30 paintings in 30 days

30 paintings in 30 days

 

September was busy but I still managed to paint 30 in 30.  I did not stick to my original theme of using all the still life props I have collected, I realized by day 2 that I want to paint what I want to paint and that's okay.  I also planned to keep everything square and I managed that by cropping!

 

I learned not to wipe out a painting too soon, two of these are gone for good and now I wish I saved one of them.  I like at least 10 of them and that's a pretty good average. I had the most fun with the plein air paintings and they helped with my studio landscapes too.

 

I am ready for a day off (or two or three) and now that I have learned to paint fast I am ready to slow down and work on larger, more complex paintings.

 

 

Looking Up

 

Looking Up

6x6 oil on panel

$150

 

Day 30 of 30 paintings in 30 days

 

I was at the Cox Reservation in Essex MA where I spotted this apple tree.  It was a beautiful crisp day and I could not believe how blue the sky was.

Two Pears

Two Pears

6x6 oil on panel

 

 

 

Pear Study

 

 

   

 

Pear Study

pastel 9x12

 

Saturday morning felt like time to play.  I don't usually use pastels for still lifes but the pears were set up waiting and I thought I would do a little experimenting. I chose Art Spectrum suede in a color called jacaranda, a brilliant blue violet.  I had not made friends with this paper in the past so I had nothing to lose by going overboard with the color. I started with pastel pencils laying out the composition paying special attention to the spaces between the fruit. Some of the problems I have had in the past stem from jumping in with the soft pastels too soon because I am in love with their color. I progressed to Giraults and had to stop for the day before I got a chance to over-work this. I don't know if it is done or if I will keep it as a study.  It was a lot of fun and I am giving this paper another chance.

 

 

 

Pear study cropped

Light on the Marsh

Light on the Marsh

9x12 soft pastels

Girault and Terry Ludwig on Colorfix

 

 

Complements

 

Complements

6x6 oil on panel

 

I did not paint today.  Since the beginning of September I have completed 25 paintings for the 30 in 30 challenge, I participated in a paint-out and wet paint auction and painted plein air twice more.  I delivered 6 paintings to the Sullivan Framing anniversary show and one to the NH Institute of Art fundraiser auction. I had a pastel accepted into the national juried show sponsored by the Pastel Society of NH and another pastel accepted into the Center for the Arts juried show. I also signed on with a friend to do a local art show.

 

This painting was done a few days before the 30 in 30 began and I did not post it in case I needed a "catch-up" day and boy do I need a "catch-up" day! It is only 7:30 and I am ready for bed - everything will look better in the morning.

Plum Island

Plum Island

9x12 pastel on Mi Teintes Touch

 

I painted plein air at Plum Island today.  What a gorgeous day to spend at the beach!  Barb and I had so much fun we decided to make it a weekly event, at least until the really cold weather hits.

 

cropped version for the 30 in 30 challenge

 

Summer Radishes

 

Summer Radishes

6x6 oil on panel

$150

 

All I could think of as I painted these radishes was how good they would taste in my salad.  I had to keep spritzing them so they kept their shine.

 

This is the transparent oil sketch

Pear study

Pear Study

6x6 oil on panel

I did this study on a black painted panel.  I loved the way the paint moved around so smoothly. I'm not sure about this one but I promised myself I would not wipe-out without giving it a good look. The background is more neutral than this.

Cherry Study

Cherry Study

4x4 oil on panel

 

What do you paint when you're too tired to paint - something simple that worked before. That's what I thought but I spent an hour arranging these three.  I added a vase and a lemon and then in the end settled for simple.

 

This is day 22 of the 30 in 30 challenge and it has been a challenge! The plein air event was fun and now I am back to the studio and my small still lifes.

The Salt Marsh

 

The Salt Marsh

9x12 oil on panel

 

Today was the day of the paint-out.  We headed to Salisbury this morning with Gore-Tex and gloves.

Barb and I spent at least an hour driving in search of the perfect spot which we found in Newburyport just before the bridge to Plum Island. The weather turned delightful but a little too windy and we had a great day painting.  We turned our work in at 3:00 and are headed back for the auction.  If this does not sell I will take it home with me.  What a great day and a great experience!

