A CELEBRATION of 30 Days of Painting!!!

Here you have it.  You can look at my last year's "30 in 30" HERE.

It's good, for me, to see I have grown over the year

in my techniques, my color mixing, my energy at the task,

and the complexity of my subject matter.

There are several here, albeit small,

I would definitely like to

re-do in on a larger surface

or even in a different

medium.

Snowing here today - cold and blowing.

Day 30 of 30 Paintings in 30 Days

This post is long and winded (surprised I have any) 

but have some things I would like to share...

"Well Used and Ready for More"

9" x 12"

oil on Raymar panel

The very MOST inviting space I know!  Finally

we are done with the challenge and I made it!!

Second year - I can think of no better way 

to start a year, if you are a regular painter.

It gets you right in the groove...

and 30 paintings under your belt

in just the first month of the year.  

For me, some very acceptable, some needing

more to be better.

So let's go 2014!

I am warmed up, got the kinks and the bugs out...

if I continue (at a slower pace, of course)

I think I will be painting a good bunch of 

paintings along the way.

Sure, there are gonna still be days of frustration 

and hair pulling...but I am ready.

Thanks to Leslie Saeta for hosting (again) the January event.

A few shots of the process on this one:

My source photo, taken with my Nikon D3200. Sent to my iPad

and clipped to my Sorg easel.

The following photos are taken with my iPhone.  I use all 

three devices for painting each day -

my Nikon camera, my iPad (which is such a great tool)

and my iPhone.

I painted my Raymar panel with cad orange acrylic.

Sketched in my shapes with a white charcoal pencil, 

then used a brush with dark brown to sketch

more boldly - you can see how shaky I was today.

There were very few dark darks - so I began laying

in color masses.

Starting to add more color as I go to 

give me that overall sense of

where I am going.

And as shown at the top - the finished painting.

NOT to go without mentioning, I have had LOTS

of help over the past thirty days.

Pye gets to a point where she watches, 

then plays and then watches some more,

finally jumping down, from her perch nearby,

 climbing up the back of the chair

over my shoulders to settle in my left arm, 

while I paint with my right.

She doesn't stay long, but long

enough to give lots of love, kitten kisses, hugs  and purrs.

She is such a sweetie.

Meeka is not as clingy and

is content to just watch with

an occasional stretch over 

to put her front feet on my 

apron and to look at 

me as if to say,

"I shouldn't be here, bugging you."

But I allow it all the same.

Gonna take a few days off.

Gotta get feeling better.

I think a few full day's rest is on the agenda.

Thanks for visiting.

I very much 

appreciate all of you who have left comments!!!

DAY 29 of 30 Paintings in 30 Days

"Reading Lamp"

4 1/2" x 10 3/4"

oil on wood

I am intrigued by lamps with lightbulbs 

under those lampshades.

Not an easy one, and I 

am not sure I have done it justice.

My walls aren't this color of green, but

I liked this green better 

for this painting.

Painting for me - just me today.

This is my living room lamp with

it's reflection into a large glass over 

a print hanging there.

I like it turned on, instead of the 

bright overhead light, but

I don't like it when the 

TV is on and the drapes are closed ~

too much glare.

It is probably the most inviting sight/light in the room.

Painted under the influence of mega pharmacy meds

hands were shaky and I could NOT make a 

straight line if I had to and I tell 

myself it's a good thing.

Hey - #30 coming right up!

Day 28 of 30 Paintings in 30 Days

"Tealwood Canoes"

6" x 8"

oil on panel

Thanks again to my generous sister-in-law T,

who supplied me with the source photo!  

You saved my life!

Speaking of life..today I ended up at the doctors

with near catastrophic illness.

Prescribed 2 antibiotics, a steroid, the nebulizer, 

cough meds, sinus meds...

it is a RAGING STORM in my head and chest.  

Lots of inflammation from the coughing

and the wheezing had me 

a little scared last night, couldn't get any oxygen.

I have asthma, as well.

Anymore - when I am introduced to a virus, 

it becomes this malady.

It's going around, and you don't want it!

After beginning the new regimen - 

I am already feeling much better.

Kind of a 50/50 outcome on whether 

I GET better now ~ or later.

Crossing my fingers.

I certainly understand Frida Kahlo (among others) 

and why they painted from

their 'sick' bed..art is life.  

I had a deal with myself..and ME only.

