More Roses

"Rose and Leaf"
6 x 6" oil on Gessobord
Click Here to Purchase Painting

Shown in a virtual frame

I really worked to keep this painting simple in design, brushwork, and color.  I think I succeeded in the simplicity.

The roses I bought earlier this week finally started to open up, and yesterday I had a photo session with some simple vases and arrangements.  Yes, there will be more roses to come. The 30 in 30 Challenge is over as of yesterday, but I might just try for a 30 in 45 days challenge on my own of roses.  So much to learn.

Day 27 - Hey Bud

"Hey Bud!"
4 x 4" oil on Gessobord
Day 27 of the 30 in 30 Challenge

This was a challenge.  I bought some beautiful pink roses at the grocery store, but they are tightly wound and it will be a couple of days before they relax.  I pulled and pushed leaves on this, but and was running out of daylight to photograph and get it painted.  Can't wait till it stays light later.

So I was stressed and started out with lots of detail.  The second half of the painting session was to remove a lot of detail that I didn't think added anything.

I will be painting this again on Wed or Thursday and see if I can start out simple and not have to retreat about half-way through.

Day 26 - Double Trouble

"Double Trouble"
4 x 4 oil on Gessobord
Day 26 of 30 in 30 Challenge
Click Here to Purchase Painting

"Double Trouble" in Virtual Frame

This painting is named for the fact that this rose was packed with petals!  I'm forcing myself to abstract and simplify rather than paint every detail.  My tendency when unhappy with how a painting looks is to add more detail rather than focus on quality of paint, shape, color and temperature.  I fall into my "drawing mode" rather than my painting mode.  I'm hoping since I am now aware I will stop myself.

Day 24 - Blush

"Blush"
5 x 5" oil on Gessobord
Day 24 of 30 in 30 Challenge
SOLD

The quest for painting roses continues.  When they are small like this and are the center of attention it seems that more detail is needed than if it were part of a bigger composition where the eye travels around.  So maybe a few more small studies and then a larger piece.

Day 22 - Time for Auction

"Fancy Pear"
6 x 6" oil on Gessobord
Part of my Scratching the Surface Series

Today was spent preparing my first shipment of paintings (13 of them) to Castle Gallery for the 19th Valentine Show opening February 7th.  So there was no painting today.  Shipment one is going out tomorrow afternoon, and shipment two (another 5 larger paintings are going on Monday - well, "larger" for me.

Now that I've got the Belmar Art and Frame exhibition delivered and the Castle Gallery is all set and ready for shipping, it's time to make room for a new paintings.  There are a few that I'm going to put of for auction. The first one is Fancy Pear, and the bidding starts at $10.

Then it will be time for Paint February...my own challenge...continuing on with the 30 in 30 idea.  Some wonderful opportunities have happened as a result of painting everyday. Why stop now?

Day 20 and 21 - Lots of Cherries

"Pears and Cherries"
11 x 14" oil on panel
For sale at a later date

"Adieu to You Too!"
4 x 4" oil on Gessobord
On Hold

I've been talking about painting larger for a couple of years.  Today was the day.  I had actually started "Pears and Cherries" several months ago and just got lost in the size and the application of paint. (I had done a colored pencil piece years ago from this photo set-up.)  I've been watching lots of videos on painting, brushwork and light specifically by David A Leffel and Sherrie McGraw as part of their Artist's Guild membership on their Bright Light Fine Art website.  As I have watched them, little light bulbs go off in my head - "Oh, that's how you do that!"  Looking at their work is akin to a religious experience for me.

The first thing this morning I did have to paint my little cherry just to get the pump primed.

Day 19 - Cherry and Shadow

"Cherry and Shadow"
2.5 x 3.5" oil on canvas panel
Day 19 30 in 30
SOLD

The cherry paintings are popular!  This one is going with a few other cherry paintings to Castle Gallery in Fort Wayne, IN for the Amour de l'art, their 19th Annual Valentine Show.

I'm so pleased to be included, and I just learned today that I will be included on the invitational postcard with the Pink Rose painting I did earlier this week.

Day 18 - January Cherry

"January Cherry"
4 x 4" oil on Gessobord
Day 18 of 30 in 30 Challenge
SOLD

Running on empty when it comes to cherry paintings, so that's what was on the easel today.  Twelve days to go for the 30 in 30 Challenge.  I might just make it, despite my whining every morning about painting, but I must say the whining is less and the "adult" painter steps up to the easel a little more confidently the last few days.

Day 17 - Rose Bowl

"Rose Bowl"
6 x 6" oil on Gessobord
SOLD

I love this little sugar bowl, it came from my husband's family.  It fits my intention of learning to paint roses.

