#FridayPainting : Gull Watching, Daymer Bay, Cornwall

I'm not one who makes believe

I know that leaves are green

They only change to brown when autumn comes around

I know just what I say

Today's not yesterday

And all things have an ending

But what I'd like to know

Is could a place like this exist so beautiful

Or do we have to find our wings and fly away

To the vision in our mind?

Excerpt from the song 'Visions' by Stevie Wonder.  This track is from one of my most played albums of all time - 'Innervisions' (1973).  A brilliant album which I play at top volume when I Really need to finish a painting!

Painting above: Gull watching, Daymer Bay, Cornwall

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#FridayPainting : Echoes of you, Crantock Beach

With her smile as sweet as a warm wind in summer
She's got me flying like a bird in a bright June sky
And then just when she thinks that I've got her number
Brings me down to the ground with her wintry eye
That's my baby
She can be all four seasons in one day

From the song Four Seasons written by Sting for his daughter Coco.  This lovely song features on his 1996 album, Mercury Falling, and is one of my regular studio plays... ideal for those quieter mornings...

Painting above:  Echoes of you, Crantock Beach, Newquay

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#FridayPainting: Early summer, Camel Estuary

My Garden -- like the Beach --
Denotes there be -- a Sea --
That's Summer --
Such as These -- the Pearls
She fetches -- such as Me

'My Garden -- like the Beach', a short poem by Emily Dickinson who loved the sea and her garden most in life.  Her distinctive, powerful and passionate poems have inspired me for years.  If you'd like to read more of her poetry, you can find the link here - Emily Dickinson's Poetry .

Painting above: Early Summer, Camel Estuary

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#FridayPainting - Sea of Love, Cornwall

Come with me
My love
To the sea
The sea of love

I wanna tell you
How much
I love you

Do you remember
When we met
That's the day
I knew you were my pet

I wanna tell you
How much
I love you

Come with me
My love
To the sea
The sea of love

I wanna tell you
How much
I love you

This beautiful song was written by George Khoury and Philip Baptiste in 1959.  It's been covered many times by artists including Iggy Pop and Cat Power, (both versions are regular favourites to paint along to in my studio)... but my all time top cover is by Tom Waits.  His darker version on the album Orphans: Brawlers, Bawlers and Bastards is brilliant!

Painting above inspired by the song! : Sea of Love, Cornwall

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#FridayPainting - Between the winds, between the waves

Between the here, between the now
Between the north, between the south
Between the west, between the east
Between the time, between the place

From the shell
A song of the sea
Neither quiet nor calm
Searching for love again
Mo ghrá (My love)

Between the winds, between the waves
Between the sands, between the shore
From the shell
A song of the sea
Neither quiet nor calm
Searching for love again

Between the stones, between the storm
Between belief, between the sea
Tá mé i dtiúin (I am in tune)

The beautiful haunting song lyrics from the Irish animated movie "Song of the Sea" sung by Lisa Hannigan, (love to paint along to her music in the studio....)

Painting above named after the song!  Between the winds, between the waves

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NEW! Paintings of Rock and the Camel Estuary

Morning Calm near Rock

Hi friends! I've moved into a new painting studio!  Our old farmhouse kitchen is now freed up for long awaited renovation, (more on that later!).  Meanwhile, in my lovely, new studio space, I've been busy... here are my latest originals, hope you like them....

 Taking time out, Rock, Cornwall

 Family time near Padstow, Cornwall

 A new day, Rock, Cornwall

 One fine day, Camel Estuary, Cornwall

Nature's gift, Daymer Bay, Cornwall

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New paintings of Crantock Beach!

Autumn in the air, Crantock Beach

Hello!  I just love Autumn!  I can't resist the golden light, deep shadows and dramatic skies... 

I've been away travelling, (how lucky!), and now, feeling recharged and inspired, I've finished a few new paintings!  The picture above, (and the four paintings below!), depicts beautiful Crantock Beach, (owned and protected by the National Trust)... it's one of my favourite places in the world...

