DONE and THREE YEAR BLOG ANNIVERSARY

6x6 Oil on Gessobord

For purchase information click HERE.

Day 30 and done!  Wow!  Thirty paintings in 30 days completed.  It's been a good journey and I've gained knowledge about myself and using a very limited palette.   Thank you, Leslie Saeta, for a fun challenge!  I think Crystal Cook expressed my thoughts perfectly about this challenge and I have put her link at the end of my post.  Please take a minute and read it.  And to see the work that over 200 artists did in the challenge, click the link to Leslie's blog.
Today is my three year "blogaversary!"  Holy cow!!  I've met some fantastic artists through the blogosphere.  I've experienced inspiration and encouragement beyond what I could ever expect and I have to say THANK YOU!!  Every comment and email has meant so very much to me.  And meeting some of you in person .... wow!  It has just been an experience that has added so much to this art journey on which I am traveling.  So, again, I have to express gratitude to you, my friends, THANK YOU!!!

Crystal Cook
Leslie Saeta

POMEGRANATE ON BLUE FABRIC

6x6 Oil on Gessobord

For purchase information click HERE.
Day 29 of the 30/30 challenge.  I can't believe there is only one more day of the challenge.  I have learned quite a bit about the commitment to posting once a day and I have to admit that at this point it is something that I will not continue.  I have learned, also, that a very limited palette is not my cup of tea.  However, I can see how it would be a real plus when painting plein air.  Through this challenge I have met some wonderful artists of which I was unaware .... icing on the cake!

SLICES 3

6x6 Oil on Gessobord

Day 28 of the 30/30 challenge.  This will be the last of the orange slices for the time being. They have been fun to paint and good to eat! 

SLICES and SLICES 2

6x6 Oil on Gessobord

Day 27 of the 30/30 challenge.  I worked a little looser on these orange slices today.  It was fun!

6x6 Oil on Gessobord
This is my make-up painting for Day 19.  More orange slices.

FIVE PEARS

6x6 Oil on Gessobord

Day 26 and the home stretch!

FOUR PEARS

6x6 Oil on Gessobord

For purchase information click HERE.

Day 25.  Gosh, it seems this month is flying by!  Only 5 more daily paintings ..... well 6 more for me, because I need to make up a day that I missed.  One day I'll post 2 paintings and that will take care of the missed day.  
Hope you are having a creative day!
Thanks for stopping by!

SUNNY WINDOW

4x4 Oil on Gessobord

For purchase information click HERE
Day 24 of the 30/30 challenge.  For all of you in the cold this is a reminder of the warmer weather.  Here in Texas we are having 70 degree temperatures, although we will have to wait for spring to arrive to see flower boxes in bloom.
HAVE A FANTASTIC WEEKEND!!

ON THE ROAD AGAIN

6X6 Oil on Gessobord

For purchase information click HERE
Day 23 of the 30/30 challenge.  While painting this orange truck I listened to Willie Nelson's famous song "On the Road Again."  Perfect for this piece of art!

.

FACE NO. 88

6x6 Oil on Gessobord

For purchase information click HERE.

Day 22 of the 30/30 challenge and another mug shot to paint.  This one went a little faster.  I think painting every day makes painting a little quicker and I am getting just a tad bit better at mixing with this limited palette.  

TEXAS LANDSCAPE 3

6x6 Oil on Gessobord

For purchase information click HERE.

Day 21 of the 30/30 challenge.  I still have one painting to catch up on, but I needed to get this one posted.
  I like this little painting.  It is so typical of Texas.  These water towers are everywhere and they come in all sizes and shapes.  This one looked to be an old one, but still in use.  I liked the thick clouds in the sky on this particular day, too.    

FACE NO. 87

4x4 Oil on Gessobord

For purchase information click HERE.

Well, here we are on day 20 and I missed day 19.  Very busy with other things and could not get up to the studio.  I will make it up later this week.  
This is painted from police mug shot records.

LIPS

This is a little oil study I did after watching Taryn Day's new ArtByte "Painting Figures from Digital Images."  It is excellent!  Lots of good information in this little byte!
Day 18 of the 30/30 challenge.

BIRD DANCE

6x6 Oil on Arches Oil Paper

The photo reference for this painting was taken at Hilton Head while I was attending a Karin Jurick workshop, which by the way, was a blast!

This is day 17 of the 30/30 challenge.  So far I've painted every day, but disappointed in some of the paintings I have posted.  Even with the disappointment, I continue to learn more about using a limited palette.  

Have a great week-end!

GREEN CUP

4x4 Oil on Gessobord

JACKET

6x6 Oil on Gessobord

Click HERE for purchase information.

Day 15.  Half way and 15 to go.  I am going to Big Bend in a couple of days and while I am there I will have no internet access.  So there will be 3 to 4 days I won't be able to post.  I'll just have to catch up when I return.  It's just been impossible to paint ahead, but I'll put in some extra studio hours when I return. :-)

This jacket was a challenge because it is black and with my limited palette of blue, yellow, red and white it took me awhile to find just the right combination of colors to make a good dark.  I may never be able to repeat it, but I think it is a beautiful dark color.  

GREEN VEST

6x6 Oil on Panel

Click HERE for purchase information.

Day 14.  I'm enjoying painting clothes and giving some thought to a series using a larger format.  It could be a series of hundreds of clothes!  Well, I don't know if my interest would last that long, but you never know.

HIS SHIRT 2

6x6 Oil on Gessobord
For purchase information click HERE.

