WRAPPING UP THE YEAR

        As 2017 draws to a close, I'm taking the time to clean and re-organize my studio and my thinking  before  beginning projects for several 2018 shows. 
        Cleaning the studio is always a treasure hunt as items found or  purchased  early in the year are stored away and then forgotten, but  reappear and stimulate new ideas.  These ideas often require experimentation  (translation fun time) to see what works and what doesn't.

 These experiments help to generate goals for the coming year, something that    really helps me to stay focused.  Toward the end of the year I tend to run out of steam and

lose that focus, wasting precious time trying to come up with a new series to work on. 
          I thought perhaps I would share this process and see if anyone else goes through something similar or if you rely on your Muse to show up when you need her.
        Before writing down my goals,  I like to brainstorm -- sit with a piece of paper and a pen and just write down random words and thoughts about what worked and what didn't during this past year.  Also, anything that has caught my attention but that I didn't explore.
         Next I write down a list of potential goals, not worrying about how many or if they are reasonable.  Just getting them down on paper.  I think about the shows I want to enter and if they have any special requirements, then I pare down the list to four or five general challenging but reachable goals.  These will be reviewed at intervals during the year to see if they still make sense.
       Once I have some general goals, I write goals for the first six months of the year that are related to the general goals, but  more specific and to which I attach a time frame.  Without a deadline, they would probably go undone since I tend to work best under a little (sometimes a lot of) pressure.  Once the goals are in place, I take up the ones for each month where I can see them each day when I enter my studio.  I don't have to be rigid about adhering to them but they sure help to keep me on track when I want to just goof off.

Things to come:
One of my main goals for next year is to Produce More Meaningful Work in Series rather than one offs.
           One of my goals for January is to enter the 30 Paintings in 30 Days paint off that I did last September.  I hope you'll follow this challenge -- watch for a hint of what I'll be working on in my next blog post.

About these images:  in experimenting with some new collage ideas one of the processes I use for an abstract is to turn it in all directions to decide which one works best.  That's sort of the same process I use when setting goals.

THE CHALLENGE IS OVER, NOW WHAT HAVE WE LEARNED

Here are my two favorite paintings:

 What makes this one of my favorites are the strong composition and values, and the abstract treatment of the shapes.  Were I to paint this again in a larger version, I would probably add one "alien" color in a cool hue for just a little contrasting pop.


SEE ALL 30 PAINTINGS TOGETHER  AT:  HARDAGEART.COM

 My final painting did have a contrast of warms and cools (yes, this black is a cool black) and I think it helped to enhance all of the warms.  Again, this painting had strong composition and values.  Intentionally placing the focal point right in the middle meant I had to work hard to move the eye around the rest of the painting. 




Thirty paintings of the same subject is the longest series I've ever created.  Doing this series in only thirty days has taught me a lot.

• Focus is more critical with a daily deadline
• It is necessary to really stretch and get outside the comfort zone when there are so many of the same subject
• It's okay to create some works that aren't very successful -- they show areas of weakness but they have areas of strength
• It's an opportunity to accept ideas from others but interpret them in my own way (Posted Palettes)
• Working with the same subject creates an intimacy with it that doesn't happen with a single painting or a short series
• It strengthens design and compositional skills
• It creates the need for quick self-critique and immediate improvement of  each work -- no time to put the painting aside and come back later
• It requires organization because it's not just painting the works, it's posting them on the challenge website and on the blog and Facebook too
• MOST IMPORTANTLY -- it creates a wonderful opportunity to engage with frequent viewers and new viewers and with artists around the world.
• The next challenge is in January 2018 and I'll be back!

 Here are the two paintings I consider my weakest with a brief critique of each:

 This painting is crowded and it's not clear where the shadows are and where the real branches are.  I used a patterned paper that I wanted to show through in the final work which took away my freedom to paint opaquely behind the blooms.  The composition could have been stronger if I had made the small  branch on the bottom left come in from a different place and not crowd the main bloom.  I do love this color scheme though.

This is a beautiful color scheme that takes the usual white magnolia to a different place.  The biggest problem with this painting in my mind is that the main blossom is too 
centered  and needs to be a little larger.  There is too much vague background.  Also
The blossom needs more distinct shadows to create more dimension.  This one could
definitely use more work. 




