The Final Waves - Day 30 of the 30 Paintings in 30 Days Challenge

"The Final Wave" - 5" x 7" acrylic on paper in 11" x 14" mat - $65

Foamy Waves - Day 29 of the 30 Paintings in 30 Days Challenge

"Foamy Waves" - 5" x 7" acrylic on paper in 11" x 14" mat - $65

Seaside Sunday - Day 28 of the 30 Paintings in 30 Days Challenge

"Seaside Sunday" - 5" x 7" acrylic on paper in 11" x 14" mat - $65

Wind in the Waves - Day 27 of the 30 Paintings in 30 Days Challenge

"Wind in the Waves" - 5" x 7" in 11" x 14" mat - $65

Early Morn - Day 26 of the 30 Paintings in 30 Days Challenge

"Early Morn" - 5" x 7" acrylic on paper in 11" x 14" mat - $65

Crystal Cove - Day 25 of the 30 Paintings in 30 Days Challenge

"Crystal Cove" - 5" x 7" acrylic on paper in 11" x 14" mat - $65

Pulsing Waves - Day 24 of the 30 Paintings in 30 Days Challenge

"Pulsing Waves" - 5" x 7" acrylic on paper in 11" x 14" mat - $65

Windswept Waves - Day 23 of the 30 Paintings in 30 Days Challenge

"Windswept Waves" - 5" x 7" acrylic on paper in 11" x 14" mat - $65

Tides at Bay - Day 22 of the 30 Paintings in 30 Days Challenge

"Tides at Bay" - 4.75" x 4.75" acrylic on paper in 10" x 8" mat - $55

The countdown begins.....only 8 more days of the 30 Paintings in 30 Days challenge and I'm more than ready for it to end!!  I absolutely love being part of the challenge (it's my 6th 30-day challenge) but September has a lot of things going on for me so right now I'm feeling a tad bit overwhelmed.  Hence the countdown.....

Calming Waves - Day 21 of the 30 Paintings in 30 Days Challenge

"Calming Waves" - 4.75" x 4.75" acrylic on paper in 10" x 8" mat - $55

Sea of Dreams - Day 20 of the 30 Paintings in 30 Days Challenge

"Sea of Dreams" - 6" x 6" acrylic on paper in 14" x 11" mat - $65

Starting Over - Day 19 of the 30 Paintings in 30 Days Challenge

"Starting Over" - 4.75" x 4.75" acrylic on paper in 10" x 8" mat - $55

Night Sea - III - Day 18 of the 30 Paintings in 30 Days Challenge

"Night Sea - III" - 6" x 6" acrylic on paper in 14" x 11" mat - $65

And here's what the "Night Sea" triptych looks like side by side!

 

 

Night Sea - II - Day 17 of the 30 Paintings in 30 Days Challenge

"Night Sea - II" - 6" x 6" acrylic on paper in 14" x 11" mat - $65

Day 16 of 30 Paintings in 30 Days Challenge - Night Sea-1 - Triptych

"Night Sea-1" - 6" x 6" acrylic on paper in 14" x 11" mat - $65

Here's the first of three new paintings called "Night Sea" - dark, ominous waves glowing in the night. 

Rising Waves - Day 15 of the 30 Paintings in 30 Days Challenge

"Rising Waves" - 6" x 6" acrylic on paper in 14" x 11" mat - $65

The Perfect Storm - Day 14 of the 30 Paintings in 30 Days Challenge

"The Perfect Storm" - 5" x 7" acrylic on paper in 11" x 14" mat - $65

A perfect storm is exactly what we need right now in Northern California.  With the serious drought and fires burning out of control in several areas, we are all praying for a miracle.  Yesterday morning I woke up to dark clouds in the skies and a few obscure raindrops - just enough to make my pollen & ash covered car filthy dirty.  And I heard several claps of thunder overhead last night around 7:30 - I'm not giving up hope yet. 

Off to Sea - Day 13 of the 30 Paintings in 30 Days Challenge

"Off to Sea" - 6" x 6" acrylic on paper in 14" x 11" mat - $65

Peace to Shore - Day 12 of the 30 Paintings in 30 Days Challenge

"Peace to Shore" - 6" x 6" acrylic on paper in 14" x 11" mat - $65

Why is it the simplest paintings are sometimes the hardest ones to complete?  Is it because I don't know when to say "stop?" Or is it just difficult to walk away from something so calming when the emotions I experienced while painting this piece were just the opposite? 

It took a great deal of restraint to walk away from the easel without picking up my black ink or beloved jar of sludge gesso to add some shadows/rocks to this painting.  But I held myself back and I am glad I did. 

