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 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 5: Yellow Vessel

Yellow Vessel
12x12 oil on panel
$325

                                                             

Day 5: Trying hard to work ahead a little as I know life tends to happen. Grandchild, my health and that of my parents...a million things have the potential to sidetrack my commitment. The more I paint, the more determined I am to complete this...and that's a good thing! The teapots continue to beckon and so I listen...I listen to the color shapes. I listen to my soul. I ask myself questions...warmer/cooler...lighter/darker...softer/harder...brush or knife...and form begins to appear. I am having wayyyyy too much fun!!!

30 Day Challenge: Day 4: Blue Vessel

Blue Vessel
12x9 oil on panel
$300

                                                              

So Day 4: I am getting into a rhythm of sorts. It is helping to paint the familiar and loved. Way in the back of your mind the shape is already there. You will be seeing more of my teapot collection in this series...they hold residence on the rail between my kitchen and my dining room. More are scattered around the area not unlike punctuation marks in the decor! See you tomorrow! Oh by the way, if you should happen to come to my house this month...it's a mess...just sayin...:)