A BIG THANK YOU TO ALL OF YOU WHO HAVE SUPPORTED ME DURING THIS CHALLENGE. 
I HOPE YOU HAVE ENJOYED FOLLOWING THIS SERIES AS MUCH AS I HAVE ENJOYED  PRODUCING IT.  PLEASE CONTINUE TO FOLLOW MY BLOG AND VISIT MY WEBSITE:  HARDAGEART.COM.  LOTS OF NEW ARTWORK TO COME.

30 PAINTINGS IN 30 DAYS -- DAY 30

#30                      Caught in the Sun                        Acrylic

Our final Posted Palette was suggested by another sweet friend, Lynda, whose colors were Orange, Yellow, Green, Black and White.  In this painting I was most interested in the shadow cast by the center of the bloom.  Creating the shadows with this color palette was a challenge since I usually use red and blue in the cast shadow color.  

I'm going to miss painting a Magnolia each day but there are other ideas whirling around in my head waiting to come to fruition so it's time to move on. Thank you to Leslie Saeta for hosting this challenge at www.saetastudio.com.

There will be another 30 Day Challenge in January.  Anyone have any ideas for what I might paint?

All of these works are 5 x 7" and available for $20 each.  Please comment below with the Title/number you wish to purchase.  Proceeds will be added to our donation for Hurricane Relief.  Numbers 3 and 6 have been sold.

TO SEE THE ENTIRE SERIES AT ONE TIME VISIT: hardageart.com and click on NEW SERIES 

30 PAINTINGS IN 30 DAYS -- DAY 29

Today's Posted Palette of Turquoise, Coral, Lime Green, Hot Pink and Brown brought to us by dear friend, Margaret takes me to a hot tropical location and thus a very exotic Magnolia.  Here, artistic license was applied, since my reference photo showed white blooms with lots of greenery.  It's almost as though all that heat has wilted the bloom.  Time for a siesta?

Only one day left in the challenge then on to other projects. 

#29                     Going Tropical                       Acrylic

All of these works are 5 x 7" and available for $20 each.  Please comment below with the Title/number you wish to purchase.  Proceeds will be added to our donation for Hurricane Relief.  Numbers 3 and 6 have been sold.

TO SEE THE ENTIRE SERIES AT ONE TIME VISIT: hardageart.com and click on NEW SERIES  

30 PAINTINGS IN 30 DAYS -- DAY 28

#28                             Notice Me                          Acrylic

Today's Posted Palette is brought to you by Jordan, a sweet former student.  Her colors are Light Teal, Dark Teal, Yellow and Grey.  This simple palette has resulted in a very calm serene blossom.  One of the interesting aspects of painting these Magnolias has been paying attention not only to the flowers, but to the negative spaces -- those that surround the flower.  Making them as interesting as the subject is a challenge, especially in the closeup blooms.  This, by the way, is a radial composition --all of the "lines" of the painting radiate from the center outward.  Thank you Jordan for helping me complete this challenge.


All of these works are 5 x 7" and available for $20 each.  Please comment below with the Title/number you wish to purchase.  Proceeds will be added to our donation for Hurricane Relief.  Numbers 3 and 6 have been sold.

TO SEE THE ENTIRE SERIES AT ONE TIME VISIT: hardageart.com and click on NEW SERIES 

30 PAINTINGS IN 30 DAYS -- DAY 27

Bekah, another former student has given us today's Posted Palette -- turquoise, blues and blue greens.  Although these are not "magnolia colors", they make for an interesting abstracted painting.  Because they are all cool colors the challenge was to convey the variety of leaves and make the bud stand out without a contrasting warm color.  Thank you Bekah for making me think.  Had fun with the first layer, applied the paint then sprayed it all with water and allowed it to drip and run down the page.  Just a little of the result can be seen at the left near the bottom of the bud.

#27               Hey Bud                   Acrylic

 All of these works are 5 x 7" and available for $20 each.  Please comment below with the Title/number you wish to purchase.  Proceeds will be added to our donation for Hurricane Relief.  Numbers 3 and 6 have been sold.

TO SEE THE ENTIRE SERIES AT ONE TIME VISIT: hardageart.com and click on NEW SERIES 

30 PAINTINGS IN 30 DAYS -- DAY 26

The Star,  today's painting has a Posted Palette sent by my former student and wonderful Videographer, Brandon.  He selected what might have been a very sweet, shy palette:  pink, blue, yellow, white and red.  I chose to make it more dramatic.  If you look closely you'll see the delicate pinks, blues and yellows supporting the bolder colors.  Another aspect of being an artist requires us to carefully select the titles for each work that we do.  Sometimes, this can be difficult, since the title should guide the viewer's perception of the work.  In this instance, it was easy, as I was intrigued with the dramatic center of the bloom.  By the way, this is a "lemon magnolia."

