Paintings 20, 21, 22, 23, and 24 of the 30/30 painting Challenge! Winners and losers!!!

Sweet Rest
12x9 oil by Wendie Thompson
Plymouth Plein Air

Today is September 30th and it is obvious that I will not be painting all 30 paintings for the 30/30 Challenge. I only painted 24! These last 5 were all done Plein Air (in the open air) in various communities around Wisconsin...soooooo was it worth it?

Mr Pumpkin Head
12x9 oil by Wendie Thompson
Harvest Fair (Wisconsin State Fair Park )

You bet it was!! I have done this challenge 4 years in a row and twice I haven't completed it (loser?). But even with that I have painted more than I would have otherwise, honed my skill, learned some new tricks, found some new tools, made some new friends and sold some work (winner winner chicken dinner!)! What's not to like about that??

Kate's Abundance
16x12 oil by Wendie Thompson
Plymouth Plein Air

It is always a stretch to challenge myself to paint more but I have learned to relax into it, be gentle with myself (respect myself and my limits), look at the big picture (learning learning learning) and HAVE FUN!

Three Sisters and the Wind
10x20 oil by Wendie Thompson
Evansville Plein Air

So what's next for me? I will be teaching my very first workshop in two weeks at the Beaver Dam Area Artists Association and am excited to do it! AND the fall color is just beginning in my area...Lord willing I will be outside painting it in all it's glory!

Harvest on the Edge of Town
12x16 oil by Wendie Thompson
Evansville Plein AIr

September 30/30 Challenge #19 Plein Air!

White Pumpkins and Wind Chimes
12x16 oil by Wendie Thompson

30 by 30...Will she make it??? Who knows! What I do know is I am many hours ahead in "Brush Time"! This one was panted at one of my favorite places to paint...Monches Perennial Farm! http://www.monchesfarm.com/

30/30 September Challenge Number 17 and 18

Dreads
8x8 oil by Wendie Thompson

I've been busy but not busy painting! So I have some catching up to do! Not to worry! By the end of September I'm sure I will have painted 30 paintings. But for now its 2 a day till I catch up!! I'm working o a series of sheep!

Roll in the Hay
8x8 oil by Wendie Thompson

Day 16 30/30 Challenge: #1077

#1077
8x8 oil by Wendie Thompson

Day 15 September 30/30 Challenge: Sherbet

Sherbet
8x8 oil By Wendie Thompson

Pushing around some new colors for me. Pure experiment...Pure FUN!!

September 30/30 Sun Up

Sun Up
12x9 oil By Wendie Thompson

Slow day today...new toys!!

Sept 30/30 Challenge Day 13 Red Calla Lilys

Red Calla Lilys
9x12 by Wendie Thompson

Woke up on empty this morning. Nothing in the proverbial tank. Yet I had commited to go paint plein air with the League of Milwaukee Artists at the Boerner Botanical Gardens. It took me awhile to get going and I seriously asked myself if it was even wise. However, the day was a rare weather day in Wisconsin...I call them "winter in Phoenix" days...and so I hauled my stuff and me and a second cuppa coffee in the car. Drove The hour drive to the gardens. I am soooooo glad I did!

Day 12 of the 30/30 Challenge: #1031

#1031
8x8 oil by Wendie Thompson

Today was a very busy day! However I made a point of getting to the Jefferson Wool and Sheep Show! I had been looking forward to it all year. I love sheep. Many years we had them on our property and our neighbors had them on theirs. Today I walked away with many referance photos and a new pair of shearling slippers. My feet are HAPPY!

9-11: Day 11 of the 30/30 Challenge: Ghosts of the Twins

Ghosts of the Twins
16x20 oil by Wendie Thompson

Day 10 30/30 Challenge: Sunset on National

Sunset on National
20x10 oil by Wendie Thompson

Painting number two from the New Berlin Plein Air Competition. Man the light changes fast!!!

Day 9 30/30 Challenge: New Berlin Plein Air Competition!

Grassy Ramp
16x12 oil by Wendie Thompson

Soooooo I live in Wisconsin Don'tchaknow! September is a particularly beautiful month here and it's loaded with a very active Plein Air Competition roster! Today was the start of the New Berlin Competition and I painted this old barn. This is one of two paintings I can submit for consideration...WAY too much fun!!!

