30 PAINTINGS IN 30 DAYS

This has been another wonderful month of exploration in my painting world.  Thank you, Leslie Saeta, for hosting another event!  It has pushed us farther than we would have gone alone!  My blog has been viewed over 4,000 times since I started in September from thirteen different countries!  I can't believe people from Norway, France, Russia, Germany, Sweden, Canada, United Kingdom, Brazil, Finland, Poland, Turkey, Ireland, and the U.S.A. have viewed my work.  That is such an honor!
I am so grateful to all the friends and family who have followed along and encouraged me along the way!  Your love and friendship mean the world to me!
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Sand Dunes ...an Ode to JoAnn

The sand dunes and the beaches hold a special place in most of our hearts.  They are a place for fun, sun and rest with family and friends.
I have been blessed in my life to have many strong women, Grandmothers, Mother, Aunts, sisters, daughters, cousins and friends.  One lady who is very special to me is JoAnn Williams Walker.  She has taught me so many things in life as well as how to paint.  She never gave up on me even after I had a stroke and thought I would never paint again.  I couldn't remember what mediums to use or how to paint. I had to go to therapy to be able to hold things in my right hand and to strengthen my right leg.  I hadn't been able to drive for months, mostly because I was afraid I wouldn't remember how to get back home.  JoAnn called and said bring your stuff and get over here (to Panama City Beach).  I have told her many times she literally pulled me by my hair.  She knew I had the desire to paint and although my memory had been smashed, she knew the desire was still there.  There is not a day that goes by that I don't thank God for her and her friendship.  This little beach scene is a copy of one of her paintings.  When I look at it, I think of how I love the beach and the fun but most of all I think of a friend who wouldn't leave me behind!

On the Hill

This is another experiment with the alcohol inks.  I am going to play around with this medium more when I have more time.  The results are magical.
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Tamara's Cafe

This painting was started on the last day of the workshop in Apalachicola and finished today.  The scene is a little cafe that serves very good food.  I ate my lunch quickly and set up to paint.  The models were other students and our instructor who were eating outside.

There was an "issue" when I was painting on the sidewalk looking across the street at the cafe.  I was standing in the shade to keep the sun off my palette.  It was quite chilly.  I had on a vest and a jacket.  A man and his dog came along.  The man was on the phone and the dog came up to me for me to pet him.  He was a beautiful English Spaniel.  I gave him a few pats and continued painting.  The next thing I knew, the man started screaming at the dog.  He scared the daylights out of me!  When I turned around to see what in the heck he was screaming about, I saw a puddle by my left leg.  The dog had raised his leg and peed on me!  (I googled why a dog pees on people when I got home, apparently he liked that I gave him a pat and he was marking his territory!  I should be honored.)  Needless to say, I had a hard time settling back down and concentrating.  I kept an eye on every other dog that came by because I was afraid they would try to cover that scent!  So you can see why I had to finish the painting at home!

Camellias

Even when the weather gets in the 30s, these little jewels of the South keep on blooming.  They  have many different colored blooms including white, coral, pink and red.  Some have variegated petals that look like peppermint candy.  They have thick, waxy-like leaves.  Most people cut them with short stems and put them in tiny little vases or float them in a dish.  Most older homesteads  have at least one in their yard. I have a cousin who has over 300 of all different colors in his yard and many are over 10 feet tall.  It is delightful to visit there when most other blooming things have disappeared!
Natalia Andreeva brought these to class for us to paint.  The exercise was to mix the different colors before we started painting.
I love painting flowers!

Cafe in Paris

This study was done on Day 3 of the workshop. It was done from a photograph of a Cafe in Paris.  I wanted to capture the relaxed atmosphere of the people sipping their coffee while the girl rushes off to work.  And, of course, I loved the red awning!
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Spring's Series #4

I have enjoyed doing the Spring's Series so much.  As I told you in previous posts, these remind of the clear waters of our natural springs that lead to deep caves amongst the rocks.  They have opened my world to the magic of alcohol inks.  I will definitely continue to explore this medium!
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People 2

This is the second exercise of the workshop.  This one was about making shapes or gestures that would represent people.  These were from our imagination.  We had about an hour to do this.
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People

