Marina Petro ~ Fine Art: March 2011

Wednesday, March 30, 2011

Horse, Equine Oil Painting in Process....

Horse

16x20 inches

Oil painting in process

Here is my second attempt at a horse painting. So far, I like it quite a bit. As usual, I had a considerable amount of resistance and procrastinated endlessly before I stepped into my studio to work on it. I'd completed most of the horse and still had the background and mane to finish. I struggled with what to do for the background. I began to see colors,...started with the red on the upper left...skipped down to the lower left and painted in blue and purple, added some white and yellow to blend...and fooled around a bit until I was tired. So here we are....with much less resistance.

I'm almost finished the the large still life I'm working on in my downtown studio and will bring this painting with me tomorrow to work on.

I realize it is not finished yet, but I'd love to hear your ideas for a name....email me any names for this painting might that pop into your awareness....I might choose one...

Today's Quotation: "The essential joy of being with horses is that it brings us in contact with the rare elements of grace, beauty, spirit, and fire."

~Sharon Ralls Lemon

My Book: Angels-Guardians From Heaven And Their Habitats
Email Me
Blog
Website
FaceBook Page
Available Small Paintings
Available Paintings
Paintings at Etsy
Prints at Fine Art America
Prints at Imagekind!
Zazzle-My Art Jewelry and Fine Merchandise

Saturday, March 26, 2011

Horse, Equine Oil Painting 'Dreamer' by Marina Petro

Dreamer

16 x 20

Oil painting on stretched canvas

SOLD

Following the sage advice of Theresa Brown of Art Career Experts, who I hold in the highest regard, I've decided to paint horses...or at least, add them to my creative repertoire. After learning that I lived in Saratoga Springs, NY, home of one of the oldest and beautiful racetracks in the country with a very exciting and bustling summer racing season, she strongly suggested I paint horses.

I responded with a surprising level of enthusiasm and simultaneously, a surprising level of intimidation and resistance. It was a very difficult painting. I missed my late teacher terribly during the entire process. I had to figure everything out by myself...just like I used to do before this once in a lifetime mentor appeared in my life to guide me.

In any case, I am delighted with the finished painting. I have another on the easel. I've gotten through the more difficult passages and am now painting the background. It is slow going...and I am still resisting, but I suppose that's part of the deal and I continue to move beyond my resistance.

Once I paint a few equine portraits, I will flex my creative muscles further, and attempt the racers...stay tuned. I'm planning to go to the track and take pictures this summer....and hopefully tag along with an equine photographer if I can persuade one of them to allow me to shadow them on occasion.

As a sidenote, in Chinese Astrology, I am the horse. In regular Astrology, I am an Aries. Saratoga Springs is an Aries city...for what all that is worth. As a child, my greatest passion was horses...so this is bringing an early love, which was squelched for lack of opportunity growing up in the city, back into my conscious awareness again...is that too cool? I've also made friends with a horse I call 'Shaggy Girl' who hangs out up the road here. I give her carrots on my way into town and on my way home. She is shaggy...really shaggy...my heart went out to her. Perhaps I'll tell that story at another time...

Today's Quotation: "The moment when you first wake up in the morning is the most wonderful of the twenty-four hours. No matter how weary or dreary you may feel, you possess the certainty that, during the day that lies before you, absolutely anything may happen. And the fact that it practically always doesn't, matters not a jot. The possibility is always there."

-Monica Baldwin

Monday, March 21, 2011

Art Print Greeting Cards - Marina Petro

Birthday Cat

Art Print greeting card- and many others

...at my ETSY SHOP

Everything at this shop is shipped directly from me here in Saratoga Springs...

The picture at the top represents the card more accurately and clearly.

I am trying to stay disciplined and list my greeting cards at my Etsy shop online...just a few more to go and then I'll take a break and begin posting paintings again in a day or two.

More drudgery this morning as the snow kept falling and everything turned to slush...ugh...I drove to my studio in town, picked up my paints, ran a few essential errands, came home, took most needed nap, listed some more cards at Etsy and now, posting here and gearing up to work on a painting at my home studio. I will have to force myself to paint today.

My tooth still hurts and I've probably overdosed on Motrin since yesterday. I'm meeting my old classmates for a painting session at my studio tomorrow morning (working on a large still life there) and then off to the dentist again. It's been wearing...but...this too shall pass like everything else...

Today's Quotation: "And the day came when the risk it took to remain tight inside the bud was more painful than the risk it took to blossom."
-Anais Nin

Saturday, March 19, 2011

Super Moon Treasuries at Etsy - Marina Petro

Eclipse

16x20

Oil painting on stretched canvas

Purchase securely at my ETSY SHOP or EMAIL ME for other purchasing options and inquiries.

The full moon tonight is a 'Super Moon' which is the largest full moon in 18 years according to a report at Yahoo.Com Here is another feature about tonight's 'Super Moon' at the Nasa Website.

Just before I began this post I'd gone to every window/door in my house looking for the moon but it was nowhere to be found...groan...I went around again just now...found it in the East, just where they said it would be, and took two very non-super pictures of it. I'll go back again in a bit to see if our lunar friend is photogenic yet. It's really comical...wish you were here...In the meantime....

The shop owner, Ancient Connections, has included my painting "Eclipse" (above) in a wonderful Treasury, Howl At The Moon. ...and...