Blocked In

Day 8 30/30 Challenge: Dreams of Dancing

Dreams of Dancing
6x12 oil by Wendie Thompson

When I was little I took lessons...dance, voice, drama and some art. I had no fear of audiences. I don't know why. Today I played in paint...laid it down...scraped it off...messed it up and laid more down...I can still dream....

Day 7: 2015 30/30 Challenge: It's Labor Day!

Untitled
8x8 oil by Wendie Thompson

Values values values

So today was Labor Day here which means holiday which means family which means interruptions. No problem. This morning on Facebook I happened upon a post by Linda Crank discussing the palette of Sargent which was pictured. If you're on Facebook you can find it here:  https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=1714784502138&set=a.1742673599348.2097322.1013943409&type=1&fref=nf&pnref=story

And so today I gave myself a sort of assignment to work with some new colors and techniques as discussed in the comment section of the post. Focusing on values I worked out of an image in my head and not a photo so as not to frustrate myself with trying to get the features right. The first photo is the result...the black and white shows values. Learning, learning, loving learning!!! Not saying I'm done with this painting...but I'm done for today!

September 30/30 Challenge: Day 6 Ms Scooby II

Ms Scooby II
8x8 oil by Wendie Thompson

My little dog called me again today...pure JOY!

September 30 in 30 Challenge: Ms Scooby

Ms Scooby
8x8 oil by Wendie Thompson

Have I told you how much I love my little Cavapoo? Her name is Ms Scooby! This is the first time I have painted her but probably not the last!!

September 30/30 Challenge :Day 4... A day for a Wiper!

Did you know artists have some very frustrating days?? Yup...there are just some days when you wonder if you really are an artist. Or maybe, as one of my friends and I say...I am not an artist today. That leaves tomorrow wide open. Yesterday was one for me...I could not get this face right. I wiped it off 3 times and then decided it didn't hold enough merit to continue. Maybe it was because my granddaughter was here and I was trying to do this while she was napping? I don't know. But this I do know...the effort is not wasted. I learned some things that don't work. All is well and she's a goner! 

September 30/30 Challenge: Day 3...Blue

Blue
8x8 oil by Wendie Thompson

I am endlessly working on faces. They fascinate me. The smallest twitch and the whole persona changes. My assignment for myself was to lay down pieces of color and not mess with them. I am using cold wax medium to add body to the paint. Learning, learning, learning!

September 30/30 Challenge: Day 2 Chicory

Chicory
8x8 oil by Wendie Thompson

I have been working from photos the last two days but beginning with them upside down. Don't ask me why but it helps to more clearly see the value shapes. The wildflowers this summer on my morning walk with the dog seemed magical to me. This particular morning was moody...I tried to capture that while keeping it loose and harmonious.

It's September! Must be the 30 Paintings in 30 Days Challenge! Day 1

But WHY???

September has come and I have signed up to do Leslie Saeta's 30/30 challenge once again...but why?

Well, first I have learned something each and every time I have done it. Second, September comes and I need a renewed focus. Third, I have been right at a place in my soul where I have grown dissatisfied with my work. I've been doing this long enough to know that this is the very time to push ahead instead of being discouraged. Every time I have I have been rewarded with some new skill or ability in my work...so here I go...DAY ONE!

Lillies
8x8 oil by Wendie Thompson

Cedarburg....The Whirlwind!

Holy smokes! Today is Tuesday already!

She Dreamed of Roses
24x12 by Wendie Thompson

So I've been painting up a storm but I'm been pushing this old body a bit too hard and I'm right on the edge of getting sick...Listen to your body Wendie!

I have already done 9 paintings and I hope to do 2 more before I need to turn in my two for the main event. This is always the hardest part for me...deciding which two. May you can tell me what you think?

Solstice Stars and Fireflies
16x12 oil
by Wendie Thompson

Rhythm of the Roses
10x20 oil By Wendie Thompson

Sit a Spell
16x12 oil by Wendie Thompson

Constant Lullaby
12x9 oil By Wendie Thompson

Above are the pieces for the Main Event. In addition I did two paintings for the quick paint on Saturday when we had 2 1/2 hours to complete a painting and turned it in framed. They are below.

Getting Coffee
9x12 oil by Wendie Thompson

Lilies and Pansies
9x12 oil by Wendie Thompson

Some of these photos were taken with my phone and are not the best. Sorry. In between paintings I've been napping. Some killer days ahead with parties and stuff. Oh and helping take in over 500 paintings in two hours. What a life huh?