#26                 The Star             Acrylic

 

All of these works are 5 x 7" and available for $20 each.  Please comment below with the Title/number you wish to purchase.  Proceeds will be added to our donation for Hurricane Relief.  Numbers 3 and 6 have been sold.

TO SEE THE ENTIRE SERIES AT ONE TIME VISIT: hardageart.com and click on NEW SERIES 

30 PAINTINGS IN 30 DAYS -- DAY 25

#25                       The Web                             Mixed Media

Provided by former student and current musician, Will, today's Posted Palette offered a real challenge -- grey, black, violet and Navy blue.  This painting combined pastel pencil, collage and acrylic paint and required the use of lots of glazing (layers of thin, transparent paint) in order to keep the web-like pattern of the collage in the background.  Since all of the colors were cool, I warmed up some of the greys to offset the sombre cool tones.  When the challenge is over, it might be fun to return to some of these pieces and paint the same magnolia in a different palette.  (Maybe another challenge at a later date?)
What's one word you would use to describe the "mood" of this piece?


All of these works are 5 x 7" and available for $20 each.  Please comment below with the Title/number you wish to purchase.  Proceeds will be added to our donation for Hurricane Relief.  Numbers 3 and 6 have been sold.

TO SEE THE ENTIRE SERIES AT ONE TIME VISIT: hardageart.com and click on NEW SERIES

30 PAINTINGS IN 30 DAYS -- DAY 24

A distinctive Posted Palette was provided by my former student and spectacular singer, Beth.  There are only four colors  -- Violet, Red Violet, Olive Green and Dark Green ( I added white) used to create the dramatic lights and darks of Almost Open.  Working so intimately with one particular flower has taught me that, like humans, each bloom is distinctive and has a unique personality.  Some are shy, , some flamboyant, some reclusive, some demanding to be noticed.  As artists, we can choose to make our paintings convey the emotions of our subjects and/or our own emotions by the way we handle our paint.  Our brushstrokes can be smooth or rough, our paint delicately light or boldly contrasting, our colors quiet or intense.  Although we may not be powerful people in the grand scheme, in our own little world we have unlimited options.  For me, this is a very liberating feeling.

#24                              Almost Open                         Acrylic

Each of the pieces is 5 x 7” and they are available for $20 each.  ALL OF THE PROFITS OF THESE SALES WILL BE ADDED TO OUR DONATION TO HELP HURRICANE SURVIVORS.

If you would like to purchase one please respond in the comments section below. (You will need to log-in using your gmail/Google password to comment)  Use the # or title to let me know the one(s) you would like.

  Note:  #3  Pinkie is SOLD 

              #6 Little Secret is SOLD

30 PAINTINGS IN 30 DAYS -- DAY 23

#23                   La Rouge                Acrylic

La Rouge is a Posted Palette provided by my artist friend Joan.  It is a warm palette composed of Burnt Sienna, Lemon Yellow, Alizarin Crimson and White.  The challenge of working with such vibrant colors was to give the viewer's eye somewhere quiet to rest.  The more delicate pinks and peaches created by mixing the colors with white helped to calm the painting just enough.  The emphasis here is the rhythm of the shapes as the darks and lights move around the canvas.  Was I channeling Georgia O'Keefe just a little?


Remember, all of the pieces are 5 x 7” and are available for sale for $20 each.  ALL OF THE PROFITS OF THESE SALES WILL BE ADDED TO OUR DONATION TO HELP HURRICANE SURVIVORS.

If you would like to purchase one please respond in the comments section below. (You will need to log-in using your gmail/Google password to comment)  Use the # or title to let me know the one(s) you would like.

  Note:  #3  Pinkie is SOLD 

              #6 Little Secret is SOLD

30 PAINTINGS IN 30 DAYS -- DAY 22

Today's painting, Seeing Red is a complex palette of earthy colors:  Payne's Grey, Hookers Green, Red Ochre, Yellow Ochre and Italian Buff suggested by my artist friend, Mary.  Since there were no colors that would yield the delicate violet pink of real Magnolias, I simply created a new red variety.  Artistic license is a wonderful thing.  I applied the paint more heavily than in most of the previous paintings and the look is much bolder, almost sinister. Can a sweet, Southern flower be sinister? 

