Waterfun - Day 9

6x6

Oil on Gessoboard

Day 9 of

30 Paintings in 30 Days

I snapped a bunch of pictures when I went to the Kidspace Children's Museum with the kids last summer and this one has been on the easel a while.   I love the interaction between the mother and her child and the natural composition that was created.   I'm still working on my second Alpaca so I'm posting this one for today.

Hanging Out - Day 8

6x6

oil on gesso board

Day 8 of 

30 Paintings in 30 Days

Seems like I'm on a roll painting animals doing this challenge....  As the title suggests I also took it a little easy after a few busy days painting and dealing with other busy tasks and I worked on finishing some paintings that have been "hanging out" in my studio.   This one is of some birds we saw when I took my youngest son on a field trip to a fish farm a while back. 

The Theo Tilt - Day 7

6x6

oil on gesso board

To Bid

Day 7 of

The 30 Paintings in 30 Days Challenge

I love back lighting and Theo is our dog so this was a great subject matter for me.   I did a drawing ahead of time so I think that made it easier when I got started.    I'll write more about the process and add it after this very busy day is over:-)

Happy Painting!

Summer and Sun - Day 6

8x8

oil on linen on panel

To Purchase

Day 6 of
 30 Paintings in 30 Days

This is a scene I from Cape Cod this summer and the color of the Scooter Vespa just made me happy.

The Cycle of Growth - Day 5

 8x10

Oil on Canvasboard

Day 5

30 Paintings in 30 Days

This painting was done playing around with the concept of seeds as I was trying out several ideas. There's something I really like about it and I think it's the result of doing a whole series of them.

Reading the blog of artist Susan Klabak (check out her great site here) who posted the following article by Robert Genn from his Twice weekly Newsletter I was reminded again why Leslie Saeta's challenge this month is so great!

 Sign Up for the Painter's Key to get insightful twice weekly newsletters like this one!

Link to this post

Two artists
November 2, 2012

Dear Artist,

Because this is a bit personal, I'm not using their real names. They're both about 40 years old.

"Jack" got a BFA and then an MFA from a Midwestern University. He's visited many of the major contemporary art museums and follows the work of several "important" contemporary painters. He's written articles on Philip Guston and others. He subscribes to several art magazines and is "the most knowledgeable art-guy in any discussion." After university he worked for a while in a commercial art gallery. He sometimes writes me long, well-informed letters. He's painted eleven large paintings (two unfinished) since leaving school. He's not represented by any gallery. He thinks you need to move to New York and "get lucky" with a dealer who "really represents you."

"Jill" took two years of art school and then quit. She pays little attention to other artists. She subscribes to no art magazines but has taken several workshops. Her hobbies include bowling and travelling. At one time she also worked in a commercial art gallery. On two or three occasions she's written to me. She's painted "approximately two thousand paintings" since leaving school. She's represented by four commercial galleries in four, well-separated mid-sized cities.

There's a great story in David Bayles and Ted Orland's Art and Fear . Here it is:

"The ceramics teacher announced on opening day that he was dividing the class into two groups. All those on the left side of the studio, he said, would be graded solely on the "quantity" of the work they produced, all those on the right solely on its "quality." His procedure was simple: On the final day of class he would bring in his bathroom scales and weigh the work in the "quantity" group: fifty pounds of pots rated an "A", forty pounds a "B" and so on. Those being graded on "quality," however, needed to produce only one pot--albeit a perfect one--to get an "A". Well, came grading time and a curious fact emerged: the works of the highest quality were all produced by the group being graded for quantity. It seems that while the "quantity" group was busy turning out piles of work--and learning from their mistakes--the "quality" group had sat theorizing about perfection, and in the end had little more to show for their efforts than grandiose theories and a pile of dead clay."

Best regards,

Robert

PS: "Artists get better by sharpening their skills or by acquiring new ones; they get better by learning to work, and by learning from their work." (David Bayles and Ted Orland)

Esoterica: Both subscribers Jack and Jill are thoughtful and enthusiastic artists. Art is central to their lives. And while success and "being able to function as a full time artist" may not be important to some of us, their current situations are quite different. Jack rents an apartment and makes $2150 per month (plus tips and benefits) as an airport porter. Jill works daily in her converted garage in a home she now owns. These days she's averaging $18,000 per month. She has "no benefits."

