Day 30: Easter Parade (Last day of the Challenge)

Easter Parade
20x10 oil on linen panel
$450

                                                           

Day 30: On the railing between my kitchen and dining room I have some of my collection of 30's and 40's era teapots. Solid pastel colors and heavier pottery bodies, these were everyday ware...not meant for high tea. Last night I had three drooping tulips that hadn't died and I sort of threw them over the top of the teapots...more to get them out of the way as I cooked than anything else. This is how I found them this morning. I painted.

Can I just say...I DID IT!!!?! YEAH... celebration...joy!! !!!! This was the last in the 30 Day 30 painting Challenge that Leslie Byrd Saeta started on January 2nd. (You can see all the art from over 200 artist around the country here: http://www.lesliesaeta.blogspot.com/) I am asking myself some questions today as this concludes: Where do I go from here? Will I continue to paint each day? (Could me hubby stand it?) What will I do with this body of work? What have I learned...about painting and about myself? 

I normally paint a lot but not everyday. I love to paint plein air and founded the Wisconsin Plein Air Painters Association (http://wipapa.blogspot.com/) and continue to administer it. That takes a good chunk of my time. And, family comes first of course. 

One thing I have made a commitment to this year is more marketing of my own work. That includes more blogging and this challenge gave me a good start at that. I will be seeking new gallery representation this year and need to gather materials for that. 

These days grew a sort of rhythm that I enjoyed. Up early...coffee, walk the dog...blog and then paint. I normally am painting by 8:30 or 9. Some days I was done by noon...others like today it was more like 4pm. My painting mantra has always been: "Every canvas a lesson" and that served me well during this challenge. I have been moving toward more "juice" on the canvas...more use of palette knife and optical color. I finish this challenge thinking I have accomplished much with that regard. But more importantly...I want to paint things that move the viewer...I am no longer just content to paint a nice painting. I am in much prayer concerning this.

Thanks for checking in with me and I hope you enjoyed following my journey these past 30 days. I invite you to continue to follow me as I search for the next right thing!!! Just maybe this is my year...??? What do you think?

Day 29: The Greeter

The Greeter
8x10 oil on linen panel
$225

                                                            

Day 29: The Greeter sits on the top of my grandmothers maple hutch that is the first thing you see when you walk in my back door. He sits surrounded by other loved things...a white pitcher full of dried flowers...antique tins of various kinds...small oil paintings and assorted pottery. You might miss him because of it but he will not miss you. He is pouring out his blessing on all who enter or exit my home. All have been prayed for who come. Dear Lord...let each person who enters my home feel your love surrounding them...help me to show them that. When I first began to paint, my hubby who had been painting for years before me said: "Great...angels and flowers... humph!" (This photo is a little darker than the actual painting)

Day 28: Sustenance

Sustenance
12x12 oil on linen panel
$390

                                                           

Day 28: One great thing about this challenge is that I realized today that I have painted my way through a big chunk of winter in Wisconsin. That's no small thing. Today and tomorrow we are having a "January Thaw". Today it's in the 40's and tomorrow ..almost 60. Of course right after that, just so we don't get too attached, it will be in the teens! But tomorrow I will air out the house...maybe hear a rumble of thunder...all the snow will melt in preparation for the next dumping. Today I am thinking about Easter.

Day 27: Door County Dream

Door County Dream
9x12 oil on linen panel
$325

                                                           

Day 27: The day was throwing snow, ice and sleet at me in Wisconsin and I didn't want to stay here sooooo...I went to Door County (in paint of course!)! This delightful garden is in front of a beautiful restaurant in  Bailey's Harbor. Lush is the only way to describe it. 

Day 26: January Thaw

January Thaw
10x20 oil on panel
$450

                                                             

Day 26: OK so I went to the store and the tulips were on sale. So beautiful and such a song of new life. I live in Wisconsin and spring can come late here. Spring flowers in a vase can actually save us from the despair of winter!! 

Day 25: Redtwigs and Sunflowers

Redtwigs and Sunflowers
8x10 oil on linen panel
$225

                                                            

Day 25: This is the first painting in this series that I have painted from a photo...but I just had to do it. To keep it fresh I use a very quick sketch in clean pure chroma just enough to give me an idea of the space. Then I get out my palette knife and begin to lay in color...thick. I am really happy with this one! Hope you like it too!!

Day 24: Gunmetal and Bamboo

Gunmetal and Bamboo
10x8 oil on linen panel
$195

                                                            

Day 24: I had limited time to paint today so I thought I had better keep it simple. Not so simple was the gunmetal glaze on this pot that I love! Every time I looked I saw a different color in the dull sheen. Great learning experience!

Day 23: Moss Rose

Moss Rose
8x8 oil on panel
$150

                                                             

Day 23: Moss Rose is the pattern I often associate with my Grandmother, Rondi. She had a small set of tea cups and sugar/creamer set. When she passed away I received it and added to my collection of it over the years. Got to tell you...I loved my grandmother! She came to this country at 18 through Ellis Island by herself. The oldest of 18 children she ended up in Chicago. All the time I knew her she had a heavy, heavy Scandinavian accent. She referred to me as "Vendie" with a V and a singsong sound.

