Happy New Year!

14" x 11"  Cottonwoods of Taos

9 x 12" oil, Strong shadows

New paintings for 2020!  All are original oils, painted impressionistic-ally with lots of impasto.  They were all started as class demos in my oil painting classes.   

12"x 9" oil    Mist on top of Rocky Mountain National Park

20" x 10" Smoky Reflections in NW Ontario 

See more of my art and inquire about available paintings at MaryGiacomini.com

Mary M Giacomini's Artwork                   

Order prints, products & cards!

Instagram; mmgiac

Equinox

'

 I recently had a client that liked my "Last Call" (pastel) painting so much that he commissioned me to paint an oil of the same scene.

The reference I used was from a photo I had taken in late Autumn, right after an early snow. The  snowy pines with  Aspen trees  reflective scene is just outside of Estes Park, Colorado. 

I created an underpainting using Alizarin Crimson so I could have a warm undertone in the relatively cool landscape.

I painted in my darkest darks & lightest values so I knew what my value range was.

This is how I progressed on this painting. I tweak until I feel like I'm getting what I like.

I decided to let it snow and also added swirls in the water from the falling snow.

"Equinox" 20" x 16" oil (sold)

See more of my art and inquire about available paintings at MaryGiacomini.com

Mary M Giacomini's Artwork                   

Order prints, products & cards!

Instagram; mmgiac

Summer 2018 Art Classes

Art classes Summer 2018   Mary Giacomini

OIL:    Monet series; learn to see the way Monet did

#1 June 21 (Thurs) 9-12,   Home studio, Copy a Monet or be inspired to paint a painting in his style (9 x 12 or smaller)

#2 June 28 (Thurs) 9-12, Sweetheart Winery plein air.  Create a painting of your choice with the morning light.  Critique at 12pm on their patio with wine & snacks (not included in price) Since the winery does not open until noon, bathrooms available at Sandys Conoco or Devil’s Backbone trailhead.

#3 July 12 (Thurs) 5-8pm ***, Sweetheart Winery plein air. Recreate painting from class #2 in evening light to learn to see the difference time of day makes.  Meet at 4:15 for a glass of wine.

***watercolor class is welcome, also pastelists

WATERCOLOR: Sketchbook journaling

#4 June 13, 9-12 home studio  Learn to capture small, quick paintings with small watercolors in a watercolor sketchbook

#5 June 27 (Wed), 5-8pm, Sweetheart Winery plein air.  Sit by the Big Thompson river with a glass of wine to capture the scenery.  This is great practice for bringing along a sketchbook on vacation.  Meet at 4:15 for wine on the patio (wine not included in price)

I also teach classes through the Loveland Museum & have open spots in some but not all classes. https://www.lovelandmuseumgallery.org/programs-events/art-classes/adult-art-classes/

 June 11^th Sweetheart Winery wine glass painting class (tropical theme). $40

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/wine-glass-painting-tickets-44496485185?aff=efbeventtix

Solvent free oil painting classes

 In my Thursday morning oil painting classes (Loveland, Colorado) I cover a variety of material.  In this project we were studying clouds.  We started with a simple black and white value scale and painted a gray monochromatic thumbnail proportional to the canvas we planned on painting.

Learning about composition, value & underpainting

 In my classes we play with different subject matter, techniques and color theory/experiments.  My goal is to teach you how to paint on your own.  We use traditional oil paints but do not use the dangerous or even odorless solvents as I find they are just as toxic as the rest.  I will teach you to safely paint without the use of them.  I currently have one opening in my class that has a maximum of 6 students.  Contact me for more information.

Impending (10 x 20" oil)

See more of my art inquire about available paintings at MaryGiacomini.com

Mary M Giacomini's Artwork                   

Order prints, products & cards!

Instagram; mmgiac

I am proud to announce that "Joy Ride" (oil) was accepted in the 32nd Annual National Juried Fine Art & Photography Show and Sale in Louisville, Colorado.  I painted this horizontal original oil after plein air painting in Rocky Mountain National Park (Colorado).  I had a perfect  Autumn day to paint outside.  Two riders on horseback literally rode through my scene and I knew I had to capture it in the studio.  