The shop owner, Closet Full, has included my painting "Lunar Eclipse" (below) in another really neat Etsy Treasury called Fly Me To The Moon. Thank you both!

Lunar Eclipse

6x6 inches

Original oil on canvas panel

Original has been Sold

A signed greeting card is available at my ETSY SHOP

Prints, very reasonably priced, are also available directly from me...Email Me for details.

Well, I checked out old Luna again and she doesn't seem very super. If anything changes and she decides to create a spectacle around here in the woods, I'll take photos and post them tomorrow. My Aries impatience is getting the better of me at the moment...

If any of you local folks are around The Arts District in Saratoga Springs tomorrow (Sunday) stop in and visit me at my studio at 79 Beekman Street. I should be there from about 11:30 to about 4 or so...

I am working on another large still life painting...

Today's Quotation:

Fly me to the moon
Let me play among the stars
Let me see what spring is like
On Jupiter and Mars
--Bart Howard

Sunday, March 13, 2011

Black Bird-Art Print Signed Greeting Card by Marina Petro

Black Bird

Art Print Greeting Cards~Signed by Marina
at ETSY.COM
$5 each
Free shipping with the purchase of 6 cards

Here's the direct link to BLACK BIRD

The original painting has been sold

I've been trying to photograph the crows that congregate up the road from me on one of the fields in a local farm. I drove very very slowly today, trying not to scare them away but, alas, they took flight. I'll be making a daily attempt from here on in. I love crows and ravens and want to paint a series....

The cards I have listed at my ETSY SHOP are printed with an Epson 1400 Printer and Archival Epson Claria Ink on beautiful heavyweight Strathmore textured cards with a deckled edge.....many people give them as gifts, or purchase multiple images, frame them and display them as a grouping. They are easily framed in any standard 5x7 frame. I will be posting more over the next few days so check in at Etsy again..

Today's Quotation-"The key of persistence will open up any door that has been closed by resistance."
-John Di Lemme

My Book: Angels-Guardians From Heaven And Their Habitats
Email Me
Blog
Website
FaceBook Page
Available Small Paintings
Available Paintings
Paintings at Etsy
Prints at Fine Art America
Prints at Imagekind!
Zazzle-My Art Jewelry and Fine Merchandise

Friday, March 11, 2011

ANGEL ART-Art Print Greeting Cards by Marina Petro

Apparition 11

Angel Art Print Greeting Cards~Signed by Marina

at ETSY.COM

$5 each

Free shipping with the purchase of 6 cards

Here's the direct link to Apparition 11

I was going to photograph a new painting today but my camera bummed out...which bummed me out...and needless to say, the earthquake in Japan has taken it's toll. I have two new paintings in process...one at my studio in town and one at my home studio. I've had a nasty toothache for a few days and haven't felt much like painting.

I decided to post my greeting cards at my ETSY Shop. It's kind of a 'no brainer' ... just what I need today. So far I've posted 10 of them...9 angels and one Phoenix Rising. I print these cards myself with an Epson 1400 Printer and Archival Epson Claria Ink, They are printed on beautiful heavyweight Strathmore textured cards with a deckled edge.....many people give them as gifts, or purchase multiple images, frame them and display them as a grouping. They are easily framed in any standard 5x7 frame. I will be posting more over the next few days so check in again...and, check out some of my links below if you are so inclined...

Today's Quotation: "You don't learn to hold your own in the world by standing on guard, but by attacking, and getting well-hammered yourself."
-George Bernard Shaw

Wednesday, March 2, 2011

Approaching Storm, Archangel Invitation, Marina Petro, Autumn Trees Landscape Oil Painting

Approaching Storm

16x20

Oil painting on stretched canvas

Currently on display at the "Two by Two" Fundraiser for Big Brothers, Big Sisters

at Mimosa Gallery in Saratoga Springs, NY

This is one great exhibit! The show features work by pairs of artists who are related in some way. I am partnering with Leslie Heck, owner of Saratoga Dance, in Saratoga Springs. Leslie is a dear friend and one of Tom's Girls....students of my late teacher, Tom Vincent. This is one of the paintings I created under his guidance and very special to me. He loved us all so much...and we loved him back...one of those irreplaceable spirits who walked and shared his wisdom, love, wit and guidance so generously.

If you are in the area, stop in for a visual treat. Opening reception is this Saturday, March 5 from 5-8 and part of the First Saturday Open Studios on Beekman Street. You will leave greatly inspired. I will be skipping (yes skipping) back and forth across the street from my studio at 79 Beekman Street to Mimosa Gallery. If you visit and I'm not in one place, I will be in the other...I love these openings...

BELIEVE IN ANGELS???

Here is my LATEST NEWSLETTER.....I have included a wonderful Archangel Invitation...invite the Archangels to stay with you for 5 days. I did and it was beautiful....comforting, inspiring, with many new intuitive realizations and experiences....may they bring you and yours many blessings...If the spirit moves you to do so.....pass this angelic invitation on to others....

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Wednesday, March 30, 2011

Saturday, March 26, 2011

Monday, March 21, 2011

Saturday, March 19, 2011

Sunday, March 13, 2011

Friday, March 11, 2011

Wednesday, March 2, 2011