Out with the Old and IN With the NEW!!

This Friday, January 1, 2016,  marks the first day of this year's participation in Painting 30 Paintings in 30 Days sponsored by the California artist, Leslie Saeta.  I will celebrate this new year as having 4

years of participation among artists worldwide who have committed to painting ONE painting per day and sharing that painting on a blog or Facebook and the "30 in 30" blog for the month of January. 

I find my growth each year ~ to be worth the participation.

This year I decided to spend my 'painting time' without seriousness of having to 'get it right' on canvas and without the familiar techniques and mediums.  I plan to dive right into the mystery of mixing media that creates new possibilities and also plan to just have fun in the moment.  

Not that painting is NOT fun, but sometimes there is huge pressure to work under with commissions and painting 'likenesses' - which is often the mainstay of my artistic production.  

I am looking forward to the liberation of 'just being in the moment' at the easel and using this time to just PLAY, have fun and make some new discoveries!  Something tells me there is going to be a more abstractness or non-representation to my canvas surfaces.  I have spent a few days during this past month, preparing several different surfaces for this undertaking. I hope to share the making of each surface with each painting I do, however, some will be on plain 'ol stretched canvas, canvas board or factory made pastel surfaces without additional 'sprucing'.

Another important component to this endeavor, is there are tons of other artists doing their rendition of how and what to paint.  Part of the enjoyment is seeing what others are doing at their easels (and of course, you don't have to have an easel to paint).

If you are seeing this news for the first time...(just like me, on the first one I joined, I joined it three days in, not knowing it was going on til I stumbled on it)..the site for signing up is HERE. And BTW if you want to interact with a global view of who and where painting will be furiously flinging in January, click HERE.  Many PINS have cyber media links so you can visit artists in areas you feel are especially of interest.

So COME BACK won't you?  I love reading comments, so feel free to leave one.

Mixed Media

"Look What I Got!"

5" x 7"

pastel and watercolor on Uart sandboard

Completed for my friend and cat-sitter extraordinaire...

this is Cheyenne and Jaden, her grandchildren.

Last painting of 2015!

You can always catch my 'latest' on my Fine Artist Facebook Page.

Ramping UP

Just playing with watercolor/pastel on ProArt sanded pastel panel, today.

Thirty Paintings in Thirty Days is coming up

over at Leslie Saeta's blog.

This will be my fourth year that I will be joining in.

I have decided that my subject won't be the goal, but

the way each painting is painted will.  Each will hopefully 

be different - some new techniques, some I would like to

improve on or tweak.  Many will be done in MIXED MEDIA.

Looking forward to some non-representational pieces, as well.

I just returned from the big city with many new possibilities for

substrates.  Busy working on holiday items - soon to be done...then

a little organizing in the studio and I will be ready

to get going January 1!  Please check back.

A Couple of Acrylic Paintings

A Scene from the Abiqui Campground

9" x 12"

acrylic on canvasboard

I loved how the cloud bank was riding along the ridge.

"Solomon Valley Farm Road"

6" x 6"

acrylic on wood

(noticed there is a dry split happening on the surface - but 

not to worry, it's just practice)

Tour the Studio

On a tab above I wrote Studio Tour - but don't know if people really find it when looking at this blog, so if you would like to take a quick tour please click HERE.

Journey to the U.P.

Looking through a magazine two summers ago, I happened upon an article about fall colors and leaf changing in the Upper Peninsula of the U.S.  Complete with suggestions of where to go to see the best change and when and what one can do in each place, I clipped the article and slipped it into my sketchbook.  A couple of months ago, we made the decision to GO.  The plans were a little sketchy, as we just didn't know much at all about that upper piece of the U.S., so we sort of just took off in the RV towing the Jeep with our two dogs - without much plan with a few stopping places in mind.  29 days later we recently returned.  I will share with you a few of my photos.  I think I have enough source material for a millennium to paint from.  What an experience and a wonderful trip!!

