The Gift: Guess what I got for Valentine's Day??Roses

Roses I
5x7 oil on linen panel
$80

Roses II
5x7 oil on linen panel
$80

Been itching to paint these since Thursday!!! Just a couple of small ones!! :)

30 Day Challenge: Epilog

I sit today surrounded by the distinct smell of oil paint and 30 fresh new painting. I have most of them in frames which I did as a protective measure. For the most part I did not paint small. Five of them are 8x8 and the rest vary up to one 16x20 so storing wet painting with thick paint applied with palette knife was a bit of a challenge!

Starting next Tuesday you can find these paintings at Gallori in Oconomowoc WI:

And this piece has already found a great home!!

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 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 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 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 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!

30 Day Challenge: day 8: Ten Dollar Bunch

Ten Dollar Bunch
9x12 oil on linen panel
$325

                                                             

Day 8: WOW...heavy Fibro day. Every inch of me hurt today. I have said this before: I am an "A" personality in a type "B" body. Perhaps this is why I choose to use the palette knife so much as I have found a way to complete a painting with it before my body gives out. I also really happen to like the spontaneity that evolves as a result of racing the clock to the finish line. For me my most successful work is done as a "quick paint". I might paint these roses one more time before they are past the point of no return. Really...is there anything more beautiful than the immediacy of a rose?

30 Day Painting Challenge: Day 7: Tarnished

Tarnished
12x12 oil on linen panel
$390

                                                              

Day 7: WHEW! This was an all day wrestle!!! I think I won...you tell me! Again my aim was juicy pieces of color while still remaining fresh. Because of the gray teapot surface I kept just getting mud. I really needed to keep the values right while changing out color. I was tempted to give up on this a number of times so I took a break...took a nap...walked the dog. I kept going back to the easel determined to have my way with this piece. Tomorrows got to be easier...right???

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...:)