Day 22: Quantum Learning

Quantum Learning
20x10 oil on panel
$450

                                                           

Day 22: So I woke up this morning and my hubby had arraigned this still life on the counter with some of his favorite things! Had to paint them...had to...know what I mean?? Late 40's era Chevy trucks of which there are many at our house including a full sized one in the drive way longing to be completed. It has been that way for awhile. I have visions of us bombing down the road in it one day!! 

Day 21: Little Yellow Pot

Little Yellow Pot
20x10 oil on linen panel
$450

                                                              

Day 21: Walking the dog in the freezing cold I found this small branch on the ground...buds that will never bloom and something wonderful about it's twists and turns. I have always loved this small yellow sugar pot and use it often when serving people breakfast in bed as it fit's well on the small tray and it's cheery color is a great wake up. 

Day 20: Above the Sink!

Above the Sink
10x20 oil on linen panel
$450

                                                            

Day 20: 30% done!!! This delightful wrought iron creature sits above my kitchen sink courtesy of my son. She is a reminder of chores and loved ones of by gone years. I simply love her and haven't a single clue why I haven't painted her before!

Day 19: The Pinks!

The Pinks
8x8 oil on panel
$150

                                                           

Day 19: The Pinks...the end of the Gerbera Daisies...I may need to go to the store again. But I think I will wait awhile. Something in my kitchen is calling...paint me, paint me! Just wait till tomorrow!

Day 18: The Oranges

The Oranges
8x8 oil on panel
$150

                                                            

Day 18: The Oranges... again small quick FUN!

Day 17: The Reds

The Reds
8x8 oil on panel
$150

                                                           

Day 17: The Reds....So after I painted all three color daisies together I decided to paint them individually and smaller. I wanted to do this quickly because these daisies are nice one day and the next...dead. And so I am a little more ahead but I have a very busy weekend coming up so we'll see if I stay there!

Day 16: Three Glasses Full

Three Glasses Full
16x12 oil on linen panel
$425

                                                            

Day 16: We are over the hump and I have a big problem. Where does one put 30 really wet paintings to dry??? If it was summer here they would be sitting outside in the sun...baking. Since I have used my palette knife and really thick paint on all of these even the first one still has some wet spots. I may have to stop and frame some of them just so I can stack them safely. This is a good problem right?? Of course I just might convince you to buy one...that could lighten my load!!! Come on...you know you want one!!!

Day 15: The Blue Vase

The Blue Vase
12x12 oil on linen panel
$390

                                                            

Day 15: Half way done!!! This one did not come easy. Don't know if I was just tired or what but I struggled. What a journey this has been so far. Good...but at times hard. What is driving me to paint everyday is the fear of getting behind. I HATE the pressure of that. I have stayed one day ahead this whole 15 days by painting 2 on the first day and then one every day since. I think on the next day that I am feeling really good I will paint two again so as to further relieve pressure. Stay tuned...there are good things to come!

By the way: Come see me at the Delind Gallery this Friday night for the opening of "Bare Walls" a nudes show in which I have one piece. Then have a blast at gallery night in Milwaukee!!!!

Day 14: Gerbera Daisies

Gerbera Daisies
10x20 oil on linen panel
$450

                                                            

Day 14: Guess who went to the store?? Me! I have a million vessels but I needed something to fill them with...Gerbera Daisies seemed perfect as the roses were done for.So for $10 bucks I bought 3 bunches...red, orange and pink. Wonder how long they will last???

Day 13: Off With Their Heads!

Off with Their Heads
12x9 oil on linen panel
$325

                                                             
Day 13: Yup...I lobbed off the rose heads and stuffed them in a blue pottery bowl...poor things. Even then I couldn't stop looking at them. Yup...I most definitely had fun with these roses!

Day 12: Last One Standing!

Last One Standing
12x9 oil on linen panel
$300

                                                            

Day 12: Have you ever painted lusterware??? I mean really...it hard!! Still don't know if I'm all the way happy...but I'm calling this one done. I might need to go to the store today as this was the end of the roses...:( 

30 Day Challenge: Day 11: One of the Crowd

One of the Crowd
20x10 oil on panel
$450

                                                            

Day 11: Roses again and I won't apologize. They just won't die! They were full out this morning and not one petal dropped...no drooping either. So it was roses again today. I sure have gotten my 10 bucks out of these!

30 day Challenge: Day 10 In a Different Light

In a Different Light
12x12 oil on linen Panel
$390

                                                           

Day 10: The roses....fully opened when I got up this morning...I never tire of them, But I wanted to change it up a bit so I put them in a completely different lighting situation. I have these great little battery operated spotlights in my kitchen mounted under my cabinets that can be removed and re-positioned as needed (see pic below) and they made the white roses glow. Tomorrow I may have to float the roses in a bowl to have anything fresh left...hope you don't mind!