My 30 in 30 Challenge has brought some nice opportunities.  One being a nice order from the Castle Gallery in Fort Wayne, IN, for their upcoming Valentine Exhibition.  This will most likely be shipped with 8-10 other pieces.  Niiiiice!

Day 16 - Pink Rose Study

"Pink Rose Study"
4 x 4" oil on Gessobord
SOLD

While I love painting fruits and vegetables and still life in general, I really want to learn to paint florals.  I love roses, but my eye/brain still need lots of training to decode all the little shapes, temperatures, colors and planes.  I think this is my best attempt to date, but I have a major headache.

What we won't do for our art!!

Day 15 - Tangerine Slice

"Tangerine Slice"
2.5" x 3.5" oil on canvas panel
SOLD

Well, our first sleep over of the year went really well with our sweet Emma.  She talked my arm and leg off before she fell asleep about 10pm.  And the last thing she said was "You are one of the bestest Grandma's ever."  High praise from a 4 year old who also happens to be a staunch Papa's girl. She's always gone to him if hurt or in need of comfort.  I've learned to graciously take a back seat...so imagine my delight at hearing I'm at least on her radar.

So today was catching up on CPSA business and trying out my new Nutri-Bullet, a gift from my health-conscious sister, that arrived yesterday.  I was a little intimidated by all the moving parts, but after a good night's sleep (all by myself) I was able to make a delicious smoothie this morning for breakfast (red kale, spring greens, half an orange, half an avocado, two dates for sweetness, some seeds mixture that came with the purchase, and almond milk.)  It was really gooooood!

Oh yes, a couple of new still life set-ups with tangerine slices.  So I thought I would do a quickie today of just the tangerine slice to work up to the tangerine with other objects that I photographed.

Life is so good.

Day 13 - Blue Bottle

"Blue Bottle"
6 x 6" oil on Gessobord
Click Here to Purchase Painting

Day 13 of the 30 in 30 Challenge.  Tomorrow, day 14, will be granddaughter day so no painting - just fun.

On Wednesday I need to do some new setups.

Off to take a nap before the Monday night Emma sleep-over.

Day 12 - Loosely Summer

"Loosely Summer"
6 x 6" oil over copper acrylic primed Gessobord
Day 12 of 30 in 30 Challenge
SOLD

So tired today, but didn't want to NOT paint.  So I decided to paint a loose landscape just to get the feel of paint under my brush (new brushes.)  I rarely paint landscapes, mostly because I'm an indoor girl.  I admire the plein air painters, but I need a Starbucks coffee close by, which also requires a restroom close by.  I don't like cold, heat or bugs.  Thusly, I paint still life.  I really need some new inspiration for still life though.  Going to spend the day on Etsy looking for really cool still life objects.

I do like how this turned out, especially with the little bit of copper showing through. I've also done some light scratching in the shadows to allow a little bit more of the copper to emerge.

Day 11 - Gala and New Brushes

"Gala"
4 x 4" oil on Gessobord
SOLD
Day 11 of 30 in 30 Challenge

Now I know how an ice skater must feel when they have to break in new skates.  I bought new brushes that arrived yesterday, good quality, professional artist brushes from Rosemary & Co in the UK. They have longer bristles and painting felt a little like trying to walk wearing swim flippers.  After a half hour or so I did manage to get them moving in a direction that was pleasing to me.

There is a saying that goes round and round in my head as I paint.  It's a quote from David A. Leffel, "Make beautiful paint."  He goes on to say, don't worry about making an object, make beautiful paint and the object will take care of itself.  "Make beautiful paint" is my mantra while I'm holding my new brushes...or even my old brushes.

Day 10 - Blue Cup and Red Cherries

"Blue Cup and Red Cherries"
6 x 6 oil on Gessobord
Day 10 of 30 in 30 Challenge
Click Here to Purchase Painting

I painted this reference several years ago and decided to try it again today.  It's always fun to see if you learned anything.

We are a third of the way done with the challenge and I'm thinking I need to set up some new still lifes for some inspiration.

Just About Caught Up

"Cherry on Copper"
4 x 4" oil on Gessobord primed with
Acrylic iridescent antique copper
SOLD

"Pear on Copper"
4 x 4" oil on Gessobord primed with
Acrylic iridescent antique copper
SOLD

Today was play day.  I've been following some painters on Facebook who paint on copper panels (yes, real copper.)  I love the luminance that they get.  At least one of the artists has painted using acrylic copper. That was in my budget so I decided to order some and try it out.  It arrived yesterday.  I primed some panels last night and then just played with applying the paint today.

I really like how they look in person.  The copper doesn't show off too much in the photo, but in person if they are lit they really shimmer. Nice.

Two paintings today...that makes up for at least one of the days I pooped out.