PAAC National Show

The art of "Lake Of Fire"

Now showing in Greenwood Village

"DayBreak"

Oil

The Art of "Lake of Fire"
When:  July 17 - September 8
Where:  Greenwood Village City Hall (Lobby)What: Come celebrate the first ever Village Read with art. The Greenwood Village Cultural Arts program is proud to present "The Art of Lake of Fire". Colorado artists have taken topics and themes from our Village Read book, "Lake of Fire" and turned them into art. From fiery landscapes to related still-lifes, come see how local artists have interpreted our one read book. 

Scenes of Loveland at the Lincoln Gallery

Pallet Knife Poppies

 This month at the Lincoln Gallery I'm showing some local scenes from Loveland.  "Pallet Knife Poppies" is a 20" x 16" oil with lots of impasto pallet knife painting in the orange poppies.  This was inspired by a scene on the West side of Loveland with Longs Peak and the Colorado Front Range receding in the distance.

Oasis
"Oasis" is a 12" x 9" plein air oil painting of the Devil's Backbone park just outside of Loveland, Colorado.  This is a favorite hiking trail in Larimer County. The park is normally desert-like but in Spring the Cottonwood trees were showing off  their green. I had fun carving paint with my pallet knife as a result this painting has lots of impasto.

Stillness
I painted this 9" x 12"  original oil painting en plein air very early in the morning at Rivers Edge Natural area in Loveland, Colorado.  The water was perfectly reflective and caught my eye. This is a popular city park with lots to offer.




You can see more of my artwork Online:
Facebook Page
FineArtAmerica
(a variety of prints and cards can be ordered)
MaryGiacomini.com
MGiacominiart.blogspot.com
 follow me on Twitter
Instagram

Beginning Watercolor Classes

I am starting a brand new watercolor class for beginners January 11, 2017.  Classes will meet on Wednesday afternoons from 2-5 in my studio just west of Loveland, Colorado.  I will cover all the basics to get you started painting with watercolor.  Classes cost $30/each based on a one month commitment.  You will learn about composition, color, technique, paint properties, value and more.  I generally use transparent watercolors in my paintings. For more info.

Winter & Spring 2017 adult classes at the Loveland Museum

These are the classes I am scheduled to teach at the Loveland Museum Gallery in the coming months of 2017.  Registration begins Dec 27, 2016.  I would advice signing up as soon as possible as these classes usually fill quickly. All supplies are included.

Winter Aspen Grove
Tuesday, January 24, 1 – 4 pm
With this simple masking project, use a limited watercolor palette and paint a peaceful scene in the forest.
Instructor: Mary Giacomini

Palette Knife Snowy Pines
Tuesday, February 7
1 – 4 pm
Experiment painting with acrylic paints and palette knives while creating a wintry forest of the mountains.
Instructor: Mary Giacomini

ABCs of Drawing
Tuesday, February 21
1 – 4 pm
Learn how to draw what you see using a few tricks to engage the right side of your brain.
Instructor: Mary Giacomini

Fresh and Fun Florals
Tuesday, April 4
1 – 4 pm
By this time of year, we are hoping that spring has sprung! Either way, create fresh blooms in watercolors in this fun and spring-ready class.
Instructor: Mary Giacomini

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Palette Knife Poppies
Tuesday, April 18
1 – 4 pm
Learn to paint atmospheric perspective with acrylic paint, then finish by using a palette knife to paint brilliant poppies.
Instructor: Mary Giacomini

Chasing Light

I was once again invited to the 4th annual  "Chasing Light" exhibition with the Plein Air Artists of Colorado group.  I paint with these talented hardy artists on some Friday mornings in Northern Colorado.  For one week we are showing our landscapes, both from plein air and studio at the Community Creative Center in beautiful Fort Collins, Colorado.  Check out the art show!

O

Oasis Oil; plein air

Expanse: oil, plein air

Deep Forest  Oil, plein air

The Cyber Art Show

I was recently contacted by Keith Stover  who I met online via Facebook.  He invited me to let him showcase my art.  He has put together a 'Cyber Show' of beautiful landscape artists.   He not only promoted me on facebook but also on the website he created.  Check it out.  I am honored to be in such a  talented group of landscape artists.

