30 Paintings in 30 Days

Here they all are together!  Wow!  I love seeing them all together. 

It's hard to believe the challenge is over!  I have to thank Leslie Saeta for her daily motivation, and for creating this challenge.  I don't think I would do this challenge otherwise.  Besides forcing me to create a regular painting schedule, doing this challenge forces me to paint efficiently.  My aim is to get it right the first time so that I'm not wasting time making corrections on my painting, (pretty much like plein air painting).  It was a fun month, a lot of hard work and I'm ready to get on with whatever challenges and goals I have for this year!

Sandcastles

Sandcastles, 8x8 oil

Here is my final painting, #30!  This is a painting of my youngest daughter when she was about four years old. 

Looking through old photos of when my children were little made me wonder if I would be able to paint them, and do a half decent job, compared to painting from life.  Well I am pleased with the results!  It probably helps that I have done a lot of life drawing and people painting.  It would be hard to get a child to stay still for any length of time anyway, especially if it were on a beach!

I am happy to say the challenge is over.  I really have enjoyed this month; it got me back into a regular painting routine.  I am super happy with my paintings; a few need to be finished and some need to be photographed again, but they really look great!  Some of the paintings are sold and the rest will be hung in my studio.  Tomorrow I'll post a collage of all the paintings together.  There are a few larger canvases in my studio waiting for me to 'throw' some paint on them, and they won't be done in a day!!!

Joy

Joy, 8x8 oil

The title of this painting describes my feelings about this being my 29th painting of the month!  I went to the garden store today instead of the grocery store to pick up my subject matter.  I've been avoiding going there because I thought that when I walk in, I will have an overwhelming sense to want winter to be over.  Surprisingly enough, I didn't feel that way at all.  Today was such a beautiful sunny winter day, cold yes, (but I was prepared for that), and I had a skip in my step knowing that I will have this weekend free!!!  To make the day even better, I bought this plant and a really nice pot and it was practically free.  Apparently I had collected a lot of points and today was my lucky day!  I even signed up for some Saturday classes on various garden related topics.  Tomorrow will be my last painting for the challenge, and then I will be free!  Well not really, but I will then have the freedom to take more than a day to finish a painting.

Party Time! - Sold

Party Time!, 4x4 oil

Party Time! I will certainly be celebrating when this challenge is over!  Here is painting #26.  When I started out this challenge, I thought creating rules for myself will give me guidelines to help choose what to paint everyday.  It was a great idea!  It also forced me to paint things that sometimes I would avoid.  Today is candy day.  I've painted chocolates in foil and translucent gummi worms but today I'm painting lollipops just because I have them.  This has been a really fun challenge!  I will be looking forward to having next weekend off though. 

A Little Rain

A Little Rain, 8x10 oil

Painting 25, 'A Little Rain', is a painting of one of my daughters when she was just a little girl.  She was posing for me while I was drawing a sketch of her.  I'm glad I thought to take a photo, although I have altered and edited a few things for the painting.  I can definitely see this painting in a larger format.

For Rent - Sold

For Rent, 12x24 oil

For my 24th painting I decided to go a little whimsical.  Today is a landscape day, but there was no way I was going out to paint with -15 degrees, (Celsius) and the wind chill making it feel much colder.  I had one image in mind but as I was searching through my photos I found this one from a few years ago.  I believe it was day very similar to today.

Sunshine - Sold

Sunshine, 5x7 oil

Well I'm running a little late today, but here it is, still day 23!  I love Gerberas.  I love how fresh and perfect they are.  I actually changed the pot for a cup, but because of my lack of time today, didn't have time to paint the whole thing.  I'll have to save that for another painting.  As winter prevails, I am progressively being surrounded by flowers.  I have now completed 4 flower paintings; one more to go next week.  It's starting to feel a bit like spring, at least in my studio. 

