This is the last full week of the 30 paintings in 30 days challenge and I’ve decided to paint a few from  “The Grand’s Toy Basket”. I’ve collected a some of their favorite toys through the years and kept them in a basket in the closet intending to paint them someday. Someday has arrived.  Here is the basket full of some of their favorite toys.

Of course, they have all outgrown them, but fond memories still linger for the Grandparents. …..David and me.

Painting #22

“Tugboat and Crew” 8″ x 8″ acrylic on museum quality panel

Painting #23

“I Can’t Swim” 8″ x 8″ acrylic on museum quality panel

These two rubber duckies spend their days on the side of the bathtub in our hall bath…except when a cat comes in and knocks them into the tub then stares at them. The cats seem to think they should be IN the bathtub, not on the edge.

I have to share my studio window. At least this time they didn’t argue over who got there first. Tomboy is on the left watching squirrels with Abby Cat.

Painting #24

“Polka Dot Bear” 8″ x 8″ acrylic on museum quality panel

I wanted the bear to be pink with polka dots….after all…it’s my choice……I’m the artist!

The new owner of my painting, “Meet Me At The Cafe” texted this photo to me. It looks happy in its new home…a lovely beach house on the Gulf.

Painting #25

“And You’re Invited” 8″ x 8″ Acrylic on museum quality panel.

Painting #26

“Double Duty” 8″ x 8″ acrylic on museum quality panel.

My theme for the rest of this week is “Favorite Things Around The House”. I had photographed the watering can and flowers  soon after receiving them. The beautiful bouquet was a gift, but our Abby Cat thought they were for her.  I put them in the old watering can and placed it on the patio table.

Painting #27

“Painted Sticks” 10″ x 8″ acrylic on canvas panel.

My style seems to be getting more playful and abstract as the Challenge goes on. I actually have a pot with these sticks in it……I collected them on our green belt while taking a walk. Of course, they were not this color at the time.  This is my imagination taking over.

Painting #28

“Art Show Treasure” 8″ x 8″ acrylic on museum quality panel

I purchased this beautiful bowl at an art show several years ago and it became a favorite coffee table art object…..until Tomboy Cat came into our family. He is a playful, active, and very nosy little creature and knocked it off the coffee table very quickly. It didn’t break and is now safely on a high bookcase shelf. Is it really safe from Tomboy?

THESE SEVEN PAINTINGS COMPLETE  WEEK FOUR OF THE CHALLENGE, BUT THERE ARE STILL TWO MORE DAYS OF SEPTEMBER .

WITH ONLY TWO PAINTINGS TO SHOW NEXT WEEK, MY BLOG WILL NOT BE  LONG….UNLESS I DECIDE TO KEEP PAINTING ONE-A-DAY!

I DON’T THINK SO..AT LEAST, NOT FOR A WHILE.

Meanwhile, have a good week. To purchase a painting  please visit my website, http://www.artbyadelebower.com. These paintings may be seen on the “30-30 Challenge” tab.

Okay, go ahead and laugh. David said I would eventually “Publish” my blog when it was unfinished. I didn’t believe him. Now I do. His Personality type is almost always right.

Tomorrow there is NO time to do a painting so today I did two. Do you think that might have something to do with my little mistake?  I’m so tired  I think I’m getting more playful with my art during this Challenge. Maybe a good thing…it sure is more fun.

Anyway, here is………

Painting #21

“Meet Me At the Cafe”

I didn’t get to say everything I wanted to say about what Week Three has been like. (Of course, I never get to say all I want to say about ANYTHING.) So, I decided to put in a “selfie” photo I just took with my iPhone. It tells the whole story.

Adele Bower….as she just completed Week Three of the 30 Paintings in 30 Days Challenge!

Now I must go back and do things as I should have done them before. But “YAY”, Week Three is complete.

Please visit my website, http://www.artbyadelebower.com.

HAVE A GREAT WEEK!

A BUSY WEEK AHEAD!

Sunday, as I looked forward to this coming week I couldn’t help but wonder how I would get everything done AND keep my commitment to do a painting each and every day.  But I’ve having so much fun and discovering new things about acrylics, procedure and myself. What a blessing!

Painting #15

“Never Too Many” 6″ x 6″ Acrylic on museum quality panel.

Painting #16 in progress.

I started by painting the entire surface a light pink. BIG mistake! Never again.

It was a constant struggle to overcome the force of the color as it changed the other colors painted over it.