#22                   Seeing Red                         Acrylic

Remember, all of the pieces are 5 x 7” and are available for sale for $20 each.  ALL OF THE PROFITS OF THESE SALES WILL BE ADDED TO OUR DONATION TO HELP HURRICANE SURVIVORS.

If you would like to purchase one please respond in the comments section below. (You will need to log-in using your gmail/Google password to comment)  Use the # or title to let me know the one(s) you would like.

  Note:  #3  Pinkie is SOLD 

              #6 Little Secret is SOLD

30 PAINTINGS IN 30 DAYS -- DAY 21

#21                                All That Glitters                         Acrylic

 

Today's Posted Palette comes from my dear friend, Barbara who suggested red, orange, chartreuse, yellow and gold.  I took the gold literally and decided to add a bit of shimmer to this painting with iridescent and metallic paint.  It doesn't show up very well in a photo but the original has a lovely glow.  Thank you Barb for giving me another inspiration.  Nine more paintings to go with a different guest palette each day.


Remember, all of the pieces are 5 x 7” and are available for sale for $20 each.  ALL OF THE PROFITS OF THESE SALES WILL BE ADDED TO OUR DONATION TO HELP HURRICANE SURVIVORS.

If you would like to purchase one please respond in the comments section below. (You will need to log-in using your gmail/Google password to comment)  Use the # or title to let me know the one(s) you would like.

  Note:  #3  Pinkie is SOLD 

              #6 Little Secret is SOLD

30 PAINTINGS IN 30 DAYS -- DAY 20

Today's painting is the first of the Posted Palettes -- colors chosen by friends who posted their choices either here on the blog or on Facebook.  All of the remaining paintings will be "guest colors".  

Sara's palette was Golden-green, Deep Purple and Orange.  As you look at each of the paintings that follow, notice how the mood changes, depending on the colors used.  Also notice the way I use the colors.  Regardless of what palette I paint with, as long as I vary the amounts of light and dark, the painting will work.  Thank you Sara.

#20                              Jungle Bloom                        Acrylic

Remember, all of the pieces are 5 x 7” and are available for sale for $20 each.  ALL OF THE PROFITS OF THESE SALES WILL BE ADDED TO OUR DONATION TO HELP HURRICANE SURVIVORS.

If you would like to purchase one please respond in the comments section below. (You will need to log-in using your gmail/Google password to comment)  Use the # or title to let me know the one(s) you would like.

  Note:  #3  Pinkie is SOLD 

              #6 Little Secret is SOLD

30 PAINTINGS IN 30 DAYS - DAY 19

When sculptors create a piece they can use one of two methods -- additive or subtractive.  If you take separate parts and weld them together or nail them or glue them you are adding parts to create the finished work.  If you take clay, wood or stone and carve or chisel it you are removing parts of the whole to create a finished work.  When creating a 2-dimensional work, you can do the same thing.  For this painting, Mellow Bloom, I first painted a thin dark under painting and then removed some of the paint to create the lighter areas of the painting.  This provided a road map of the finished painting for me to follow with additional colors.

Speaking of colors, thank you to everyone who "posted a palette" for me to use in the remainder of the 30 days.  Check back tomorrow for the first of these paintings.

#19                          Mellow Bloom                   Oil

Remember, all of the pieces are 5 x 7” and are available for sale for $20 each.  ALL OF THE PROFITS OF THESE SALES WILL BE ADDED TO OUR DONATION TO HELP HURRICANE SURVIVORS.

If you would like to purchase one please respond in the comments section below. (You will need to log-in using your gmail/Google password to comment)  Use the # or title to let me know the one(s) you would like.

  Note:  #3  Pinkie is SOLD 

              #6 Little Secret is SOLD

30 PAINTINGS IN 30 DAYS -- DAY 18

#18                             Going Grey                              Collage

A radical departure from previous works, Going Grey is a collage on a painted/textured background.  One of the fun aspects of working in collage is the finding and making of interesting materials to use in each piece.  CAN YOU GUESS what kind of paper is used in this one?  Comment below or on my Facebook page.

Remember, all of the pieces are 5 x 7” and are available for sale for $20 each.  ALL OF THE PROFITS OF THESE SALES WILL BE ADDED TO OUR DONATION TO HELP HURRICANE SURVIVORS.

