Determination

Acrylic, 6x6"

BID HERE IN THE DPW AUCTION

Starting Bid is $65, unframed

I'm showing these to you a little out of order.  The one above was actually painted just before I did a more simplified version that you may have already seen in this post, where I introduced my present project.

As always, I thank you for Watching!

Approaching Storm

Acrylic 6x6"

Available for $95 plus shipping

Contact the Woolworth Walk Gallery

Asheville, NC

(828) 254-9234

Another candidate from my new project of getting to intimately know some landforms.   As I explained in this post, I am working towards learning to paint from imagination, or from my mind's eye. 

One of the commenters on the last post thought I had actually painted the last landform from my imagination.  I want to correct that impression, because I think I wasn't clear.

I am not yet creating the landforms from my imagination!  I am creating them from my own photos and significantly cropping to find what is to me the most interesting part of the photos.  

My plan is to paint from a photo monochromatically, then paint the same landforms using imaginative color, and eventually create my own semi-abstracted landforms from my imagination.  Make sense?

I am trying out the auction format at Daily Paintworks to put some of these works up for sale.  The auction will run for one week, starting with a lowered "teaser price."  If the painting doesn't sell during the auction week, the price will go up to my regular retail price. 

I am playing with redesigning parts of my blog (fonts, font sizes, colors), so please bear with me till I settle on what I like.  Better yet, feel free to provide feedback on any of the changes.  

Edit:  Well, turns out I have put a lot of time into this redesign---let me know what you think!  I like it, and I hope it's easier on the eye.  I know it calls for a wider header now.  Another project....

Thanks for being here, Watchers!

A New Trajectory

Acrylic 6x6"

I have decided to focus on landscapes for awhile, not to become better at capturing the landscape, but to become better at CREATING the landscape.   I want to learn how to paint from my mind's eye, rather than from life or photo reference.   I plan to come up with five to ten simple landforms and paint them repeatedly until the process of painting feels more what I intend for it to be.

My idea was to start with a neutral-colored monochromatic.  Actually, that is not true, I painted a few abstracted landscapes with all kinds of color a few days ago (will show you soon), but then decided I needed to back up and learn more about color.  I figured that if I started with the neutrals, eventually  I would just be aching to put a certain color in a certain spot, and then I would be on my way!

It actually happened sooner than I thought it would--today, in fact.  I think I painted a total of five of these monochrome landscapes over the past couple days, and today, I just had to have some color!  I will show you soon...it's drying now, and I don't want to put it on the scanner while it may still be tacky.

I promise the one in this post was painted with just one color plus white.  I see that at least on my monitor, parts of it look like blue was added in, but I assure you that is an artifact of the limitations of technology to accurately represent my work, a problem I had feeble hope wouldn't be a problem in a MONOCHROMATIC PAINTING!!--but there you have it.

So, for once, I am actually a number of paintings ahead of my blog! 

I'm thinking of changing the font of my blog or the size of the letters or something.  

Let me know if you like one of these fonts better. 
Let me know if you like one of these fonts better.   
Let me know if you like one of these fonts better.  
I mean, please let me know if you like one of these fonts better...

Thanks for watching!

30 in Sept 2014 - Ode to Fall, which Needs no Ode from Me!

Acrylic by palette knife, 6x8"

Being an artist can be quite humbling.  I have detected a pattern in my creative life.  It seems as soon as I paint something I really like (such as the one in the last post), I expect I'm going to be able to repeat the process and come up with something I like equally well.  But what happens instead is I find it almost impossible to make the next few paintings work, even if I'm using similar methods.  

The past week has been me slugging it out with a couple of paintings that did not seem to want to be birthed!  The above is one of them.  I wasn't even sure if I would show it here, but after letting it go for a few days, took another look and decided you may see it.  The other one, I thought was a lost cause, but peeked at it today and may give it one more go (sigh....).

The intensity of painting this week, along with the extra blog hopping last week (translate, laptop time) has resulted in a somewhat blown out neck for me right now.  I have missed seeing my friends' work this week, and hope to catch up--maybe after I visit a chiropractor!  But I still love you guys...

And thank you all for Watching!

30 in September 2014 - Fun with Acrylic Palette Knife Painting

Acrylic with Palette Knife, 8x10"

I am experimenting with new mediums to make acrylic palette knife painting feel more like oil palette knife painting.  I think I am onto something.  The medium I used today made the process much more natural than it felt with mediums I had been using.  Possible breakthrough here!

You may ask, why not just use oil paints with the palette knife, then.  The answer is I would be happy to use oil paints, except I am terribly afraid of  

SPONTANEOUS COMBUSTION!

That's my truth.  To all you oil painters out there, I don't expect your stuff to combust.  I just would worry too much about my own stuff. 

Hope everyone continues to have a happy, productive weekend, and thanks for Watching...

30 in Sept 2014 - How to do the 30 Paintings in 30 Days Challenge when you also have a full-time job

Acrylic, 6x6"

I hope everyone is still enjoying the 30 Paintings in 30 Days Challenge.  Have you reached the stage of questioning?  I always get to this stage where I start questioning...what is the meaning in painting this painting?  WHY are we painting 30 paintings in 30 days?  

