I'm sorry I haven't been very diligent about posting new works. I had a very busy summer/fall this year and sold most of my newer works. I will be doing some new paintings in the upcoming months and promise to post more regularly. Be patient with me.

Father & Daughter

Sometimes a commission can touch your heart. In this case it is the story of a soldier in Afghanistan who has only seen his young daughter a couple of times between deployments. He wanted to give her something special for Christmas and commissioned me to do a portrait from a photo of he and his daughter. The painting was done inside a custom painted toy box.

We all pray that he and all the other young men and women come home safely to their families and friends. We also thank them for their courage and wish them a very Merry Christmas or whichever holiday is meaningful to them.
Stay safe...

Pet portraits

Keep in mind...pet portraits for Christmas gifts. Just contact me with your name and address and I will send you one of my brochures with prices, information, etc.

The Ah-h-h Moment

I wanted to create a painting that was both moody and serene. I actually visualized this while sleeping and woke up to make a sketch.

I am still making adjustments to the painting as I post this so it may change a bit before I'm totally done. This happens to lots of us artists. Give us time to stare at our work and we'll always find something to adjust. The illusive word in our vocabulary is "stop".

Anyway, shows this year have been surprisingly successful. I didn't know what to expect because of the economy but I have been selling at each show and look forward to my luck continuing for the next four shows. Check my website for places and dates.

Well, back to painting.

#46 20x24

The Perfect Day

This is one of four paintings I did for the Sharon Arts "paint out" this past week. The lighting was wonderful and the painting made me happy. The previous day that I painted I was grumpy all day as I had little sleep the nite before. Boy, does that affect your painting abilities.

Fortunately, I was able to bounce back for this image. We had really nice weather all week except for drizzle last Monday. I have mixed feelings about the weather since my well is still dry after almost a month. Thank goodness for neighbors and their generous offers to let me shower and do laundry at their homes. I have a dug well that is only 16' deep. It hasn't dried up like this for almost 16 years. It will take a lot of rain to fill it up again. We've only had a little over 2" since beginning of July. We look at other places that are flooded and I'd rather tote my water.

#45 11x14

Mt. Monadnock

I'm getting ready for my next 6 art shows and just finished this painting of Mt. Monadnock. I am aiming for more color in my landscapes and hope I have achieved it in this work.

I tried underpainting with very vivid colors (reds, purples, golds) which a lot of artists use and found it gives more life to the painting. I am also trying not to do so much detail work but rather a suggestion of the subject matter. It is difficult for me as I am so detail oriented, but giving it a go anyway. I will still do the fine details in the artwork that calls for it so that I don't have to go cold turkey.

I hope some of you will be able to make an upcoming show. My schedule is posted at my website: http://www.eileenbelanger.com/.

#44 18x36

Prelude to the Proposal

Sorry I've been so tardy in posting to blog. It's been a very busy time but I am really going to try to do better.

This painting evolved from a conversation with a friend. Her daughter was going to receive a proposal and we were discussing nice ways to have it done.

I have been hearing doom and gloom about the art shows this season due to the economy but I have been very fortunate to have two very good shows so far (with 6 more to come). Needless to say, I have to get busy painting as September and October are my next shows.

I am participating in a "paint out" sponsored by the Sharon Arts Center of Peterborough, NH. Artists will paint in Rindge, NH with a reception showing all of our paintings at the Cathedral of the Pines on August 20th.

#43

Brant Point Light, Nantucket

Well, had a very successful show on the Cape. Sold several paintings, lots of prints and got a few commissions. I can only hope that the next 7 shows are as good. Check my website: www.eileenbelanger.com for my show schedule.

I am headed for Nantucket in July and then Newburyport. Have to get busy painting so that I'll be ready.

Today I'm looking forward to a pastel workshop with Kitty Cloud in Peterborough, NH. Weather has been extremely humid so hope I don't melt while outside creating.

#42 2.5"x3.5" matted in vinyl sleeve $35

Just the Sound of the Waves

I'm heading to Cape Cod for an art show in Barnstable (June 26-27). This is one of my new paintings for the show. I just wanted an image that would convey thoughts of waves breaking. It's a sound you develop in your heart when you live near the water. It has always brought peace to me when life is in turmoil. Now, when I look at this painting, it produces the same feeling.

I am finally painting again. Sometimes you just lose enthusiasm and it takes hard work to get it back. With so many art shows on my schedule this season, it was necessary to take stock and get my butt in gear.

