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!!

7 More to Go - But Who's Counting?

"Harlough"

6" x 6"

oil on Arches OLEO

NFS

Day 23 - of 30 in 30

This is the hen that I painted as a 'chick'  - 

back on Day 12.

I like the way the orange on the sunlit edge turned out - simply stated!

I tried hard for loose and painterly, too!

She is a sassy girl!  Her name - Harlough.  

Chicken magazines say you 

shouldn't name your chickens,

but we did from the get-go.  They are Harlough, 

Queenie (the rooster - but when he was a chick - 

he was the prettiest...

hence, Queenie, and when he grew up - 

it just fit) 

and Chickenator, 

a tiny Banty hen (same age as everyone else),

 whom I shall paint tomorrow - 

don't want any bias or discrimination 

going on in the chicken yard!

Problem is, she is the same color as the dirt...challenge!

OK folks, only 7 paintings in 7 days left.  

I think I am going to make it!

Especially using this ~ I LOVE THIS STUFF ~ Arches oil paper.

Big party when I am done.  Maybe some Mexican food 

and a giant Margarita will be in order!  Y'all are invited!!  

Ha, ha (any excuse for that Mexican food)!

A willing and happy participant in 

Leslie Saeta's 30 Paintings in 30 Days Challenge.

Day 22 of 30 Paintings in 30 Days Challenge

"Happy"

5 1/2" x 7 3/4"

oil on Arches (Oleo)

SOLD

This is Paula Ann Ford's kitten, Happy.  I asked her permission to paint her.

She just appealed to me, so innocent, feisty and curious looking.

Number 22 - OMG - I can't believe it...now I know I can paint at least 22 days in a row..because I have!

Number 21 of 30 Paintings in 30 Days with Leslie Saeta

"Ruff and Sioux"

8" x 8"

oil on Arches oil paint paper

Family dogs - live in New Mexico.  

They are Australian Shepherds, of course.

I felt I hit the 'sweetspot' on this one.

Have I said I really like this paper?

Number 21 of 30.

Leslie Saeta's - Slice of Life blog..here.

#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.

Number 19 of 30 Paintings in 30 Days by Pattie Wall

"Taos Pueblo - Late Sun"

5" x 7"

oil on canvasboard

This is the one that should have been #18, but it was giving me trouble.

I decided to go with it.  Have to move on.

Might have to do a little work on the shadows...the bright blue of the windows need some attention, as well.  I will get to it later, but this is NUMBER 19 !!

#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!  

Day 15 of 30 Paintings in 30 Days

"The Elevator at Bellaire - After a Snow"

9" x 12"

oil on Raymar canvasboard

(click on photo to see a larger version)

OK, I have to be honest. This canvas was sitting on a shelf - I had started to paint it about a year ago in acrylic. It was 'way colorful'..I had tried to make the sky with clouds - but HERE most days are cloudless...the bright sun shone across that terraced wheat field...and I didn't have it!  So... I canned it.

30 Paintings in 30 Days - #14

Almost hit the wall today..because of 'time'. Went out shopping and to lunch with DH...by the time I got back it was 2 PM.  

So thought I would try a self-portrait, which I haven't done in several years..this year I wanted to do SOME, more than one.  

Day 13 of 30 in 30

"Oliver and Parker"

6" x 8"

oil on Raymar plein air panel

SOLD

I have been feeling like I wasn't spending very much time on my 30 in 30 challenge and needed a more involved challenge - so I took on 'this one'.  

Intricate and involved to say the least plus a 'flash' photo - reading it wrong.

I can't get the white, white enough, so I need to tone down around where the whitest area are. There are more pieces of it that still need some tweaking especially since I have photographed it.  

I see areas I wonder, "what was I doing there???", but it has to be done for now, so I can move on to Day 14.

Do you have pieces that you intend to revisit?