This is one I have wanted to paint since I took the photo in the winter.  I must say, this time the scanner gave me more credit in terms of the light on the subject than my painting actually merits.  And I don't know how to fix that problem anymore than I know how to fix when my scanner makes the painting look worse.  Hopefully the class I am about to take in Photoshop Elements will help me overcome.

Someone asked me in a comment how I am managing to do this challenge with a full-time job.  Here's my tips, some practical, some about attitude:

1) Above all, focus on having fun.  I never would have joined the first 30 in 30 (I've done all 4) if Leslie had not said, "the only rule is to have fun."  I can live with a rule like that.

2)  From the very start, let go of any expectation that you will complete 30 paintings.  Don't expect that of yourself, don't intend for it, and don't try for it.  In other words, do not set yourself up to feel bad about yourself in any way.  And do not set yourself up to spend a month creating paintings you're going to feel crappy about.  Let go, paint as much as you can, post when you can.

3)  In the end, be proud that you painted more paintings than you would have had you not taken on this challenge.  And remember the other benefits:  you will learn, you will see lots of great art, you may develop new artist friends, and you may discover new favorite artists (I already have!).

4)  My new method is to hit the studio and do a few starts.  Loose ones, with no intention of taking them to completion.  Then over the next few days, I can choose one to work on.  Or work some on more than one.  Again, no pressure to complete anything!  Don't ruin your love for painting or your particular painting over anything external to yourself...it truly is not necessary to post to your blog or Leslie's blog everyday, especially if the pressure is making you unhappy.  Be happy and enjoy yourselves, artist friends!

5)  Frankly, I am losing sleep over this challenge, but that is when I am becoming engrossed in a painting and energized to stay up to complete it.  I am NOT losing any sleep over completing a painting in order to make a quota.  

If I think of any other tips, I will let you know in future posts.

Thanks for Watching!  Take good care of yourselves, everyone.  I think that's the main thing I am trying to say....

30 in September 2015 - Returning

 

Acrylic 8x10"

I could have painted a whole 'nother painting in the amount of time I have spent fiddling with this image in Picasa and Photoshop Elements, trying to get it to look more like the image I painted.  I don't know why the yellow stands out so much.  

You will be happy to know I am taking a half-day workshop with a renowned local photographer this month on how to use Photoshop elements.  Hopefully, I will have a clearer idea of how to make my images look more like my paintings.   Meanwhile, why that yellow is so strong and contrasty, I'll never know.

This one is painted on canvas board, unusual for me, because I don't usually work on canvas.   30 in 30 is a time for experimentation.

 

But thanks for  being here to Watch, and for those of you who are in this painting challenge with me--Happy Painting!

30 in September 2014 - "Emerging"

Acrylic, 6x8"

Apparently, I am willing to forego sleep in order to finish a painting.  Will put this one up for sale later--I need to run to work.

30 in September 2014 - Plein Air from Yesterday

Acrylic Plein Air, 8x10"

Back to using brushes for this one.  I am consistently fickle, aren't I?

Tip for the 30 in 30ers:  I have spent some time the past couple days doing some loose starts, so that I have something I can work on finishing during the rest of my work week.  Here I am giving a tip before seeing if the tip is going to work for me!

My reasoning, though, is that it is going to help me to have something to pick up and complete, as opposed to having to having to do a painting from start to finish every day.  And because I'm doing lots of starts, I'm doing them loosely, not making them too precious, just enjoying getting something down. 

We'll see how it goes!

Maybe the idea will help someone else.

The above painting, however, was done from start to finish in one standing.  It was GREAT to be outside in the early morning.  So I am grateful for the chance to paint this one.  The scan is terrible, so I am not putting this one up for sale until I can get an image that represents. 

Enjoy the challenge, everyone!

30 in September 2014 - Let the Games Begin!

 

Acrylic with Palette Knife, 6x6"

 PURCHASE HERE for $95 plus shipping

Welcome to 30 Paintings in 30 Days, September 2014.  I am excited to join in and see what we all create.  Thanks so much to Leslie Saeta for getting us motivated once again.  What a fabulous hostess she is!

For those of you who don't know me, I always say I am "along for the ride."  I have participated in all of the 30 Paintings in 30 days that Leslie has hosted to date, but my schedule doesn't allow for literally painting 30.  So I do what I can and have lots of fun.  Looking forward to meeting some fellow travelers this month.

Watchers, thanks for being here, as always....

Coming Right Up - 30 in September 2014!

Acrylic with Palette Knife, 8x10" unframed

PURCHASE HERE for $200 plus shipping

Here we go again!  30 Paintings in 30 Days, courtesy Leslie Saeta, convener of the challenge and host of Artists Helping Artists blog talk radio show (AHA).   If you are an artist reading this, you, too, can join the challenge.  Even if it's already started.  Even if you know you will never actually paint 30 paintings in 30 days.

Like me...I like to say I'm "along for the ride."  My schedule simply does not allow me to complete a painting every day.   I am at peace with my limitations, and Leslie is kind enough to say there are no rules, except to have fun.  If you are just discovering this challenge and we're already half-way through September, you can still join!

