Melody Cleary Oregon Artist blog - Landscape and Abstract Paintings - Melody Cleary - Oregon Fine Artist

"Trees" Quadriptych by Melody Cleary

4/17/2018

If you love forests, you'll love these four 6 x 6" panels that, combined, make up one landscape image.
They can also be separated and mounted horizontally or vertically. Or individually.
These are particular favorites of mine and the set is priced at $300, unframed.

Please contact me if you have an interest in purchasing them from my studio.

MELODY CLEARY - CONTEMPORARY LANDSCAPE, NATURE AND ABSTRACT PAINTINGS

Discoveries Within the Whole

4/12/2018

During the process, I sometimes use a mat to find more pleasing compositions within the larger work.
These three are examples from today's session.

MELODY CLEARY - CONTEMPORARY LANDSCAPE, NATURE, AND ABSTRACT PAINTINGS

Activating the substrate

4/8/2018

Delving into abstract I have learned to 'activate' the canvas, paper, or board which helps greatly
to just 'get going' and get past that blank surface. No preconceived notions....just being free. This, itself,
creates some wonderful design surprises when I zoom in to the piece at this exploratory stage.
Exciting!!

MELODY CLEARY - CONTEMPORARY LANDSCAPE, ABSTRACT, AND NATURE INSPIRED
PAINTINGS

Abstract Landscape - "In Spring" by Melody Cleary

4/2/2018

This composition was based on a small black and white intuitive study. The marks were random
but somehow a landscape image always comes out of me. I'm very excited about this new way
of creating paintings that are alive with my personal marks.

"In Spring"
Acrylic mixed media on 140# watercolor paper
10.5 x 21 inches
$300 unframed

If you have an interest in it, please send me a message on my Contacts page.

MELODY CLEARY - CONTEMPORARY LANDSCAPE, NATURE AND ABSTRACT PAINTINGS

Pardon for my absence

1/6/2018

I haven't posted since October due to neck/arm issues again....and well, the holidays when I get little art accomplished. November began with me joining artist Nancy Hillis' Studio Journey online workshop to help keep my hand in in a small way. It's all about ABSTRACTS!! Each month we are given her 'bundle' or talks, demos, and study exercises focusing on working loose and unplanned....intuitively. And making your own unique marks....love the mark making. Good for me that one can go at their own pace.

Here are some examples of my experimentation.

So bear with me while I continue pacing myself and experimenting. Comments on my studies above are welcome.

MELODY CLEARY - CONTEMPORARY LANDSCAPE, NATURE AND ABSTRACT PAINTINGS

More work in progress

10/1/2017

These are 12x12 flat wood panels and I'm trying a new tool called a Catalyst silicone wedge to
apply all of the acrylic paint. Sometimes I also use a bristle brush to do some soft
blending. Just experimenting to see the effects I can achieve.

MELODY CLEARY - CONTEMPORARY LANDSCAPE, NATURE, AND ABSTRACT PAINTINGS

24 x 30 canvas in Process

8/20/2017

Continuing from my last post, this is how this painting has progressed so far. I set it in our
open garage to get the outdoor light. It's pretty obvious that it's a painting meant to
resemble water. If you enjoy it and wish to inquire about it, please contact me
at the Contact page. I love to hear any comments.

MELODY CLEARY - CONTEMPORARY LANDSCAPE, WATERSCAPE, NATURE PAINTINGS

New work continued

8/15/2017

I really liked the version on the left, at this stage, but didn't know how I wanted to proceed. So, facing
the fear of 'wrecking it', I decided to take it in a new direction and added some burnt umber dark
areas. I have two works on paper that helped encourage this step and gave me an idea
of what my goal is. The colors, so far, still work together. Below is the work on paper, still perhaps, unfinished.

MELODY CLEARY - CONTEMPORARY LANDSCAPE, WATERSCAPE AND ABSTRACT PAINTINGS

Small Abstract Paintings on paper

8/8/2017

Imagined Landscape #2

Imagined Landscape #1

Trees are all around me here in the Portland area. Suggestions of them appear in much of
my work. I can't help it! Their forms are so beautiful!

Each is 6 x 6 inches on watercolor paper; acrylic.

$40 each, no mat, no frame. Plus shipping.

Message me at the Contact page.

MELODY CLEARY - CONTEMPORARY LANDSCAPE, NATURE AND ABSTRACT PAINTINGS

New work on the easel

7/24/2017

24 x 30 x 1.5 canvas, acrylic. Work in progress.

Trying some new mixed tones to get this canvas reworked and headed in an
inspired direction. I love trees and the addition of those trunks did the trick.
Love the variety of restful greens. Plodding onward.

MELODY CLEARY - CONTEMPORARY LANDSCAPE PAINTINGS, CONTEMPORARY ABSTRACT PAINTINGS