This painting was quick and I did not mess with it very much.

It is ~ what it is, but I PAINTED TODAY 

and I painted number 28 out of 30

and I am good with that!!

Day 27 out of 30 Paintings in 30 Days

"Heirloom"

10" x 10"

oil on Raymar panel

A special painting today.  Feeling like crap - still, but 

slept better last night.

This little rocking chair was MY rocking chair - as a little tyke, 

so well-made and sturdy was passed on to my daughter, 

who then passed it on to her daughter.  

It has a wide seat, so even older children can still use it.

It is the most treasured heirloom I know of.

DAY 26 of 30 Paintings in 30 Days

"Fresh Baked'

8" x 8"

oil on Raymar panel

Spice cookies and milk - what an inviting combo.

Those cookies weren't easy - for awhile they looked just like pancakes.

I hope they read cookies now.

DAY 25 of 30 Paintings in 30 Days

"You Had Me at Merlot"

12" x 16"

oil on wrapped canvas

(very thick, wet paint is shining)

Thanks to my sister-in-law - who kept me going today.

This is done from one of her photos.

At first I was muddling in the 'have to get those ellipses and edges

perfect!'  Then I thought, hey, this is a piece of art, not a 

reproduction. 

I have to continue to push myself

for losing edges and not getting

hung up on every little detail when painting

from photos.

This one was perfect for today, as I had lots of these colors

left over from yesterday.

Have this head cold soo bad right now, I need a bucket under

my nose.  Had to get this one done, so I could lay down -

it's kicking my arse today!

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 20 of 30 Paintings in 30 Days

"Glads II"

6" x 11" 

acrylic on 

black gessoed wood

Whew - I thought I would never come up with a painting resource for today.

Each one I came across didn't suit me.

Had to get out the photo CD's and surf some..

finally came up with this one. 

It's an 'inviting space'.

I have tried gladiolas before, not always happy with them.

They are really hard - because they have that great transparency to them.

I don't think I got them there, but I like it anyway.

I really crave the look of the bottom half of this painting.

It reminds me of a batik, 

which I would really like to dabble in someday ~ soon.

Hope tomorrow is easier..maybe need to spend this afternoon 

looking through some more and just choose ONE.

ON the tunes carousel today:

Phil Collins, Canned Heat, Sheryl Crow and Crosby and Nash.

DAY 19 of 30 Paintings in 30 Days

"Suite Seats"

5" x 7"

oil on textured Ampersand Claybord

I can think of nothing more inviting TODAY than a suite seat at

Sports Authority Stadium in Denver.

They cost a bundle, but OH to sit there maybe once or twice

during this football season, priceless!

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 16 - 30 Paintings in 30 Days

"Trio"

10" x 10"

oil on canvasboard

SOLD

Painted from that designer patio in N.M.  Love these plants and pots and stands.

They sit right underneath a plethora of hummingbird feeders.  There are always

hummingbirds zooming back and forth above them.

There were a few rooftops dotting the horizon line

in my photo, but I took them out. 

 No need for them.

This one was fun, even if it was gale force winds today and the electrical spikes 

kept the tunes and the heat going on and off.

Tunes always had to be reset.

Finally gave that one up but

find it hard to paint in silence.

A Commercial Break - in 30 Paintings in 30 Days

Each morning (for the past 16 days and for the next 14 days) I do some figuring and tracking of this experience with goals and marketing tweaks in mind. This process is in lieu of setting GOALS and making plans for 2014.  Jumping right into this for 30 days, creates a magic time element, that I never seem to have time enough to sort through and come up with a solid and workable 

plan for the new year.

I keep track of :

• 'traffic', 
• comments, 
• where I have visited, 
• how I posted my work on FB and other social media/blogs/shops/call it 'social proof' -always considering the 'variables' that have to be realized - because there is a REAL ebb and flow to internet 'doings' - taking BIG notes in a spiral notebook - special for this activity ~ "My 30 in 30 JOURNAL"
• about what to do or fix on certain paintings, 
• what worked and what didn't in this posting, painting and my thinking, 
• numbers of digital photo frames of the BEST possible shots for cropping and posting my work (I take many each time I am finished - I save a large file for myself and a small file for posting)
• note the possible titles I came up with as I narrowed down my brainstormings (this is always tricky)

I also note what had to be done that day, like 'go to the bank', go grocery shopping, etc..to remind me that life happens and that I CAN work around life to make art DAILY, if I want to or dare I say, need to.   It's nice to look back on the process you went through, what you were thinking, what worked, what didn't - this is a month long EXERCISE - and all with a purpose - 

Painting 30 Paintings in 30 Days - 

with a theme or goal in mind.