Today was the first day of our workshop with Michele Byrne on putting people in the landscape in Apalachicola, Florida.  It was pouring rain outside so we didn't have many models who would venture outside.  We stayed in and painted from pictures.  This was my first try at it.  It was an exercise on the people so I didn't pay much attention to the rest of the composition.
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Palm Tree

I am a native of Florida and love living here.  Palm trees have a way of dancing in the wind.  You can hear their fronds rustling away.  This was painted with brushes and palette knives.  I hope it reminds you of the cool ocean breeze on your face as the sunshine wraps it's arms around you.  As for me, I am headed to the beach! Literally, I have a workshop in Appalachicola starting this afternoon.  ( I also painted this in October...but I don't consider packing for a workshop sloughing off, so here it is!)
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Red Tulip

Today was another very busy day.  I spent all morning organizing supplies for my upcoming workshop.  My headlight was out on my car and had to be repaired.  Even though we love painting, real life gets in the way sometimes.  Just because we don't pick up a brush, doesn't mean we are not in the paint.
This red tulip was also painted in October.  I am glad to have an opportunity to share it.                  
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Old Boat

Today I had an art class with Natalia Andreeva at LeMoyne Art Center in Tallahassee.  She is a Russian artist that teaches their traditional method.  She is an award-winning artist and an amazing teacher!  We are so blessed to have her in this area!  On the way home, I was thinking about how it reminded me of when I took a sewing class. That teacher's motto was, "As you sew, so shall you rip (it out)!  Natalia's motto could be "As you  paint, so shall you scrape (it off)!  Therefore, I have nothing to post of my 3 hours of painting today. So I am taking the liberty to show a painting I did in October, after the last 30 paintings  in 30 days study.  This painting is 40 inches by 30 inches.  I wish it was a better photograph so you could see the play of warms verses cools, even in the shadows.
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Sunrise

Today was a holiday here so my husband was home.  I needed a quick project so I decided to try to get a sun with the alcohol inks.  I like the way the light radiates over the edges.
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Springs Series 3

This is another painting in the Spring Series.  I am having so much fun with the alcohol inks!  If you haven't tried them, you need to.  This looks like you are looking down in the clear water springs that goes into the caves.
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Daises

Today I wanted to work on cool blues verses warm yellows.  I also added some cool grays.  Watercolors are a very interesting medium. I love illusive quality of them.  You could push this to abstract very easily.
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Rooster 3

Most of us that grew up on a farm have a special place in our hearts for Roosters!  I love to wake up and hear one crowing.  It is like he is saying , "Time to get up, a new day awaits!"
I wanted to try this Rooster in the analagous  colors of red, orange and a few touches of yellow. I kept the colors very saturated with pigment.  I grayed the body so the emphasis would be on the head and the comb.
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Coming in for the night

As most of us know, sheep need a Shepherd!  They have to be brought in at night to keep them safe.  These are coming in out of the dark to the barn.  I love the looks on their little faces.
This watercolor is using dominant cool blues with subordinate warm oranges.
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Spruce Trees

As most of you have probably realized this month is more about color combinations than anything else.  This little watercolor study is about using warms verses cools using the complimentary colors of yellow and violet.
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Field of Irises

I am still working on color combinations.  My goal was to be loose and enjoy the merging of the colors. I think flowers are just magical.  They are my favorite thing to paint!
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Far Away

Today it has been raining and cloudy all day in North Florida.  There aren't many days we don't see sunshine but today was one of them.  To add insult to injury, my Mother and I both had Doctors appointments in a town over an hour away.  I am so tired after driving in the rain.  I am going to make a pot of decaf coffee and dream of pleasant things far away.
This is one of the little pieces I did when I was playing with the alcohol inks.  I do not feel guilty at all posting it today because it was done within the 30 days...just not this day. Cheers! And pleasant dreams!

Springs Series # 2

This is the second alcohol ink painting done in my Sunday Springs Series.  When I was growing up, the springs were our reward for a long days work.  Our Daddy would drive us to the springs and we would all jump in, so happy to escape the day's heat. The spring water is cool and clear year round.  I hope you feel the invigorating freshness as you view this.
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Sun's Up

I am still  working on color compositions.  Trying to think of shapes and values, not things. I love these colors together.
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Thank God it is Friday!