If you would like to purchase one please respond in the comments section below. (You will need to log-in using your gmail/Google password to comment)  Use the # or title to let me know the one(s) you would like.

  Note:  #3  Pinkie is SOLD 

            #6 Little Secret is SOLD

30 PAINTINGS IN 30 DAYS -- DAY 17

Experimenting again -- this time with creating a surface on a canvas suitable for using pastels.  After a couple of failed attempts I came  up with a pretty okay method.  This is the beauty of a 30 day challenge - it pushes your thinking about what is normal, expected or accepted -- it's a good reason to ask "what if" and see what happens.

#17                       Just About to Bloom                       Pastel

Remember, all of the pieces are 5 x 7” and are available for sale for $20 each.  ALL OF THE PROFITS OF THESE SALES WILL BE ADDED TO OUR DONATION TO HELP HURRICANE SURVIVORS.

If you would like to purchase one please respond in the comments section below. (You will need to log-in using your gmail/Google password to comment)  Use the # or title to let me know the one(s) you would like.

  Note:  #3  Pinkie is SOLD 

            #6 Little Secret is SOLD

30 PAINTINGS IN 30 DAYS -- DAY 16

#16               A Little Purple Haze         Mixed Media

Channeling my inner Pointillist for this painting.  Started with a spray of purple alcohol ink, then some acrylic paints, then some Pitt Pens and finally a little more paint.  This is one of my favorite ways to make art.  I just pick something from my gazillion art supplies and start laying down color.  If you are not an artist, you may not know that most works of art begin as an abstract where the artist is putting down the darks and the lights.  Once those are established the painting can stay abstract or become more realistic.

HAVING JUST PASSED THE HALFWAY POINT FOR THE 30 DAY CHALLENGE, I'D LIKE TO ISSUE A CHALLENGE OF MY OWN -- POST A PALETTE.  Give me 5 colors you'd like to see in a painting and I'll give them a try.  Make them as beautiful or as ugly a combination as you like.  My job will be to make them play nicely together!

Remember, all of the pieces are 5 x 7” and are available for sale for $20 each.  ALL OF THE PROFITS OF THESE SALES WILL BE ADDED TO OUR DONATION TO HELP HURRICANE SURVIVORS.

If you would like to purchase one please respond in the comments section below. (You will need to log-in using your gmail/Google password to comment)  Use the # or title to let me know the one(s) you would like.

  Note:  #3  Pinkie is SOLD 

            #6 Little Secret is SOLD

30 PAINTINGS IN 30 DAYS -- DAY 15

One of the most enjoyable parts of entering this challenge has been how much I have to stretch my thinking and response to the subject I've chosen -- Magnolias.  I am not generally a "flower painter".  I love them and spend lots of time selecting them to plant in our garden, but when choosing a subject I lean more toward landscapes, figures and abstracts.  What I've found with selecting Magnolias is that they can be very figural and that I can make them as abstract or as realistic as I choose on any given day.  Glow Baby Glow has a palette of intense colors, just the opposite of my previous painting's subdued palette.  Who knows what I'll come up with for tomorrow.

#15                      Glow Baby Glow                            Acrylic

All of the pieces are 5 x 7” and are available for sale for $20 each.  ALL OF THE PROFITS OF THESE SALES WILL BE ADDED TO OUR DONATION TO HELP HURRICANE SURVIVORS.

If you would like to purchase one please respond in the comments section below. (You will need to log-in using your gmail/Google password to comment)  Use the # or title to let me know the one(s) you would like.
Note:  #3  Pinkie is SOLD 

            #6 Little Secret is SOLD

30 PAINTINGS IN 30 DAYS -- DAY 14

Today's concept was to paint in neutral and neutralized colors.  These are colors that are more subdued and quiet.  One of the wonderful things about making art is that it can reflect a mood, lift spirits and produce a beautiful outcome all at the same time. Psychologists say that art  making  results in being in touch with the emotional centers of the brain.  All I know is that I always feel better after having spent time creating.

#14          A Little Lonely          Acrylic

 

 
All of the pieces are 5 x 7” and are available for sale for $20 each.  ALL OF THE PROFITS OF THESE SALES WILL BE ADDED TO OUR DONATION TO HELP HURRICANE SURVIVORS.

