Days 11, 12 and 14

Connected    oil    6"x6"

Ready For the Pros

Day 8 of the 30 Paintings in 30 Days Challenge.  We are at the beach and the weather is not that perfect blue sky, warm breeze kind we all love.  However, for what we lose in sunshine we gain in waves for body boarding!  There are lots of other things to do as well, including playing this game with fuzzy balls and a Velcro mitt.  This young man really knew how to balance his body for maximum efficiency and I loved trying to capture it.

Swinging - 30 In 30 Challenge #1"

This is the first painting of Leslie Saeta's 30 Paintings in 30 Days Challenge.  I am already behind as I usually post the painting I did the previous day.  Yesterday was a migraine day and today is a migraine hangover day, but I am determined to stay on task.  It is a beautiful day to be out in the studio and with the double garage doors open, it is like being outside, so I am going to listen to beautiful music and paint, paint, paint.  For this challenge I am doing a combination of drawing, painting and showing the background of birch by not painting areas.  We will see how it all goes, but I am happy with #1.

It Was a Good Ride

8"x10" oil

There is always some apprehension about trying something new.  You go through the checklist of skills you have mastered that should allow you the capability to accomplish the new task, but then there is that tiny bit of hesitation to overcome.  Well, a new slide can be that obstacle and the joy experienced by the fast but safe trip down can be exhilarating.  Do you remember that feeling?  When was the last time you successfully overcame an obstacle and was thrilled by the result?  We all need this in our lives.

Riding Lessons

6"x6" oil  $75

I learned so much in doing this painting.  I was highly distracted while working and was rushing to get it done.  I was not happy with the results, but I decided not to wipe it off, but to see if I could revive it.  The main reason I didn't like it was because it was fussy, overworked and dull looking.  I was able to breath life into some of the colors by glazing over it with transparent paint.  I decided to go with the soft edge look, because, well, what else could I do?  Since it is of my granddaughter, I can't help but feel fondly towards it.  What do you think?

On Top of the World

8"x10"  oil

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

The Good Father5"x7"

5"x7" oil   Everyone needs a best friend they can confide in.  There are lots of choices at Grandcamp.  This little guy is taking his monkey baby to the hardware store (his favorite shop) in his baby sling.

Playing Dress-Up

5"x7 oil

Who doesn't like to play dress-up?  Our fashion industry is based on the belief that we all like to dress up in the latest fashions and go out and show ourselves off.  Really I think designers sometimes just sit in a room with a bunch of kids who try on all kinds of crazy things and the designers quickly sketch out their choices and call it haute couture!  (or maybe they would be well advised to do this!)  This is another possible page for my kids book.

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Hello Rooster

5"x7" acrylic

Another favorite "Grandcamp" activity is visiting local farms to pick berries, pumpkins, apples, veggies, go to corn mazes and check out the animals.

A Walk In the Park

5"x7" acrylic

This is another illustration for my little book.  All of our grandkids love to go for walks in the woods and in parks.  It is probably my favorite thing to do with them because it is so easy and they love it so much. 

Hula Happy

5"x7" acrylic

I decided to write and illustrate a book for my grandchildren.  Right now I am working on the illustrations and when I get those all done I will attempt to do the text the way I want.  If I fail at that I will just simplify it and call it good.  The theme of the book is, "What Can You Do When You Go To Grandcamp?"  That is only a theme and a working title, not the finished idea.  When the kids come to visit we call it Grandcamp.  So, if it is at the beach we do beach things, like hula-hoop!  I am doing these with an outline and then painting in sections as if I was doing a coloring, kind of like school kids tend to do.  My grandkids are being raised to color outside of the lines...so we will see what will happen with that!  Anyway, this is a fun diversion and it is always great to work on projects for the kids.  This week I am taking a workshop with Dreama Tolle Perry, so I am mostly concentrating on that.