Raspberry Red - Sold

Raspberry Red, 4x4 oil

Painting #22 I called 'Raspberry Red' although for the artists I should call it 'Permanent Rose, Cadmium Red'.  This painting can be disturbing, especially to moms of daughters out there.  I don't know how many items became stained with spilled nail polish in my house over the years!  :)

My fourth 'round glass' painting.  I have no idea what to paint as my last one next week.  There's always the wine glass or jar, but I'm trying to think on a smaller scale.  I find small items look great enlarged on a small canvas.  I would love to hear your ideas!

A Little Something Extra - Sold

A Little Something Extra, 5x7 oil

Well here is painting #21.  Nine more to go!  I can't believe the challenge will be over in nine days!  Some days, keeping up with this challenge is harder than other days, especially when there are other commitments to be taken care of, but I do love to paint!  Once I get started on a painting there is nothing else I would rather be doing.

The Getaway - Sold

The Getaway, 4x4 oil

Painting #20, gummi worms, an insane subject matter to paint.  The candy practically glows when light flows through it.  I thought it would be a nice little challenge, but it drove me mad!  Perhaps it's just my state of mind today; I don't know, (I never have liked Mondays).  I was pleasantly surprised when I saw the painting on the computer screen.  I think I will have to tackle a few more little paintings of translucent items, but not on a Monday! 

Shopping in Kensington - Sold

Shopping in Kensington, 12x12 oil

Painting #19! Wow that was fun!  It was nice to paint something a little larger. I'm going to leave this one for a bit before I decide if it's done.  I think there is still a bit to do on another day. 

I love Kensington Market in Toronto.  There is something for everyone there.  A couple of years ago I painted on location there, ('Army Surplus, 10x8 oil, below), as well as taking tons of photos.

A View From Above

A View from Above, 5x7 oil

'A View from Above', painting #18, is a view of Burlington and Lake Ontario from north Burlington.  Burlington slopes down to the lake from the Escarpment.  It was a beautiful afternoon yesterday, so I decided to head outdoors to paint.  The lake seemed to be glowing this gorgeous blue colour and the sun was shining, making the snow glitter.  I was glad to get out of my studio for a while, and I am also a day ahead in my paintings!

Below is a photo of my view, just as the sun was disappearing behind the clouds, (my painting is almost done). 



Mum's the Word - Sold

Mum's the Word, 7x5 oil

Here is my 17th painting!  I went to the grocery store to pick up a few items, and knowing that I had to paint flowers next, thought I would just pick up something there.  The problem was everything looked a little tired.  Maybe it's the wrong day of the week.  The only flowers that looked fresh and strong were the chrysanthemums of course.  They're always available and come in so many colours and varieties.  Better yet, I decided to pick up a potted 'mum'; then I can put it in my garden in the spring, (hopefully it'll survive until then).

Going Marbles - Sold

Going Marbles, 4x4 oil

Here is painting #16.  My personal challenge, for these 30 paintings, (besides getting back into a regular working schedule in my studio), is to stick to a general list of subject matter for every six paintings.  My list goes something like this:  portraits, candy, household items with food, round glass items, flowers and landscape.  The interpretation is fairly loose, but it keeps me exercising my painting and observation skills.  Now I just have to find time to get to the gym to exercise everything else!

Tearless

Tearless, 6x12 oil

Finally it's the halfway point of the 30 day challenge!  Here is painting #15.  What a great invention, a tearless onion chopper.  The label, (or what's left of it), says it can chop all sorts of different vegetables and foods, such as nuts, and ... liver?  Hmmm.  This is another item in my treasure chest of old kitchen items.  

One at a Time

One at a Time, 4x4 oil

Painting #14 I had to open this box of Ferrero Rocher chocolates, just for this painting.  I've had it hidden in the back of our 'candy drawer' because I know that once it's opened they will go fast, (not all by me)!  Think I should go to the gym ;)

Washing Up - Sold

Washing Up, 8x8 oil

Painting #13, is a study for a larger painting that I'd like to do.  I have a few gems from the Royal Winter Fair.  The nice thing about working from photos is that I can edit what I put in my painting and move things around as I please.

