 "Until the End" © Fawn McNeill 2025 "I am with you until the very end." (Jesus) Matthew 28:20 This is a takeoff from an older painting. The color scheme is the same and the rocks and hills are very similar. I added more sparkle on the water, some clouds, distant birds, an angel, distant trees, and the large foreground tree (for better aerial perspective and depth). It feels good to get back to creating something bright and colorful. Even better to remember the Lord is still with me even when I doubt everything. Small steps. ~ Original Acrylic on stretched canvas ~ 8 x 10 inches ~ Not for sale Click here for other blog posts: Random Thoughts
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 "Rainy Day Angels" © Fawn McNeill 2025 The rain slows and the light peeks through. The broken heart in the clouds is surrounded by ministering angels. (Symbolism on so many levels.)
Waves of emotions that overwhelm me, rain for tears, sunlight for hope, and angels to remind me that I'm not alone. The Lord has sent so many amazing reminders that he loves me, He is still with me, and I will see my son again. I mostly work in acrylics or watercolors because they dry quickly, and there are no solvents involved. Recently, I have done some restorations in oils, and a commission on a saw blade (last year). I love the way they blend easily. So, while I have my oils out for restorations, I am creating a few paintings in oils. Some technicalities: oils do not dry by evaporation. They oxidize and harden. They continue this process, and very old paintings will crack as they age. Oils must be built up from lean to fat, which means each layer has more linseed oil added to the paint so the top layers dry slower. This helps the paint to dry properly and not crack prematurely. I love the beginning stages of thinned oil painting. The abstract nature of quickly covering a canvas is exhilarating! However, the solvents do not like me at all. I have had severe adverse reactions which included extreme pain in my abdomen, couldn't breathe, severe headaches, passed out, sinus infections, and coughing up blood. I've had similar issues from fragrances in cosmetics and cleaning house with anything but natural cleaners. Now I use natural solvents when working with oils, which I also use sparingly, as they do have a strong odor. After the base coat has dried, I try to do most of the painting in one session, instead of layers, then the finishing details get added with some linseed oil. The drying time is a week or two before adding the details. (Acrylics take about ten to fifteen minutes to dry.) It is worth the extra effort, and I hope to get a few more underway while I'm working on the restorations. The stormy paintings are a kind of art therapy I guess, which my instructors at Florida Atlantic University frowned upon. But I need to get through this. There is no way around the intense pain and overwhelming sea of emotions. So, for now, this is an attempt to find my way through the saddest days of my life. ~ Original Oil on hardboard ~ 11 x 14 inches ~ Not for sale Click here to see more More blog posts: Random Thoughts  "Storm Billows Roll" © Fawn McNeill 2025 One of my instructors at FAU told me, "It's not about painting your feelings. What do you want to emote? Can you make others feel what you want them to feel, whether you felt it or not? For years I have been celebrating bright colors and joy in my paintings. After having done many pieces that were too serious or had backdrops of rain to symbolize tears, I decided I wanted to emote joy in this dark world full of sorrow. I started the palette knife angel series to break away from realism and bring thoughts of a better place. Then I created mixed media pieces to explore a more playful and fun expression. Plus, I wanted to break the rules and just create things without restrictions. My art has been my way to cope. It used to bring me peace of mind and healthy emotions as I worshipped God and relived beautiful memories through my art. I have felt so lost lately, so unable to find that peace of mind and joy. I still play my worship music, I still thank the Lord for the good things, and I still try to work through it, even if I am crying again. But I cannot paint happy wonderful works these days. I get frustrated, can't think straight, the colors aren't working, and the destructive attitude sets in. Then I paint gray over it or tear it up (if it's on paper). My answer to my instructor is "no." For now, I can't. I have decided that it might be best to paint storms, grays, and unfocused works. Maybe it will help if I get my feelings out and stop fighting the tears. Let them flow, be honest and accept this season for what it is: the hardest thing you can learn to live with, your child is no longer here. Click here to read more. ~ Original acrylic on stretched canvas ~ 8 x 10 inches ~ Not for sale Click here to see more More blog posts: Random Thoughts Click on an image to see related posts:
