, 36 x 48 inches,
Acrylic on Wood. Copyright Mary Gravelle.
Original painting is for sale.

Oracle, AZ 2007

After the landscape of Oracle, Arizona just absolutely wowed me, I had to paint it! The photo that was in the first blog post about my studio setup showed the eighth in a series of paintings of the southwestern landscape of Oracle, Arizona.

Collect My Art

If you want to buy a painting from me, contact me at mary@maryfineart.com to discuss the details. Thanks!

Until Next Week

Brianna Rush (Mary Rush Gravelle)

• Create art
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Sir Kitty

About the author: Brianna Rush(Mary Rush Gravelle) is an artist and writer who resides in Sedona, Arizona with her beloved cat, Sir Kitty.