"Cold Day in Lebanon"

"Cold Day in Lebanon"

9" x 12"

mixed media - watercolor and pastels

Mixed Media for Today

"EGG"

6 1/2" x 8"

watercolor, pastel and watercolor pencil

on Arches WC cold pressed

Weather Changing Ever So Slightly

I know it's getting towards fall, when

the ORB spider appears -

and yesterday with the fog and dew

the webs were obvious

ALL OVER the farmstead.

Travels ~ and Photo Editing

Just returned from an 8 day RV trip to Colorado..

One of our favorite areas - Gunnison Country.

It has high desert mixed with alpine environs and small town quaintness - it hasn't changed much in 30 - 40 years, except for the population being a little larger.  The people are nice and genuinely friendly (a place where you would want to raise kids!) - laid back - no BIG CITY influences.  There are more tourists these days, but that is because Gunnison and the surrounding areas have such a large offering of outdoor recreation activities. What draws us to this area?

Where There's Rain, There's Alot of Water

Duh...last time I posted on my blog about this - was in 2011.  

We had about 3 1/2 inches of rain overnight on that occasion. 

Yesterday and last night, we had over 5 inches of rain.  

To a usually dry place, which is in a drought, this is so out of the ordinary 

and often brings some added tasks after the fact - 

on clean up and mending things. 

 Here is the little trickle of a creek at it's best,

 after a rain like this.

Just replaced some ceiling tiles in the studio last weekend,

that gather some roof leaking from time to time,

DH said those NEW tiles are ruined and

one is about to come down..so out to

the studio to remedy that one 

and prepare for more 

as there is more rain in the forecast for

the next three days.

From rags to riches...

a wheat field on the road above us

in elevation has not been planted 

with wheat yet, We now have

lots of the enriched field earth

in our waterway!

A Watercolor Painting of a Cat

While hubsters and I work in the studio this weekend, I am doing

reorganizing, discardia and painting -

As READ online...

on an email I get from a book company, the title was "When Vodka and Watercolor Mix.." At first I thought - 'yep - that would certainly loosen up your brushstrokes', but upon reading the article -

Under Construction..

Under construction ~ figuratively speaking.

This is the idea I had to put this one

together.  They are 6" x 6"

oils painted on wood.

"Art is NOT a Far Off Place...

it lives inside you. "  Author Unknown

That is a quote that helped me restart my painting again.

More "Time Out" -

I have reached that last bit of interruption of 'summer painting', I think.

Getting Back INTO the Swing - and THE $40.00 SALE!!!

Part of the 'care and feeding' of a recreational vehicle is occasionally 

dusting it off and TAKING it somewhere.

A Work in Progress of Trumpeter Swans

Work in progress - oil on 24" x 48" canvas. (click on photo to enlarge)
The bottom 1/3rd is where I will be working at the next visit to the studio.  Should be tomorrow.

A Watercolor for Today

"Spring Break"

6" x 6"

watercolor on Arches 140 lb. coldpress

Seems like everyone has been on Spring Break lately.  Used to be such a special

time of year, when I was teaching school.

How a Painting Looks Above the Fireplace

"Gibbon Falls River"

24" x 36"

oil on canvas

I have been so busy with framing, varnishing, finishing, packaging and

shipping lately, I have nothing new to post.

A Watercolor Painting

"Setting with Green Stemware"

6" x 8"

watercolor on 140 lb. cold press Arches

Painted this while in KC from my mom's tableware.

Away, Away..but Back Again

I have been away from home for the last 2 plus weeks.  My 89 year old dad needed some help, so I have been staying with him at his house during this time. Had us pretty concerned for a bit, but he is better now.  Just got back home today.

Pastel Society Show

ANNOUNCING!!!