By the time this month is over, I will have a long list of larger paintings that I would like to do.  The problem will be deciding what to do first.

Clear Idea - Sold

Clear Idea, 4x4 oil

Painting #10 is here.  I love the look of clear light bulbs when they're turned on as well as when they're off, but soon they'll be a thing of the past.  A good thing when it comes to saving energy, but I will miss their warm glow, (not the hydro bill they come with). 

Looks like I'm getting behind here!  I'm trying to get too much done in a day.  I picked up a few more 4x4 canvases today, so hopefully I'll be able to get back on track.

A Dose of Calm - Sold

A Dose of Calm, 7x5

Here is painting #9.  This morning while sitting at the table drinking my tea, I was thinking about what to paint today.  I always feel so peaceful at this time of day.  I knew that I'll be busy for the rest of the day and I wanted to capture that feeling of quiet calmness.  I couldn't quite finish the painting before I had to leave.  I probably had about another 30 minutes of painting time left to do, but alas here it is, finished, and on the 9th day still.

100g of Sweetness - Sold

100g of Sweetness, 6x6 oil

Painting #8 is finally here.  It is yet another holiday 'leftover'!  I am amazed how many sweet things there are during the festive season.  It's not too obvious when there are people around all the time, but wow, when everyone is back into their regular schedules then I look around and wonder where it all came from!  Well I guess I'll have to blame Santa!

A Moment Alone - Sold

A Moment Alone, 8x8 oil, (not complete)

Day 7 and painting #7.  Last fall I went to the Royal Winter Agricultural Fair, in Toronto, with my friend, (the one in the painting).  This horse, also a friend of hers, was in a few competitions.  I am not a horse person.  I really know nothing about them.  Sitting there watching the competitions with the riders and these magnificent beasts is pleasure enough for me.  Sitting there with my good friend and getting a play by play of what was happening and why was like entering a whole new world.  What a pleasure! 
There are a few small things need to be done in this painting, but I will get to it another day...

Below is the completed painting:

A Moment Alone, 8x8 oil

The Queen's Head - Sold

The Queen's Head, 10x8 oil

Here is painting #6.  Last November I started this painting outside of 'The Queen's Head', downtown Burlington.  You can't tell, but it was a very cold day.  I had to finish it at home.  I've always had intensions of adding people to the painting so I did that today.  Now I think the painting is complete!

January Bloom - Sold

January Bloom, 4x4 oil

Painting #5 is a pink Geranium.  Last fall I brought a bunch of potted plants inside the house, to see if they would survive through the winter.  I've tried this before, but the air is so dry in the winter you really have to be checking the plants daily to see if they need water.  By Christmas time they are usually long forgotten and barely alive.  Well somehow my Geranium has survived with lush green leaves and is actually in bloom, (just a few flowers).  What a pleasant surprise! 

The Ornament - Sold

The Ornament, 4x4 oil

Today was the day to de-Christmas the house.  The tree has been dropping needles at an ever increasing speed, and the ends of it's branches have started to curl.  I guess all good things must come to an end eventually, sigh.  Before I knew it, half the day had gone by and I had not even thought about what to paint today.  What an obvious choice to make but to celebrate Christmas past with a painting of an ornament, (or three).

A Big Kiss - Sold

A Big Kiss, 4x4 oil

January 2nd and here is painting #2.  It may be a small canvas, but the 'kiss' is larger than life!  So the holiday festivities are over now and we have all sorts of goodies left over.  What better thing to do but to paint them ... that is before they get chopped up and thrown into banana bread and other baked goods. 

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year 2014!  The beginning of a new year is so exciting and full of best intentions.  What will this year bring?  Some things are out of our control of course, but creating goals and working hard to achieve them gives us at least a direction and path to follow. 