So, I promise to have fun, I promise to learn, I understand I will be seeing lots of great art throughout the month, and maybe I'll even make a few more friends.  

Leslie has recommended we all have a theme for our 30 Paintings.   After a lot of soul searching, I realize I will possibly pull my hair out if I limit what I paint.   Oh, I will envy those artists who have a theme and will come out of this thing with a cohesive body of work and an amazing collage at the end, to boot.  But I know myself.  I could declare a theme today and I wouldn't stick to it, anyway!

I heard the late, great Robert Genn say on his interview with AHA radio, "I think the only question artists should ask themselves each day is, 'What do I want to do today?'"  I think Mr. Genn would approve of my not having a theme.  But the most important thing is, I approve. 

So, my only plan is to start with the palette knife and see where I go.  What fun!.

Oh, and one change from the other challenges--this time I plan to put my work up for sale, at least some of it.

The above painting was completed during the January 2014 30 Paintings in 30 Days challenge.  At least, I thought it was completed.  The other day, I had another go at it.   I made some small changes, and I think they are improvements.

Thanks for joining me on this adventure.

Burnsville Paint-Out

Watercolor with Colored Pencil, 8x10ish"

A few weeks ago, I participated in a paint-out held by the Toe River Arts Council (TRAC) in Burnsville, NC.  This is  NOT the painting I did for the paint-out!  Actually, I painted two similar starts, and the underpainting for this one was the first start.  The second start, I completed for the Paint Out, and it has been hanging in TRAC gallery for the month, until recently when the show ended.   Another artist was kind enough to pick it up for me when the show ended, since I live further away, so I still don't have the painting back.

It has been very odd for me to not have easy access to that painting for the past month, and I realize now that a big part of my painting process is looking, looking, looking at my painting after it is sort of finished.  In fact, I can be in the middle of doing something completely different (laundry for instance) and suddenly take a notion and be compelled to drop everything and go look at a recent painting.  More than once.

After a couple of weeks of not getting to look at my paint-out painting, I realized that I had the original start at home and could play around with it.  I took liberties with the grasses in front of the trees, obviously embellishing the colors, with the intention to play and see how the colored pencils worked with the paints.  Playing and learning, great fun! 

Thank you for looking and for being with me through these experiments...

'Tis the Season

Acrylic, 8x8"

 Season's Greetings!  Here is this year's offering of my version of rose.  My model quickly drooped in the studio, so had to resort to imagination and a silk rose stand-in to complete the painting. 

Thank you to everyone who has contacted me to check on me, since it has been awhile since I have posted.  I assure you, all is well.  I am still painting, quite regularly, actually.  I have hinted to you in a prior post that I have been working in a different medium, and I thought I would give you a glimpse at this time.  I have been playing with watercolor, sometimes mixed with gouache and sometimes even adding some colored pencil. 

I'm finding that I especially love working with these mediums for plein air (outdoor) painting.  The watercolors seem much more relaxing to use outside than acrylics.   So wonderful!  So far, I am just doing studies/sketches, but the feeling of ease about the process is such a joy.

I think I owe you one, so here is a recent little study (it is teeny):

Plein Air Watercolor, about 3x6"

Looking at it after the fact, I see "things" about it that could be fixed, but this little study makes me so happy.  I sat on a rock in the stream, relaxed as could be, and just sketched and learned.  I'm doubly thrilled that the scan of it is pretty close to the original.

Thank you so much for being here...

Lady Bug Dress

Acrylic with Palette Knife 10x8"

My latest in my new series of toddler legs.  Legs courtesy of my OTHER niece!  I am now out of nieces, so if anyone has any photos of little toddlers they would like to share as painting references, feel free to send them my way!

If you have read my blog for awhile, you will know that I am on a quest to improve the photo images of my paintings (now there's a positive way to put it!).  Thanks to Rick (photoshop guru who is helping me tremendously with my prints) at Henco Reprographics, I now know that the color and values are even affected by the ANGLE TO THE MONITOR the image is viewed from.  Artist friends, did you know this???  Try viewing one of your paintings on your monitor from various angles, and you will see for yourselves...

P.S.  Guess whose dog needs surgery on her other knee?

30 in January 2014, Is it really possible to sum up this amazing experience?

I have already stayed up way too late trying to create this collage, so will hopefully be brief and will get to bed soon.  The issue with the collage, created at PicMonkey.com, was that the site kept wanting to change the format (shape) of my paintings.  This was a compromise I could live with, but it took forever!

I am filled to the brim with gratitude to everyone who participated in this challenge--what a privilege to see all your wonderful work,  meet new artists via our blogs and Facebook, deepen relationships with artist friends I already had, and learn so much more about myself as a painter.   I am so proud of all of you and look forward to seeing your work on an on-going basis. 

One of the artists who contacted me through the challenge is actually fairly local to me and is part of an artist guild that I am going to join.  I am so excited that my world of in-person artist friends is about to expand, and some of them will even go out plein air painting together!
 