Beyond the Field - Day 4

6x6

oil on gessoboard

Day 4 of 30 paintings in 30 days

DPW

This is the second sketch I started on location the other day and the one I felt had a composition that I'm usually more drawn to.   I spent a little more time on it today, basically adding some more texture to the grass.   What I learned today is that the cheap painting brushes you can get at a hardware store work well in creating some of those wispy irregular areas.  

Today was a productive day painting and it was also Open Studio Day at Studio Channel Islands Art Center where I'm an Artist in residence.   If you're in the area check out all the great classes they have coming up in January.  I just joined in August and what a great surprise, I got a visit from Sherri Cassell who is also doing the 30 Paintings in 30 days Challenge and somehow I had not realized we both have studios across each other.  Check out her great work at her blog

What a small world!

Warm and Cool - Day 3

8x10

oil on linen

Day 3 of the challenge.

Got to go painting on location today with my painting friends Daggi and Pam.   We set up at King Gilette Ranch of Las Virgines which is a California State Park that was recently renovated.

I'm so inspired by Mark Daniel Nelson and other painters that are able to abstract the landscape and find great compositions that divide the space in such an interesting way.  That's the kind of art I'm drawn to and I'm working on painting more of what I'm drawn to in my own art....not always easy...

I wanted to fill up the canvas with the building, but I think I could have pushed that further and I was pushing the color, but it was a challenge to figure out how to create the reflected effect on the building and whether to go warm or cool, since I could see both.

All in all it was a really nice day and the second sketch I started captured the kind of composition I like even more, so...I will add a little more detail to it and maybe post it later.

I'm finding that with the 30 Paintings in 30 Days Challenge I need to let go of thinking I have to always finish and just concentrating on painting as much as I can and post my process instead of getting myself stuck.  Paint and move on!

The title "Warm and Cool" also refers to the fact that the temperature today was both warm and cool.  We saw little icicles hanging off the cherry blossom and whereas I got really warm by the end of the session Daggi who was painting in the shade was getting so cold that she was shaking and I suggested that maybe we needed to send in a picture to the Extreme Pleinair Painting segment in the PleinAir Magazine, although we'd have a hard time convincing anyone of the frigid temperatures in Southern California....

Happy Painting!

Within kids reach - Day 2

6x6

Oil on Gessoboard

to view

Day two and my dear husband got home early so I dashed off to the studio to do some more painting for the 30 Paintings in 30 Days challenge.  I ended up working on 3 different paintings.  This one being one that needed some rework.   I'm working hard :-) at simplifying and I originally liked the contrast of the white "kids" compared to the black adult goat, but the big goat was almost to simple of a black shape so it helped to add some color to describe the "planes" of him a little better and I ended up lightening the background as well.  Tomorrow I'll re-take the photo outside to see if I can get the colors closer to the original and a little cooler.

What is becoming clear to me in doing this challenge is how easily I get side tracked and end up working on something different from what I set out to paint....I wonder if anyone else is facing the same dilemma:-)?
Here's a second camera shot with some additions.

It has a whole different hue than the one with the photo taken inside.

This one feels like a work in progress so it will not be for sale....:-)

Alpaca Eyes - Day 1

6x6

Oil on Gessoboard

 Day 1 Painting
To Bid

So I might have gotten a head start on my 30 paintings in 30 days by painting today:-) 

This is what I will post tomorrow for the challenge.  It is a painting of one of the Alpacas I saw visiting the Somis Alpaca Farm "Alpacas at Windy Hill" where my sister in-law now owns her own Alpaca.  They are quite interesting animals and I must say that I wasn't that familiar with them before the visit.  Along with the kids I was quite enthralled and took a lot of pictures and something that struck me apart from them being a little skittish around people is how beautiful and intense their eyes are.  

Fur is a struggle and this definitely gave me some more practice.   I'm happy with some of the color and areas where I stayed loose, but that is always a work in progress.  I have trouble not zeroing in on an area and then overworking it...

