30-30 Challenge #24

2"x4.5" acrylic

This is #24 in the 30 day painting challenge.  I am so glad I decided to do miniatures as I have learned a lot including the importance of composition.  I missed that a bit with this one as the top bird is not quite positioned at the most advantageous place.  But my main concern with this one is that it looks like the wings are moving and I think I got that.  Value is so important in painting and I continue to see that when something isn't working, frequently it has something to do with the values (light and dark) against each other.

30-30 Challenge #23

This is painting #23 in the 30 Paintings in 30 Days Challenge.  It is from a photo reference taken by wildlife photographer Dale Waack.  He generously gave me permission to use his photos to paint from for this challenge.  I chose to do 2"x4.5" miniatures.  On top of that, I am going to 2 workshops this month.  So, I put myself in the awkward position of painting in 3 different styles this month.  I am feeling like a total amateur....but I am learning!  It is good to be on a learning curve, but I think I just made a lot of confusion for myself this month.  Can you relate?

30-30 #22

2"x4.5" acrylic  sold

This is #22 of the 30 Paintings in 30 Days Challenge given by Leslie Saeta.  It inspired me I thnk because my grandkids were visiting for the weekend.  I find it almost impossible to paint when they are here (a very small sacrifice) but I was able to squeeze this one in.  Other than that, their grandfather and I got to do some outdoors fun things with them like fishing and hiking to the Clarenton Gorge.  We also picked mint, grapes and tomatoes and did some fine cooking.  The boys are 3 and 5 and their little sister, who is almost sitting up and almost crawling, is 6 months.

30-30 #21

2"x4.5"

This also is from a reference photo by Dale Waack.  It was hard to paint this mighty bird with enough detail and energy to suggest its magnificence and strength, but I had fun trying and also to make it worthy of copying the photo...like adding enough color to the water to make it interesting.

30-30 #20

This painting is from a reference photo by Dale Waack, who is a wonderful wildlife photographer.  It is a red winged black bird, one of my personal favorites because of the brilliant flashes of color they have on their wings.

30-30 #19

2"x4.5"

This was painted from a reference photo taken by Dale Waack who generously gave me permission to use some of his photos which he posts to facebook.  He is a wildlife photographer, a skill that takes a good eye and tons of patience.

30-30 17&18

each 2"x4.5"

I went nautical for these too and I am so excited to say I have caught up!  I am amazed at how much I have learned, how much fun I am having, and how cute a tiny painting can be!

30-30 14,15,16

I am heading out to a Randall Sexton workshop today at the landgrove Inn.  I chose his workshop because I fell in love with a painting he did of an industrial landscape.  I am hoping to pick his brain as we head out for 4 days of plein air painting.

30-30 Challenge #12 & #13

I am getting caught up but also need to paint ahead because I will be going to a Randall Sexton workshop and also one with Susan Abbott.  Life is good...but when it is so busy, time sure flies.  As I get older, I find I want to slow down my days and savor them.  Not sure that is possible yet.

30-30 Challenge #10&11

each 2"x4.5" acrylic

I am trying to get caught up because I am so far behind on my 30 paintings.  The top one is from a friend's photo which just captured my attention and the bottom one is of my favorite kayaking lake.

30-30 #8-9

30-30 challenge #8, #7

Trying to get caught up....I have finished through #7 but still need to post #6

#3 

These are #3 and #4 of my miniature series.  I actually have done 5 of the 30 paintings in 30 days challenge, but only 4 of them are miniatures.  I am selling these on facebook for $10 each to the first person who posts "sold" under it.

30-30 #4 day 12

2"x4.5"  sold  oil

I am learning so much from doing these miniatures.  Right now I am thinking about finding the balance between details and a loose brush effect.  I have found that liquid acrylics work better than tubes and I need to try some different brushes to get what I want.  I am selling these on facebook for $10 each to the first person who posts "sold" under it.  I got this idea from Crystal Cooke.  It is a lot of fun.  I have sold some that aren't done yet, which is fun!

