Day Seventeen-30 Paintings in 30 Days

“Reflection”

8″ x 8″ Acrylic on gessobord.

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^” When I was a child, I spoke and thought and reasoned as a child. But when I grew up, I put away childish things.  Now we see things imperfectly, like puzzling reflections in a mirror, but then we will see everything with perfect clarity. All that I know now is partial and incomplete, but then I will know everything completely, just as God now knows me completely.”

1 Corinthians 13:11 and 12 (NLT)

Day Thirteen-30 Paintings in 30 Days

“Nightfall”

12″ x 12″ Acrylic on gessobord

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“Those who live at the ends of the earth stand in awe of your wonders.
From where the sun rises to where it sets,  you inspire shouts of joy.”

Psalm 65:8

Day Twelve-30 Paintings in 30 Days

“A Quick Sketch”

8″ x  8″ Painting in watercolor, pencil and charcoal on watercolor paper.

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Searching for a quick way to create the day twelve challenge painting, I came across some of my sketches. I chose one I did of our daughter, Karen, back when hair styles were fluffier. Perfect! I sketched it again on watercolor paper and enhanced it with watercolor and charcoal.

Life drawing class was my favorite class in college and art school. We always worked from live models and various mediums such as pencil, charcoal, or acrylics. Once the instructor asked us to bring a stick from our yard. The next day we sketched the model using the stick dipped in a bottle of black ink.

The real fun came when we were limited to sketching very quickly as the model changed poses every 30 seconds, then to a one minute pose, a 10 minute pose, or maybe even a 20 minute pose. We were never given the luxury of dawdling over our masterpiece, which suited me just fine. I like to create my artwork “alla prima” which means “at first attempt” or “all at once”.

“A sentence should contain no unnecessary words, a paragraph no unnecessary sentences, for the same reason that a drawing should have no unnecessary lines…….”

____From Elements of Design by Strunk and White.

It’s good to know those smart guys agree with me.

Day Eleven-30 Paintings in 30 Days Challenge

“Mesa Verde” 

12″ x 12″ Acrylic on gessobord.

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 One year my husband and I traveled to New Mexico, through the beautiful Chama Valley area, then on to Durango, Colorado. One day while there we took a day-trip to Mesa Verde National Park in Southwest Colorado. We were very pleased we didn’t miss that opportunity. The archeological evidences of the civilizations, who called that area home, are astounding. Yet, the terrain, while lovely and dramatic, seems anything but hospitable.

In those days I used slide film to collect reference material for my painting and still have all of them. I’m one of those “studio artists”, meaning I prefer to paint indoors, in the air conditioned, bug free, atmosphere of my little workroom…complete with a sleeping cat or two for company.  Other artists prefer “plein air”, painting outdoors directly. To each his own.

This is the second time I’ve painted this scene. I want to visit Mesa Verde again. Maybe next year.

Day Ten-30 Paintings in 30 Days Challenge

“Rainy Morning”

12″ x 12″ Acrylic on gessobord.

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It was a dark and stormy morning.

Abby Cat was enjoying being inside and

having the breakfast room windowsill all to herself.

But where was Tomboy Cat?

During our meals the breakfast room windowsill is a highly prized and disputed

location between the cats; worth staging regular window wars to claim.

Not so this morning.

Abby Cat watches the raindrops run down the pane……in peace.

Day Nine-30 Paintings in 30 Days Challenge

“Forgotten Creek”

12″ x 12″ Acrylic on gessobord.

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This painting is from a long-ago memory. My Father was an artist. Often all five of us would go with him on one of his many sketching/painting trips. When he would find a suitable campsite we would stop and get set up.

While my Father was sketching we three children would be free to roam and explore the dense woods of Texas surrounding our campsite. The high point would come when we discovered a long forgotten creek. It always provided many adventures and imaginary stories.

I remember another campsite in particular. It had a wide sandy beach, of all things. I loved that site best of all. The creek was perfect for swimming and I kept my swimsuit on during the entire trip….I even slept in it. However, one day a snake swam right by me, head up out of the water, looking around. I knew immediately it was a Water Moccasin. I made it out of the creek and to my Father in record time. He assured me snakes do not bite while in the water. I believed him and went right back to my swimming. Now I’m not so sure he was right, but then all I needed was his word.

I have lots of stories about my snake encounters while growing up in a very wooded area of Houston. I was the outdoorsy type…always playing outdoors, up a tree, out in the nearby wooded lot, or swimming in a drainage dish. Yes, me! Believe it or not….it is true.

I’m glad I have such a good memory.

Day Eight- 30 Paintings in 30 Days Challenge

“Vibes”

8″‘ x  8″ Acrylic on gessobord

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I like to paint colors that seem to vibrate when they are together.

“Vibes” may be small, but it refuses to go unnoticed.

Day Seven-30 Paintings in 30 Days Challenge

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Today’s painting is “Roomy”, the one on the right above. It is happy to be paired with “Comfy“, a friend in the spirit of graphic art.

I enjoy graphic art and have created many, many paintings in that style, some very large. If I had to give my definition of graphic art it would be:

Art that focuses primarily on design, using color, composition and subject matter in unconventional ways. Often text is used as part of the design (which is REALLY fun). Graphic art has no concern for perspective. (What a relief!)

That’s just MY definition; art professors and art critics may have another…..or more.

Back to “Roomy”: This handbag is strictly from my imagination, so don’t ask me where to buy it. I’m sure there must be a very similar one out there.

Day Six- 30 Paintings in 30 Days Challenge

“Comfy”

12″ x 12″ Acrylic on gessobord

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What? They don’t look comfy to you? Honestly, I can’t say from experience but I guess these shoes are for show….especially appreciated when you are seated.

“Comfy” is #1 of another diptych, with #2 on its way.

Day Five-30 Paintings in 30 Days Challenge

The Radicals

“Radical Lite”

12″‘ x 12″ Acrylic on gessobord

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With the creation of “Radical Lite”, “Radical” just became part of a diptych.

Definition: diptych, n….a work made up of two matching parts.

For some reason, when two similar objects……paintings, vases, figurines, furniture, on and on…..are placed together, they take on more significance. I’m not sure why.

 The “radicals” have generally the same color palette . “Radical Lite” is not so far out there because it has a few more identifiable forms…… squares, stars and squiggles….much less intense from its companion which has only small flowers.

I wonder if they argue and compare. Probably.