New Work
Several years ago, I began painting using a limited palette on a toned ground, which gives my paintings a different look that I really like. The colors are usually some variation of the three primary colors, red, yellow, and blue, along with white and a dark, such as Burnt Umber. It is amazing how many colors can be created from just these few!
Trompe l'Oeil
Trompe l'Oeil fine art appeals to both my mathematical and artistic sides, combining the technical aspects of making a two-dimensional rendering of an object look like the real thing and creating something pleasing to the eye at the same time. It is truly a way to have fun with a paintbrush!
Florals
I love to garden and have lots of flowers around my house. I take photos of the flowers using close-up filters, which gives a sharp image of the flower with a blurred background. When I paint the background, it is one of the few times that I don't paint detail, although in truth, I am painting what is actually in the photo!
Classic Cars
I come from a family that loves British cars, and my sister still has the Triumph Spitfire that she purchased new in 1976. We often motor (note to the uninitiated — you motor in a British car, cruise in a classic American car) to car shows and are regulars at the local Cruise Night in our town during the summer months. On several occasions, I have been commissioned to do a painting of someone's pride and joy. I find doing these paintings to be challenging and fun, with the opportunity to render different textures and materials.
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
her new email is:
website last updated:
Copyright 2008 Nan McCarthy, All Rights Reserved.
Landscapes
Living in New England, I have many beautiful landscape subjects to choose from. Our varied seasons give a different look to the same scene at different times of the year. Autumn and winter scenes make particularly good subjects for paintings, with their very distinct and bold colors.
Lighthouses & Seascapes
I love the ocean, the beach, and lighthouses. When I returned to my art in the Nineties, I started painting lighthouses, before branching out to other subjects. I have several photo albums of lighthouses including Long Island, New England, and Canada's Maritime Provinces that I use for these paintings, along with a file of dramatic sky photos that I have taken over the years. I also enjoy painting anything beach-related, including seascapes and items such as shells and bits of rope that I find along the shore.