I painted way more paintings than I imagined I would, WAY more than I have ever completed in any of the previous two challenges!  I serendipitously began the use of the palette knife with my acrylics and find that this is a method I want to continue to explore.

I found an area I want to continue in a series, namely, the little legs in tights above.  I have another one on my easel that I was not willing to rush to finish tonight,  just to have one more completed painting.  I will show it to you in its right time.  If anyone has photos they are willing to send me to work from--little toddler legs in interesting tights, clothing, or shoes, I would love to increase my file of references for this series.  THANKS!

Thank you to Leslie Saeta, our wonderful leader and convener of this challenge, for giving us all the gift of this opportunity!

Finally, a question for the artists in the group--does anyone have any ideas on how to continue the community we have developed here, along with the obvious idea of continuing to visit each others' blogs?

Leggings - Acrylic with Palette Knife, 30 in 2014

Acrylic with Palette Knife, 8x10"

This photo was shot about 6 years ago and painted sometime that year.  The owner of the legs is also the owner of the original painting, my niece T.  I wanted to see how it would work to use a palette knife to paint it again.  Unfortunately, T and the painting live far away, so I will have to rely on my sister to tell me how this one compares with the original.  Funny how an image can stay with you for years!

Congratulations to all my artist friends who are completing the 30 in 30 Challenge.  I am so proud of you.  Congratulations, too, to my good friends who decided not to do the challenge this time.  You all are also doing fabulous work!

Spiral Tree - Palette Knife (30 in January 2014)

 

 Acrylic with Palette Knife, 8x10"

 Sorry for the glare on this photo.  It is from my scanner.  The painting is quite shiny.  I need to adjust my proportion of gloss to matt medium.  In a couple of weeks, I can put some matt varnish on this piece and then scan it again.  I'll try to remember to show it to you then!

 After spending a chunk of yesterday morning on a painting that wasn't going to work out, I spent a chunk of yesterday afternoon playing on this one.  I think the playing won out over the working!  This one was purely for my amusement, seeing what moves I could make with the palette knife and just enjoying seeing colors next to colors.


I remember when I took the reference photo this fall, what attracted me to the scene was the way the leaves seemed to spiral around the tree.  I hope I have managed to convey some of that effect here...

Thanks for looking!

Five Things I Know So Far about Acrylic Palette Knife Painting

Acrylic with Palette Knife, 8x10"

 "You can't hurry art..."  Like this one--this one took two days of my spare time to complete.  I've actually painted from this photo before, with brushes, oil paints, and the help of a teacher.  Yesterday, I was staring at the GOBS of leftover paint I had on the palette from doing the quilt painting.  I recognized that the palette was perfect for this reference photo!  Of course, I couldn't find the earlier version of the painting until today, so I didn't have the benefit of what I had learned the first time until round two, today.

This kitchen belongs to one of my blog readers.  Extra points to you if you figure out it's yours!  Don't worry, though, if you don't figure it out.  I just got my artistic license, and I used a lot of it with this painting...

I missed a few days of the 30 in 30.  I wasn't feeling well, and needed downtime with my family.  But don't feel bad for me--I'm not mad at myself or anything.  In fact, yesterday I bought myself some presents as rewards for what I have accomplished so far.  I am now the proud owner of a new ArtByte from DPW and two out-of-print art books from Amazon.  I respond well to rewards!  I'm so encouraged, I'm going to continue to paint--maybe I'll deserve even more...

This is the most ambitious palette knife painting I have completed.  Here is what I have learned so far about Acrylic Palette Knife painting:

1) Use medium!  I am still experimenting to determine my favorite medium--what I do know for sure is that medium adds body to the paint, which makes the paint behave better for palette knife painting.  As a bonus, the medium really stretches the paint!

2)  The paint stays wet a long time.  I have to learn to use wet-on-wet techniques, for at least part of what I am doing.  I am used to wet-on-dry!

3)  And when the paint does dry, those palette knife ridges can sometimes get in the way of what I need to do next!  I don't mind any of the ridges once the painting is complete--the ridges are just a function of having used a knife.  But the ridges can be tough to work with when I still want to do some overpainting.

4)  Sometimes I want to use a brush in the middle of the palette knife painting.  So I do.  And that's ok.  Except when it's not.  And then I can fix it.  

5)  I have a lot to learn about Acrylic Palette Knife Painting, but am so excited to practice and learn.

Thanks for visiting and Watching!

Practicing Scales

                                             Acrylic with Palette Knife, 6x6"

I wanted to merely practice my palette knife technique without having to focus on all the elements that go into making a painting, so I decided to paint this quilt pattern, as a musician would practice scales.  I thought it would be simple and I would probably knock out a couple of these tonight.  Ha!!  The maniacal laughter you're hearing is me, contemplating how much work it was to even get the drawing onto the paper, let alone to make sure the colors were in the right place, not to even mention using the knife to get the paint into all the little spaces.   This is probably a good time to note I have a truly renewed admiration for quilters!

I started at the upper right, and you may be able to see that I was quite focused in the first few upper right squares to get the paint on smoothly.  After several squares, I wanted to hang it up.  But I stuck it out, soon realizing that the nature of palette knife is that things are not going to be perfect and that's why we use the knife.  So, slap on some more paint and get on to the next shape!