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

Painting 30 Paintings in 30 Days Challenge - #12

"Future Egg Layer"

oil on Raymar plein air panel

5" x 7"
SOLD

My 3 chickens are almost 2 years old.  This little chick was GIVEN to me by my neighbor.  Little did he know at the time, what a life this chick would have.  She was just hatched when I took the photo I used here, standing in the little box we set up - in the pine shavings.  She grew into a beautiful hen - a Speckled Sussex...lays big brown eggs and is such a character.  

Her name is Harlough.

Number 12 of 30 in 30 Leslie Saeta's challenge.

(I am back in my comfort zone.)

Day #11 of 30 Paintings in 30 Days

"Tango"

6" x 7"

watercolor on hot press Arches

I feel like a flounderer when I use watercolor.  Painting this photo was interesting as there is a definite transparency on the front critters wings,

but by the time I put my first layer down, it was already too opaque and too late to do another one. I am going with it.

Oh well, learning curve..it has been a long time since I have used this medium.

Check out my 'Daily Paintworks - Gallery' - see sidebar.  

I am selling my art there and Etsy.

Painting 30 Paintings in 30 Days - #10

"Call Me Mister"

6" x 8"

oil on canvasboard

I have painted a lot of ducks in my day. Still like painting them - as well as - any bird.  Birds are neat!  I try to figure out my fascination with them ??? ..could be the dinosaur issue.  I loved teaching 'Dinosaurs' to 1st graders when I was a classroom teacher.  I definitely see the connection - bird and dino.  

This is a Mallard Drake.  I loved the close-up capture in the photo that I used. 

The photo I used was taken by F.N. on Paint My Photo.

Those little white dots in MY photo are the wet paint shining in the light.

Day 10 - whoot - 20 to go!  I have to shake my head - really?  I have painted a finished painting every day?  I notice that I have traveled a little ways around the circle from where I used to be. 

I used to be 'just fine' with a 'painting a day' - but I stopped doing it, because at the end of the day, when I photographed it, I saw more that needed attention, I needed some tweaking the next day.   Since I am in this challenge, I am letting that go, but I see what I just mentioned with every ONE I am posting.  This is good practice - pressure - 

and not getting hung up on details.  I think that the biggest reward is to be able to PAINT with a purpose EVERY DAY!!

Overall, I know that I have grown in my art - 

in a short time. 

 I got out to the studio a little late today.

It has been raining all day - which is a good thing!  

THIS MOISTURE IS MUCH NEEDED!!!  

Day 9 of 30 in 30 Painting Challenge

"Bear Shadow"

9" x 12"

oil on canvasboard

This bear was such fun to paint.  I could have painted him bigger in the space, but wanted to show the shadow all the way out to near the edge...so chose this size.  He is going to look good in a reddish brown frame!

As you can see I am really into purple these days.

Day 9 of the 30 Paintings in 30 Days on Leslie Saeta's Slice of Life blog.

I used a photo to paint from - courtesy and permission of 

A.R. on the Paint My Photo website.

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.

Day 7 of 30 Paintings in 30 Days

"Anticipating a Return"

6" x 12"

oil on wrapped canvas

Purchase notecards of this one from Red Bubble HERE.

Wherever we go, when we travel by RV, our dogs go with us.  This is our two dachshunds Hasty Herman and Chaco - standing and waiting for their dad - as he filled up with gas in a nearby town.  

 Whenever you left the RV, for any reason, they immediately got into the driver's seat to perch there and watch what was going on.

(Herman is no longer with us, he passed away a few years ago.)  

Chaco still goes to that spot when you leave the RV, but the two of them were such a pair and so cute to watch.  They would lean into one another - where one head went the other was almost assured to follow.  

Herman had very keen senses - especially sight.

I remember one time we were in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. (Maybe I've told this story before but...) a UPS brown truck rounded a faraway corner, Herman was in my lap and let out a really mean growl.  They never liked the UPS truck that visits our house - amazing he picked up 

on the truck so far from home - by sight.

We still have very heartfelt sadness that Herman is no longer with us.  

He was the BEST dog in the whole world!