Oh yeah....I even got to be on TV...Check it out!!

http://fox6now.com/2015/06/22/see-fresh-paintings-inspired-by-nature-right-off-the-easel-but-where/

Cedarburg 2015 Plein Air: Day One Port Washington

Don't Bump Me
12x12 oil by Wendie Thompson

Arriving at 7am is no small thing for this painting chick. I live one hour from Port Washington and had been up late checking my preparations for the week and praying over it all. Nevertheless, my eyes popped open and I was off!

It was a full 20 degrees colder (about 55) right along lake Michigan with a damp breeze off of it. I set up in a small overhang to avoid the sun and started painting. Soon my friend Judith Reidy joined me in the shelter...always so good to paint with friends!! I quickly began to add layers of clothing and more layers and more...even so my hands went numb and by the time I finished the above painting I was chilled to the bone!

So I made a decision to make the hour trip back home to warm up, let the dog out and take a nap. That turned out to be a good choice as I was rested for the next adventure.

I met my friend Larry Seiler around 8pm. We both had the same idea...nocturne! So we scouted together for a while as the evening light show in the sky ended and the man made light show began. We both found something to paint within eyesight of each other...something I appreciated greatly. (You know it's a crazy world.) I got home around 1am!!!

Duluth Trading Company
12x12 oil by Wendie Thompson

This part of the competition is hung separately from the larger body of work and I can only submit one of these! Got an opinion on that?

2015 Cedarburg Plein Air Event: TOMORROW it begins!!! JOY!

So what's it like for the artists the day before an event like this? For me, as a mom,  I feel the kind of giddy I felt when my kids were little and it was Christmas eve. You see in a similar way it's all about preparedness. 

Did I do enough, shop enough, rest enough...you know, am I enough for this??? Will people like what I produce? 

So I have made my list and checked it 500 times!

Paint? check.

Brushes? check.

Canvas? Sizes? check...check.

Paper towels? check.

Solvent? check.

Frames...sizes? check check check...I hope!

Night lights? check.

Batteries? check.

Easel? check.

Framing tools? check

Raincoat and hat? check.

Umbrella/s? check.

Sunscreen? Bug Spray? check...check.

Lawn chair? check.

Wet panel carrier? check.

What am I forgetting???

One thing you should really know...well before the artists get to your community to paint...they have made quite a large financial commitment. It can be in the thousands of dollars!) Then they still need to travel, eat and sometimes find housing.

Here's the bottom line...Just like most Christmases in my house...The first time I pick up my brush to paint the JOY comes! Hope to see you there!!!

Plein Air in Wisconsin! Summer 2015!

Oh the Redbuds by Wendie Thompson
12x16 oil
New Harmony Indiana

I am so excited! The Plein Air "season" has begun in earnest for Wisconsin! Although I paint outside all year in any weather not everyone does and so many of my artists friends will be out in the towns, fields and along the shores of this great State. You can follow all the action on the Wisconsin Plein Air Painters Asso site (http://wipapa.blogspot.com/). You can follow me right here and I promise to update you as often as I can!

It's Complicated by Wendie Thompson
12x16 oil
The Angel Museum, Beloit WI

The Poet's Throne by Wendie Thompson
12x16 oil
The Poet's Garden Beloit College

 The two paintings above are my submissions for the "Edge of the Rock" plein air competition in Beloit WI. The opening is this Friday at 5pm at the Hendricks Center on the Beloit College Campus. Come if you can!! (http://www.friendsofriverfront.com/plein-air/)

The largest event and the longest in the state starts next week Wednesday. 150 artists paint! SOOOO fun to connect with old friends and to see the amazing art produced! Plan on coming on Friday the 26th. Come at 10am if your wanting to nab your favorite! Come at 5pm for the party and awards!! (http://pleinaircedarburg.blogspot.com/)

Then at the Art*Bar in Riverwest WIPAPA has there annual Field to Finish show called We Came, We Saw, We Painted. Always interesting to see what we do in the studio with the small things we paint outdoors. (http://wipapa.blogspot.com/2015/05/please-join-us-we-came-we-saw-we.html)

I'll see you there...I'll be the one with a brush in my hand!! 

Wendie