Salisbury Pastel

Salisbury Pastel

7x10

 

Still trying to decide what to bring to the paint out.  I struggled with this one so I think I will pack my pastels but start with oils and see how it goes.

 

On a Clear Day

On a Clear Day

5x7 oil on panel

 

Getting ready for the paint out in Salisbury. I know it is impossible to practice for plein aire.  The sky maybe different, the color of the water changes by the minute and there might be people waiting to use the boat ramp blocking my view.

 

In this version I tried a partial underpainting using nickel azo gold acrylic and I worked on my speed.  Now to pack - Gore-Tex for the AM and a straw hat if the sun comes out.

End of Summer

 

End of Summer

6x6 oil on panel

$150

 

This is a study for a larger painting.  I am pretty happy with the way it turned out.  I will adjust the composition a little, lowering the fruit and vase. For this one I added one small cherry in the foreground.

 

 

I wanted to stay loose so I did the underpainting without my glasses.  It helps to mass values together.

The Water Tower

The Water Tower

5x7 oil on panel

$150

 

This was done in the studio from a plein air painting I did yesterday.  I wanted to lower the horizon and add the water tower.  I like it now.

 

I am still on track with the 30 in 30 challenge although some times I don't remember what day it is! I can't believe I have been able to paint every day.  This photo was cropped because I am keeping all the 30 in 30 square.  They will look better together that way.

Salisbury

6x8 oil on raymar panel

$175

 

My friend Barb Barclay and I were invited to a paint out and wet paint auction to be held this Saturday in Salisbury Ma.  Barb and I planned to paint en plein air today anyway so we headed to Salisbury. We found this delightful scene in the State Park and plan to return there on Saturday. I hope the weather is just as nice as it was today.

 

The reception and auction starts at 6:00 PM and cocktail attire is suggested! Wow, I had no idea!

 

The Atlantic Coast

5x7 oil on panel

I was invited to a plein aire event and auction, my first. I've painted plein air with a class and a group and both of those were pastel.  I think I am bringing my oils this time. This was a practice piece I did in the studio just to make sure I've packed all the right colors.

Square format crop of the above painting.  I think I like the 5x7 better.

Apple Study

6x6 oil on panel

 

I couldn't get going this morning.  No set up seemed right so I took my own advise and started the day with an apple study.  When paintings don't work the way I like, I paint over in chromatic black to re-use.  This started on one of those black panels and there didn't seem to be anything I could do to cheer this little painting up.  I decided I liked the uncut apple and wiped the rest of it. I worked for a bit more and then wiped the whole thing.  Now that I see it photographed I realize it was not as bad as I thought.  I'm  not sorry I wiped it - I get to use the panel one more time!

 

My discovery in this little painting was golden ochre. I don't usually include the ochres in my palette but this time it was just what I needed. 

Plum Pair

Plum Pair

6x6 oil on panel

$150

This is the first time I painted plums.  They were fun to do.  I am not sure of the background on this on.  I changed it from a warm background in the block-in but now I think it is too cool.  What do you think?

 

An Apple a Day

 

An Apple a Day

6x6 oil on panel

$150

 

I learned a lot with this one.  I worked on lost and found edges and reflected light.  It occurred to me that doing a little apple study would be a good way to start  each day.

Peter's Farm, Zinnias

 

Peter's Farm, Zinnias

6x6 oil on panel

 

I painted two today.  I Guess that puts me a day ahead in the 30 in 30 challenge. I started this in the evening, planning it for the next day but I kept on painting.

 

I have figured out that even though it is fun to collect things for a still life, it is the natural objects. I like to paint.  Flowers, flowers and more flowers, fruit, vegetables and of course landscapes.

 

I started this with a black gessoed canvas.  I like the way it makes the colors so vivid.

Running out of Time

Running out of Time

6x6 oil on panel

$150

Day 10 in the 30 in 30 challenge

 

Yesterday was unseasonably warm lulling me into the thinking that it was still August.  Not going back to school helped in feeling like I was in an endless summer. I woke up under two quilts realizing that my zinnias would not be here for long. I could paint them now or wait until next August. 