Mid America Pastel Society 

19th Annual Small Painting Show 

March 3 - March 30, 2015 

R.G. Endres Gallery, • 7700 Mission Rd., Prairie Village, KS 66208  

(77th and Mission Road - next to the city building)

March 3 - March 30 ..Exhibition open to public

A Pastel Painting of Flowers

"Peonies"

6" x 6"

pastel on Wallis

I have painted this in oil before and was so comfortable

with it, I thought I could get good color going

with pastel.

A Pastel Painting of a Chicken

"Nine, Ten, Big Fat Hen"

7" x 4"

pastel on Wallis

Painted and painted the last several days `

in pastel.  I think my 'pastel mojo'

is hiding away somewhere.

A Pastel Painting of Trees

"Tree Stand"

6" x 9"

pastel on Canson Mi-Tientes pastel board

These are some of the trees on my property.  I have 

painted them before.

Quality Control

Ok, I hit the ground running, right after the end of the 30 in 30.  

Lots on my list of things 'to do'.

A Collage Tribute to My Muse - the Adventure in Painting 30 in 30

I love looking at these collectively.  

They are every ONE a work of 'the heart'.

Number 30 of 30 Paintings in 30 Days

"On Patrol"

5" x 6"

watercolor on Arches

Doin' the Happy Dance...cause I DID

30 Paintings in 30 Days for

the third year in a row

in the month of January!!!!

This is my sweet doxie boys at 

the front window...

Chaco the red and Hasty Herman

the black and tan (not with us

anymore).

I loved the perspective of this pose.

Not my best painting, but it will do.

I have a few absolute favorites in the

30 days.

I have learned alot.  I have learned

that I really am much more comfortable

with doing watercolors than I

thought.  And it's from

LOOKING at them., studying them,

reading what other's do when they

paint with watercolor, and watching 

a few videos in this past year.

I LOVE IT - and I think I will be focusing

alot on it throughout the year.

I also love to paint in oil and do a 

pastel once in awhile.

All in all - this 30 were better than any 30 in 30 before.

The next thing I will be focusing on is getting a 

few pastels done for a small painting

show with the MidAmerica Pastel Society

in Kansas City.

So NOT so many postings every day - but if

you have been visiting my blog

throughout the month of January,

I invite you to come back often.

I really enjoy your company!!

Number 29 of 30 Paintings in 30 Days

"Xander II"

watercolor on Arches

6" x 6" (approx)

Here is a better painting of Xander..didn't like the one 

that I did the other day, but when you

are in a crunch to do ONE a day,

and you start kind of late in the day

and you are driven

that is what happens.

I like this one much better.

Ahhhh..only ONE more to go!!!!!!!

Number 28 of 30 Paintings in 30 Days

"The Other Bailey"

5" x 7"

watercolor on Strathmore

This dog is named Bailey, same as mine, but is older 

and belongs to my friend's the Joneses.

She is 14...and I remember her as a puppy.

She came to play with my Herman one day.

Herman gave her a run for her money

I will never forget it.

Update - just found out,

Bailey had to be put down

recently.

Number 27 of 30 Paintings in 30 Days

"Xander"

6" x 8"

watercolor on Arches semi-rough

Xander is in the household with Venture and Venus, whom I 

painted earlier in my 30 in 30.

He is an American Foxhound, as well.

He is the newest member in the household

of my FB artist friend, Liz.

He is full of antics.  Never a dull moment.

He does something either interesting, amazing,

and almost assuredly downright hilarious every day.

I painted him quickly, as I

had my own dogs to attend to

since it was such a nice

calm day at 71°.  That will

make you people back East

envious..with all the snow and wintery weather.

Our dogs needed baths, nail clippings,

and ear cleaning.

Cold winter has not allowed

us to bathe much - in the

'dog world' here in a long while.

Number 26 of 30 Paintings in 30 Days

"Bruno"

5 1/2" x 5 1/2"

watercolor on Arches semi-rough

Bruno belongs to a friend in Denver.

He is a Swiss Mountain Dog.

