Mary Rose O’Connell

COMING JANUARY

Welcome to my video library. These videos explore my process for painting landscape, seascape, and still life paintings. The fundamental principles involved in building a painting are repeated throughout each lesson. The design, drawing, value, color, and edge relationships within the artwork combine to make a strong composition.

It has been a pleasure to demonstrate, teach classes, share ideas, and host workshops throughout the years. Presenting lessons online is a new venture for me and I encourage your feedback and questions.

I look forward to sharing more videos in the months ahead. Approximately every two months I plan to present a new two hour live demonstration with questions and answers.  Additionally, I plan to post new instructional videos twice a month going forward, all of which will be added to the permanent library of videos on my page on Epiphany Fine Art.

Warm regards,
Mary Rose

Mary Rose O’Connell is best known for her dynamic oil paintings of the New England coast. Other genres she has mastered are her sensitive portrait, still life, and landscape paintings. She paints in her studio and en plein air in a representational style. Classically trained in the Boston School Tradition, her work shows a strong grounding in composition and design combined with the color and light of the 19th century Impressionists.
Along with being a national award-winning artist, Mary Rose was a past recipient of the Charles Family Foundation, Cape Ann Museum, Copley Society of Art Fellowship. Mary Rose is a juried artist member of the Copley Society of Art, the North Shore Arts Association, and the Rockport Art Association. She has exhibited with the Oil Painters of America, the American Impressionists Society, and the Allied Artists of America.
Mary Rose instructs students in composition and design techniques using oil, acrylic, gouache, and drawing mediums. In addition to the technical aspects, the classes focus on color, value, and edge relationships within the paintings. She conducts workshops throughout the United States and in Europe.

Mary Rose O'Connell photo

If we haven’t yet covered a topic you’d like to see let us know and we’ll add it to the list  Thanks! Send us an email

Materials

SPECIAL EVENTS:

Free Videos

4 videos found
105 views
Initially a design is created with structure lines. Color notes are added to compare the color and value relationships.
22 views
Continue to squint for the value relationships while applying five different color notes. As more color builds up start using softer brushes like sable or synthetic.
29 views
Adding more white with color brushed into it to create a sparkling light effect.
86 views
Mary Rose O'Connell welcomes you to her studio and new page on Epiphany Fine Art.

painting by Mary Rose O’Connell

Silver Subscription Videos

Videos Added in the Past Three Months

15 videos found
3 views
Initially, three oily colors are applied to the canvas. With a paper towel move aroung the paint and pull out the lights. Add more darks as needed. Continue to develop the composition and pay attention to the big value shapes.
4 views
Continue to wipe out and add paint to keep the value relationships, edge quality and design heading toward a pleasing result. Keep the shapes interesting and avoid sameness. Take frequent breaks, use a mirror, and keep your objectivity. Stop before ...
4 views
Finishing the painting. Continue to wipe out and add paint to keep the value relationships, edge quality and design heading toward a pleasing result. Keep the shapes interesting and avoid sameness. Take frequent breaks, use a mirror, and keep your ...
7 views
An intro to sketching with gouache.
4 views
After taking a break form a painting that you have been working on it becomes clear what the nest step is. In this painting adding more color and opaque paint contributes to the overall effect. Using more paint and allowing it to fall gently off your ...
4 views
How and why color charts are vital to your painting practice.
3 views
Block in to plan the design for a large scale oil painting
4 views
The opaque quality of this medium allows for easy adjustments to improve the design plan
2 views
Block in big color shapes for a pleasing design.
3 views
Block in a dynamic design creating drama.
3 views
Value charts, squinting down, and learning to see the relationships within the painting.
3 views
Types of varnish, when to varnish and why.
5 views
Please join Mary Rose for part 1 of this live oil painting seascape presentation as she demonstrates how to build a solid foundation for her composition, leading to a dynamic design. Attention is given to the relationship of design, drawing, value, ...
5 views
Determine the horizon line and add a few structure lines to begin establishing the design. Add color noted to compare the value and color relationships within the painting. Be aware of the lightest light and darkest dark. What are the leading edges ...
4 views
As the painting develops and the colors meet you should paint the edges as they are. Hard, soft or somewhere in between. Keep the most beautiful color and design in the area of the focal point.

Mary Rose O’Connell:

Archived Live Demos

1 video found
5 views
Please join Mary Rose for part 1 of this live oil painting seascape presentation as she demonstrates how to build a solid foundation for her composition, leading to a dynamic design. Attention is given to the relationship of design, drawing, value, ...