Remind me next time I create an exercise to practice the looseness of palette knife technique, I should be painting rainbows or something else where I can make sweeping motions with the knife!

 I want to remind all the artist bloggers out there that the important thing about this month's challenge is NOT to end up with 30 paintings.  The important things are to learn more about your working methods, your materials, your preferences, and your sources of inspiration.  We don't want anyone finishing this challenge being burned out on painting.  Please be kind to yourselves and give yourselves a break when doing so would be wise.

Stormy Sky - 30 in January 2014

                                           Acrylic with Palette Knife, 6x6"




I started this one with 20 minutes of my lunch hour yesterday and finished it last night when I got home.  This one is from one of my photos.  I found it very difficult to get soft cloud edges with the palette knife and ended up using my finger, which is very strange for me, since I normally paint with gloves on to avoid touching the paint.  I wonder if I can prevail upon two friends who usually paint with palette knives to do a demo of clouds on their blogs--Carol, Jacklyn? 

How is everybody who is in the challenge doing at this point?  I find myself needing to be more into my own thing and having less time to look at everyone else's work.  Yesterday morning, I used my time before work to scan and blog the painting on yesterday's post, and that is what I will need to do this morning, too.  Then, my next time to check email and Feedly is normally my lunch hour, but I painted on my lunch hour.  And last night, I also painted.  I haven't had time to look at all the paintings on Leslie's blog in a few days.  I know it's a good thing for my painting life to be more focused on my own process, but I do miss all the inspiration!  So, how are you guys doing???

Warmer Winter Morning Plein Air, acrylic with palette knife

                                          Acrylic Plein Air with palette knife, 6x6"



 I got up early and went out plein air yesterday morning...yes, Watchers, this one was completed actually outside, not huddled inside looking out a window.  The temps are up and my acrylics (not to mention myself) can be outside again!

I see I am getting some glare from the scan, perhaps due to having used some gloss medium in with the mix of mediums I am using.  I've been experimenting with mediums to use with the acrylics and palette knife, to give the paints more body.  Also, in the painting, the sky is much grayer than the blue my monitor is showing.  You would think that would be an easy fix in Photoshop Elements, but so far it is not!  It probably means the rest of the colors are off, too. 

Have a great day everyone...

Second Foggy Morning Painting from Yesterday

                        Acrylic Plein Air (out the window view) w/palette knife, 6x6"

This is the second one from yesterday.  I did go out plein air painting this morning, but will have to wait till tomorrow to show you that one, since I don't want to put it on my scanner today (still may be slightly tacky).

I want to share some words of wisdom from Leslie Saeta, our leader in this challenge.  I think her words are wise and wonderful:

"...I think it is important to reflect on what we have learned from this challenge so far. Painting for 30 days is not about creating 30 masterpieces to sell. It's literally impossible to paint your best when you undertake a challenge like this. Rather, it's about the process we have to go through to paint a painting every day....

When faced with a Challenge we are more focused and excited about reaching our goal. What you will learn this month will help you all year. You will have an easier time painting those masterpieces."

It's a relief to know I am not expected to create "masterpieces" every day.  I think some of this work is among my best and most is....practice, brush mileage, showing up and doing the work.  Not to mention, trying new things (palette knife!).  In regards to this painting above, I can see things I could change.  However, the fog is gone, the moment is past--on to the next!



Many thanks for all the love you are sending to my sister's dog Claire.  I think it's working!  Although she is still in the hospital fighting for her life, her bloodwork levels are starting to show some hope for her survival!

Foggy Morning, Palette Knife Acrylic Painting

                                              Acrylic Plein Air with Palette Knife, 8x10"

There was a lot of fog hanging in these mountains this morning.   I am falling in love with the palette knife.  Thanks to the knife, I was able to work quickly and have a blast, too!  The scene was changing rapidly as the fog shifted, sometimes completely obscuring the view, sometimes obscuring just part of my composition.  I had to roll with it, by sticking with my original idea for a composition and wherever the mountains peeked out at any particular moment, using them for color reference only.  I actually painted two of these, but am saving the other for tomorrow's post, just in case!

Watchers, the most important thing about today's painting is the part where I had a blast.  A couple people have written to me mentioning they hadn't thought about using a palette knife with acrylics but are thinking of trying after seeing what I've been doing.  I cannot say enough times, "Try it, try it TRY it!"  You may fall in love with the palette knife, too...

Shifting gears here, I must ask for  your help with good thoughts and prayers for my sister's beloved 2 year old dog Claire, who is presently hospitalized and literally fighting for her life.

  My sister Jackie's words, in part:

"Claire update: We have a diagnosis of Immune Mediated Thrombocytopenia (ITP). This is an autoimmune disease where the body attacks and destroys its own platelets. This makes it impossible for blood to clot. An animal is at risk for spontaneous hemorrhage if their platelet count is under 50,000. Claire's platelet count has been zero the last 2 days. So, she's bleeding and her blood count is dropping so she's getting weaker."

