Saturday, July 30, 2011

Painting a Day, Day 13

Just under the wire!! Banana split boat 8x8, pencil on paper


If you notice the post time, it was 11:58 on July 30th! That was the closest one yet.
In this 'painting' I was better able to plan out the quixotic aspects of the composition, partly because I had developed vision for the series by the third drawing, and partly because I had learned to plot out and reserve space on the paper. I enjoy the ease of drawing, but miss painting. This is the last day of this commitment. So I will soon decide how I shall proceed from here. Thanks for checking in.

Friday, July 29, 2011

Day 12, Painting a Day



The Cherry on Top, 8"x10", mixed media

I signed this, but I'm not really sure if it's completed or not... Open to ideas... In Donut Dreams, Sprinkles falling from the sky, like stars... Here, some cherries fell and landed, but no sign of more cherries...Should there be? Maybe it should also rain sprinkles.... Too late now, or maybe not... but perhaps frosting cloud with Sprinkles would be cool... What do you think?

Sweet Surroundings, 8"x10", mixed media

And here is the newly completed work. Renamed. More in keeping with series concept. Thanks to those who shared their thoughts!

Thursday, July 28, 2011

Day 11, Painting a Day





Donut Dreams, 9"x12", colored pencil on paper

Had fun with this. We are traveling soon, so I think I'll be drawing until after the first week in August. Enjoyed this subject.

Wednesday, July 27, 2011

Painting a Day, Day 10


Coffee cup and saucer, 4"x6", acrylic on watercolor paper

I have so many important things pressing on my over-taxed mind that it has really been difficult to paint. I'm going to go on an emotional rant: I wish this hot, draining weather this summer would just end. I wish our problems would all resolve and go away. I wish the red sea would part in our lives so we could get to the other side of some exhausting difficulties, And...I don't like the aging process. Or this nasty crick in my neck.

I painted this little cup today because, I didn't want to paint on the frustration level. It was easier than the other things I was painting. I'm also wondering when I'll feel more confidence in my painting abilities.

Tomorrow, I am going to draw using colored pencils. I love this because it will be bliss. It's easy for me as I hope painting will one day be.

*rant off*

Tuesday, July 26, 2011

Painting a Day, Day 9


Lemons, 6"x6", Acrylic on cotton paper.

This was hard because I did not have a cool yellow, a lemon yellow, and I didn't realize it until too late. Fortunately, one of the lemons had an orangish hue, so this is a pretty honest depiction, the yellows in the glare of the lights, I couldn't fully capture. I bought the cool yellow paint tube tonight.

Monday, July 25, 2011

Painting a Day, Day 8


Half-eaten Banana, 6"x6", Acrylic on watercolor paper

We are so exhausted after a very active yesterday, that painting seemed impossible. That is when this commitment I made comes in handy...I had to paint. Glad I did. I'm just as tired as the poor banana in my painting.

Now, I've only committed to July 31st and then I'll revisit my plan. We are going to visit my husband's brother's family next week... If I do commit to producing during that trip, it will be only be to small colored pencil drawings...Or maybe watercolor.. But, we'll see. Thanks for tuning in.

Follow up on 'Pleasant Surprises' post

My former pastor just posted this...and I love it:

Success need not come at the price of poetry and wonder in our lives.
Stephen Mansfield

As you all know, I couldn't agree more. Part of what I love about producing paintings and other works of art is that it heightens my sense of awe and wonder in the small things. The more I observe, the more I'm taken with God.

I just love how he neatly encapsulated the idea I've been trying to express. Had to share.

Sunday, July 24, 2011

Painting a Day, Day 7







Turnip 4"x4" acrylic on canvas

Today we've been traveling all over lower TN, picking Holland up at Sewanee Music Festival and delivering her to a Celtic Harp camp in Chattanooga. So, I had to paint early again. I may put on finishing touches later, but may just varnish it when I get home. So glad I painted early. It was a pretty turnip.

Saturday, July 23, 2011

Painting a Day, Day 6


Strawberry, 4"x4", acrylic on canvas

Today was a challenge!!! It wasn't so much the subject as it was the mind set. You really can't paint when you are preoccupied. I tried to focus, but the more I stopped to get in the zone, the more life swished by my periphery in warp speed. Distracting. My mind was racing. But. I was determined. Thank you, God.

Friday, July 22, 2011

Painting a day, Day 5


Lime Slices, 4"x4", Acrylic on canvas.

This painting is no longer available for sale.

Reflections on first 5 days of 'A Painting a Day'

I'm grateful for the challenge of producing a painting a day. It forces me to put my art into practice. From what I've read about other artists who exercise this discipline, it is better to work on a small scale. More doable, less consuming.

I do believe in 'Use it or lose it' when it comes to certain skills. Yes, you can regain ground easier after a break if you are well practiced. But, more interestingly, you can gain more skill by applying discipline to talent and persevering.

Have you ever seen somebody who is well practiced at a skill? This is especially visible in prolific knitters and crocheters. One of my mom's friend's comes to mind. She used to watch us kids play, while she whipped out an exquisite, intricate table cloth. Her hands just knew what to do... Unromantic as this sounds, they looked like a crocheting machine.

My sister,Linda, one of my favorite painting heroes is a joy to watch paint. She is so skilled. So deliberate and has such a command of painting knowledge, that I thrill to watch her paint with such decisiveness and authority. Her works are beautiful. Can I say, when I grow up as a painter, I want to be as skilled as my little sister? :-) I'll know I'm advancing when I have greater stroke economy... Maybe all artists hesitate and correct...but some of us do it more than we'd like!

Today I stirred at around 3:45-3:50... Decided not to opt for poor-quality sleep over doing my next painting. I'm so glad I did. It feels good to have accomplished that already. Someone I know has commissioned a portrait of a friend's daughter,who died in a tragic auto accident seven months ago. I would very much like to do it justice because she's gifting it to the girl's mother. Although I have done portraiture, it is more exacting...less forgiving... I may just attempt it in colored pencil, she left the medium up to me. Say a prayer with me that I do it well.

Thursday, July 21, 2011

Painting a Day, Day 4





Pear and Plum, 4"x4", Acrylic on canvas
Whew! Rough day with very little focus, but, Alleluia, I pulled through!
Pretty soon, I'll be proud that I persevered, but right now, it's just 'WHEW!'
Thanks for checking in! This painting is no longer available.




Wednesday, July 20, 2011

Painting a Day, Day 3


This time I decided to start a series. I have had these blank little 4"x4" canvases taunting me for about a year or more. Today I knew how to quiet them!

This one is entitled "Kiwis", 1 of 4 in a series. Acrylic on canvas, 4"x4"

This painting is no longer available

Painting a Day, Day 2


This is an 8X10 painting of Papayas near a window. It's painted with acrylic on Arches cotton watercolor paper, then varnished. The varnish gave it a neat old world look. You can tell better in person. I think this one just sold today! Thanks for checking in!

This painting is no longer available

A Painting a Day : Day 1


Titled: The Front Porch at The Edgeworth Inn. Mixed media on Arches Cotton watercolor paper, 8x10.
This took about 7 utterly-focused hours to complete! It's a painting/drawing of the Edgeworth Inn in Monteagle TN.

I have lost the reference to the blog site that gave me this idea, but I thought I'd paint a painting a day until the end of July and then see what happens. This was painted on Monday, 7/18/11, day 1 of my new project. Thanks for checking in!