What a happy face!!

Today I was faced with a big question

DO I paint this in oil or watercolor??

My immediate choice was watercolor...maybe

it's a sign.

Number 25 of 30 Paintings in 30 Days

"Aiden"

7" x 7"

pastel on Art Spectrum/aubergine

SOLD

Aiden is a Whippet who lives in the mountains above Denver.

He always wears a jacket.

I can understand that.

Number 24 of 30 Paintings in 30 Days

"Amy and Pete"

6" x 6"

watermedia on Strathmore

SOLD

Amy was in my first and second grade classroom

 and I helped 

with her education beyond those

years, in my Title I classroom 

when I was a school teacher.

Her mom was one of my 

excellent educational assistants!

I have loved keeping in

touch with her over all these years.

She lives in Burlington, Co.

When I put the request out for photos to paint from

for this challenge, Amy's were the very first to arrive.

I painted her Hampshire piglet, Gumball, a few weeks ago, 

as #3 of the challenge.

Knowing her for the many years as a child ~ allowed me to 

make a perfect likeness of her.

Her top was DARK blue and white, but I decided, 

I liked the first blue I put down - 

goes with her very beautiful blue eyes.

THANKS ~ Amy!!

Number 23 of 30 Paintings in 30 Days

"Cockatiel"

watercolor

almost 4" x 6"

however..

once I painted this, I realized..the tail

seems pretty important

on this birdy.

So I matted it and extended the

unseen tail on the mat.

I have seem other artists use

their matboard for

extra decoration, or illustration.

Only 7 more!

Number 22 of 30 Paintings in 30 Days

"Gracie"

6" x 8" ish

watercolor on Arches semi-rough

I have painted Gracie before, in oil...not knowing it was Gracie

long story for that.

Although this is not the photo the owner wished

I would paint, it is my favorite - for 

light and shadow.

I tried this one with a little more 'design' to it.

She was very pretty, one blue eye and one brown.

Her owner wrote to me:

"I was working at a veterinary office and she was brought in in a plastic bag with 3 of her siblings and we were told they were dead. She wasn't, she was barely alive, breathing only a couple times a minute. I took her and rubbed and rubbed her in a heating pad for an hour until she was breathing normally and had a strong heartbeat. That was in 2002. She turned 12 years old on the 14th of November. In July of this year she was diagnosed with cancer, and doesn't have long to live. My heart is breaking, but I am just trying to keep her as comfortable and happy as possible in what time I have left with her."

Gracie passed just before Thanksgiving 2014. 

I love this story.

It shows such compassion and hope for animals. 

Thanks to all who have allowed me to use their photos to paint

from this month!!

Number 21 of 30 Paintings in 30 Days

"Archie"

7" x 7"

watercolor on semi-rough Arches

SOLD

Archie belongs to a artist friend, Marcy, who lives in

Salina.  She got him this past year.

I love the 'champagne color' challenge.

Had to get out the white gouache..as I needed

that ear fur to fling out into the space a little more.

Wow - only 9 more to go, this

21 has gone by so quickly..

such is life, I guess.

Number 20 of 30 Paintings in 30 Days

"Nia"

7" x 7"

watercolor on Aquarelle/Arches

SOLD

This one is a FB friend's - daughter's dog, Nia.

I loved the photo of her and could see

the underneath blanket being

played up a little in chroma

for great sassy contrast.

Lovin' doing watercolors.

They seem to be working for me

right now.

They are opposite of oils and pastels, 

which are darkest to lightest

as you paint.

Watercolor is just the other way around.

Plus I have some open cuts in my pointer and thumb

on my painting hand, that keep getting

gamsol and oil paint in them..at this

rate they will never heal.

So right now, my brain and those fingers have to 

constantly slow down

and think.

Number 19 of 30 Paintings in 30 Days

"Bailey"

5" x 7"

watercolor on Arches

This is our weimaraner 

(vy-mer-rah-ner) - 

we call him 'Bader Boyz'.

