"My Sacred Place"

This piece is quite different for me.   When I paint, one of my priorities is value (contrast) and as you can see, this painting has very little.  This painting was completed in November of last year when I was in a very meditative mood.  It was finished quickly listening to soft music.  Normally I will look at a piece for several days or weeks and decide if it’s finished.  With this particular piece I didn’t want to change a thing.  It also has lots of soft lines which do not show up in the picture.  Mixed Media - 40 x 30 on canvas.

If you would like to view more of my work, please go to my website - www,LindaBentonMcCloskey.com.

Linda Benton McCloskey

Email - mccloskeyart@gmail.com

DAYBREAK

 

"Daybreak" was painted in mid-November and is one of my latest pieces.  I haven't been painting since I broke my leg back on November 29th and haven't been able to paint since then.  I fractured my weight bearing bone in my right leg was have been "wheelchair and home boand" ever since.  It's been difficult since I am accustomed to painting daily and teaching several classes a week.  

Since my studio is down one very long flight of steps, I have asked my husband, Bob, to bring me some supplies upstairs and I will start on some small pieces on the dining room table.  I want to experiment with cold wax and oil paint as well. We'll see if anything comes of it.  

Daybreak is one of my favorite pieces.  I may just hang in my home for awhile. 

Website:  www.LindaBentonMcCloskey

 

"COMMON GROUND"

This painting has a history - it was another painting altogether that lacked excitement and everything else a good painting should have.  It started as a demo (but finished at home) at the abstract class I teach at the York Art Association.  I wanted to show everyone how you can make a failed painting into something much more exciting.  The colors from the previous painting are showing through, which gives the piece so much history.  It's on a full size sheet of watercolor paper (32 x 28), and I used acrylic, graphite, charcoal and watercolor crayons. 

Dialog

Linda Benton McCloskey

www.LindaBentonMcCloskey.com

This piece was started at the Steve Aimone workshop in Rockland, Maine.  It was started as a challenge - working quick, fast, and standing at arms length away from the painting.  I finished the piece after I arrived back home.  It's quite large - 48 x 36 - 100% acrylic on canvas.  A quick note above Steve Aimone - if you ever get a chance to take one of his workshops, do it.  He is absolutely one of the best!  His website is www.aimoneartservices.com.

CONVERGENCE

 

I have been painting like crazy lately I guess because it's been cold, rainy, dark, and dreary here in PA.  The above is one of my latest, "Convergence".  It's 30 x 30 on canvas and consists of mostly acrylic with some charcoal, graphite and water-soluble crayon.  When I decide to start something new, I usually challenge myself - this time it was to use a limited palette of neutrals.  I also in the beginning covered my canvas with a grey gesso - you can see the grey popping through here and there.  

www.LindaBentonMcCloskey.com 

Linda Benton McCloskey

Email - mccloskeyart@comcast.net

Let's Begin This Journey

Having been invited by the Daily Painters of Pennsylvania group, this is my first blog on this site..... I am a full-time artist living in the Harrisburg, PA area and teach "experimental art" at several local art associations. I am also an encaustic (beeswax) artist and travel teaching workshops on painting techniques with the encaustic medium. With that said, painting is my passion - I cannot imagine life without art. I have posted my latest abstract painting (acrylic on canvas 40 x 30) which was a challenge to myself - a limited palette of red and green - without looking like a Christmas painting. This is an acrylic painting on a 40 x 30 canvas. Your thoughts? Thanks for reading my blog.