30-30 #2 day 10

2"x4.5"  acrylic

Day 9 and I am only able to post #2!  I finally figured out what I am going to do.  I prepared 30 little 2"x 4 1/2" panels and decided I would do miniatures.  Of course I totally underestimated what that meant.  I thought it would make it easier to do little ones, but since I haven't ever done miniatures, it is a whole new process.  What I have learned:  it doesn't necessarily take less time than doing a larger painting; like all paintings, if you don't get the values right, forget it; edges, brushwork, composition and color mixing are the same, except brush size is completely different, so that makes all the difference.  Bottom line, I am going to complete these and based on the first one, I am going to learn a lot about painting.  Oh, yes, these are also acrylic instead of oil, which is a whole other can of worms for me! ...and then there is photographing it....believe me the original looks a lot more in focus!

30-30 #1 Day 8

9"x9" oil

I have been traveling a lot.  I just got back from 2 weeks of sand, sun, surf and family and it was wonderful, but I did not look at art, paint or draw.  I thought about it, but that is all.  I am suppose to be doing Leslie Saeta's 30 paintings in 30 days challenge and it is a great way to get myself motivated, but I am already 8 days and 7 paintings short!  So, now that our official family vacation is over, I am moving into fall mode.  I have a couple of commissions to finish, and really wanted to choose a theme to do for the month, but I think it will be a hodge-podge (hotchpotch) of subject matter.  I also was going to do images for a children's book I am thinking of illustrating, but I think I need more focus to attempt that.  I have called myself a daily painter for a few years, but I really need to get back to that to claim it.  Life is just so full of fun and sweet things to do!  This painting is for sale so contact me if you are interested.

On Top of the World

8"x10"  oil

This is a commission.  I think she epitomizes "happiness."  This portrait makes me want to smile.

For a Rainy Day

10"x12" original oil

It is raining buckets today..... dark and quiet, like the atmosphere is sucking all the sounds except the gentle drips of water.  It makes me feel like crawling back in bed after having a warm cup of cocoa!  So, these flowers are very cheerful on this soggy day.  They are a commission from my friend and stellar gardener, Rebecca Greenley.  She has that magic touch that makes all her flowers stand up and show off their best sides!

Naia

10"x10"  oil

Is she beautiful or what?  She is not my biological grandchild, but she is the daughter of my "almost daughter" so that makes Naia my "almost granddaughter."  Lucky me!  I also feel lucky to get to paint her.  I did the drawing below first because I have been really enjoying the process of drawing lately and it helps to get to know the subject a little better.  I then did the painting.  Since the reference photo was black and white, I had to make up the colors.  Rather than studying a bunch of other photos of her, I decided to just let the painting tell me what colors to use.  It looked rather bland to me (except the startling yellow jumper) until I mixed a little batch of paint with Rembrandt transparent red oxide and some cad yellow and white and got the punch I needed.  I love that color!  I also added purple to her hair which I think worked well.  It is hard to tell in this photo, but the purple just kind of works with the brown.  Anyway, I have been working so hard to get ready for an upcoming show (mostly framing, etc.) that it is so fun to do a painting I am pleased with.  I really hope her mom loves it too!

Skinny Dippin'

12"x18"  oil  Commission

What are you doing on this incredibly beautiful summer day?  I have been thinking about teaching a class on painting  kids/grandkids and this painting has reminded me how much fun it is to do that.  I like the combination of soft/hard edges, loose rendering and accurate drawing.  Actually my painter friend Heather Shay is the one who reminded me how much I love drawing.  She paints, but admits that it is the drawing part that really appeals to her.  Her painting style is very precise and is much like drawing itself.  Her subject matter is infused with color and fun material so it all comes together without looking too fussy.  I am including a painting of hers below.

by Heather Shay