If you would like to purchase one please respond in the comments section below.  Use the # or title to let me know the one(s) you would like.
Note:  #3  Pinkie is SOLD 

            #6 Little Secret is SOLD

30 PAINTINGS IN 30 DAYS -- DAY 13

#13                   Out of the Dark                     Acrylic

As things settle down here after so many days of watching and waiting for Irma to finally dissipate, I've spent a lot of time watching the endless news coverage of the devastation and feeling unbelievably sad for all of the people who have lost everything.  Many of the places with massive destruction are places I have lived or visited and seeing them in the before and after photos is heartbreaking.

Today's painting is of a more tropical and exotic looking Magnolia than the typical large rounded blossoms that grow in Georgia.  I hadn't realized just how many different species there are until I started this series of paintings.  I found them in Seattle on a recent trip and had no idea they grew in so many places.  So this one is dedicated to all of those who desperately need help -- may they be resilient and resourceful, and may they get the help they need as quickly as possible.

All of the pieces are 5 x 7” and will be available for sale for $20 each.  ALL OF THE PROFITS OF THESE SALES WILL BE ADDED TO OUR DONATION TO HELP HURRICANE SURVIVORS.

If you would like to purchase one please respond in the comments section below.  Use the # or title to let me know the one(s) you would like.
Note:  #3  Pinkie is SOLD 

            #6 Little Secret is SOLD

30 PAINTINGS IN 30 DAYS -- DAY 12

I'm so happy to report that my brother in Florida is well and suffered minimal damage from Hurricane Irma.  We are still experiencing endless rain but the high winds are gone and so far no trees have fallen in our immediate vicinity.  It is time now to be very grateful for being spared what so many are suffering through.  I've decided to donate whatever I make from the sale of these paintings to hurricane relief.  It's the least I can do.
Today's work is a collage created with pieces of paper that I have printed and painted on.  Printing is a whole new way to enjoy what paint can do. Hope you enjoy.

#12              Paper Petals           Collage

If you would like to purchase one please respond in the comments section below.  Use the # or title to let me know the one(s) you would like.
Note:  #3  Pinkie is SOLD 
            #6  Little Secret is SOLD

30 PAINTINGS IN 30 DAYS -- DAY 11

On the anniversary of 9/11 as we await the approach of now Tropical Storm Irma, it seems ironic that the title of today's painting is Ghost Bloom.  So many images race through my mind of both of these catastrophic events.  As I'm posting this blog I'm waiting for a call from my brother telling me that he survived the night in his boarded up house in St. Petersburg, Florida.  Thinking also of all of the thousands of people displaced and affected by this monster storm. I will spend most of the day in my studio hoping that one of the many trees on our property isn't blown onto the house.  This is one of the many many reasons why I'm an artist.  I know that producing something beautiful will help relieve the anxiety and bring at least some degree of calm.

#11                Ghost Bloom                   Acrylic

If you see no post tomorrow it will be because we have lost power due to Irma.  I'll be back as soon as power is restored.


All of the pieces are 5 x 7” and will be available for sale for $20 each.

If you would like to purchase one please respond in the comments section below.  Use the # or title to let me know the one(s) you would like.
Note:  #3  Pinkie is SOLD 
            #6  Little Secret is SOLD

30 PAINTINGS IN 30 DAYS -- DAY 10

#10                    A Little Night Bloom                        Acrylic

Sometimes in the evening when my husband walks our dog, I go along with my camera looking for interesting shots that I can take under a street light.  This summer I found a beautiful Magnolia tree with this one particular bloom highlighted.  As an artist, it's always fun to try something a little different, so for this painting I worked the background up from a mixed black.  (Mixed black means it's created by mixing colors rather than painting with black straight out of a tube)  I love the air of mystery created by painting this way.


All of the pieces are 5 x 7” and will be available for sale for $20 each.

If you would like to purchase one please respond in the comments section below.  Use the # or title to let me know the one(s) you would like.
Note:  #3  Pinkie is SOLD

30 PAINTINGS IN 30 DAYS -- DAY 9

Time to play around and have some fun.  Used a light modeling paste to create Textures before I started painting this magnolia.  Chose a palette of greens, blues, violet and a touch of yellow.  It's always important to add a color on the opposite side of the color wheel when using either all warm colors or all cool colors.

#9              Cool One                    Acrylic

All of the pieces are 5 x 7” and will be available for sale for $20 each.