Starting the year off with a painting a day helps me to get back into a regular painting schedule, forcing me to think about what direction I want to take with my art.  I am posting this painting as my first of 30.  It's a portrait of my niece's daughter and was a painted as a Christmas gift in December.

Last Day of 2013

 



It's hard to believe it really is the last day of 2013!  As an artist I have grown so much this year, and have sold more paintings than ever.  The painting above, Country Crows has never left my house, and has been seen during one studio tour, (and on my website), and is now my last painting to be sold this year.  2013 has been a wonderful year!  Thank you for stopping by, and for all your wonderful comments and support! 

I will be starting 2014 off with another '30 in 30 Challenge'.   Yes, that's 30 paintings in 30 days!  Leslie Saeta is challenging as many artists as possible to do this challenge.  You can find a link to her blog on this page.  Yikes, I can't believe I'm saying this, but I am really looking forward to getting back into my studio and doing this challenge!  I will be 'cheating' a little bit, since I have my first painting already done, in fact, it was a Christmas present that I couldn't post before it was received.

Have a wonderful New Year's Eve and I'll see you in 2014!

Happy New Year!

Christmas Cards

                                    

Something new for me this year! I selected a few of my paintings and had them printed into Christmas cards. For the past few years I've been creating a painting for a Christmas card but have just been printing them myself for family and friends. Now I have a whole bunch!  I'm so pleased with the way they turned out! 

Christmas Skates - Sold

Christmas Skates, 12x24 oil

I am thrilled to say that this painting was accepted into the Burlington Art Centre's juried show! I posted it last December, one of my first postings on this blog.  I had barely managed to get it done in time for Christmas last year.  I'm way ahead of the game this year, since I have decided to use my painting "Tangled Christmas" as this year's Christmas card, yay!  If you happen to be in Burlington within the next couple of weeks, you'll find this painting in the Perry Gallery, at the Burlington Art Centre.

Tangled Christmas - Sold

Tangled Christmas, oil 6x12

This past weekend was the big Christmas show at the Burlington Art Centre.  It was a huge display of all the work from the guilds.  I was volunteering all day Sunday, doing my painting demonstration and then helping out with sales in the Lee Chin Gallery.  The evening before I had to decide what to paint, and with Christmas on my mind, I started pulling out various items from our ever growing accumulation of decorations.  One of my favourite is a string of hand painted wooden bobbles.  It was in a tangled mess!  After spending half an hour trying to untangle them I hung them on a nail in the wall and continued going through the boxes looking for inspiration.  Pausing to make a tea, I glanced over at the mess of bobbles and saw my next painting!  The painting to the right (or above), a photo of the point at which I had to stop my demo.  I think I was quite productive considering I spent a good deal of my time chatting with people.  Below is the finished piece.  I wonder if I'll be able to get it untangled in time to decorate the house for Christmas, hmmm.




Apples

Recently I had a friend come to visit from the other side of the country.  We've been good friends since college, but our lives went in different directions.  We don't get to see each other very often, but when we do it's like no time has passed.  When she was here, she asked me to teach her to paint, (she hasn't painted in years).  I really had to think about how I would do this since I have never taught before.  Breaking down the process and making sure I didn't skip over key parts.  I made sure I picked a subject that I knew well, and was at ease with, (yes, apples).  My demonstration was the painting above.  I painted step by step and she followed, asking questions as we went along.  It was a learning process for me as well as for her, but we were both pleased with the results. 

A Big Hat to Fill - Sold

What? We've barely reached the middle of November and here I am posting a 'SANTA Sock Monkey'! A little reminder of what's to come.  I usually have a hard time thinking of Christmas so early, but I had to paint a little painting, (a Christmas ornament), as the entrance fee for the upcoming guild Christmas Show for the Burlington Art Centre.  I will have two paintings in the Lee Chin Gallery, as well as one painting in the juried show in the Perry Gallery.  A very exciting weekend coming up!  It runs from November 14-17.  I'll be volunteering there all day Sunday, doing a painting demonstration in the morning then helping in the Lee Chin Gallery in the afternoon.  The other day I stopped in the store at the Art Centre and saw some of my paintings on display there as well. This is very exciting for me having my art out there for the public to see in so many places!