BRUSHES

6x6 Oil on Gessobord

Day 12.  I'm learning that completing a painting and posting that painting every day is not my cup of tea.  This is not a new revelation.  I came to realize quite a while back that the posting became more important than the painting.  It is no different this go round.  I do paint almost every day and in order to grow as an artist the more work put in the better one becomes.  Some artists are very successful with this approach and I really admire that.   However, I am not one that can and, I need to accept that I will not be a good daily painter ... or should I say a good daily poster.  As I said, I do paint just about every day.  Not every piece of work is worth putting out here.  I will complete this challenge, because there certainly are good things about stepping out of one's comfort zone and I am learning about using a limited palette.  Not to mention, it's fun being a part of the challenge with over 200 artists!  Y'all are great!

ASPARAGUS

7x5 oil on Arches Oil Paper

First I want to thank everyone for the wonderful birthday wishes!!  Y'all are wonderful!!!

Next, I want to confess that I have been intimidated by asparagus for a long time.  I know ..... it's only a vegetable, but so many greens!  Today is the day to attack and conquer.  Once I started I have to say it wasn't as bad as I thought it would be.  So now I can cross asparagus off my intimidation list!

PARTY DOG

4x4 Oil on Gessobord

This is Maggie - the BEST dog in the universe!  She is ready to party with me as today is my birthday.   In keeping with my limited palette, I have to say that I am still having difficulty getting the colors I want.  I could blame it on the cold medicine I'm taking ..... and I think I will!  Maggie has a more burnt sienna coat and much darker.  Sometimes she just blends in with the rug.  

This is #10 in the 30/30 challenge.  One-third of the way done!  I'm still having fun with it and still frustrated with it.  It's a mixed bag for sure.  I wanted to get a few paintings ahead, but with this super cold it hasn't happened .... yet.   

Have a fantastic, creative, fun week-end!!

SUMMER HAT

7x5 Oil on Paper

I painted this on paper.  I read about a new paper by Arches that didn't require any gesso.  So I gave it a try and I like it.  I don't know how much I will use it, but it would be great for plein air and oil sketches.  

The reference photo for this painting is from my trip to NYC several years ago.  I took hundreds of photographs in the few days that I was there.  I was walking out of the Folk Art Museum and this young woman was staring at something.  I couldn't figure out was it was, but she was so still.  Perfect for a snapshot!

FACE No. 86

6x6 Oil on Gessobord

Of course, I had to paint a mug shot.  I found this to be difficult with a limited palette.  It took a long time to paint and I fussed with it.  I am used to having various tubes at my fingertips.  This experience is making me more appreciative of those artists that can use a limited palette every time they paint.  I have a lot to learn! :-)

SALT AND PEPPER

4x4 Oil on Gessobord

For purchase information click HERE.

Day 7 of the 30/30 challenge and I can finally post a painting in the morning!  This little painting was painted last night while on cold medicine.  I want to get back up to the studio this morning before I need to take more and take a nap.  I don't know which is worse, the cold or the medicine.  Oh well, enough of my whining.  
Check out Leslie Saeta's blog to see more paintings.

MORE LEMONS

4x4 Oil on Panel

Click HERE for purchase information.
Day 6 and the hurrider I go, the behinder I get!  I hope to get in a better routine and SOON!
To see more paintings take a look at Leslie's blog.

APPLE SKETCHES

12x12 Oil on Panel

In my frustration with the new paints I thought it would be a good idea just to spend some time playing with them.  I used a surface that wasn't as smooth and painted with a couple of different brushes.  I began in the lower left and continued counter clock-wise and by the time I arrived at the upper left I ran out of time so that square is left blank.  I do prefer the surface with a little more texture.  As far as the brushes are concerned I couldn't tell much of a difference.  Also, on the last one I didn't fuss as much and did the painting very quickly.    I like the experimenting and just learning something each day!

To see more paintings of this challenge click HERE.

LEMON SLICES

4x4 Oil on Gessobord

Click HERE for purchase information.

How many wipe outs can one have before paints and brushes are put away for a loooong time?  I don't know, but I have to admit that I came close today.  I am having a hard time getting accustomed to my new paints.  I will definitely stay with the color palette for the remainder of the 30/30 challenge, but I may change brands.  Just something that will work its way out with a little more time and experience.

TULIPS

5x7 Oil on Panel

Click HERE for purchase information.

Day 3 and the challenge continues to be fun.  All the artists have done remarkable work since 30/30 began and I've enjoyed seeing the creativity. 

On this painting I used a black ground allowing some of it to show through.  I wanted to explore greens a little more and the leaves of the tulips provided that opportunity.  The background color is the leftover paint from the previous day's painting.  It all provides color harmony that is easy to achieve with this limited palette.

Please take a look at all the fantastic work being done with this challenge by going to Leslie Saeta's blog.  You will not be disappointed!

BOWL OF TANGERINES

7x5 Oil on Gessobord

Click HERE for purchase information.

Day two and I explored the secondary colors, green, purple and orange in my limited palette.  I mixed just one green, but several oranges and purples and with this palette I can see that many colors can be made.  Whew!  So far, so good!

PAINT AND BRUSH

4x4 Oil on Gessobord

This is my first painting in the 30 Paintings in 30 Days Challenge.  Because I will be exploring color I decided my first painting would be what I will be using .... paint and brushes.  It's been another very busy day and I almost didn't get it done, photographed, and posted.  YIKES!  And it's only the first day!   I hope tomorrow is a little quieter.  Now I am going to take a few minutes and see what other artists have posted. :-)