Now that it has been photographed, 

I see a few places I need a little more work on this painting  .

Today, I go to the surgeon for more follow-up on my ankle.  Stay tuned.

If you would like to visit some of the other artists in this challenge, see the sidebar poster for the "30 Paintings in 30 Days" - 

click on that and you will go there.

30 in 30 - Day 6

"Weimaraner II"

6" x 6"

oil on canvasboard

I take lots of photos of my dogs.  This is Bailey.  He was a little peeved that I kept 'snapping' away at him this particular day.  

I loved that look in his eyes of - 'Leave me alone - I'm trying to nap!'

I love how this turned out, it looks JUSSSTTT like him and his attitude.

Painted with a limited (for me) palette of cad red light, cad yellow light, ultramarine blue, yellow ochre, sap green, alizarin crimson, titanium white

and a little Liquin for a painting medium.  

I love the rich colors I am achieving.

This one is available for notecards, postcards 

and prints on Red Bubble click HERE.

Day 7 - I am on a roll !!  Already started the next one yesterday.

More dogs, stay tuned.

The 30 in 30 Challenge and 

Leslie Saeta's "Slices of Life" Blog  click HERE.

There are some wonderful paintings there - check it out!

30 in 30 - Day 5

"Mad Cat"

6" x 8"
oil on canvasboard

This one and Day 4's were painted with a very limited palette.  I decided NOT to lay out so many colors - those blobs dry up if they aren't used in a few plus this is a challenge right?  What better way to challenge then to try to mix colors with 4 or 6 paint dobs. 

I love mixing to get purple, 

you can get some really great hues of it. 

I call this 'mad cat' because his ears were looking like he was perturbed.

His name is Tucker and he has this big mane like a lion - he is a big and fat cat.

You can see more Challenge Artists on Leslie Saeta's blog HERE.

30 in 30 - Day 4

Some of you may have already caught this, but the post for Day 4 was not supposed to be until 12:01 AM on Jan. 5.  This challenge began on Jan. 2nd.

So - thanks to Claire - I am now on target for posting on the right day!

"Into the Fringe"

(pheasant)

oil on wood

(oops, forgot to measure it)

Painted from a photo from 'Paint My Photo' website by John Robinson. 

Leslie Saeta's blog

30 Paintings in 30 Days

It's official - I have joined the "30 Paintings in 30 Days" challenge over at Leslie Saeta's blog.  Since I am a little behind, I will enter my three horses - as the first three days of the month as I just finished them...
They are 'Ticket'...for DAY 1

'Sparkles'...for DAY 2

and 'Johnny'...for DAY 3, altho none were painted in a day.

All 6" x 6" on canvasboard.  

I need to get out to the studio for another one today - stay tuned and be sure to visit Leslie's site to view other art by other artists on this challenge!

Also, updated TODAY - more notecard and print possibilities on Red Bubble.

(See sidebar and click on one of the photos under Red Bubble.)

A Digital Painting of a 'Macaw'

'A'

One thing I wanted to explore more this year is 'doing art' on my iPad.

Here is a macaw that we met on our RV travels, in Oregon, this fall.

Myah - was such a fun subject.  Birds are so cool.

Love how smart they can be, this one was extremely sharp.

Below is the first 'saved' photo of the painting.  The one above has some 'blending' work done in the feather areas.  I don't know which one I like better...A or B (below). 

You can help, which one do you like best?

'B'

Anyway - what fun!  Takes a long time, but I think I already have learned quite a bit about the painting app called "Procreate".  I use a Wacom Bamboo Stylus, which believe it or not, I got last February - 

just NOW getting the correct use with it.  

I have always wanted a Wacom tablet to use on my computer, 

well, I have one now - only it's all done on the iPad with the stylus.

YOU CAN purchase notecards or prints 

of the "B" copy of this digital art (and others, too!) at Red Bubble HERE.

I have ordered the same card you will order and they are REALLY NICE - have some new selections there, as well for the New Year!