#41 12x36

Nubble Light

This Maine lighthouse has been painted by so many artists. It could be the setting, atop a rock island, or the perfect layout of the buildings. Seems every time I go there the weather is perfect...must be good timing.
This is another of the mini paintings and I have a whole series of Maine and Massachusetts lighthouses done. I enjoy buildings and would like to paint some of the venerable, old homes in NH. Their architecture is amazing with quality of work unmatched in this day and age.
I am also still experimenting with an impressionistic look. Figure I won't be able to do all the detail forever and would love to learn to loosen up my painting style. I am taking a pastel class the end of this month with Kitty Cloud and her style is more what I am trying to achieve.

#40 2.5"x3.5" $35

Lobster Feast

Making a trip to Maine this week and have to have a fresh-caught lobster. There are so many quiet coves and coastline scenes to paint.

Weather here has turned drastically from 50's to 80's and they expect 90's tomorrow. Not the best weather for painting outside as the bugs are rampant after the wet spring. Fortunately the mosquitos are big enough to eat all the black flies. Better painting on the coast where there is a breeze and no bugs.

Still working hard to prepare for the upcoming Cape Cod show. It will be interesting to see how the season is going to go with the economy in such a slump. I am optimistic and think the minis, which are affordable, will be a hit.

I am now using Golden's Open Acrylics. They are the closest I've found to painting with oils, without the fumes. Open Acrylics will stay wet for quite a long time which makes for better blending. The heavier your layer, the longer it takes to dry. It's a wonderful medium as it can look like oils or watercolor.

Looking for new places to paint en plein air. I belong to the NH Plein Air painters and we have a large membership that paints outside, on location throughout New England. It is free to join & everyone is friendly, knowledgeable and willing to share that knowledge.

#39 2.5"x3.5" $35

Weather has finally warmed up so got out with friends to paint en plein air. We went to Musterfield Farm in No. Sutton, NH...one of my most favorite places to paint. Flowers are not in bloom as yet but the historic buildings are great. This is a painting I did a couple of years ago to show you how beautiful this location is.

I'm really enjoying the miniature paintings. Thought they would be great for the upcoming art show season. I want to provide an affordable, original painting that anyone can afford. The minis are very detailed with lots of scenes from the coast, including a lighthouse series from Massachusetts and Maine.

I'll be participating in Art in the Park in Barnstable, MA on June 26-27. Drop by if you're in the area.

Race Point Light

Well, it's been quite awhile since I've posted anything. I've been very busy doing murals. My first commission was at a local nursing home where I completed two murals for their dimentia unit. It was a fun experience and the residents were enjoyable to interact with. They loved watching me each day and I tried to add their suggestions to the murals. One was a playground scene and the other was a beach scene.

After the nursing home, I moved on to painting murals, signs and furniture for The Mom's Place at Catholic Medical Center in Manchester, NH. This is a birthing center and I have done work there before and they have expanded the unit. In fact, they expect to expand further as the unit has been very successful. You can see some of the rooms at the hospital website.

I am now getting ready for the show season. My first show is in Barnstable, MA, June 26-27 at Art in the Village. You can check my website for my show schedule.

Race Point Light is one of my new miniature series of lighthouses in New England. They are 2.5"x3.5" and mounted in an 8x10 white mat with the outline of Cape Cod painted on the mat.

I have painted quite a few of the miniatures for the Barnstable show and will also be wholesaling prints to gift shops.

Hopefully, I will do much better in my posts as I will be doing a lot of painting. The weather is so much better and inspiration is starting to flow.

#38 2.5"x3.5" with mat $35

Fresh Snow

Sorry I've not been diligent in my paintings. Trying to get myself set for the upcoming art season plus I have two large murals jobs starting soon. I promise to do better.

We've been enjoying nice weather in NH...cold but not much snow. I feel bad for those in D.C. who aren't used to such accumulations as they are really not prepared.

I am still enjoying the miniature paintings and will be marketing them this year. I am exploring lots of subject matter and find I love doing the tiny detail work.

#37 2.5x3.5, 8x10 mat $30

On Our Way

I live near a ski area and saw these 3 friends on their way to a day of snowboarding. It is amazing to watch them fearlessly wind their way down the slopes & catching air off the ramps. Such fun!
I am currently involved in designing and painting furniture and murals for the birthing unit at Catholic Medical Center in Manchester, NH. All the furniture is made by a local company and we have done numerous rooms for them in the past. They are expanding and we have been asked to work with them again. They have a virtual tour of the existing rooms at their website: www.catholicmedicalcenter.org. Put "The Mom's Place" in the search box.
Otherwise, I am working on marketing my miniatures and planning a 2-day Arts Festival for our town in August.

#36 8x10 $85