Day 10

4x16 oil on panel  

Today has been a very busy day trying to coordinate several different activities one of which I did not get to attend. Finding time to paint was interesting.  I painted a bit this morning and again this afternoon but when I realized it was crunch time and needed to get something finished so I could post, I pulled out the palette knife and worked to complete this little group of trees.  

Knife work carries it's own challenges so this was good for me along with the challenge of getting another painting completed for day 10. I love the blues and greens in this painting with the trees showing a touch of fall on the way.  On to day 11.  

Day 9

8x12 oil over acrylic /canvas panel, unnamed

About five years ago I taught a class full of eager painters at Callaway Gardens in Pine Mountain, Georgia on landscape composition.  We worked using acrylic paint and on this particular day the goal was to show aerial perspective by making the bushes and trees in the background lighter in color with less detail, and the foreground having  more detail. A simple goal with only two things to remember was just what all of us needed. Everyone in the class did a good job and went home with paintings they were proud to hang.  I, on the other hand, did not go home with a painting to hang, but instead stacked my demo painting with the others in my studio that I wanted to revisit one day.  

Today I pulled this painting out of the unfinished stack and worked for about two hours applying oil paint over the acrylic painting I had done as a class demo.  One thing to remember is that you can always put oil paint over acrylic but never the other way around.  This painting holds happy memories of that class and happy memories of Callaway Gardens that year. 

On to day 10 tomorrow morning; I'm liking this new schedule for me as it is certainly getting me back in the studio completing works and making a few new ones.  

Day 8

                                    5x8 oil on canvas panel  "The Earth is the Lords" 

I knew when I began this painting challenge that there would be days I would struggle to get painting time in and I knew that Sunday would be one of those days.  I have to be honest and tell you that I did not think I would be able to do a painting today since my day would consist of Sunday school, morning church and evening church plus family time.  Our service today and tonight really spoke to my heart telling me to spend time in prayer, to make sure that communication links were open to God who loves us and wants the best for us.  

I didn't make it to the studio until after 8 tonight.  By 8:48 I was done with this little painting but what a joy it was to paint, praying all along to God who holds this entire world and beyond in His hands.  I prayed for us all especially for the leaders of our country. Prayed as my hands worked from start to finish in less than 45 minutes.  Then I thanked God for loving me and helping me even with my painting and am in awe that He can care about the most silly things like this painting challenge.  So, with Gods help, on to day 9.   

Day 7

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                                         12x12 oil on panel  "My Baby" 

This morning I woke early to finish a painting that I had started last year from a photo reference from my friend Gayla Pryor Trice.  I did take lots of liberties but having this reference photo to work from really helped.  I still might go back in and tweek a few things but for now, this is done and I'll move on to day eight.  

Day 6

                                          6x6 oil on archival panel  untitled

What a fun morning!  I started painting some food and got hungry painting.  Big mistake, so I ate lunch early and went back out to the studio and painted a camellia.  Much better choice.  Time was short, so I'm glad I had some small panels ready to take up the challenge with me.

Also, it's always a surprise to me how my paintings look as thumbnails.  I think turning your painting upside down is a good way to check for spots that need extra help or editing, but thumbnails do it two.  This thumbnail shows lots of areas that need work, but it's on to day 7.

Day 5

                                12x16 art pastels on sanded paper  "Going Home" 

                                            Click the image to see a larger view

Yesterday afternoon I moved some things around in the studio trying my best to make more room.  It seems that the more I clean and throw out stuff, more stuff takes its place.  At any rate, I had a good time organizing several boxes of soft art pastels into color groups and from there into values shifts.  Then it was on to tackle paper after paper of works done with art pastels that just like the oils, I never finished.  

As I looked at the works, I found myself thinking that I really don't have one particular theme that my art work follows.  I'm pretty much open to paint anything and anywhere.  Still, landscape seems to be a favorite so I pulled this one out started many years ago and added some finishing touches playing with the grass and trees for about an hour.  It's now ready to be framed and that makes me feel really good.  

Looking forward to spending some more time in the studio this afternoon cleaning, organizing and thinking about what to paint next for day 6. 

Day 4

                                                     9x12 oil on canvas  Two with Two 

Today I picked up a canvas that had a quick sketch of two flowers in a vase that I had started back in 2011 and just never got back to it.  The image was there for inspiration but it just wasn't enough so I quickly set up a plate with a glass to help me a bit with the shapes and shadows.  Needless to say, I was quickly in ellipse hell and actually almost decided I needed to name this one "Ellipse Hell".   I still do not have them right but I'm moving on as I should and get ready for the next challenge day.  

I can only say that doing a challenge like this serves an artist well in several ways.  First it forces work!  Second it forces speed!  And, third it forces acceptance for the good and the bad.  I like it and tomorrow I'll keep going.  

Day 3

                                                         
                                             12x12 Oil on canvas - Gerber Ramble

The last of my Gerber daisies have gone and I'm left with memories and weeds.  Some weeds aren't so bad, but it seems with all the rain this year I have a bumper crop living among the flowers.

On this painting I am liking the blues and greens with a pop of  red Gerbers.  There may be some adjustments to come, but for now this is my painting for day three of the painting challenge.

Day 2

                                                           9x12 oil on canvas  - unnamed 

Again today I worked to finish a painting begun back in spring of 2011.  Somehow I feel I lost my way with this one, but getting this done did make me feel good.  I do like parts of this painting especially the thoughts of how this scene looked when I actually stood looking out over God's palette of colors and shapes that day.  I think this is the main reason I enjoy painting from life out doors.  After you paint what you see you not only have a record of that day in paint but you have the memory of that day, what the day was like, who you were with and what fun it was.  

Day 1

                                              9x12 oil on archival panel - no name as of yet.  

Several times today I thought about the painting challenge I had committed to do for the month of September.  September is such a transition month most of the time here in the south.  It is usually still very hot but you can tell the plants in the garden are growing weary of blooming. This year has been very unusual with lots of rain making for hot, humid and sticky days.  

I haven't found much painting time this past year.  Because of that, I have tons of paintings that started en plein air "outside" but never finished.  I'd like to try to get these paintings finished or at least make a dent in the pile of panels and stretched canvas so I don't feel guilty and at the same time use this challenge to keep me working.  

Here is the en plein air piece started Spring 2012 at Callaway Gardens and never finished.  I worked on this today and am calling this done.  The image is not a good representation of the actual colors used because I took this image inside after 9 pm so I could post to the blog but at least you see what I did today for DAY ONE OF THE 30 DAY CHALLENGE.