Daylight Savings

Daylight Savings, 8x8 oil

On Monday this week, I went out to paint at Princess Point in Hamilton.  It's such a beautiful spot.  I've never followed the trail all the way to the end since every time I go there I'm lugging my painting gear with me, but I will have to do the hike some time without my stuff.  Last weekend was daylight savings, so we gained an hour of daylight in the morning and lost and hour in the evening.  Painting in the afternoon turns into late afternoon when the sun is lower in the sky.  The colours are richer at that time of day, but change quickly. As I was painting, the scene was becoming more and more dramatic.  I wonder how many more times I can get out to paint before all the colourful leaves are gone.  Some of the trees are already starting to look bare.

Studio Tour 2013

I hope you made it out for the studio tour last weekend.  Unfortunately I didn't have a chance to talk to everyone who came to visit, at times I was squished in the corner! The rain on Saturday didn't seem to affect the attendance. Sunday was a beautiful, but cold day.  We also had two volunteers in the studio helping out, which was great!  Among other things, their main task was to take photos and count the number of visitors.  By the end of the day Sunday, we had close to 300 visitors for the weekend.  Thank you for visiting! 

It's been a busy time, these last few weeks.  I entered a painting into the Burlington Fine Arts Guild annual juried show and got in!  It was the painting I did last year for my Christmas card, called 'Christmas Skates'.  Which reminds me, I better get started on the painting for this years Christmas card.  I also was asked by Art Etc., the store at the Burlington Art Centre, if I'd like to submit some work.  I now have 11 pieces of art there.

Tomorrow I will be posting my plein air painting for this week, (trying to get back into a schedule again).  It's surprising how much preparation and time the tour takes, wow.

Day at the Beach - Sold

Day at the Beach, 10x8 oil

Ooops! Three weeks into October and I'm posting my first painting for the month.  Time sure does fly.  It seems odd painting a beach scene in October, but I love painting this little guy.  Hopefully I'll be able to get some winter scenes with him as well.  I have been incredibly busy catching up with everything I had missed doing in September.  There are also a couple of unfinished paintings on the way.
Wow! with all the paintings I did last month, I am more than ready for the Burlington Studio Tour coming up.  All the canvases now have painted edges and wires on the backs, yay! I still have to put frames on some of the plein air panels though, (among other things still on my 'to do' list). 

September Paintings 2013

October 1, 2013.  It's nice to begin a new month, especially when I can look back at such a busy month as September.  Here is a collage of all my hard work! The paintings are almost in proper proportion to each other except for one 8x8 painting, (if it was 12x6 it would have been a perfect fit).

This month brings different challenges, like doing a radio spot for the Burlington Studio Tour, and choosing paintings to bring into the Burlington Art Centre Store (Art Etc).  This is a first for me, so I hope I choose well.  Of course I also have to get ready for the studio tour, which is held during the first weekend in November.  You can find info about the tour at www.artinaction.ca. 

Gone Astray - Sold

Gone Astray, 6x12 oil

Day 30 of 30!  Finally the last day, last painting of the 30 in 30 challenge.  I can't believe how happy I am that this month is over.  I'm extremely happy with all of my paintings and also glad that I was able to keep up with getting a painting done everyday, (sometimes just barely). I love the progression from one painting to the next, and the thought process that went with each painting.  Sometimes I would start off thinking of an idea for a painting, but would end up being something completely different. 
Thank you for watching my blog and leaving your comments.  You're welcome to join my blog so you don't miss my postings of paintings in the future.  I'll try to post regularly, but definitely not every day at least until the next challenge, (what? did I really just say that?).  If I do another challenge, it will be a long time from now.  It'll be when I've forgotten how tough it is to do.