 "Welcome to Okeechobee" Signed and numbered prints 19 x 28 inches (including the white border) I've had a few requests for these old prints lately. They are still available and in very good condition. The original oil painting is 3 x 4 feet and hangs in Raulerson Hospital to the right of the check-in counter. The prints can be seen in many businesses in town. I created this original collage from my own photos: the old courthouse, the livestock market, fishing on Lake Okeechobee, camping trips on the Kissimmee River, cattle ranches, rodeos, the old sign that used to greet you from all sides of our little town, the Seminole woman who wanted to pose for me, wildlife, and dairy farms! Each part was free-handed and took almost a year to finish. My draft was selected from several artist that put in a bid, and my projected time frame for completing it was longer than the other artists. I was honored to win the bid! The Brahman Bull is one of the Prescott's bulls from years ago, and the little brown calf was actually on a dairy farm with the Holstiens. I loved it because I had never seen one that color, only tan or black and white. I get a lot of flack for including it with the dairy cows. People say it is beef cattle, not dairy. Maybe so, but it was in the pen with the dairy cows! Anyway, this painting holds many wonderful memories that I got to share with everyone through this painting. For best results these prints should be framed behind glass with acid-free mats and backing. Acid-free materials slow down the aging process, causing it to turn yellow or brown and also makes it brittle. Mats keep the print off of the glass (which can cause moisture to ruin the image). Also, prints should never be hung near a window, as this can fade the ink much more quickly than it would normally fade. (Unfortunately, prints do not last as long as an original painting.) Custom framing is expensive, but it protects and preserves the photos, heirlooms, and artwork for many years. Always request acid-free materials, as some framers put cardboard backing behind the image, which speeds up the aging process. ~Published from an original oil painting (created in 1992).
~ Off set lithographs. ~ Limited edition run of 550. ~ 140 prints remaining. ~ Shipped flat, in a clear bag. ~ Acid-free foamcore backing behind the print, in the bag. ~ Ready to frame. ~ $150.00 each (Includes shipping in the US). Email me for availability: [email protected] Click here to see more  "In the Morning" ". . . O LORD, in the morning will I direct my prayer unto thee, and will look up." Psalm 5:3 This little cheeseboard called out to me, "Lets go to the beach!" Wood grain makes for great patterns in the sand, and it's a nice surface to use as a support. Sanding the wood insures not only smoothness, but also gives it better absorption. You never know if there might be an oil based finish on it. (Acrylics do not adhere well to an oil based or plastic finish. Over time they tend to peel off.) Priming the surface with a clear matte sealer makes it easy to wipe away mistakes. I like to keep some of the wood showing through the painting. I also like to keep the paint transparent by using Matte Medium instead of thinning the paint with water. I followed the darker grain patterns and played in the splash using a small old frayed brush, keeping the paint opaque for the bright highlights. The shells were added last with a tiny round detailer. It doesn't always happen, but I love it when a painting comes together like this! ~ Original acrylic on Wood ~ 5 3/4 inches Diameter ~ Wire across the back for easy hanging ~ Not Available Click here to see more Click here to read about my personal struggles with sorrow for the last five months Clik on an image to see related posts:
 "Early Birds" Finally finished this challenging painting! I started it when my right hand was injured, and I wore a brace for 10 months (until May 2024). I challenged myself to use my left hand! I did alright with the larger brushes, and some of the knife work, but I struggled with the details, especially the seafoam and the birds. While adding highlights in the clouds and splash to the waves yesterday, I said out loud, "Wow, I love that!" Which surprised me. Then I laughed. Haven't been excited about my art in a long time. Infact, I've had to back away before destroying some pieces. (I've not been happy with much of anything since my son passed away a few months ago. Click here to read more.) Needless to say, I'm very proud of myself to have actually completed a painting that I enjoyed creating and I love it! Hopefully, now I'll get motivated to finish a few more. ~ Original acrylic on stretched canvas ~ 12 x 16 inches ~ Ready to frame ~ $850.00 ~ Email me for availability: [email protected] Click here to see more Click on an image for related posts:  "Eternal Praise" Started this fun little piece as a knife painting more than a year ago. It is a take-off from "Eternal Joy."