Claire is receiving the best of care, has already had a transfusion and sounds like she needs another one.  I know Claire is a beloved member of my sister's family and will be given every chance possible for recovery.  Everyone is trying to keep up the hope, and I hate seeing my sister and the family so devastated.  Their hearts are heavier than this morning's fog...

If you are so inclined, any positive thoughts, prayers and energy would be appreciated towards Claire's speedy recovery.  There is a 7 year old child involved.

Thank you so much...

Angel Mama

    Acrylic, 5x7"

(I am editing this post to say I woke up feeling I could just cry about how this image of this painting came out.  I don't want to cry at all when I look at the original painting, so I know the problem lies with the reproduction!  I wonder why the scanner does a great job of representing some paintings and abysmally at others?  It isn't just the skin tones throwing this off, as I mention below in the original post, it is kind of the whole thing is off.  I worked in Photoshop Elements doing everything I know to make it look more like the painting, but it was not meant to be.  I may try a camera shoot with this one.  I'll let you know.)

To answer my own question from the other day:  what do you really want to paint?   I really want to paint humans in motion, in relationship, in emotion.  In thinking about this question this morning, I remembered that I also want to paint birds.  Over the summer, I had intended to work on birds and flowers, but only got to the flowers.  Coincidentally, one of my artist friends posted a lovely bird painting today.   

This is another one started long ago.  After much photo-editing, still don't have the skin tones true to the painting...sorry...

I am figuring out it is sleep that is going to be suffering for my art.  How about everybody else?  It's way past my bedtime...goodnight.

Frosty Morning - 30 in January 2014

                                           Acrylic Palette Knife, "Plein Air" from window

This is the view I saw when I woke up this a.m.   I just love when the mountains are pink!  I scrambled to set up to paint, because this is the kind of lighting that doesn't wait for you to gather your supplies.  I used a palette knife and worked as fast as I could. 

I had to wait till this evening to post, because with that much paint, it took all day to be dry enough for me to feel comfortable putting the painting on my scanner.  I did the best I could in editing with Photoshop Elements (PSE) and hope I am giving you a viewing experience that fairly represents the painting.  I honestly don't know anymore.  I have been messing around with PSE for about half an hour now, which is not really how I want to be spending my time.  I am dog tired, too.

I worked for a long time on another palette knife painting that is just never going to work out.  I eventually had to play bartender (paint-tender?) to myself, "Meredith, I'm cutting you off, you've had enough paint for one day."  Do you guys ever have to do that with yourself?  I was finding myself bargaining, "Oh, just a little more yellow, I know I can get this right, how about just that little bit that is sort of already coming out of the paint tube that I didn't remember to cover, just that little bit?"

Does anybody else here know that conversation?  In my defense, I do often have the proper artist conversation going on in my mind:  "does that color need to be warmer or cooler?  darker or lighter?"  You know, the conversation the books tell you to have.   But occasionally, I need to become the paint-tender...

Thank you all for your responses to my questions from yesterday.  It was heartwarming to me to read your responses and see how much we all have in common...except for one artist I met yesterday who is THREE paintings ahead!! (see yesterday's comments)

Which reminds me of one more thing.  I'm not sure how to break this to you guys, so I'm just going to go ahead and say it.  Marc Hanson has announced he's going to do 112 paintings in February.  That's four paintings per day, Watchers!  Don't we all feel like slackers now?  You can read his blog post here.  I'm definitely going to be watching him.   By the way, I really don't want anyone reading this to feel badly.  Try to remember he's got experience upon experience... 

Have a good day painting tomorrow, everyone.  I'll be working for ten hours.  I think I could use some encouragement to come home and paint!

Almost forgot the soapbox.  Remember, you will want to skip the rest of this post if you have been here in the last few days:

One of the the very best things I have ever done for my blog readers was to figure out how to get rid of that "prove you're not a robot" thingy for when readers want to leave a comment.  I would encourage all bloggers to do the same.  The tests to see if someone is a robot are getting smaller and blurrier and harder to pass.  I did find the other day that if you fail about three times in a row, they throw one at you with larger, clearer print.  Yes, you have to REALLY want to leave a comment on someone else's blog to try to prove you're not a robot four times!
 
Bloggers, you can still have good control over the comments on your blog if you enable moderation.  That way, all comments go to your email and you have to approve them prior to their posting on your blog.  So, you use your own brain to decide if someone is a robot or not.  Actually, Blogger does a good job of catching most of the spam comments and not even sending them to your email.
 
Of course, we all have a choice how to handle comments on our own blogs....but I know the feedback I've had from my followers about not having to prove themselves not robots is..."what a relief!" 

Feel free to email me for instructions on how to make this change to your own blog, and Happy Painting!

A Long Time Coming - 30 in January 2014

                                                                               Acrylic, 6x6"

I have been dying to show you this painting for months!  I actually started it last January during the 30 in 30.  The original reference photo had some elements I needed to eliminate, which was very difficult for me to do.  I've actually had to consult with a horse expert on this one a couple times.  I really should get her final approval on it, but it will be a few days before I can see her, due to this weather.  But I have to say, unless there's something major-major, I'm quite satisfied with this one and thrilled to call it finished!