 

Some of these I grow myself and some I buy at Peter's Farm for a quarter. One had a bent stem that I helped out with a drinking straw.

 

oil sketch

I like the composition

Block-in with transparent colors.  This is the point when I think everything is going to be fine and maybe I should stop here.

 

Time to evaluate (have a cup of coffee, put in a load of laundry etc.) I like the mottled blue background, flowers need cleaning up and the edge of the vase needs to be softened. This is the point when I think it might be a wipe-out.

Ginger Jar and Lemons

Ginger Jar with Lemons

6x6 oil on panel

$150

 

I set this up and blocked it in last night.  The painting went smoothly.  This is a study for a larger piece, I think I will add cherries.

Dreaming of Hydrangeas

Dreaming of Hydrangeas

6x6 oil on panel

$150

 

This painting went through a record number of changes and wipe-outs.  I like the dreamy quality it has now. 

Melmac Memories

Melmac Memories

6x6 oil on panel

 

Not my usual style.  I am experimenting, trying to catch the light in a more painterly fashion.  For this I used lemon yellow, turquoise blue, quinacridone magenta and titanium white, not my usual palette. I had to dismantle the still life set-up to keep from over-working. 

 

I found these dishes at a flea market, we had a similar set growing up.  I wanted china like the neighbors.  Years later I had a pottery business and made a set of stoneware dishes for my family.  My daughter asked if we could have real dishes like a normal family. What goes around, comes around.

 

Peaches and Artist's Block

 

Peaches

5x5 oil on panel

$125

 

I often set up my still life the night before and do a little sketching to work out my composition. My theme for the 30 in 30 was to use all the little still life items that I have collected over the years. I think I had every item I owned out on my counter or on one of my still life stages.  Nothing worked, I adjusted, rearranged and still nothing worked.  Was this only day 5 and I already was out of ideas? 

 

I got up in the morning and got rid of the bowl and the plums, ate one of the peaches and started this little study.  I used Michele Karahalios' technique of wiping the panel with linseed oil and things started to smooth out. I finished this in the evening and I am happy with it.

Peony

Peony

6x6 oil on canvas

I got a great tip from Michele Karahalios on yesterdays Slices of Life by Leslie Saeta's 30 in 30 challenge. http://michelekarahalios.fineartstudioonline.com/blog

http://lesliesaeta.blogspot.com/

Michele said that she learned from Qiang Huang to coat the canvas with a thin layer of refined linseed oil. I had this umber value study of a peony that I didn't want to glaze so I gave her technique a try.  I loved the way the paint flowed so smoothly.  This will definitely be in my bag of tricks in the future!  Thanks Michele.

Zinnias in White Pitcher

Zinnias in White Pitcher

6x6 oil on RayMar panel

$150

30 in 30 challenge

What was I thinking! My theme was to create still lifes using the objects I've collected at flea markets and yard sales. Well maybe the reason I haven't painted them is that I didn't want to! They didn't quite fit or didn't call out to me.  Yesterday's painting was a struggle, I still might wipe it out.  For today I wanted something fun so I went back to my zinnias.  I have included my process steps.

    Quick sketch on gray paper with armature lines

oil sketch using ochre

initial thin block-in

block-in

stopping to evaluate

I_Hsing

Day 3 of 30 in 30

I set this up and sketched it the night before.  When I woke up I didn't want to paint it.  I realized that it was because I knew it would be difficult to stay loose especially with a very tight drawing.  So I challenged myself.  I started by toning the canvas red, something I have never done and the red I used was vermillion. I realized early on that this was about the light hitting the tea box and the cast shadow of the antique tea strainer and not at all about the little tea pot.  I haven't decided yet but this may still be a wipe-out.  30 in 30 is difficult enough - I can't expect 30 good ones!

Zinnias again

 

Zinnias

6x6 oil on RayMar panel

$150

 

I planned this out last night and painted the panel with black gesso. I  then sketched out my design with white chalk pencil.  It is sort of like drawing on a black board. I found this frosted glass vase in a thrift store.

 

Day 2 of 30 in 30 with Leslie Saeta

http://lesliesaeta.blogspot.com/