Sweet Tooth - Sold

Sweet Tooth, 6x6 oil

Painting #29!!!  I can't believe this is really the second last painting of the challenge.  I have a lot of catching up to do around my house and studio, what a mess...but first one more painting to go. 

Candy Apples - Sold

Candy Apples, 12x12 oil,

Day 28, yes, more apples. This will be the last painting with apples in it, at least for a little while, (although, they are fun to paint).  I would have posted this a lot earlier today, but being Saturday I had a bunch of things to do today like sleeping in, and relaxing over a leisure breakfast/lunch (I guess that would be brunch), and coffee.  I love the weekends!  Of course there are a lot of things that need doing when the weekend rolls around, but usually there's no rush!

The Line-up - Sold

The Line-up, 12x6 oil, (on cradled hardboard),

Painting #27, yes apples again!  Each apple has it's own personality, it's hard to believe it's the same fruit sometimes.  When it's covered in a hard red candy it is a completely different fruit.  Makes me think of fall fairs and Hallowe'en, yay!
Wow!  I will have 30 new paintings by the end of this challenge, (minus the 3 that are already sold).  Good thing the studio tour is coming up soon!  I'm running out of space!!!

Making the Cut - Sold

Making the Cut, 8x8 oil

Day 26, down to the last five paintings! This challenge didn't feel like much of a challenge in the first two weeks.  Being forced to do what I love every day, not a problem, or so I thought. By the 17th or 18th day I was starting to think that I could really use at least a day away from my studio, not painting, (even plein air!) Well I guess you can figure out how I'm feeling now. 

On the positive side, this is an excellent challenge because it forces me to think about what I'm painting next (all the time), especially since I've been carrying something from the last painting into the next. I added that as a personal challenge to the painting a day challenge. In fact I find that the most fun part of the challenge!
This was a challenge by a California artist Leslie Saeta. I've been posting my paintings on her blog every day, as well as over 200 artists from around the world. I love seeing all the paintings and getting comments from people who are looking at my paintings, here and on facebook, thank you.
Four more to go!

The Apple Orchard

The Apple Orchard, 8x8 oil

Painting #25, I took a drive out to a vineyard, only to find myself painting the apple trees. It's such a pretty sight to see the bright fruit weighing down the branches of the trees, with such abundance that they are all over the ground as well. This orchard seemed to be a private orchard on the grounds of the vineyard, so I didn't sample the goods.  I think I'm going to go apple picking soon though. When I was a child, my family would make the trek out to the 'country' to pick our own apples. It was always a lot of fun, and we came home with apple filled bellies, and more apples than we knew what to do with.

Studying an Apple - Sold

Studying an Apple, 8x8 oil

Day 24, doing my homework! A study of an apple. Apples are everywhere suddenly. I love making apple pies and crumbles! Finding the right apple is the key though. My favourite for cooking are Spys. They taste wonderful when baked and hold their shape well. They're usually one of the last apples of the season, but are worth the wait.

Gifted - Sold

Painting #23!!! Seven more to go! This little monkey looks like he's had lots of fun. 

Gifted, 8x8 oil

Wow, this painting took me a little longer than I thought it would have.  There's a surprising amount of detail packing into such a small space, but it was certainly fun to paint!

Something Special

Something Special, 8x8 oil

Well, here's painting #22.  September is certainly a month of birthdays.  Just off the top of my head I can think of five people that have their birthday in September.  If you're one of them, Happy Birthday to you! 
It's getting near to the end of the 30 day challenge.  I have to say, it's been tough going over the last few days.  Trying to fit a painting in every day and carry on with everything else as well isn't easy.  I won't be sad when this month is over, but it is good to have a little push like this every once in a while.

Smartie Pants - Sold

Smartie Pants, 6x6 oil

Day 21, and counting.  These guys have been hanging around, (literally), waiting to get into one of my paintings, so I relented and allowed them to have a painting all to themselves, (except for the Smarties of course).  This painting will sit nicely beside the last two paintings.  I will have to reshoot the photo I see, but not today.