I wanted to ask my art blogger friends a few questions--if you're interested in responding, you can answer in a comment here on my blog or in a post on your own blog, if you prefer.  If I know you, I will see your blog post.  If I don't already know you, please let me know if you do a blog post on my questions, so I can be sure to see it.  The questions are:

1) Why are you doing the challenge?  What are you hoping to get out of it?

2) If on any particular day, you feel like your painting isn't going to work out, how do you feel and how do you handle it?

and most importantly...

3)  What do you REALLY want to be painting? 

My answers:

1) I am doing the challenge because I had been out of the studio for a few weeks, due to the holidays and due to needing to get set up at the Woolworth Walk gallery.  The longer I stay away from painting, the harder it is to get back into it.  Even though I love to paint, it is also hard work for me, requiring a certain level of deep concentration that I feel unprepared to give when I let too much time go by.  So, the challenge came at a perfect time for me in that it's the perfect catalyst to recommit to painting regularly.

I'm also doing the challenge because the past two that I did were wonderful in terms of seeing a lot of great art and connecting personally with other artists I enjoy.  I believe I have made some lifelong friends via prior challenges.  Painting is such a solo act, so we all need artist friends!

My third reason for doing the challenge is because we have the opportunity for increased exposure for our work, because we get to post our paintings on Leslie Saeta's blog (Leslie being the artist/art marketer extraordinaire who is our fearless leader for this challenge, and the challenges past).

2)  I have gone into every 30 Paintings in 30 Days challenge knowing that even if every painting I attempted worked out, I still wouldn't be able paint 30, due to my work schedule.  In past challenges, I have often felt really left out when I didn't have a painting to post.  For some reason, during this challenge, I feel much more level about it.  I think I am doing a much better job of caring about process rather than product, i.e. my attitude is more "Today I am going to paint" ("painting" as verb) as opposed to, "Today I am going to create a painting" ("painting" as noun).  I don't know how I improved my outlook, but I am certainly grateful for it.

3)  I will answer the third question in another blog post!  Just cause if you have reached this point, you have had to read a lot from me already today.

Enjoy the challenge!

Here comes the part you will want to skip if you've been here during the past couple days:

One of the the very best things I have ever done for my blog readers was to figure out how to get rid of that "prove you're not a robot" thingy for when readers want to leave a comment.  I would encourage all bloggers to do the same.  The tests to see if someone is a robot are getting smaller and blurrier and harder to pass.  I did find the other day that if you fail about three times in a row, they throw one at you with larger, clearer print.  Yes, you have to REALLY want to leave a comment on someone else's blog to try to prove you're not a robot four times!
 
Bloggers, you can still have good control over the comments on your blog if you enable moderation.  That way, all comments go to your email and you have to approve them prior to their posting on your blog.  So, you use your own brain to decide if someone is a robot or not.  Actually, Blogger does a good job of catching most of the spam comments and not even sending them to your email.
 
Of course, we all have a choice how to handle comments on our own blogs....but I know the feedback I've had from my followers about not having to prove themselves not robots is..."what a relief!" 

Feel free to email me for instructions on how to make this change to your own blog, and Happy Painting!

More Palette Knife Play - 30 in January 2013

                                                                 Acrylic, 6x6"

Folks, I don't know who posted this painting to my blog, but I would strongly suggest that if they want to continue to use a palette knife, they consider getting some instruction!  And also, IF while they were painting they were thinking things like, "My friend Sharon paints the best chickens and will surely know what's wrong with this one," THEN the person who painted this one truly should be told they did not paint this in the spirit of our motto here--Paint Like Nobody's Watching!   Enough said.

Except I need to get back up on my soapbox...excuse my self-indulgence.  Actually, if you were here yesterday, you probably want to skip this part:

One of the the very best things I have ever done for my blog readers was to figure out how to get rid of that "prove you're not a robot" thingy for when readers want to leave a comment.  I would encourage all bloggers to do the same.  The tests to see if someone is a robot are getting smaller and blurrier and harder to pass.  I did find the other day that if you fail about three times in a row, they throw one at you with larger, clearer print.  Yes, you have to REALLY want to leave a comment on someone else's blog to try to prove you're not a robot four times!
 
Bloggers, you can still have good control over the comments on your blog if you enable moderation.  That way, all comments go to your email and you have to approve them prior to their posting on your blog.  So, you use your own brain to decide if someone is a robot or not.  Actually, Blogger does a good job of catching most of the spam comments and not even sending them to your email.
 
Of course, we all have a choice how to handle comments on our own blogs....but I know the feedback I've had from my followers about not having to prove themselves not robots is..."what a relief!" 

Feel free to email me for instructions on how to make this change to your own blog, and Happy Painting!

Crazy-Fun Artistic Frenzy - 30 in January 2014

                                                             Acrylic with Palette Knife, 9x12"

Last night I went to town with the palette knife.  Crazy fun!  It reminded me of a time my very special someone came home and found me in an "artistic frenzy" with oil pastels.  I think he was ok with the scraping and layering, but a little concerned to see the matches!