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!!

DAY 14 of 30 Paintings in 30 Days

"Wrap Around"

6" x 8"

oil on canvasboard

Ideally, my favorite kind of deck on a house.  

Someday...

The inspiration for this painting was

 from a source I found 

on a photo sharing site.

But I often flip the photo and take 

things out that bother me visually, change colors and 

surfaces and even sometimes - light, that is a real challenge.

I wanted this simple and uncluttered ~ and it is.

I would like to do this one larger some day..

and when it gets a little dryer, 

I AM going to work on those

Adirondack chairs a little more - 

this canvas was too

small to do them justice.

That's what I am finding, in the time I have to paint something, 

I am actually trying these subjects out 

for larger stuff one day.

ONWARD!

Gypsy Kings

Genesis

on the carousel today.

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.

Day 12 of 30 Paintings in 30 Days

"Powell Nirvana"

6" x 6"

oil on canvasboard

If you have EVER been to Lake Powell on a houseboat, you know what

I am referring to.  It is (without any doubt) the perfect getaway vacation.

I have had this photo in my stack for years - finally took the plunge with it.

Needed something small because I just can't miss any of the Bronco game today!!

And I am thankful that my 'muse' cooperated.

Today's music: Patrick O'Hearn (new age)

Day 11 of 30 Paintings in 30 Days

"Picnic Spot Above the River"

8" x 8"

oil on canvasboard

Loved the sun starting to set - dinner time on this one.

Couldn't get those fall colors to pop - seems pretty muddy underneath.

That's why this is a challenge.

Some will turn out, some will be experiments.

Learning lots.

Same stuff on CD carousel as yesterday.

Added a new BEST of Def Leppard today.

Day 10 of 30 Paintings in 30 Days

"Kalalau Hiking Trail, Kauai"

6" x 9"

pastel on Kitty Wallis sandpaper

I have an old friend from H.S. who gets to travel to the neatest places, all over the world.

The inspiration for this painting is from one of her photos.

I loved the peachy colored trail, it sure looks inviting to me.

Cold and rainy here today - makes me want to curl up

with my pups and watch movies tonight.

Eclectic mix of Dance/House music on the carousel today -

some of my favorites:

Deadmau5, Ferry Corsten, Morgan Page, Adam K and Soho, 

David Guetta - this is my choice of music

when I travel in the car - makes you move

right on down the road, with a smile 

on your face.

And of course, I had added entertainment from studio kittens ~

today seemed like RACE day.  They were everywhere, 

including in my pastels on the drawing table.

But it's getting easier to paint without them there constantly in my way.

Day 9 of 30 Paintings in 30 Days

"Be Right Back"

12" x 16"

oil on wrapped canvas

I roughed this one in a few days ago, 

and today was a good day to get it back out and finish it.

Here are two photos of the process - 

before I even drew it in with paint, I gridded the canvas into fourths, 

so I could put get the perspective right.

Then I used a really big brush to mass in some of the darks

and some of the colors to get it going.

I kept working around the canvas, my next goal was to 

cover the canvas with at least 

the color undertones.

I still need to work on the rust colored 'throw'.

I will keep it nearby and think about what and how - 

already see a place to start with from just the final photo.

On the CD carousel today:

Beatles

Maroon 5

Elton John

Rush

P.S. A good friend supplied me with the photo for inspiration.

There is a red ribbon tied to the lamp, because she likes it alot.

Makes THIS - HER space for sure!!

Day 8 of 30 Paintings in 30 Days

"Late Afternoon Shadows"

7" x 10" 

watercolor on Arches

This may look like winter to you, but to tell the truth, the photo was 

SOOO green and summery.  I chose to use some different light and color.  

It is the park at Deschutes River State 

Recreation Area in Oregon where we Rv'd 2 years ago.  

Pretty place - love the trees and the shadows at that time of day - 

made it very inviting.

I am not happy with this one but I figure 'painting one painting a sitting/day' 

I am not going to get it the way I intended it - every time at the easel.  

Win some and learn some.