Today, I decided to do some color combinations.  I tried not to think about what I was painting but rather focus on shapes and colors.  I gave myself 30 minutes a painting.  They are only 4 in. x 4in. so that wasn't hard. I wanted to post this one because she fit the day so well.  Some days you just want to throw up your hands and say, "Thank God, it is Friday!"
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The Flowered Pitcher

Day 8

I thought I would set up an easy little still life for this painting.  I am not sure what happened after that.  The shapes, the values and the colors just didn't work.  After I walked away for awhile, I decided it was "just a canvas" and it was not in charge!  I came back and had a little talk with it.   I  corrected some of the shapes, values, and colors and now it reads like it should.  Some days just go easier than others.
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Reds 3

I wanted to try something different with this painting.  I have seen where people put 2 panels together and paint on both so they can be hung together.  I am only using small panels but I wanted to test to see how it would work. I would like to use large canvases with this concept.  This is a great experiment and I may be on to something!

This is what it looked like with all three of them together.  The alcohol ink one is on the left.  The 2 on the right are oils.  I would also like to share with you my panel holder.  I saw something like it on Dreama Tolle Perry's site.  It is simply a clipboard with a ruler cut the same width as the clipboard.  The alligator clips hold the ruler in place and you can snug the panels in between pushing the ruler up until the panel doesn't move.  I layed different size panels on the clipboard and drew around them in black marker.  That makes it easier to line them up when I get ready to paint.  Most of my easels accommodate this and I can get to all edges of the panel. I love mine.
You might also have noticed the  black panel behind the paintings.  I made this from a black poster board.  I measured one inch increments and marked it with a silver marker.  I use it behind my paintings to help get the photo straight.  I think I need to hold the camera straight also!  (I did not say it was perfect...LOL!
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Red 2

I used the alcohol ink ideas to see what effects I could get with oil paint.  I have more investigating to do to see how to transfer into the oil medium.
I would also love to find a magic way to photograph reds so they don't look like one big mass. Drives me crazy!  If anyone has an answer , please leave a comment below or message me!
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Reds

Those of you who know me well knew what was coming next.  I had to try the reds.  I love these inks!  They make my heart sing!  They are not for control freaks because there isn't much control.  You can gently manipulate them but do not think you are going to be in charge.  That is just what I was looking for! Wait till you see what is coming next!
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Springs series

I really don't like to work on Sundays.  Since I consider my painting work, I have a hard time trying to think about what to paint.  I decided it was time to try alcohol inks. Since I have never used them, it will be like play. They have a mind of their own so it will keep me loose.

I grew up in North Florida where there are many natural water springs that bubble up out of the ground.  They are usually very cold, deep, clear water.  They are connected by caves where divers come from all over the world to explore.  They have always fascinated me.  I am very excited to show you the beginnings of a new series.

This is the first painting in what I am going to call my "Sunday Springs series".  It reminds me of standing on the rocks on the side of the springs with the water bubbling up all around.  I hope you can feel the excitement as I do!  I stand in awe of the things the Lord has made!  Have a blessed day!

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An apple a day

As the saying goes, an apple a day keeps the Doctor away.  This was another fun little piece to do keeping in mind my goal...keep it loose!
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Ode to Alice

One of my many goals for 2015 is to "loosen up" my paintings.  I want to describe things in a more poetic, expressive way.  I want movement, joy and  color to define what I am doing.  I started painting in the decorative art world and everything had crisp, clean edges.  It has been a struggle for me to overcome this look.  I am determined to do that this year.
Last January, Alice Williams came from Italy to teach a workshop at Corse Gallery in Jacksonville.  I loved her expressive brushstrokes, strong color and composition.  One of the things she told us was, "Look at your still life from different angles. You don't want yours to look like everyone else's in the gallery." Great advice, Alice! I am going to revisit those thoughts this year!
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Happy New Year!  Thank you for joining me for another painting challenge by Leslie Saeta, 30 paintings in 30 days!
It is always a challenge to think about what would be appropriate to paint in a small format.  Driving around the countryside, I noticed this little church.  The light was hitting the right side of it as it sat quietly on a small hill.  I decided it would be a perfect scene to start the New Year.  It allowed me some quiet time to thank the Lord for His many blessings on me.  The flag out front swaying in the breeze represents all the people who have fought for our freedoms.  I thought about how blessed I was to raised in a community of people who loved each other, our country and the Lord!
Thank you for joining me along this journey to becoming a better painter! Please feel free to leave comments and do come again.
I pray that each of you have health, joy and happiness in 2015!
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