#16- “Mediterranean Memories” 10″ x 8″ Acrylic on museum quality panel

(Completed!)

Painting #17

“Old Ruins at Rhodes” 6″ x 6″ Acrylic on museum quality panel

Painting #18

“Library Path” 10″ x 8″ Acrylic on museum quality panel

Painting #19

“Fresh Fruit” 6″ x 6″ Acrylic on museum quality panel.

Painting #20

“Ioannina Garden” 6″ x 6″ acrylic on museum quality panel

Now to start a brand new week of paintings…..one each day!

I’ll admit that it was a lot of work to complete seven paintings in seven days last week, especially since I had to catch-up due to a 3-day trip to San Antonio to see our youngest Grandson who attends college there. I had to paint two paintings in one day. But did I mention that, already?

Having my theme established, “Vacationing in the Greek Isles”, helped me plan for this week…well, at least the first painting of the week!  I spent yesterday afternoon going through the wonderful photographs our Granddaughter took while she and her husband were in Greece this past summer. Then I did what any commercially trained and experienced artist (like me, for instance), would do; I cut and pasted, added part of one photo to another photo, added bright ideas and so on until I had a composition I liked.

  Now I’m ready for the sketch. By the way, for acrylic paintings I do my prelim sketches on the panel with a CarbOthello pastel pencil, probably about a #4 or #5. It’s so old I can’t read the number on the side. The lines do not interfere with the paint and are easily removed with a damp tissue on the painting surface. I learned that tip from my many workshops studying with THE MASTER OF ACRYLICS, William Hook. And much, much more.

Frequently I’ve been heard to say, “I don’t like to draw/paint architectural subjects, just people, still life arrangements or landscapes”.  Yikes!

Oh yes, there are interesting architectural scenes in Rhodes, of course.  It won’t hurt me.

Painting #8

“Must Be Lunch Time-Lindos, Rhodes” 10″ x 8″ Acrylic on museum quality panel.

Painting #9

“Backyard Flowers” 6″ x 6″ Acrylic on museum quality panel

I resisted giving this painting a title that included the word sunflower. I hope it is obviously a sunflower.

The painting is looking mighty proud in its very own display easel…which I include with the purchase price.

Painting #10

“Tourist in Rhodes” 10″ x 8″ ink and acrylic study sketch on paper.  This is considered a “study” because I rendered it very quickly and made decisions along the way which explains the swatch of blue color in the upper corner. Today was a very busy day, including speaking to a women’s Bible study group, so I chose to do a study (which is acceptable for this challenge.)

Painting #11

“Bright Window”  12″ x 12″ Acrylic on museum quality panel.

I did this painting in three hours….out of necessity…the only time available. I enjoyed pushing myself to finish; it kept me loose.

Painting #12

“Congratulations” 12″ x 12″ Acrylic on museum quality panel

Painting #13

“Sunset Sail” 6″ x 6″ Acrylic on museum quality panel.

Okay, I’ll admit that this is a departure from my theme, “Vacationing in the Greek Isles.” Actually it is in Texas on Galveston Island. But I felt very inspired to paint it anyway. I call it a “practice study” and it is not for sale. I was born in Galveston, Texas, but don’t recall ever going for a sail. Wonder why? David was in the Navy and has zero interest in getting out on any water again. Swimming is enough.

I’ve needed a little more room for my palette, water container, paints, brushes ,spray bottle, tissue,  etc.  While working today I remembered a table we had stored away so I carried it into my studio/workroom and had it set up in no time. It has a very nice imitation leather surface so I covered it with an old plastic picnic tablecloth.

Cozy looking, isn’t it? I’m enjoying the extra space.

And now……Painting #14

“At Tharri Monastery-Rhodes” 6″ x 6″ Acrylic on museum quality panel

This beautiful and rugged stone wall attracted me to this scene…located somewhere on the grounds of the Tharri Monastery in Rhodes, Greece. What a lovely and serene place.

YAY! HALF WAY THROUGH THE 30 DAY CHALLENGE.

“He has the deed half done who has made a beginning.” ________Horace

Week Two has been an adventure in discipline for this artist. Being committed to creating a painting each and every day has been very difficult but a lot of fun.

I have learned much more than I had anticipated and after all the years I’ve been doing art, I still have a lot to learn.

I still have a lot to learn and look forward to next week and its challenges.

I look forward to hearing from you this week. Just leave your comments below. They are very welcome.

Don’t forget to visit my website, http://www.artbyadelebower.com and my Facebook pages.