Painting lessons

Would you like to learn to paint with oils or acrylics?  

Would you like guidance with color mixing and painting in a loose, colorful and expressive manner?

I am offering a low-key, personal teaching approach for those interested in painting, but aren’t sure how to get started or how to go about it.

The lessons would be in my art studio downtown at

Pink Raven Studio

135 Christensen Dr, Suite 1B, Anchorage, AK

On the corner of 2nd ave and Christensen Dr

First session is  2 hrs, easel and materials will be provided, cost is  $50

For the 2nd session and beyond.... you bring your materials to paint with

2 hour painting session, cost is $40 

or if you prefer more time,

3 hour session, cost is $60 

My studio is open Tuesday thru Friday from 12-6pm, if you let me know a good time, I’ll try to accommodate you.  Only 3 students or less at one time.  

Beginners welcome!  

email me with questions at  Marianne@MarianneElson.com

or...stop by and say hello at Pink Raven Studio! 

The Artist's Magazine 33rd Annual Art Competition

I feel so honored ... 

5,900 applicants and one of my paintings made it as a finalist in this competition.

Thank you Artist Magazine!  I really appreciate you!!  

"Congratulations! Your artwork, "Race to the Finish", has been selected as a finalist in the Still Life/Interior category of The Artist's Magazine 33^rd Annual Art Competition. " Your name will appear among the lists of finalists published in the Jan/Feb 2017 issue."

Pinch me!! 

Hello Kitty

11"x 14", oil on canvas

Just a still life ....with fun stuff I happened to have around.

I've loved Hello Kitty since I was old enough to collect stickers, about 8yrs old.

She was the coolest sticker in my collection.....a puffy sticker, plastic...shaped like a vanilla wafer cookie (another passion of mine)  

Stickers and cookies, sometimes I feel like I've never grown up.  I'd still love to sort through an album or shoe box of stickers ...while munching on vanilla wafers.  

Maybe I'll start my collection of stickers again .....hmmm.

Hope your weekend is awesome!  Make time for fun!

Charming

"Charming"

12"x 12", oil on canvas

I love a good skull painting now and then!

This guy's still working it....some men don't know when to stop ;)

Enjoy your day out there!!

Thank you for looking!

Fierce

"Fierce" 

11" x 14", oil on canvas

I love to see others owning their individuality....cultivating it, creating it, nurturing it and last but not least....Enjoying their uniqueness. 

This young lady is beautiful....and embracing who she is.  It's a big part of her charm.

 I loved painting this one....focusing for a moment... only on her.

Thank you for looking!

Make sure to let "You" shine today! 

Charcoal drawing

Charcoal drawings have such a natural tendency to create a mood.  Reminds me of black and white photography....which is where my artistic cravings started.   

Lunch Break

"Lunch Break"

12"x 12", oil on canvas

I finished this one in my new studio in downtown Anchorage, Alaska.

I'm loving my new space....the door is open and I get to talk with the coolest people!

Tonight is my first "event" in my new place... I'm having a First Friday event from 5:30 - 7:30.

I'll have goodies to eat...if you're in the area, come say hello!

135 Christensen Dr, Anchorage

at the corner of  2nd avenue and Christensen Dr

Downtown Studio

I have a new studio in downtown Anchorage, Alaska.

A small space to show my paintings and other possibilities.

I'm going to just go with it...see what happens, let it shape it's self.

If you would like to come say hi, or take a look....

The address is 

135 Christensen Dr.  Anchorage, Alaska

More paintings at Modern Dweller's

"Floral Still Life"  12"x 12", oil on canvas

"Dandelion"  12"X 12", oil on canvas

"Into the Wind"  12"x 12", oil on canvas

A few more paintings hanging at 

Modern Dweller's until the end of this month  :)

Show at Modern Dweller's Chocolate Lounge

"Branches with Blossoms"

16" x 40", oil on canvas

I just hung a show at a wonderful Chocolatier in Anchorage, Alaska.