This is my Crazy-Fun Artistic Frenzied version of Autumn in the mountains.  I know it's different than my usual style, but I couldn't resist.  I was trying to take my mind off something last night, and artistic frenzies can be perfect for such occasions.  I'll tell you in about a week what I was trying to take my mind off--can't tell just yet! 

I wish I could show you what this painting really looks like.  Please bear with me as I learn to use my Photoshop Elements.  Those of you who have followed my blog know that sometimes I think the image looks better than the painting, and sometimes I think the painting looks better.  This is one of those occasions where the painting looks better.

The sun is out!  Time to walk dogs...and then paint!

Here I go, back on my soapbox.  The following is copied and pasted from my last year's 30 in 30 posts, so some of you may need to skip this part:

One of the the very best things I have ever done for my blog readers was to figure out how to get rid of that "prove you're not a robot" thingy for when readers want to leave a comment.  I would encourage all bloggers to do the same.  The tests to see if someone is a robot are getting smaller and blurrier and harder to pass.  I did find the other day that if you fail about three times in a row, they throw one at you with larger, clearer print.  Yes, you have to REALLY want to leave a comment on someone else's blog to try to prove you're not a robot four times!
 
Bloggers, you can still have good control over the comments on your blog if you enable moderation.  That way, all comments go to your email and you have to approve them prior to their posting on your blog.  So, you use your own brain to decide if someone is a robot or not.  Actually, Blogger does a good job of catching most of the spam comments and not even sending them to your email.
 
Of course, we all have a choice how to handle comments on our own blogs....but I know the feedback I've had from my followers about not having to prove themselves not robots is..."what a relief!" 

Feel free to email me for instructions on how to make this change to your own blog, and Happy Painting!

Let the Sunshine - 30 in January 2014

Acrylic, 9x12"

This challenge is really working well for me.   I didn't choose a theme, but so far, my theme appears to be completing near-finished paintings.  This one has been pending since around October, and how wonderful it feels to have it completed, as of last night.  The support was too large for my scanner bed, so I had to photograph it with camera and photo floods.  Let me just say, I am really liking using a scanner instead of a camera! A friend gave me a very large, old scanner.  Hopefully I will be able to get it to talk to my computer.

Thank you all so much for visiting and leaving comments here.  It means so, so much to be doing this together.   I am going to do my best with this challenge but am not expecting myself to complete 30 paintings with the schedule I follow for the other parts of my life.  But so far, I am on track! 

Winter in the Mountains - 30 in January 2014

Plein Air Acrylic Palette Knife painting, 6x8"

Yes, it's quite wintery here now, but we are taking a stroll backwards through the seasons here at Paint Like Nobody's Watching.   Painting #1 for the 30 in 30 Challenge was the Christmas season in January, now here we are in Autumn.  Why Autumn?  This is the painting I left off with when I got the call from the Woolworth Walk gallery that there was an opening there for me. 

I had gone plein air painting over two lunch hours for this one--one 40 minute session and one 20 minute session.   It needed some finishing up in the studio that I never got to, since I got so busy after that call.  Basically, I needed to get the sky holes out of the mountain!

So, if one of my themes is to finish unfinished paintings...here you go!  I actually did this last night, but it was too wet and I was too tired to scan it then.    But the good news is, I am actually on track with two paintings in two days.  I think the scan is a little blurry because of all the texture holding part of the image further from the scanner.  If any of you are more technically minded that I am, feel free to let me know if that is correct. 

Working on this last night reminded me how much I enjoyed using the palette knife with my acrylics and how I had intended to do more.  GREAT way to work plein air with limited time, as you can change colors so quickly.

Thanks for looking, and enjoy the challenge, everyone...

30 Paintings in 30 Days - "Gifted"

Acrylic, 8x10"

Please allow me to be the last to wish you a Happy Holiday Season!  Yes, I just finished my holiday painting...what can I say?  I have just begun the adventure of a 30 Paintings in 30 Days Challenge sponsored by radio host/artist/art marketer extraodinaire, Leslie Saeta.  Over 300 artists are participating, and you can follow along at the challenge here.  So many paintings to enjoy, so little time!

Those of you who know me and have followed my blog for awhile know I have no delusions that I will actually complete 30 paintings, but I am along for the ride!  It's going to be a great way to start the New Year and to get back into a joyful painting habit after being so busy with holidays and setting up my space at the Woolworth Walk gallery.  Leslie suggests we set a theme.  I haven't really settled on a theme, but I do have some paintings in mind I want to work on and a personal challenge to myself to complete some as yet unfinished paintings.  So, I am extremely happy to have finished "Gifted" above.

"Gifted" is kind of like an Escher drawing--the pieces are never really going to come together, so you probably don't want to bother trying to figure it out...

Thank you, dear Watchers, for being among the top most important things in my 2013.  I am SO glad to have connected with you all through the wonderful world of art blogging, and I look forward to getting to know you even better and seeing all the works you create this year (those of you who are artists, too).  I know I am "Gifted" to have you in my life...

May your days be Merry and Bright, and May you Always Choose Opaque Ribbons to Paint (rather than the one above which was mostly transparent)!

Here's to enjoying a fabulous 2014 together!