I'm making myself work through the tears and frustration. But it has not worked out. I have destroyed a piece in progress and cancelled a commission. Mostly, I sit at my easel and fight the tears. So, in hopes of actually finishing a piece, I decided to create something fun and playful. I think just signing my name is a huge step as I try to learn how to function through this heartache and grief. I added iridescent white and metallic gold before adding the beads. Beads are fun to sort through and find the colors and sizes I want to use. I laid the beads out in different colors and formations on the painting to choose what looked the best. Matte gel medium is great to adhere them. I love matte gel medium (Liquitex brand) because it dries clear without a shine. It is also permanent (once the gel medium is dry it is difficult to remove the items). The matte is easy to paint over if I want to change the color. The butterflies are made out of paper clay. Paper clay is a lightweight, air-dry clay. It has paper fibers added to the clay, which makes it stronger. I put it in molds and let them dry before popping them out. It is fun to lay them on the painting and rearrange them until I find the pattern or placement I want to use. Then I paint the backs in colors that match the area they will be placed in. I painted each butterfly specific to the flowers or background (with tiny brushes) after adhering them to the painting. Then I got out the chunky glitter paint. Messy fun! I tried adding tiny bits to the butterflies and to the angel. Had to remove the larger chunks as best as I could, especially on the butterflies. Had it all over me before it was over, I was sparkling! The appearance of the painting changes as you view it from different angles. It catches the eye. You can see the light dancing off of the beads and the glitter paint. Enjoy! ~ Original Mixed Media ~ Acrylic knife painting ~ Created on hardboard with professional materials ~ 11 x 14 inches ~ Not available Click here to see more These are both older paintings. "Endless Hope" is from the first series of knife painting angels I did years ago. "Eternal Joy" is one of my newer mixed media angels, which I love to create!
I have only finished one painting this year. It was for a beginner's art lesson. It was of an angel, but it needs detail, mixed media objects, or glitter paint (or something) added to it. It was finished enough and simple for the lesson, but now I want to add more interest to it. It did help me get through some of the depression I've been struggling with. My son, Kyle, battled cancer for the last two and a half years. This past year the cancer spread to his liver. It was nine months of struggling and suffering before the Lord mercifully took him home March 21st. He was 37 with a wife and 2 kids. I have tried to paint, but mostly I still break down and cry. It has been an extremely difficult month: Kyle's birthday was on the 5th, Mother's Day the 11th, graduations, and three more birthdays in our family. All that and today is Memorial Day. He was no longer active military, but the cancer came from working on repairing fuel systems in fighter jets. He was awarded 100% disability with the VA last year. This will be a tremendous help for his wife and children as they face the difficult years ahead. I have not done well in public places. I was forced to deal with situations that completely overwhelmed me. I've had several meltdowns (one in the middle of a crowd) and many more sleepless nights. Here are some links if you want to read more about it: Random Thoughts: My Son (About the cancer and the memorial). Random Thoughts: Venting Random Thoughts: Turning point Random Thoughts: Joy in the sorrow. Started painting again. Random Thoughts: One day at a time.  "Quiet Praise" © Fawn McNeill 2024 “The flowers appear on the earth; the time of singing has come . . .” Song of Salomon 2:12 New flowers in my kitchen window. They seem to sing praises to the Lord in their own silent way. I started with a grayish-green background, thinking it would set the flowers off, but I quickly added more blues and used the greens at the bottom instead. I like the brighter colors. This painting is headed to a solo show in Orlando for a few months, along with nine other pieces! I'm so excited! ~ Original Art
~ Acrylic on Gallery Wrap Linen Canvas ~ 8 x 10 x 2 inches ~ Sides are painted, framing is optional ~ $550.00 ~ Email me for availability: [email protected] Click here to see more  "Glowing Ibis" © Fawn McNeill 2004 ". . . Put on the armor of light." Romans 13:12 Windy morning, the sun shone right through his feathers. I got a few pictures of this ibis before he took off. This painting is part of a series of ten paintings that started with dripping-wet abstract backgrounds. I added the opaque layers of detail after it dried. This is a very messy and fun technique. I covered the floor under my easel with spots and splatters everywhere! The thin paint acted like watercolors on the canvas, which was fun to watch spread and run. However, it jeapardized the paint quality, so I used several layers of clear sealer to keep the paint from rubbing off later. ~ Original Art ~ Acrylic on Canvas ~ 12 x 16 inches ~ Custom frame: textured wood (see below) ~ $1,700.00 ~ Email me for availability: [email protected] Click here to see more   "Muffin" I like the little purple bows, she is so darn cute!