 Live wildly, Crantock, Newquay

 Treasured Moments, Crantock Beach

 Echoes of you, Crantock Beach, Newquay

Blue skies and beach days, Crantock, Newquay

You can take a look at all my paintings at - Melanie McDonald Gallery

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Portscatho, pretty as a picture

One afternoon, late summer, I took the twisting country lane to Portscatho.  This charming fishing port is nestled on the coast of the Roseland Peninsula, near where my parents live.  It had been years since my last visit, but the snapshot in my mind proved true - the bay remained breathtakingly unspoiled, the harbour like a child's drawing, and the little cottages - quintessential Cornwall.  A place to paint...

You can take a look at all my paintings at - Melanie McDonald Gallery

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#FridayPainting : The Magic of Polzeath

Escape the everyday along the windswept shore.
Waves breaking white, the air fresh with sea salt and spray.
Alive with the mineral scent of the rugged cliffs.
Mingling with the woody earthiness of sage.
Lively, spirited and totally joyful.

Written by one of my heroines - the wonderful British parfumeur Jo Malone

Painting above:  The Magic of Polzeath

You can take a look at all my paintings at - Melanie McDonald Gallery

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#FridayPainting : Bright day at Polzeath, Cornwall

I can't begin to tell you how it feels
It's a clear blue sky
Out here my heart so full it's fit to burst
Just counting the hours
Home, such a long way gone
How to share a day, here's my only way
Send myself to you
Wishing you were here

From the song 'Wishing you were here', featured on the album 'Hoodoo' by the fabulous British singer Alison Moyet, (a favourite I play when I'm in the studio....).

Painting above:  Bright day at Polzeath, Cornwall

You can take a look at all my paintings at - Melanie McDonald Gallery

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#FridayPainting : Early morning walk along the pale sand, Rock, Cornwall

I told her the moon
Was a magical thing
That it shone gold in the winter
And silver in spring

And we walked and walked
Across the endless sands
Just me and my Sally
Along the loom of the land

Excerpt from 'The Loom of the Land' by the fabulous Nice Cave & The Bad Seeds

Painting above : Rock, Cornwall - early morning walk along the pale sand

You can take a look at all my paintings at - Melanie McDonald Gallery

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Beach Painting Commissions

Beach painting commissions.... personal and unique, created especially for you...

I'm always happy to have the opportunity to paint a personal artwork. I'd love to paint your favourite beach, and include family members, dogs (always part of the family!), surfers and horse-riders.

I aim to make commissioning a unique piece of art simple and fun!  So, if you like my work, why not get in contact.  Together we can create an heirloom, that can be handed down from generation to generation.

For more information, please take a look at my Commission Paintings page on my website.

Painting above: Commission of Perranporth Beach, Cornwall

Commission of Rock, Cornwall

Commission of Polzeath, Cornwall

Commission of Polzeath Bay, Cornwall

Commission of Treyarnon Bay, Cornwall

Beach painting commission

Commission of the Camel Estuary, Cornwall

Commission of Rock, Cornwall

Browse my paintings at - Melanie McDonald Gallery
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North Cornwall Paintings at the Hatch Gallery

At the break of day, Polzeath, Cornwall

Hello Friends! A brief note to let you know that I have 4 new paintings of North Cornwall in the Winter Exhibition at The Hatch Gallery!  Some of you may have already discovered this gorgeous gallery in the charming harbour town of Christchurch, in Dorset.  Hatch Gallery exhibits British contemporary art, stunning ceramics, handmade jewellery and sculpted driftwood furniture.  Please pop in if you can!

These original paintings are available from Hatch Gallery, you can buy Limited Edition Prints of the paintings in my online shop.

Rolling waves, Constantine Bay, Cornwall

First light, Crantock, Newquay, Cornwall

 



Ocean light, Crantock Beach, Newquay, Cornwall

Browse my paintings at - Melanie McDonald Gallery
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Paintings on Paper

Solitude Polzeath

Hello Friends!  I've (finally!) loaded some of my new small paintings on paper to my online shop.  These are 12x12 inch originals on handmade paper, please take a look (once they are gone, they are gone!).  Thanks so much!

Nocturne Treyarnon

Celtic Nights, Scotland

After Dark Cornwall

Autumn Gold, north Cornwall

Eventide, South Cornwall

After Dark, Cornwall

Winter Tide Cornwall

Winter Flight Cornwall

Salt Water Brittany

Browse my paintings at - Melanie McDonald Gallery
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