16 Paintings in all....they will be on display and for sale during the month of April.

Go down and take a look and sip on some wonderful liquid chocolate ....or bite into a delicious truffle, you won't be disappointed :)

Modern Dwellers Chocolate Lounge

530 East Benson Blvd, Anchorage, Alaska 99503

phone # 907-677-9985

Flowers...

This is a detail of a larger floral painting I just finished.

I'm painting flowers for an upcoming show!

It feels great focusing my eyes and mind on color, warmth and nature waking up from 

a long winter of sleep. 

Spring is right around the corner....but in my studio, its already here!! :)

Thank you for looking....and reading!  :)

Mike

"Mike"  16" x 20", oil on canvas

A Sunday painting of my husband. 

I'd love to do a series of paintings of him... maybe once a week.

I feel a bit rusty at painting people, but I'm happy with how it turned out  :) 

Thank you for looking!

Lunch Together

"Lunch Together"

18"x 18", oil on canvas

Another diner scene  :)

This is just before a waitress, with a southern accent, brings me a juicy hamburger with a side of crispy french fries.

Wait.... I forgot to paint the mustard and catsup!

Thank you for looking!

Diner

"Diner"

16"x 16", acrylic on canvas

I paint with acrylics once a week now...the rest of the time I'm very happy with my oil paints.  This is the still life from today's lesson.

I have a student that wants to learn to paint... in acrylics.  I warned her that it would be an experiment... the paintings she likes of mine are all in oils.  She thinks I can do anything.  It's so nice seeing someone have that kind of confidence in me, so I have to rise to the occasion.  I'd hate to spoil the illusion.  

It's great practice...all that color mixing..over and over... 

I'm learning a lot myself!

The upside side is....The painting is already dry!

How cool is that?!

It's really cool  :)

Thank you for reading!

Tuesday night drawing sessions

There is a Tuesday night drawing session in downtown Anchorage.

From 7:00 ~ 9:30, nude model, 18 yrs of age minimum....bring your own supplies....no instruction, 

just a group of us 

working on our drawing skills, 

all levels welcome! 

The session takes place at  ACAL, 225 E 5th ave, Anchorage.  Entrance is in the alley. 

Cost is $15 per session, or you can purchase 5 sessions for $50.

It's a wonderful opportunity to learn and grow!  

Come draw with us!

Warm winter day

Oil on canvas …size 16" x 20"

The temperatures have been so mild lately, the snow has melted and old dry grass is everywhere.

This time of year, that yellow, dry grass looks like gold to me.  Its so dark and grey at times in the winter, that my sensitivity to colors gets intensified…what I need to see comes to life.

I'm not sure if the day was quite this brilliant when I went out to paint, but to me it was…

that's what painting is all about…painting what we see, filtered through our eyes, heart and mind.

I used a new plein air painting box, well, its an old one, but new to me.  It's quick to set up and I can paint bigger now, outside.  Its called a yarka, and so far…I'm loving it!

Too fun!!  Thank you for looking!!

Night painting...

Night painting

 12"x16", oil on panel

Night painting is fun.  There's something really great about being out painting, at night in the dark.

It reminds me of childhood….playing outside in the winter, after dinner…it was always dark.

I used a book light this time.  I pointed it at my canvas and palette…worked great!

Thank  you for looking!! 

With Sprinkles Please

"With Sprinkles Please"

12" x 12", oil on canvas

Such a cheerful subject.   

I painted this about a month ago.  It was a fun little still life that I set up for a student, so I painted too  :)

Thank you for looking! 

Flower #12

"Flower  #12"

24" x 24", oil on canvas

Sold

"Flower #12", 24" x 24" oil on canvas…. okay, I've done this bouquet about 4 times, time to move on to another.

Thank you for looking!

Flowers #11

"Flowers  #11"

12" x 12", oil on canvas

Sold