What a week!  In exciting news, I will be donating a "commissioned" painting to the London Health Sciences Foundation Country Classic Auction (i.e. I will be painting a custom work for the highest bidder).  

I so delighted to have the opportunity to support LHSC (being a dietitian that works at this organization by day, I know how much good comes out of these sort of donations).  All proceeds from the auction go to support the "state-of-the-art da Vinci Si robotic systems at London Health Sciences Centre - Canada's national training centre for robotic surgery".  

This week's painting will be the "sample work" for the auction (this painting is available for sale, but will have to wait till after Nov 1st to be shipped).

Morning on the Thames River (London, Ontario).
Acrylic on canvas.  16x20 inches.
$230
Click here to purchase. 

I am hosting a painting event this weekend at WetCanvas WDE - lots of excellent art works created so far.  In a tribute to Deano - who's trademark was red underpainting -  many of the contributing artists this weekend are bravely taking on red! 

My painting this week features Woody, my sister & parents jack russell terrier - I used quinacridone red for the underpainting. Woody is a rescue dog - you can learn about more about his story in Jan 2015 (see my "Who saved who?" - rescue pet painting challenge).  

This is my contribution to the weekly drawing event (WDE) at WetCanvas.  Many thanks to Christine for the beautiful photos.  The challenge was to use a fauvism style... bright and colourful!  While I don't think this is a style I will paint on a regular basis -- an interesting experiment.  

In the spirit of fall, here is my today's painting.  I snapped the photo used for this painting at Trader Joe's - en route from San Juan Island to Vancouver.  I'm planning to submit this to the 1-2-3 square food show at the Art Emporium in Port Stanley.  Tomorrow in the deadline...so looks like I'll be taking a drive to the beach.

On a sad note - I wanted to take a minute to remember a wonderful painter - Deano (from WetCanvas), who passed away this weekend.  He was such a talented painter, and we will miss his weekly painting at the Weekly Drawing Event.  My thoughts go out to his friend and family.  Check out some of his stunning work (click here).  My favourite - was the stunning painting he did of Wylan, as part of one of the WDE in Sept 2014.  I have included that painting in this post... 

After a great 30-in-30 challenge in Sept 2014 - I have personally committed to do another 30-day challenge in January 2015 (I'm crossing my finger's that Leslie Saeta will also host her challenge again in Jan 2015). 

My theme for January is “Who rescued who?” and will feature 30 paintings of rescued cats and dogs. 

25% of sales from this challenge with be donated to a pet rescue organization (specific organization to be determined)

I would love to be able to paint YOUR rescue dog or cat.  

If you are interested in having your pet selected for a painting, please send me an email (at mackay.paintings@gmail.com) with the following information:

1. A great photo of your rescue pet (dog or cat)
2. A statement giving me permission to paint your photo
3. A brief paragraph telling me about your pet (name; where your pet came from; something special/interesting/unique about your pet)

If your photo is selected for a painting, you will be entered into a draw to win a free painting of your pet!

Purchasing paintings for January 2015: 
If your pet is chosen for a painting, you will not be required to purchase the painting.  However, if you would like to purchase the painting, you will be given the first dibs to buy the painting (details to follow if you pet is chosen). 

If an owner chooses not to purchase a painting, paintings will be put up for auction on Daily Paint Works, where anyone will be welcome to purchase. 

You can click on "RESCUE PET PAINTING CHALLENGE" above to access this information in the future

Now that the 30-in-30 challenge is behind me- I am back to posting by week # (as my original goal was at least a painting a week). This far in October, I have had a little extra time to set up the "business" side of things.   Excitingly - I now have my paintings available for sale online (see painting tab above)!!

My first painting in October is also my contribution to last weekend's WDE at wet canvas (thanks to Maureen for hosting and sharing excellent photos).  

I also wanted to give a big thanks to everyone who followed by blog/website/facebook during September's 30-in-30 challenge (an extra special thanks to my mom... she keeps telling me how much she misses the daily painting).  The positive feedback I received was so motivating!

Check out my collage of my 30 paintings done in Sept...