Painting 30 in 30 - Day 14/Snow

"Snowsquall on the Central Plains"

9" x 12"

mixed media/acrylic on canvasboard

Painting 30 in 30 - Day 3/Abstract 2

 "Checkup ~ Part Deux"

10" x 10"

mixed media

Same drill as yesterday with a twist.

I have to always push myself to hold BACK on

the brush handle..as I often find

myself too detail'y' and too tight,

so I drew with black Sharpie

a line in the sand...don't cross it.

For the most part I didn't.

This one didn't take as long as the other one...but I imagine

number 3 will go even faster.

Palette is all set up,

steps were already figured out.

The only change was how to 

manipulate the image.

I had help as usual from Pye and Mika.

They are my studio cats.

They almost don't fit on the window ledge together anymore.

Here are number 1 and number 2 - 

challenge for tomorrow, make ONE more to go with them.

I noticed that the gold Sharpie 

paint pen didn't show up as well on

number 2.  I think it's because the

entire painting was still damp.

Numero Uno - 30 Paintings in 30 Days Challenge

"Miss Priss"

6" x 6"

oil on pine veneer

NUMBER ONE!!!  Woohoo - Happy New Year!  I hit the ground runnin' today

and got this first one done in no time!  I had DH cut me down some great 

cabinet remnants I picked up a few years ago, (thanks Linda).  They are cut into

small 6" x 6" squares for this challenge.  I sanded them all, primed them with gesso,

then covered them with a colored coat of acrylic - this one is an eggplant purple underneath.

Miss Priss belongs to my cousin in Texas, Debbie.  She has LOTS of doggies, and rescues 

and advertises LOST dogs alot.  She (and her daughter and niece) are dog lovers extraordanaire.

Because of her dedication, I chose Priss to be my first painting of the new year.

Priss is sooo tiny  and a real heart stealer - she is a chihuahua.  

P.S., my focus will be 'pets' - but what I am really working on is 

big strokes of paint,

with minimal 'detail' strokes.

FYI

DAY 24 of 30 Paintings in 30 Days

"Herman's Hideaway"

6" x 12"

oil on wrapped canvas

(will be painted around the edges to match 

the continuation of the scene)

When we first moved to farmland Kansas, we thought it was gonna be

so neat to let our dogs run!  We did for a very short

time, and you will understand why.

Our black and tan dachshund, Herman, really was

a TRUE badger dog.

He hunted as much as he could..from squirrel to raccoon 

to bird to bunny to cat.

He loved the chase!  Don't worry, he never got a cat.

One day he slipped away down the road on our property

and stuck his head into a tree like the one above,

barking and creating such a fuss.

I just knew by the sound of it,

he had cornered something 

good - for him.

Long story shortened...we eventually had to pull him out of the hole

in that tree

by the tail and backend..he had gone so far into

it, it was starting to 

become doubtful if we let it go

longer that we could help him out.

From that day forward, we had to keep a

very close eye on Herman.

There are just too many wild critters

to let a smallish dog go running.

Fast forward...we did an RV trip to

Indian Cave State Park in Nebraska

a few years back. While doing some site

seeing we ran into all these great trees,

growing right along the bank of where

they had dug the road.

This tree caught my eye - a PERFECT tree

for Herman!! 

Herman's INVITING SPACE!!

He is no longer with us - but boy,

that dog left us many good and fun memories!

DAY 23 of 30 Paintings in 30 Days

"Accent Pillow"

6" x 8"

oil on canvasboard

This is from a photo at my mom and dad's house - usually an

afternoon cocktail

on the side table or on the coffee table - it was afternoon.

Done in whites and beiges - this accent pillow was a real savior!

Today was a quick one..DH brought home a virus from Colorado...

I have been keeping it at bay for the last 7 days..it finally

took hold, just as I knew it would.

Going to go rest now..

DAY 22 of 30 Paintings in 30 Days

"Can't Put it Down"

9" x 12"

oil on canvasboard

SOLD

Folds in cloth have always been a challenge.

What better time to give it a whirl 

in an environment of experimentation?

Day 21 of 30 Paintings in 30 Days

"Dreams of Marrakesh"

9" x 12"

acrylic on masonite

Today was a BOMB.  

I started late, then had to leave for awhile...

only to return late afternoon

and run out of inspiration.

I had an idea on this one, it didn't work.

Chalk it up to PRACTICE!!

Today's toons:

Sheryl Crow

Coldplay

David Crosby

James Taylor (the 'other' J.T.)

Vertical Horizon

Day 18 of 30 Paintings in 30 Days

"Erosion"

9" x 12"

oil on canvasboard

Glad I chose this theme, INVITING SPACES, because it seems that in my

pile of photos to paint, I can come up with a myriad

of reasons why each one is fits the theme.

A couple of years ago, one piece of our RV summer trip was through Utah - specifically

Arches National Park.

I could spend many days there, photographing.

I have tons of these rock formation photos, but found this one to be so interesting

with the blue sky sticking through the naturally formed arch.

Thinking of how many millions of years these rocks have withstood

the tests of time and the elements.

Amazes me!

DAY 17 - of 3- Paintings in 30 Days

"Bird of Paradise"

7" x 10"

mixed media ~ watercolor and pastel

on Arches hot press watercolor paper

 

This watercolor needed some boost, so out came the pastels,

plus I can always trust pastels to give me the COLOR I need.

The source photo for this was taken by ME on my Guatemala painting trip

several years ago.  These tropical plants grew right outside the door at one 

of the buildings on a property we visited.