Painted on 9/11 - a very memorable day, here's "Peace to Shore" - in honor of all of those precious beings who perished in the 911 attack and their families.  I don't know if it will happen in my lifetime, but I hope and pray this world will experience a time of peace from shore to shore. 

Silver Mist - Day 11 of the 30 Paintings in 30 Days Challenge

"Silver Mist" - 6" x 6" acrylic on paper in 14" x 11" mat - $65

Passionate Waters - Day 10 of the 30 Paintings in 30 Days Challenge

"Passionate Waters" - 5" x 7" acrylic on paper in 11" x 14" mat - $65

Wild Waves - Day 9 of the 30 Paintings in 30 Days Challenge

"Wild Waves" - 6" x 6" acrylic on paper in 14" x 11" mat - $65

Bewildered Sea - Day 8 of the 30 Paintings in 30 Days Challenge"

"Bewildered Sea" - 6" x 6" acrylic on paper in 14" x 11" mat - $65

The unpredictability of the sea is one of the things that draws me to its shores.  Some days the deep blue waves are pounding the beach, leaving streaks of creamy white foam in the sand; then an hour later they have relaxed into giant rolling waves of the palest shade of clear blue green, gently lapping at the shore. 

The sea is like a chameleon, bewildered at the environment while rushing to make itself blend in despite the constant changes surrounding it.   

Evening Tides - Day 7 of the 30 Paintings in 30 Days Challenge

"Evening Tides" - 6" x 6" acrylic on paper in 14" x 11" mat - $65

Another ocean painting based on memories of last year's vacation at Stinson Beach.....these colorful waves are calling my name.  Time for another trip!

Between Two Worlds - Day 6 of the 30 Paintings in 30 Days Challenge

"Between Two Worlds" - 6" x 6" acrylic on paper in 14" x 11" mat - $65

There's just something about the crashing waves and the foamy beach that grounds me to the earth.  Being there makes me feel carefree and light - like I'm living in another world.  Then reality sits in and I have to return back home, to a bustling city and my life.  Two worlds......so close, yet so very far away. 

Tranquility - Day 5 of the 30 Paintings in 30 Days Challenge

"Tranquility" - 6" x 6" acrylic on paper in 14" x 11" mat - $65

This little seascape looked so tranquil that I had to name the painting "Tranquility."  More inspiration from Goat Rock Beach in Northern Sonoma County. 

Eye of the Storm - Day 4 of the 30 Paintings in 30 Days Challenge

"Eye of the Storm" - 6" x 6" acrylic on paper in 14" x 11" white mat - $65

I recently visited Goat Rock Beach in the northwestern part of Sonoma County, California with my artist friend Lynn Hatamiya .  We combed the beach for cool rocks and shells, and painted seascapes while keeping aggressive and hungry seagulls at bay.  The air was warm and misty, and the waves were gently rolling in the sand.  The sun was masked by the mist, which made the waves a soothing shade of pale blue-green as they bounced onto the shore. It was a magical day. 

Symphonic Waves - Day 3 of the 30 Paintings in 30 Days Challenge

"Symphonic Waves" - 4.75" x 4.75" acrylic on paper in 10" x 8" mat - $55

Beautiful turquoise colored waves rolling gently underneath a flaxen-gold sky - can't you just hear the symphonies in the waves with this painting? 

Window to the Sea - Day 2 of the 30 Paintings in 30 Days Challenge

"Window to the Sea" - 6" x 6" acrylic on paper in 14" x 11" mat - $65

This is what I saw when I looked out of my bedroom window at the lovely "Serenity" home in Sea Ranch.  The bluest skies with the bluest waves - it was Nirvana. 

Swept Away - Day 1 of the 30 Paintings in 30 Days Challenge, September 2015

It's that time again and I've agreed to participate in yet another "30 Paintings in 30 Days" challenge!  This time the theme is going to be abstract seascapes.  I'm doing this theme for a few reasons:

1. Nearly every abstract seascape I made over the past few months sold so apparently people like my seascapes.
2. I love the ocean more than anyplace on earth.
3. My time is stretched this month (I am participating in the Sac Open Studio Tour on 9/19-9/20) and I don't want to miss this challenge, so am doing something that is "easier" to do.
4. I'm excited to start doing larger work again.
5. After completing my 100 Artwork Challenge last month using a limited palette, I'm looking forward to doing a few more "soothing" works of art though you might find some "wild" seascapes in the mix!

So here's "Swept Away" - Day #1's offering for the 30 Paintings in 30 Days Challenge.  It reminds me of the ocean from my recent trip to Sea Ranch.  There were days when the waves were deep blue but later in the day, they turned a beautiful shade of green.  It was hard to capture the color with my camera but I managed to do it with the paint!

"Swept Away" - 6" x 6" acrylic on paper in 14" x 11" mat - $65