Hopefully this challenge will force me to move along and leave things alone more.  My intent for my next painting session is to establish 3 values to start, make it read well from afar before adding any detail and all that color I see everywhere...

I look forward to seeing what everyone else paints.  I think we're now up to 222 painters being part of the challenge.  Thank you Leslie for getting me off to a great start, painting more!

New Year - New Challenge

Wish me luck!!  :-)

I usually get to my studio about 3-4 days a week....but inspired by Leslie Saeta and her challenge

30 painting in 30 days 

I'm joining Leslie and at least 115 other artists (to-date) to give myself the opportunity to paint a painting for each day, or at least 30 in this next month starting on January 2nd, so that might mean several in a day to keep up.   (There's been a few teachers and mentors who have encouraged me to do that very thing and I'm excited about taking part in this adventure).   Leslie gives some great pointers on how to prepare and make it a successful experience here.    Personally, it will take me some planning ahead and having my space and materials ready ahead of time.

As a theme for myself I will be painting

Everything that's been on my list to paint, which means:

At least 5 paintings each of

 cars

kids

toys

animals

Cape Cod and urban scenes

and I will plan to paint on location/en plein air at least once or twice a week

plus do some abstract explorations and playing with a palette knife

Check out my pinterest page for what has inspired me lately

As an artist and mother of two boys it seems like an insurmountable scheduling feat, but I think it will be good for me (I like challenges) and I will just have to get organized and find more time - and paint in the evenings as well...

On my to-do list:

go through photos - pick/print the ones I want to do

Order more paint and check that I have enough surface materials

set up dates with other artists for the location painting
prepare canvas boards and do my compositions and drawings ahead of time.

 And anyone who knows me knows that I'm all for finding others to be accountable to and journey with and I'm hoping a few of my fellow artists in our goal group might consider joining as well!

Back Here

6x6

Oil on Gessoboard
To Bid

I probably don't seem like someone who's into cars, and I can't say that I'm a car buff.   But there's something about the older model, beautifully designed car with personality that makes me happy.   It also reminds me of all the car shows my dad brought us to in Sweden when I was little.   Well, maybe dragged is a better word...Makes it all a little more nostalgic and close to my heart now.  This is my first serious attempt.   I like the car peeking out from behind.   That's the way I feel sometimes - as an artist.    I'd rather hide behind my easel....and just peek out....lol.

Light down the Road

 Light Down the Road

6x6

Oil on Gessoboard

Sometimes it's hard to know what's down the road.  Impossible as a matter a fact...   This painting is a reminder to me that if I just put one foot in front of the other and do what is in my power, in life, as well as on my art journey, things will fall into place.   Aside from painting whenever I have a chance I'm working on an art project that for me has a lot of meaning and is stepping way out of my comfort zone.   Along the way I haven't always known whether it's a go or not.   I will share more about it here and on a new blog as soon as I can set it in motion.  Right now things are looking up:-)

Three Wheelin'

6x6

Oil on Gessoboard

I have a lot of fun with the kids going on little field trips.  This is from when we went to Kidspace in Pasadena, a great Children's museum with bugs, climbing, water and tricycles.  This is another painting where I turned my photo upside down.  I really liked the shadow helping to create some contrast.   The shorts were a bit of a challenge...What do you focus on?  Local color, in shadow versus in light and then add the pattern, or the other way around?

Afternoon Conversation

 6x6

oil on gessoboard

My son got pretty close and conversational with a duck this summer.   It was on our vacation when we spent a day in Boston.   If you've ever read the book "Make Way for Duckling" this is the actual pond where the story takes place.  Lots of ducks, beautiful back-lighting, complimentary colors.   I knew when I took the picture that it would make for a pretty good subject matter.   And it's time I do some painting of my kids while they're still little.   I'm not at all used to painting people, but I'm pretty happy with this one.  I think it helped to turn the photo up-side down so I could focus on the shapes and values more than perfect details....lol...I'm working really hard these days to get away from those details.