This afternoon will be spent on varnishing,

fixing our big pole yard nightlight...

it has been out and without it 

it is VERY dark here at night.

The RV needs some extra TLC in winter,

it's such a nice day, we will

attend to some of that, too!

Number 18 of 30 Paintings in 30 Days

"Trumpeter I"

WATERCOLOR

on Arches

It's Day 18, and I needed to change up my

medium

I LOVE painting every day,

but there are tasks that

become mundane.

One of them is preparing to

paint in oil and 

then the clean-up after.

I wanted to take a break.

LOVE LOVE LOVE

watercolor..it's still

so mysterious some days.

Today it was right there for me.

These swans migrate through

the property of my aunt

and uncle's in the Ozarks

area of Missouri.

Thanks for the photo Emily!

Number 17 of 30 Paintings in 30 Days

"Aspen"

9" x 12"

oil on Raymar canvasboard

I am calling this one Americana or Primitive style today.

I didn't paint with that intention, but that

is what seems to have played

out on the surface,

kind of flat.

And no matter what I did, the color mixing 

was often MUD..meaning I wasn't mixing just

2 colors and introducing a complimentary in the mix.  Oy!

It's reeeeeallly windy here today and that always

plays havoc with my painting muse and psyche.

It actually drives me a little crazy.

Aspen is a Chesapeake Bay retriever who

belongs to my friend and past coworker, Kim.

Number 16 of 30 Paintings in 30 Days

"Major Sun"

6" x 6"

oil on pine veneer

This is Max and Major again.  I have painted them 5 times, I think.

They are right down the road, so every once in awhile

on a sunny day, I go take more photo updates of them.

They are Belgian draft horses.

The veneered wood has a heavy grain in it.

Not sure how it will do as it dries..

although it is sealed with gesso 

and a coat of red oxide acrylic.

Number 15 of 30 in 30

"Cat Bird"

11" x 14"

oil on canvasboard

This was one of those days, when I just wanted 

to walk out of the studio and

be done for the day

and that feeling hit - about half way through this

'time at the easel'.

It was a three time 'wipe off' and

I finally went with it.

You 'win' some and you 'learn' some.

Probably the biggest "aha"

IS
I am painting on too large of a canvas

for a 'daily painting'.

Number 14 of 30 Paintings in 30 Days

'Best Friends'

6" x 6"

oil on wood veneer

When we are RV vacationing at our favorite spot, Cape Lookout, Oregon,

there is a daily migration from the campsites - up and over the sand dunes

 at sunset.   Camera in hand, it is the best time to

people watch, and shoot lots of great photos.

It's like the neatest 'human attended' event I know.

People bring their lawn chairs, their bottles of wine,

dogs and kids

and their beach toys.

There is cheering and clapping as the sun

makes it's grand departure

from view.

I was so touched by this girl, sharing this moment

 with her 'best' friend.

The dog seemed as 'in tune' with the

event as much as everyone else.

I like this scene so much, I will chalk 

this little one up to practice 

for maybe a larger version 

some day soon.

30 Paintings in 30 Days - NUMBER 13

"The Best Dog in the Whole World"

9" x 12"

oil on Raymar canvasboard

Hasty Herman - our little black and tan dachshund - 

left this world just over 4 years ago.

He was almost 10.

I have painted him many times,

but found this photo this

morning, and it's so 

typically HERMAN.

He would plop down

on just anything

that was creating a soft spot.

This shoe area in the laundry room 

suited him just fine -

using Dad's shoes as a chin rest.

A little paint shine - this time of day

it's unavoidable.

PAINTED WITH LOVE....

and remembrance

Day 12 of 30 Paintings in 30 Days

"Studio Catz"

8" x 8"

oil on Raymar canvasboard

Today was back to normal, sort of.  

