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.

Morning Hike

oil 9"x9"

My family had a reunion in Colorado recently.  We build in lots of time to do what we want, so groups of us head out to hike, rock climb, shop or visit museums or music venues.  One morning we went hiking with one of my sisters and her husband.  It was a beautiful, cool day in Estes Park.  I am showing my initial sketch below and how I finished it above.  I love the bands of color and the structural relationships.

sketch

Hope for the Future9"x9"

9"x9" acrylic

The last few paintings I have done have been from other people's photos.  I like painting from photos because you can do things that make it a better image, more fun, more imaginative.  I have great respect for really artistic photographers.  They can capture things in a professional and artistic way which most of us can't.  The truth is that many of the photos we take that have meaning or tell a story are pretty crumby images, but they still are important and special.  Each painting I do from a photo teaches me something more about how to do it better.  Painting from life is always good, but painting from photos is also inspiring to me, and I am able to do more and practice my craft because of the availability of photos.  I agree that it is good to take your own photos to paint from, but I have found that many of the commissions I have done needed a reference photo I could not take. This has pushed me to actually embrace photos for the tools they can be.

SOLD

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The Delivery Guy

9"x9" acrylic

I have been away from painting for a few weeks and am feeling it!  I decided to warm up with a fun little piece.  This is based on a DPW challenge to paint a guy on a bicycle.  I  decided to have some fun with it!  There is a poem to go with it, but I think it is a little early to post it, so I will wait till later to do that.  What do you do to get back into the swing of things after being away?  I went to an early exercise class today as well because traveling and visiting family is a lot of fun, and it requires a lot of energy, but not my usual exercise.  I need that too!

Book Illustration - Flying

9"x9" acrylic

I think this is the most fun I have had with these illustrations.  At Grandma's house we have a big blue flying chair and the kids have gone all around the world on grandma's flying chair.  Being at Grandcamp means using your imagination and taking a ride high up in the sky when you can.
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Book Illustration- The Magic of Balloons

9"x9" acrylic

Give a child a fancy plastic toy and it will end up broken on the floor.  Give them a few colorful balloons (with adult supervision), or some tape, or some magnets and they will be enchanted and busy for longer than you would image.  This child has the biggest eyes and they are always expressive.
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Book Illustration - The Climber

9"x9" acrylic

What I especially like about this one (besides the fact that I painted my beautiful granddaughter) is the composition.  I love all the crossing and angled lines.  I thought a long time about what colors to use and I think it worked out well.  This little one is really a climber and an explorer.  Nothing is safe from her probing fingers and she hasn't yet grasped the concept of "fragile."  It is so fascinating how kids from the same parents can be so different.

Book Illustration - Sledding

9"x9" acrylic

Do you remember the first time you went sledding.  I do.  I just remember a blur of color.  It took me many years to figure out what that memory was attached to.  I still like to go sledding, only I do it a little differently.  I hike up the mountain with snowshoes, then put them in a pack and ride down on a shovel sled (also known as a butt sled).  Thinking about it makes me feel excited about winter.  My husband just built a fire so I think I need to go sit by it with some hot chocolate.
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Book Illustration - Skiing with Grandpa

9"x9" acrylic

Skiing has started in our part of the country.  It is one of those things that make living in a snowy climate so appealing.  Actually it was snowing at my house this morning.  We have been having a very long and mild fall with incredible colors and we are due for the season of anoraks, tuques, mukluks  and shades of white.  One of the cool things about skiing with Grandpa is that there is sure to be a chocolate covered waffle from the Waffle Cabin thrown into the deal if mom and dad approve!  Kids around here start skiing from pack on dad's back and progress to little skis as soon as they can walk (there is debate about the safety of this method). The following photo was taken on Tuesday.

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Book Illustration - Reading With Grandpa

9"x9" acrylic

One of those special and rather universal moments with grandchildren is curling up with a book. In this case Grandpa is doing double duty while reading two books at once.  Since the kids know where Grandma's books are, it is one of the first things they run for when they come to visit. And.... that is one of the things you can do at Grandcamp.
 I suddenly have several deadlines and I am feeling the crunch.  I love the feeling of working towards goals and accomplishing a lot, but I vacillate, wanting to have no constraints on my time.  Are we ever truly satisfied?  I guess there are fleeting moments and we need to just embrace those.
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Book Illustration - Paper Hats

9"x9" acrylic

Newspapers are good for so many things, such as:reading (sometimes) starting fires, making boats, making paper mache, putting in bird cages, use as packing material and making funny hats!  This painting really looks like this!  It occurs to me that it looks a lot like a digitally produced painting.  I guess that is a case of art imitating art imitating art, or something like that. I do think there are very talented digital artists though.  What can you do at Gramcamp?  You can make paper hat, take a photo of yourself, and have a tea party!

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Book Ilustration "Music"

9"x9" acrylic

My grandson loves playing my violin.  I may have to get my bow restrung, but that is a small price to pay to see how much he loves fiddling around.  This painting was inspired by an evening when he and his family were visiting.  He was playing the fiddle, his brother was gingerly tapping the piano, his dad was playing the guitar and singing, and his mom was playing the penny flute.  It was a cacophony of lovely sounds as of course they were not playing the same tunes!  Am I having fun?  Yes I am!

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Book Going to the Circus

9"x9" acrylic

I have taken a bizillion photos of the circus.  I love the athleticism of performers.  I know there is great talent in those who work with animals, but I much prefer watching acrobats, trapeze artists and such.  I would love to be able to fly through the air.  Wouldn't you?  Seriously I have photos I have taken all over the country at different shows, big and small but this is actually the first circus painting I have ever done.  It too is for my book about going to Gramcamp.  I have enlisted a friend and avid poet, Randy Zimmerman,  to help me with the writing so I am excited about that.  This painting has such a compelling composition I think, but that is part of the artistry of the circus.  One of my favorite circuses is Circus Smirkus, which is a kids camp which performs in the summer.  Awesome.  Of course Cirque du Soleil is always spectacular.  I just read that a performer on the "Wheel of Death" fell and was hurt.  I always assume that they are so good they never get hurt, but that is just unrealistic.  I can fall taking a walk!  Maybe it is my lack of natural grace that makes me so appreciate these artists.

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