Thirty paintings in thirty days! I wasn't sure I could do it. I wanted to complete the challenge and get a blog started. I would have never done the blog without a major push!
Some of my artists friends have asked me what I got from doing this. I would like to share with you some of the positive things about the challenge. If you are an artist, I would like to encourage you to join us in January for another challenge. (Make sure you get your blog up and running before January if you would like to keep hair on your head!)
1. I have had almost 2000 page views from 12 different countries in 30 days. (Germany, United Kingdom, France, Poland, Canada, Russia, Sweden, Spain, Ireland, Turkey, Italy and the United States!) That alone is unbelievable!
2. I have learned something every day. Some days it was something small. Some days it was something I was doing wrong. But as the month went on, I became more aware of lighting, composition, values, edges, lines, and color harmony.
3. I learned I don't want to paint things unless I have a very good understanding of them. If it is a person or an animal, I want to know it. I want to study the eyes and understand how they are lit. I want to know the personality of it. If it is a flower or a field, I want to know how it feels and smells. If it is clouds, I want to know where the sun is and what the weather is.
4. I became more aware of my equipment and how it would function. I knew exactly what would happen when I touched that brush or palette knife to the canvas or panel.
5. I learned if I prepared what I would paint the night before when the lighting wasn't the best, I wouldn't waste precious time in the morning with good light.
6. I was able to tell the Director of a gallery to look up my blog and view my work which gave it a more professional presentation. I was juried into their Holiday show.
7. I learned I had some very good friends and family that would support me and encourage me! Many of you wanted to purchase the paintings.
8. I believe that God gave me a deep desire to do what I am doing and share it with others.
If you have a desire to do something, whether it be painting or something else, try it everyday for 30 days. You will learn so much about yourself and your topic!
I would like to thank Leslie Saeta for hosting this challenge! I will plan ahead for January!