But, I love the eyes the most, and creating the soft fur was also enjoyable. I wanted the focus to be on the eyes and not on the pretty bows. My grandmother would say, "Well now, she looks like she could jump right off the page!" (She got me started doing commissioned pieces when I was 12 years old.) This painting was challenging to get the background to compliment the puppy and not take the attention away from her. I tried a few different ideas and finally got something not too loud or too dull. I think the small weeds and wildflowers tied it all together perfectly. They set Muffin off nicely. I love the way the colors came together in the end. I'm quite proud of this one!  "Delicate Dance" © Fawn McNeill 2009 "You have turned my mourning into joyful dancing" Psalm 30:11 Lovely shades of peach, champagne, red, and even yellow (occasionally) all bloom on one bush near my carport. It started as a small plant 20 years ago and is now taller than I am. We were amazed as it blossomed in so many different colors. I'm sure the flower shop we purchased it from grafted it, but the various colors of flowers have always been random -- scattered throughout the whole plant, not just on one side, or off of one branch, as you would expect. I created this painting just after my husband underwent the first of two brain surgeries. It was amazing to watch his brain rewire and memories come back to him over the next couple of years. He is a true miracle! I worked from photos of the plant when it was not very tall. The flowers swayed in the wind as if dancing and praising our creator. So, I tipped the flower more upward than sideways for a dramatic effect: as if it were singing to the sky. ~ Original Art
~ Acrylic on Gallery Wrap Canvas ~ 24 x 30 x 1.5 inches ~ Sides are painted, framing is optional ~ $2,900.00 ~ Email me for availability: [email protected] Click here to see more  "Grandpa's Barn" I created this little gem from memory. Started this painting by sketching barns in different angels of perspective, and cropping them to fit in different formats and compositions. After drawing it onto the canvas, I built up the colors in thin layers before adding the thicker applications and splatering of snow. My grandpa's barn (in Libby, Montana) was a patchwork of boards and colors, so I simplified it with the sienna brown. He had built a little bunk house in the barn that my brothers stayed in during the summers. I'm not sure if I'm going to sell this one. Too many wonderful memories! ~ Original Art ~ Acrylic on canvas ~ 8 x 10 inches (plus frame) ~ Wide wood frame (see below) ~ $800.00 ~ Email me for availability: [email protected] Click here to see more   "Riverside Park" (Jensen Beach, Florida) © Fawn McNeill 2017 Fun little painting I did in Jensen Beach. Just got it out of storage and discovered I never posted it or showed it! So here it is, ready for my new upcoming show! I've been invited to display my work in Orlando at the Ritz-Carlton Resort! I'll keep you posted as to when that happens. between hurricanes and my trip back to see my family in Montana, I haven't quite got it all together yet. ~ Original Plein Air painting ~ Acrylic on hardbaord ~ 8 x 10 inches (plus frame) ~ Wide custom frame (see below) ~ $800.00.00 (includes shipping in the US) ~ Email me for availability: [email protected] Click here to see more   "Morning Glow" © Fawn McNeill 2015  I'm getting this older piece ready for a new show. Putting a new dust cover on the back, and touching up the frame. Reluctant to sell it, though, because it is from my front driveway. As the sun came up, it backlit these the flowers and made the driveway sparkle. I love the impressionistic feel, and yet the realism and detail could not be denied. I often bounce back and forth between thicker brush strokes and more detail. I love both styles and am most satisfied when I can achieve both. I call it 'realistic impressionism'. Not sure if that is such a thing. Enjoy! ~ Original Art ~ Acrylic on hardbaord ~ 14 x 18 inches (plus frame) ~ Custom frame with sculpted lip (see below) ~ $2,000.00 (includes shipping in the US) ~ Email me for availability: [email protected] Click here to see more  Click on an image to see a related post:
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