If you would like to purchase one please respond in the comments section below.  Use the # or title to let me know the one(s) you would like.
Note:  #3  Pinkie is SOLD

30 PAINTINGS IN 30 DAYS -- DAY 8

On day eight the challenge I gave myself was to work with Line and Shape, aiming for a more abstract approach and zooming in on the center of the Magnolia.  Depending on how an artist feels about a subject, she may choose to show the layers of a work or conceal them.  In this painting if you look very closely you can see the tiny dots in the first layer made by spraying alcohol inks.  The pencil marks created with both watercolor pencils and wax based colored pencils are visible on the surface.  You'll also notice that the edges of the shapes are outlined rather than blended.  Hope you enjoy A Bit of Glow.

#8          A Bit of Glow           Mixed Media

 

 

 

 
All of the pieces are 5 x 7” and will be available for sale for $20 each.

If you would like to purchase one please respond in the comments section below.  Use the # or title to let me know the one(s) you would like.
Note:  #3  Pinkie is SOLD

30 PAINTINGS IN 30 DAYS -- DAY 7

#7                               Sunny                                 Mixed Media

A radical turn today with Sunny.  The challenge here was to use a variety of materials and media to produce a completely different look.  Pastel pencils, watercolor sticks, and alcohol inks were used to create this painting.  Emphasis here was more about the leaves than about the bloom.

All of the pieces are 5 x 7” and will be available for sale for $20 each.

If you would like to purchase one please respond in the comments section below.  Use the # or title to let me know the one(s) you would like.
Note:  #3  Pinkie is SOLD

30 PAINTINGS IN 30 DAYS -- DAY 6

A simple concept for day six -- Analogous Colors (those that are side-by-side on the color wheel) plus a little yellow.  Violet, blue violet and red violet flow through the leaves and the flower.  Unlike the first five which were painted in Oils, this one is an Acrylic.

#6                  Little Secret                        Acrylic

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

All of the pieces are 5 x 7” and will be available for sale for $20 each.

If you would like to purchase one please respond in the comments section below.  Use the # or title to let me know the one(s) you would like.
Note:  #3  Pinkie is SOLD

30 PAINTINGS IN 30 DAYS -- DAY 5

#5      Not Interested     Oil

Today's entry entitled Not Interested has a limited complementary palette of violets and yellows.  The challenge was to paint this small painting using a large palette knife and thicker paint than I usually work with.  The knife below is very versatile because it has a wide edge and a narrow one.  The trick is making the curved edges.  I must confess that I did use a brush to blend some of the areas of color.


All of the pieces are 5 x 7” and will be available for sale for $20 each.

If you would like to purchase one please respond in the comments section below.  Use the # or title to let me know the one(s) you would like.
Please note:  #3 Pinkie has sold.

30 PAINTINGS IN 30 DAYS Day 4

#4            Early Morning Bloom               Oil

 

Today's goal was to use a limited palette and concentrate on the play of morning light coming from the  lower right.  Only various blues with a touch of orange were used.


All of the pieces are 5 x 7” and will be available for sale for $20 each.

If you would like to purchase one please respond in the comments section below.  Use the # or title to let me know the one(s) you would like.

30 PAINTINGS IN 30 DAYS -- DAY3

Pinkie is today's entry in the 30 Paintings in 30 Days Challenge (30 in 30).  For this concept I decided to limit my palette to just pinks and the shadow color.  My goal was also to paint something more abstract than the previous two.

#3          Pinkie          oil

All of the pieces are 5 x 7” and will be available for sale for $20 each.

If you would like to purchase one please respond in the comments section below.  Use the # or title to let me know the one(s) you would like.

30 PAINTINGS IN 30 DAYS -- DAYS 1 AND 2

         I’ve always been someone who works well under pressure so perhaps that’s what led me to enter my very first 30 Paintings in 30 Days Challenge.  Because there are no rules (as in an art show prospectus) and because it can be used as an experimental art process, I thought it would be not only fun, but educational to select a theme and then see where it takes me. 

          The theme for this series will be “Magnolias” – on the surface a pretty mundane choice, but magnolias when viewed up close are very abstract and lend themselves to all sorts of interpretations.  So I’m off.

           Below are the first two entries. 

 All of the pieces are 5 x 7” and will be available for sale for $20 each.

If you would like to purchase one please respond in the comments section below.  Use the # or title to let me know the one(s) you would like.

#1        Open Wide          Oil

#2          Shy One              Oil

 

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