Doin' the Happy Dance - Cause This is NUMBER 30!!!!

"Chaco-matic"

6" x 6"

oil on Raymar canvasboard

NUMBER 30 IN 30 PAINTINGS IN 30 DAYS!!

I have painted my Weimar in this challenge - 

so it's only fair to paint my red Doxie, Chaco, by himself.

He is my little buddy, he is a lap dog 

and snuggles with us on the

bed at night, misses me when I am gone and 

can't leave me alone anytime - when

I am here.  

Whatever room I am in, he is there.  

WELL - that's the challenge!  I did it!  

I never thought I couldn't.  

But what I realize IS all this painting and feeling

more confident than ever, 

will all fritter away with the

wind, if I don't keep up my momentum.

I WILL be taking a few days off to get some beginning of the year stuff going, which I have neglected terribly.

Would I do it again?  Maybe - - if I had taken a head's-up approach.  I took it on - as just a whim, at first..serious, although a quick decision was made when I saw Leslie's blog.  I guess that is the beauty of being an artist, you can adjust to things that come your way that relate to your art.

I could see taking a 5 day week once in awhile and doing a painting every day.

It keeps you thinking quickly, moving along, without getting hung up on little stuff and looking at the overall - I caught myself saying, "What is the MOST important thing I want to work here?"

I have learned alot - mostly about color mixing and value AND finding a balance between a 'painterly' approach and a more 'classical' approach is something I will always work on.  I have seen a lot of other's great artworks,  made a few friends, received lots of nice compliments,  my blog traffic has grown, I have gained some new 'followers',  and basically come to realize what it has to be -

to get some serious artwork done - 

GO TO THE STUDIO..

GOOD DAY OR NOT.

I love my ritual.

I live 'in the zone' MORE now.

Thanks to Leslie - for providing the opportunity, 

the cheerleading,

and the challenge to paint.

I have 30 new paintings - staring at me now.

Several have sold - and I am grateful for that.

Many are listed on Etsy or Daily Paintworks if you 

are interested.  See my sidebar.

P.S. If you have been a frequent visitor, I hope to help you stay interested

in visiting in the future.  Painting is my life - and I WILL blog about it.

Number 29 - only ONE more to be 30 in 30!!

"I Dare You!"

9" x 12"

oil on Raymar canvasboard

Rudy is an internet friend's Yellow Lab.  I asked permission

to use her photo on FB.  I could not resist!  

He is just too cute.

Needing that warmth, but having his tennis ball, never

too far away,  just in case!

This one was a real challenge - hard to be 

painterly with draped 

blankets - one needs to create that 'flow'.

The top of the forehead and eye in the darkness 

was interesting to do, also.

NUMBER 29 - back out to the studio for NUMBER 30!! 

Number 28 out of 30 Paintings in 30 Days

"Croakerette"

9" x 12"

oil on Raymar canvasboard

#28 in 30

I have never, ever tried a frog before.  

I used a photo off of Paint My Photo.

Two more to complete the challenge.

 This Thursday, Leslie Saeta will moderate

a radio program on her blog

Artist's Helping Artists - highlighting the feedback

of the members of this painting challenge.

It will air at 9:00 PST/12:00 EST.

I will be there - will you?

Purchase info see my Etsy store HERE.

Number 27 in a Challenge to Paint 30 in 30 Days

"Snow Dog"

12" x 12"

oil on gallery wrapped canvas

SOLD

This one was just plain fun!  The Sheltie's name is 'Patch'.  

He belongs to 

my friend Caprice in Midway, Utah.

I saw this photo of him and just HAD to paint it!

This is bigger than I have been painting and I LOVE it! 

Oops, somehow this published, although I had it set for tomorrow.

Number 26 out of 30 Paintings in 30 Days Challenge

"Moose"

7" x 7"

Oil on Arches OLEO

Wet paint causes shine again.  I usually wait for a few days to photograph 

my paintings to avoid that.

This moose is a 'local' (in Colorado) at a 

National Forest campground 

we frequent in the RV.

I will be doing a large one - whole body - soon, 

thought I would take this opportunity

to get a feel for him.

Only 4 more days to go!

30 PAINTINGS IN 30 DAYS CHALLENGE

See more at Leslie Saeta's "Slice of Life" blog.

Number 25 out of 30 Paintings in 30 Days

"Chickenator II"

6" x 6"

oil on Raymar canvasboard

NFS

Last night when I finished this one, 

I did not have good enough natural light 

to photograph it, 

so waited til today.

I photographed it just now..but

something about the color isn't quite the same, 

there is a little pink in the legs that isn't showing. 

I painted more color into her than she has - 

she is my Banty hen - 

reminds me so much of a flying dinosaur 

when I look into her face.

Must have PSE'd it too light - but gotta go with it.

This IS what the chicken looks like.  I, once again, tightened up.  

Must be something I just have to continue to work on.

Number 25 accounted for!

#24 - 30 out of 30

"Chickenator I"

oil on Arches OLEO

(very wet paint)

6" x 6"

I keep finding out that if I wait to paint 

til later in the day - 

like today, I run into all kinds of issues.  

I always underpaint with red oxide, 

almost always, anyway.

Today, I had the bright idea (I thought) to use a 

blue/green acrylic.  

I was looking to maybe help the ground in this painting...

it was a dull gray/drab photo of my hen Chickenator.

Learned that I shouldn't do that one..

made everything cold and gray and drab.  

Although as I stated yesterday, 

Chickenator is a great camouflage bird, 

she blends in with the ground - 

so I had to push the colors - 

but didn't push them enough.

Tomorrow I am going to paint her again (#25)..

using red oxide undertone and a little different pose.  

If I paint my animals, they always end up 

on the wall in my house.  

I put these three chicken paintings up 

against one another.

Queenie - 1st one done..kind of tight, harder edges 

and it took many hours..

Harlough, finished yesterday, looser, less fuss with color, bolder brushstrokes...several (but not as many) hours..

And today - finished in 2 hours - very loose, 

lots of paint on the brush, more uncalculated and wilder 

brushstrokes...go figure...

it takes me awhile to LOOSEN up - 

loose and painterly - I like that alot.

This last one seems to have movement - 

AND shows how cold it was yesterday.

And why are they all facing the same way?  That's

where the sun is in the afternoon, in the 

southwest on the south

side of the coop 

where I take my photos and observe from.

So maybe I have found my niche  

as to 'how I can loosen up and get more 

bold with brushstrokes and less hard edged.'

Paint faster - have less time involved.

All in all, it was a frustrating time at the easel, 

BUT I learned a few things!!