New Gallery Representation in Estes Park

 

 I recently joined the Cultural Art Services of Estes Park (Colorado) Gallery.  I will be participating in their member shows.  The first is the Holiday Gifts and Miniatures show which runs through the end of December 2016.  I have several small framed original paintings that are hung plus affordable original bin work and prints for sale.

Spring (plein air oil)

Cliff Hanger (plein air oil)

Peaceful Pair (oil)

All Colorado Artists Show

I am pleased to announce that both of these original oil paintings were accepted in the "All Colorado Artists Show" at Mainstreet Fine Art Gallery in Evergreen, Colorado.  Both paintings are landscapes of the Colorado Rockies.  'Daybreak' was finished with a pallet knife with lots of impasto.  The scene is from Mueller State Park which is just West of Pikes Peak.  The leaves of Autumn were just beginning to change color.  I loved the way the early morning light was illuminating the Aspen trees.   I first painted this scene en plein air.  Always liking the scene, I decided to recreate it in a studio piece.

Daybreak

 "Serenity" is an oil painting inspired by the high alpine lake, The Loch which is a beautiful hike in Rocky Mountain National Park.  I've painted the Loch several times and still am inspired by the pristine landscape.

Serenity

 You can see more of my artwork online: 
Facebook page (open to the public) 

fineartamerica.com    

(a variety of my work: prints and cards available)
 artforconservation.com  
(limited edition canvas giclees)

marygiacomini.com

MGiacominiart.blogspot.com

Joy Ride; the journey

Joy Ride  Oil  12 x 24"

"Golden Blankets"
9 x 12"
 Oil

 Last Fall when I was plein air painting in Rocky Mountain National Park, a couple of horses & riders actually rode through my scene of Hallet Peak and the surrounding mountains.   I quickly grabbed my camera to get a reference photo and knew this could be an amazing painting.  The Aspen Groves were in their Autumn glory and it was a perfect, sunny Colorado morning.
I was happy with the finished "Golden Blankets" with it's thick impasto oil and warm Fall colors but in the back of my mind I wanted to make a studio painting with the horses.  I decided to try gamut mapping to create the new scene.  Gamut mapping helps you make a more cohesive painting by using a limited pallet.  I decided ahead of time what portion of the color wheel I would use, then made some color swatches from it to use for another reference during painting.

This is the portion of the color wheel I used for this image.  I examined my reference photo and narrowed down the colors I needed to make a more cohesive painting.

Once I had my gamut mapped out, I figured out how to mix my primaries which were orange, green & blue.  All of the colors had to fall within the gamut map but I could add white and black.

 I asked my oil painting students if they wanted to try to learn gamut mapping and they were game so this was painted almost entirely in class.  Although this is a challenging way of painting, it's also a learning tool that most did great at and appreciated knowing how.  I am starting up my solvent free oil painting classes on Thursday mornings mid September.   I do currently have an opening if you are interested in joining us.

 You can see more of my artwork online: 
Facebook page (open to the public) 

fineartamerica.com    

(a variety of my work: prints and cards available)
 artforconservation.com  
(limited edition canvas giclees)

marygiacomini.com

MGiacominiart.blogspot.com

Calming

I painted "Calming", a 16 x 16" original oil of a clear stream in Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado, in my Oil Painting Class this past Spring of 2016.  I worked on the painting almost exclusively in front of my students during class.  Our theme was 'running water' and  I had each student pick an image they wanted to paint.  We started with an underpainting which is in essense the drawing under the painting.  The next step is to nail those darks as it's easy to loose them in oil painting.  I slowly added the local color and tweaked until I felt it was finished.  This painting sat on my easel almost done for a couple of weeks.  This helped me review what was needed.  "Calming" is currently  available, but contact me to find out the current status.

I am starting up my Solvent Free Oil Painting class September 15.  We meet from 9-12AM on Thursdays.  My classes are small at  6-7 students and I  have an opening.

Stage 1; Underpainting drawing

Stage 2; getting those darks in

Stage 3: on my easel progression

Stage 4: Done!

 You can see more of my artwork online: 
Facebook page (open to the public) 

fineartamerica.com    

(a variety of my work: prints and cards available)
 artforconservation.com  
(limited edition canvas giclees)

marygiacomini.com

MGiacominiart.blogspot.com