Day 8 - Back at it with Cuties and Grapes

"Cuties and Grapes"
8 x 10" oil on Gessobord
NFS

After a day off, I felt more energized this morning and decided to finish a painting I had started over the holidays.  I had the oil sketch done so this is mostly painted today.  So this would make my 6th completed painting for the challenge.  I also have my half painting from Tuesday, which I will get back to.

My concept for this painting was to have the cuties emerge into the light and I'm happy with the way it turned out.  My resource was abandoned early on and was just for the plate/dish and the cuties.  I added the grapes, and enhanced the lighting concept.

Much research into how to handle grapes in shadow and grapes in light to get this baby done.

This is a "big" painting for me...usually painting in the 4 x 4 to 6 x 6" range.

Judge's Pick in Daily Paintworks December Contest

Woohoo!  I entered the Daily Paintworks Monthly Contest in December and found out this morning that my painting "Sunny Side" was chosen as a Judge's Pick. Here is the link to see the rest of the award winners as well as the entries.  Thanks to James Coulter for the selection.

Here's the cute little widget I get to display! I also get a free membership for a month as well as having my posted paintings be listed in the Featured Artists section.

OK..now off to catch up on my 30 in 30 Days painting efforts.

   

"Sunny Side"
4 x 4" oil on Gessobord
SOLD

Day Number 6 - Pffft

Day 6....didn't quite get there before I hit the wall.

I've worked hard for the last 5 days...painting a completed painting each day is hard work even if the end result is a small painting.  I hit the wall about 30 minutes ago...you know...the place where you think "I can't go on."  Ok, I surrender!  I'll finish the painting on Wednesday.

For those of you who have only met me through the 30 in 30 Day challenge, I am also the national president for the Colored Pencil Society of America.  We are in the middle of quite a few projects and my email has been a flurry of activity and things to do this morning.  That takes priority over painting most days.

I also have my 4 yr old granddaughter, Emma, tomorrow. She is a force of nature and requires undivided attention...so I need my rest.  I didn't go to sleep until 1:30 last night and I'd better be in bed by 10pm tonight or tomorrow will be a nightmare for me.

So there you have it...Day 6...I clearly need to work on endurance.

C'mon Tomato Season

"Tomato Season"
4 x 4" oil on Gessobord
Day 5 of 30 in 30 Day Challenge
SOLD

Shown in a virtual frame as an example

I'm dreaming of tomato season.  Like many places in the US right now, it's cold and snowing...for the second day.  Trying to keep my spirits up!

I did do some cooking earlier today.  I haven't enjoyed cooking throughout most of my life, it's been a drudgery.  Lately, though, I've been into making these grand salads and using my Door to Door Organics produce.  This morning I made crispy kale chips with olive oil, vinegar and salt. They were really wonderful and I had to fight off hubby who also loved them, which is a surprise because he turns up his nose most times to anything new. I also baked an acorn squash which I plan on making into soup for dinner.  I'm amusing myself until I can leave the house.

Peaches and Sake Pitcher - Number 4 of the Challenge

"Peaches and Sake Pitcher"
6 x 6" oil on Gessobord
Day 4 of the 30 day challenge
SOLD

Another busy day with lots of Colored Pencil Society of America activities.  One of which was making my reservations for the governing board meeting in the spring in Brea, CA.  One of our favorite cities and hotels.  I'll be there the first part of March...let's hope the snow holds off for a plane trip here in Denver.

Where does the day go?  It's 5pm here and dark. C'mon spring!

Day 3 - Into the Light

"Into the Light"
4 x 4" oil on Gessobord
Day 3 of the challenge "30 in 30 Days"
SOLD

An example of how framing the painting might look.

Another busy day! Put together and delivered 19 paintings for Belmar Frames here in Denver.  My paintings will be on display along with paintings of June Davis and Virginia Unseld.  The exhibition runs from January 8th - March 15th.

So I stopped at Starbucks and bought lunch. (Did you all read about the woman who ate and drank everything from Starbucks for a year?  She spent a ton of money, but lost weight. Hmmm, hasn't worked for me.) Ate lunch, returned emails and then I could paint.

I have nothing on the agenda for tomorrow but painting (and snow.)  So hopefully I can't paint something a little more complex for Day 4.

Day Number 2 - 30 in 30 Days

"Day 2 Lime"
2.5 x 3.5" oil on canvas panel
SOLD

A little massage therapy on my back and hip took priority today, then had to drive across town to pick up unsold work from the Abend Gallery's Holiday Miniature Show.  The good news is I sold 8 paintings during the show...out of 17 exhibited.  I was pleased.

Day Number 1 - 30 in 30 Days

"Lemon and Purple Grape"
5 x 5" oil on Gessobord
Entry Number 1 for 30 in 30 Days Project
SOLD

Happy New Year!  A great way to start 2014...painting!