Demo Reference Materials

Mary Rose O’Connell’s Materials List
Mary Rose O’Connell’s Reference Images

The Basics

No videos found

Mary Rose O’Connell
The Basics

Seascapes

13 videos found
5 views
Today we are going to paint a plein air scene at Bass Rocks. Underpainting with Transparent red oxide and Gamsol (Odorless Mineral Spirits). This creates a blueprint for design, values, edge relationships. One bristle brush and Viva paper towels. The ...
5 views
Today we are going to paint a plein air scene at Bass Rocks. Underpainting with Transparent red oxide and Gamsol (Odorless Mineral Spirits). This creates a blueprint for design, values, edge relationships. One bristle brush and Viva paper towels. The ...
4 views
After taking a break form a painting that you have been working on it becomes clear what the nest step is. In this painting adding more color and opaque paint contributes to the overall effect. Using more paint and allowing it to fall gently off your ...
5 views
Part one: Block in and layout
3 views
Part two: As the painting develops care is taken to compare the value shapes, color temperature, drawing and edges.
3 views
Part three: Finishing the painting.
4 views
Part one: We begin by creating an abstract design of value and color shapes, as well as edges. While keeping the design in the lead.
3 views
Part two: As the painting develops care is taken to compare the value shapes, color temperature, drawing and edges.
3 views
Part three: Continuing the development of the painting
3 views
Part four: finishing the painting
4 views
Today we are going to paint a plein air scene at Pemiquid rocks. A small pencil sketch is advisable to determine your design. I used structure lines without any details. The lines are an integral part of this dramatic composition. Start to sdd color ...
5 views
Today we are going to paint a plein air scene at Pemiquid rocks. A small pencil sketch is advisable to determine your design. I used structure lines without any details. The lines are an integral part of this dramatic composition. Start to sdd color ...
5 views
Today we are going to paint a plein air scene at Pemiquid rocks. A small pencil sketch is advisable to determine your design. I used structure lines without any details. The lines are an integral part of this dramatic composition. Start to sdd color ...

Mary Rose O’Connell
Seascapes

Landscapes

5 videos found
3 views
Initially, three oily colors are applied to the canvas. With a paper towel move aroung the paint and pull out the lights. Add more darks as needed. Continue to develop the composition and pay attention to the big value shapes.
4 views
Continue to wipe out and add paint to keep the value relationships, edge quality and design heading toward a pleasing result. Keep the shapes interesting and avoid sameness. Take frequent breaks, use a mirror, and keep your objectivity. Stop before ...
4 views
Finishing the painting. Continue to wipe out and add paint to keep the value relationships, edge quality and design heading toward a pleasing result. Keep the shapes interesting and avoid sameness. Take frequent breaks, use a mirror, and keep your ...
5 views
Determine the horizon line and add a few structure lines to begin establishing the design. Add color noted to compare the value and color relationships within the painting. Be aware of the lightest light and darkest dark. What are the leading edges ...
4 views
As the painting develops and the colors meet you should paint the edges as they are. Hard, soft or somewhere in between. Keep the most beautiful color and design in the area of the focal point.

Mary Rose O’Connell
Landscapes

Still Life

3 videos found
4 views
In this video I will show from start to finish how to paint a pumpkin in a still life. Use a slight neural green mixture with Gamsol (OMS) to quiet the white of the canvas. Using a darker color make structure lines to determine where the shapes are ...
3 views
In this video I will show from start to finish how to paint a pumpkin in a still life. Use a slight neural green mixture with Gamsol (OMS) to quiet the white of the canvas. Using a darker color make structure lines to determine where the shapes are ...
4 views
In this video I will show from start to finish how to paint a pumpkin in a still life. Use a slight neural green mixture with Gamsol (OMS) to quiet the white of the canvas. Using a darker color make structure lines to determine where the shapes are ...

Mary Rose O’Connell
Still Lifes

Painting Winter

3 videos found
105 views
Initially a design is created with structure lines. Color notes are added to compare the color and value relationships.
22 views
Continue to squint for the value relationships while applying five different color notes. As more color builds up start using softer brushes like sable or synthetic.
29 views
Adding more white with color brushed into it to create a sparkling light effect.

Mary Rose O’Connell
Painting Winter

Using Gouache for Sketching

5 videos found
7 views
An intro to sketching with gouache.
3 views
Block in to plan the design for a large scale oil painting
4 views
The opaque quality of this medium allows for easy adjustments to improve the design plan
2 views
Block in big color shapes for a pleasing design.
3 views
Block in a dynamic design creating drama.

Mary Rose O’Connell
Using Gouache

Short Videos

3 videos found
4 views
How and why color charts are vital to your painting practice.
3 views
Value charts, squinting down, and learning to see the relationships within the painting.
3 views
Types of varnish, when to varnish and why.

Mary Rose O’Connell
Short Videos