On the tunes carousel today:

RUSH (2 of 'em - one of my favorite bands)

Lionel Richie

Rascal Flatts

and one other, I forgot to write down

and can't think of it at the minute..

It also started with R.....

DAY 15 of 30 Paintings in 30 Days

"Come Sit a Spell"

8" x 8"

acrylic on Arches oil paper

I borrowed a photo from the 'family' album.  It was from 

my family's yearly summer vacation when I was little - 

a black and white - obscure and dark photo - 

to say the least.

So I have imagined color...I had the value - 

dark under the trees

and light beyond to the driveway and the barn 'out yonder' 

and removed

the people from the chairs.

I always felt this 'scene' was an 'inviting space'.

Although, not shown in the circle that usually happened,

these old metal lawn chairs 

(and an occasional kitchen table chair) 

represent a placement of adults, usually the men,

situated under the canopy of several shade

trees..in the heat of the day in Southeast Missouri.

.

Many a story was told in this space.

Some I definitely remember, some have

been retold many times to me.

It is such a part of fond memories about 

visits to the farm where my grandparents lived.

I have a little more work to do on the gate it looks like.

It looks like a gate for giants..and chairs for lilliputians.

Oh well, it's practice.

Kittens were on my shoulders and in my face 

all painting time today - ugh!  

Some days we have a 'good fit' going on, and other days

not so much, this was one of those days - extra play time

necessary - and we had fun!

Their favorite thing to do, play 'chase the laser light'.

They are getting really good at catching it.

Makes for good hunters down the line!

HALFWAY THERE!!

DAY13 of 30 Paintings in 30 Days

"Entry Shelf"

5" square

mixed media/watercolor and pastel

on Arches watercolor paper

This is another one that has been 

in my stack for some time.  

I thought it would fit into my theme 

if I tell you that it is an inviting sight 

when you walk into my back door.   Works for me!

I also went for the blurred edges where I could.

The Crescendo

If you DO art and you are looking for a GREAT way to start 2014 go to Leslie Saeta's 'Slices of Life' blog and read about the '30 Paintings in 30 Days Challenge' and then think about joining in the fun and find your way out of the fog of 2013.

I found it a super way to hit the ground - running!  

Seems that my painting has really waned here at the end of the year..maybe yours has to, sometimes not because we don't want to paint, but because of the busy time of year for other activities.  

Stay tuned - check back on New Year's Eve.

#20 of 30 Paintings in 30 Days

"Driveway Sentinel"

8" x 12"

oil on Arches oil painting paper

(OK I am posting too early - but I want to..cause I just finished this one)

I can't believe this is #20, but when I look at all the newly painted canvases in the studio, I am largely aware, that I (as well as a number of other artists) have been very busy, doing mainly one thing - 

PAINTING in the month of January - 2013.  

See those other artists at Leslie Saeta's Slice of Life Blog HERE.

I painted for '5 CD's worth' today - that is how I gauge my time, by the number of CD's that have played.  On my playlist today, Sheryl Crow, Beatles, and Rush.

I feel good - because I got "day #21" 'blocked in'!  The painting above was done from a photo taken on a dreary, wet, and cloudy day.  The one below,  is extreme bright sun - my favorite kind of photo!

The edges of each painting using the Arches paper - is taped for a 'edge effect' - since it's paper, I tone it with Red Oxide straight acrylic paint.  I feel the need to put it under matboard and glass.  I know some don't like that, they like to touch the painting.  If I had a 'dry mount machine' I could leave them open without the aforementioned, but that hasn't happened yet. Some day...

I do my own matting and framing for the most part. 

Please click on the Daily Paintworks, Etsy or Red Bubble widget 

on my sidebar to see what is available - originals, as well as prints and notecards.  

I do not have gallery representation at this time.

#18 of 30 Paintings in 30 Days Challenge

"Yucatan Man"

7" x 7"

oil on Arches oil paper

It was only a matter of time, I hit the wall yesterday afternoon while working on a #18 painting - not this one, but a different one.  Had to think about it today.  In the meantime, this one just off the easel and will DO! 

Painted from a little clay statue that my daughter got for me - many years ago - in Merida, Mexico.  I have always wanted to paint him.  

He wasn't as easy as I thought he would be.  

I DO like the new

(maybe not so new anymore) ARCHES oil paint paper. I like the way the brushes and paint respond to the surface.

Leslie Saeta's 30 in 30 BLOG - HERE.

Number 17 in a 30 Paintings in 30 Days Challenge

"Japanese Bantam"

6" x 6"

oil on Raymar canvasboard

NFS

This is a painting of MY (1) rooster, Queenie.  He is a Banty Rooster, very comical and quite ditzy - but I suppose a lot of roosters are.  They have only two purposes, as I see it...to give morning and/or warning crows and to help with fertilization of the eggs (we collect each day's eggs so that isn't happening) - but we get a kick out of him just the same. 

He is way smaller than my large Sussex hen 

(painting of chick, a few days back is 'she'), 

and she puts up a fight 

every time he begins his 'love' dance. 

Don't tell him - but he's a follower, not a leader....

30 Paintings in 30 Days - Day #16...wow!

"Daylilies"

9" x 12"

palette knife oil on gessoboard

(click on this one, you have to see the heavy impasto)

OK, I have done my 'palette knife painting' 

for this '30 in 30'...it was

challenging!  

30 Paintings in 30 Days - Number 8

"Natural Fiber"

6" x 6"

oil on canvasboard

Leslie Saeta's '30 Paintings in 30 Days' Challenge is HERE.