Artist's I had in the carousel today:

Stevie Nicks

Cheap Trick

Coldplay

J.T.

and a few movie theme soundtracks

30 in 30 website at the top in sidebar

DAY 7 of 30 Paintings in 30 Days

"Portico de Las Capuchinas"

(portico at the convent of the Capuchin nuns, Antigua, Guatemala

16th century)

5" x 7"

oil on canvasboard

Five and a half years ago I went on an group art trip 

with Kaye Franklin - who I have often painted with - to Guatemala.

I have found many subjects to paint from the photos I took on that trip.

We tour-sized Antigua, Guatemala.. One of the great places we were privileged

to tour was La Iglesia de las Capuchinas (the church of the Capuchins)

This is the arched portico that surrounded the courtyard of the convent.

I found it very inviting, peaceful and quiet. This place was full 

of interesting architectural phenomena.

I have corrected the painting from Day 6 below.  

Check out the 30 in 30 challenge

http://lesliesaeta.blogspot.com

Day 6 Painting 30 Paintings in 30 Days

"Barranca Mesa Patio"

10" x 10"

oil on canvasboard

This one was fun - I had to put a lot of paint on the canvas 

to make it come up into the light.  

It is my N.M. sister-in-law's patio that she 'hired' done.  

I love the color palette the designer used.  

Their mesa drops off the back of the yard in the rear of the house - 

you can view the Sandia Mountains from here.  

NOW - if anyone knows what the black thing on the left is, 

I will leave it alone, but if no one comments 

about WHAT they think it is

and it's what it is, then I will take it out.

Check back in a few days, to see if I changed it or not.

Artists on 'the shuffle' today:

Julian Lennon

Paul McCartney

Joni Mitchell

R.E.M.

Little River Band (always a touch of the oldies)

30 Paintings in 30 Days - Leslie Saeta blog

Day 5 of Painting 30 in 30

"A Stoop in Brooklyn"

6" x 6"

oil on Raymar canvasboard

I about hit the wall today, so to speak.  Got out to the studio late - 

tried to get a 12" x 16" going 

(too big for one day, and I knew it)

and realized that I wouldn't get done by dark.  

I had it going, too - different subject altogether. 

It may be that one that I work on daily

and get done within the 30 days.

So I scrambled - and I mean scrambled.  

This one isn't exactly the way I wanted it.  

I seem to having difficulty bringing things UP into the light 

and it is my nemesis - mixing colors - lately. 

Plus, I really need to get into the habit of CLEANING off my palette each 

day and starting NEW. 

I seem to rely on YESTERDAY'S colors.

That would probably help.  

That's just plain lazy and trying to be thrifty, I guess.

In the end, this one works for me!

And BTW - I am working on NOT complaining.

My daughter and her family lived in Brooklyn for several years - 

she did a floral designer job there among other things.  

Their stoop was a bright spot in the concrete jungle 

with her lovingly cared for - plants ~ 

a definite INVITING SPACE!

See the 30 in 30 craze at http://lesliesaeta.blogspot.com

  ARTISTS in the CD Carousel today:

Coldplay

The Turtles (yes..)

Joe Walsh

Crosby, Stills and Nash

(and I removed Stevie Ray Vaughan for another day - smile)

Last night dreaming about happening upon a retirement for a 'Bezel Designer' 

while trying to find the location of an RV park.

Don't know where that bezel thing came from, I barely know the word 'bezel', 

in fact, in the dream, I asked them to clarify, "bevel or bezel"????

And she and I talked about how it was to design - by hand, manually 

and how it was to design by computer.

And I am sharing this with you, as when I paint like this, in a frenzy, 

I have very vivid, wild dreams.

Do you?

Day 4 of Painting 30 Paintings in 30 Days

"Unparalleled Richness"

8" x 8"

oil on Raymar canvasboard

A few years ago we stayed in an RV Park in Glenn's Ferry, Idaho. This RV park was attached to a vineyard/winery called 'Carmela Vineyards'.  These grapevines were so inviting, I walked right over to the tasting house and had some 'tastes'.  

I like this size of this canvas - big enough for detailed paintings, yet doable in a day.

Check out other artists at http://lesliesaeta.blogspot.com

ARTISTS I listened to today:

Big Head Todd

Tommy Bolin

Black Crowes

Crash Test Dummies

Goldfrapp