An Artist's Journal:Paintings by Felicia Marshall

  11x14 in acrylic on hardboard This painting is part of my ongoing Little Miss series.  Each piece in this collection has been a joy to create, and this particular painting was no exception. As I worked on this piece, I found myself tempted to ground the figure with a shadow in the background to anchor her. However, as the painting evolved, I came to appreciate the light and airy quality that emerged. The result is a sense of weightlessness and whimsy that I absolutely love. Sometimes, the things we resist the most grow into unexpected favorites. My relationship with the color orange is a perfect example of that transformation.   For twenty years, I worked at a school where orange was the school’s spirit color. I wore it often, but never quite embraced it, at least at first. I used to joke that I felt like a giant pumpkin in my orange spirit shirt and jacket. I even recall a moment at the movies when an usher waved me back in without a ticket, saying he remembered...

9”x 14” acrylic on hardboard This is Zora in the last of the black and white dotted dress paintings.  I finally really do have this one out of my system.  I was attracted to the light on the surface of the dress.  I love the way the light falling across her arms and hands create the visual effect of gloves. ($150)

8"x 10" acrylic on hardboard A study in color.  I have been hording this image ever since last summer.  I always knew I would be painting this one.  I'm glad I waited because, I'm not so sure that I could have pulled off the goggles last summer.  I got lost in the reflections, changes in lighting and color as the goggles move across his forehead. It was a challenge to paint, but very rewarding.

"Zora with the Orange Ball" 8 x 10 acrylic on hardboard I finally finished this painting.  It wasn't difficult, I just dragged it on and on while I completed other paintings.  At different times of the year we get extraordinary lighting through the windows in our dining room and living room.  I usually can't resist taking advantage of these remarkable moments.  They only last about thirty to forty good minutes. 

8"x10" acrylic on hardboard   After painting so many portraits I wanted to challenge myself a little by playing around with a different point of view.   I tend to avoid posses at this angle because… they’re hard!   Even when you get the angle right, it kind of looks weird.   So you end up questioning the marks you’ve made.   I got this orange flower several months ago.   I knew when I saw it I was going to paint it, I just didn’t know when or how.   I really thought it would end up in a still life, but as you can see it didn’t.   I can’t tell you how many times I thought I was completely finished painting this flower,   only to return to it over and over   again, until it finally looked perfect.   I’m so glad I didn’t stop.   Sometimes you get rewarded by your obsessions. SOLD

5"x7" acrylic on hardboard I was playing around with lighting on this portrait.  I think it comes across well in the background and the bow. 

8"x10" acrylic on hardboard Every year I used to visit this festival. I'd walk around randomly photographing at different levels and directions as I'd walk in an out of people. I never knew what I had until I developed my film. This is one of those shots. I was attracted to the two women's expressions and gestures as they talked while waiting for their next customer. SOLD

6"x6" acrylic on masonite The end of September means it’s time to pull out all of those Halloween decorations.  Zora sat just high enough on the steps to catch some really nice reflections on and around her and the plastic pumpkin she was holding. SOLD