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!