Sun-lit in Carpinteria

6x6

oil on Gessoboard

There's this huge ancient-looking tree in Carpinteria that even has a plaque to speak to it's historical significance.  Well, I actually found the following interesting info on this site:

http://www.roadsideamerica.com/tip/28040

The Wardholme Torrey Pine is considered the largest Torrey Pine in the world, noted on an adjacent historical marker. The tree was brought from Santa Rosa island when still a seedling and planted in Carpinteria in 1888 by Judge Thomas Ward near his home. Local legend indicates that in the 1880's there was a polite but heated competition between the city residents to see who could grow the most unique plants, and when Judge Ward received this tree as a gift from his friend Townshend Stith Brandegee, he proudly planted it directly in front of his home.

The tree now measures approximately 126 feet tall, 20' 5" circumference, 130' branch spread. When Florence Ward inherited the property she dutifully continued caring for the tree and saw that it received professional maintenance; it was Florence who first proposed the tree should become an official landmark and be protected. In 1968 the tree was recognized as the city's "1st Official Landmark."

There was a celebration in 1988 for the tree's 100-year anniversary. In 2005 there was a movement to save it from potential development of the lot by commercial and residential developers. [Gina Taylor, 02/13/2011]

Behind this pine there is a house.   It had so much personality by the way it was aging as well, so I wanted to paint it!   Next time I'll paint the tree...

What's your favorite color combination?

Tony's Pizzaria

6x6

oil on gesso board

This was painted from a photo I took in Ventura.  I was driving past this little pizzeria and it stopped me in my tracks.   What I was drawn to beside the afternoon light hitting the building and the awning was two colors that I seem to be drawn to.  It happens when I see it in other people's work as well as my own when it comes to what I decide to paint.   Those colors are - a certain shade of orange in combination with a turquoise kind of blue.  It seems to be such an ongoing color theme in my work and it made me wonder if other artists have favorite combinations and what they are?  

Please share your favorite color combinations in the comment section!  If you want, please include a link to a painting with that combination, whether it's your own painting or someone else's work.

I look forward to seeing what you're drawn to!

The Key to Who's Who

The Key to Who's Who

Oil on Gessoboard

6x6
Click to Purchase

The owls are gathering again.  I think I'm most happy with the owl on the right.  He's the most simplified.  

Pepperstripes

 

Pepperstripes

8x8

Oil on Gessoboard 

3rd straight day at the studio today and I'm able to leave my brush strokes alone a little better after some solid time painting:-)  Listening to a lot of AHA - Artists Helping Artists blog radio podcasts which is keeping me inspired and motivated to improve.  And  it feels great to be part of the Artist Community at Channel Islands Art Center which is where my studio is now located.   Lots of interesting events coming up this fall I'll post more about coming up. 

I'm also talking to one of the artists about starting a little Artists Support Group to meet once a month, talk about our goals and support each other in reaching them.   Anyone in the Camarillo/Ventura vicinity who's interested in joining us - send me an email, or post a comment!

My workshop with me...

Pepper Toad

6x6

Oil on Gessoboard

Click to bid in the auction

It proved to be practically impossible for me to leave the kids and hubby for a workshop out of town this week as I had hoped so I figured since I now have my new studio space and the time already carved out with the kids doing "Daddy Camp"for the week - what better time than now to just put myself through my personal little bootcamp - Art with myself!

After watching all of Carol Marine's Artbytes (great little online Art Tutorials that can be found here) I was certainly inspired to approach my painting armed with some new ways of approaching things and I'm going to put a lot of paint on canvas, or gessoboard as it might be, this week.   

I'm not sure this toad likes peppers, but what I learned here was that looking through a viewfinder attached to a tripod really helped me measure and get the placement of the objects down when doing the initial drawing.  Thanks go to Carol!

Follow me to My New Studio Space!

Studio D3

I'm now officially an Artist in Resident at

Studio Channel Islands Art Center

2222 Ventura Blvd. (Studio D3)

Camarillo, CA 93010

Very exciting!  I don't know what's in store on this new journey, but I'm looking forward to not backing in to my desk when I step back to look at what I'm painting and getting to try out some new things in this larger space.  A whole- half classroom to spread out in!  One that I'll be sharing with multi-talented artist Mary Ann Betner.   I'm working on finding some furniture to store things in and getting ready for my self-designed artbyte bootcamp next week gleaning all I can from Carole Marine's excellent instruction and then painting every day!   I'll keep you posted on the progress.