Had some 'chorin' to do before I started painting

this afternoon.  Instead of painting

someone else's critters, I decided

time to immortalize the cats

that live in my studio.

The black one ('ol 'poopy pants')

is Pyewacket and the

multicolored ball of fuzz

is Meeka (with a myriad

of hair mats herself).

They often LAY on each other or

intertwine to stay warm.

They are a little over a year old.

They bring us joy and fun. We play

lots and they are full

of purrsonality.

Number 11 - of 30 in 30

"Peepers - 2014"

8" x 10"

oil on canvasboard

This is Peepers, a robin, our second rehab baby bird.

WE  rescued it from sure

ill fate and were able 

to feed and help it learn to fly 

and BE a BIRD.

But that is beside the point today.

There was bound to be one

of those days -when

painting took a back seat.

.

This is the one painting I would rather not share.

It didn't photograph right, but

maybe that is because it

isn't very good, by my standards.

Short story, cat (who lives in studio and 

is an indoor cat) with lots of

feces (a fistload - sorry

for the gorey details) entangled in it's long

fur, running amok

in the studio,

leaving bits here and there, not 

to mention the smell.

Don't know how these

things happen, but it's

bound to be.

The clean-up took alot of time, it wasn't fun

and I am glad it is over.

Giving a fraidy cat a bath

on the fly - chasing a wet 

cat who isn't clean yet..OY!!

But...this is the outcome

of a painting that I

was NOT into.

It was a rather sh%# day ~

so to speak.

Number 10 of 30 Paintings in 30 Days

"Gunny"

9" x 12"

oil on canvasbooard

I know Weimaraners - I have one...but 

EVERY ONE is different,

sometimes by just an ever so

slight way.

Gunny is very different from the 'O Gray One

that I have.  He belongs to my cousins

Chase, Taryn and Cade. 

This one took me awhile.

I loved every minute of it!

One third of the way done.

Life is good.

I have ordered a frame for it, and it rocks.

Number 9 of 30 Paintings in 30 Days

"Mandy and Elle"

10" x 10"

oil on canvasboard

I almost always start out with a 

red oxide underpainting.

On this one I left some of it showing through

as I liked it - 

it gives a reddish edge.

These two were kittens when I took this photo -

they were sharing a chairback by the 

long windows.

They belong to my brother and sister-in-law.

They have beautiful LOOOONG tails.

Very sweet and fun!

After I photographed the painting,

I finished that space

just in the distance 

where the oxide red was

really showing along the

deck rail, on the left.

Whenever I photograph my work,

I see gobs of stuff to fix.

But I am letting that go

during this challenge.

30 Paintings in 30 Days - Number 8

"Tempo"

6" x 6"

oil on pine veneer

SOLD

I love it when little kittens are rescued - and this

one was - in August - by my

artist friend Leann, who lives in Michigan.

She and her husband found this

then, 4 week old kitty, without a mom,

without litter mates,

just abandoned near their

rental house they were working on.

And - the short version of the story -

Leann now has a little gray kitty

to go with her other two kitties.

I wanted to paint from a photo she had

posted because it reminds me of a 'heart'.

And I DO 'heart' that this kitty has found a 

good home!!

Day 7 of Painting 30 in 30

"Venture"

6" x 6"

oil on pine veneer

This is Venus' sister.  She is an American Foxhound.

  See Day 5.  There wasn't an outdoor

shot that gave the same sort of sunny pose

that Venus' painting had

but I liked this indoor shot.

Although my version kind of reminds me of a 

'doggie mugshot'.

I see one or two areas that need 

addressing with this one

 in the morning.

Along with painting today, I sewed a complete

mitered corners baby quilt out of flannel.

Busy day.

If you would like to see more paintings from about 1200

other artists go to Leslie Saeta's blog

on the sidebar.

There are so many, and each year, I try to visit 

and give say hi and give support,

but this year is overwhelming.

I am pleased that the world seems to be filled with artists.