Land Slide - Day 17 of the 30 Paintings in 30 Days Challenge

"Land Slide" - 24" x 18" acrylic on paper - $295 includes free shipping

Back and Forth - Day 11 of the 30 Paintings in 30 Days Challenge

"Back and Forth" - 24" x 18" acrylic on paper - $295 includes free shipping

This little number has lots of lines and loads of visual texture, in addition to layers upon layers of paint, gesso and mediums.  The random mark making with the masking fluid lends a final finish to the many designs, and for me adds an element of movement to the piece.  In other words, my eyes keep moving back and forth - hence the name :-)

I have to admit I'm enjoying working on paper much more than I ever thought I would.  I'm using a 140# cold press watercolor paper by Canson which is a quality yet inexpensive (compared to Arches!) product made in France.  I was hesitant to use this larger product since I wasn't sure if it could hold up to the torture I put my paintings through, but I am impressed.  I love the feel and the weight of the finished paintings, and can't wait to see what happens when I add an additional two coats of my UV protective varnish with a satin finish.  I think I'm going to want to run my hands all over it!!

Starting Over Again - Day 6 of the 30 Paintings in 30 Days Challenge

"Starting Over Again" - 24" x 18" acrylic on paper - $295 incl. free shipping

Seeking Solace - Day 3 of the 30 Paintings in 30 Days Challenge

"Seeking Solace" - 18" x 24" acrylic on #140 paper - $295 includes free shipping

The Journey Ahead - Day 2 of the 30 Paintings in 30 Days Challenge"

"The Journey Ahead" - 24" x 18" acrylic on paper - $295 inc. free shipping

Zenscape - 18

"Zenscape - 18" - 4" x 4" oil painting on unstretched canvas - $44 plus shipping

Zenscape 16

"Zenscape - 16" - 4" x 4" oil painting on unstretched canvas - $44 plus shipping

Zenscape 15

"Zenscape 15" - 4" x 4" oil painting on unstretched canvas - $44 plus shipping

Zenscape - 5

"Zenscape - 5" - 4" x 4" oil painting on unstretched canvas - SOLD

Day 10 of the 30 Paintings in 30 Days Challenge - "Imagine the Possibilities"

"Imagine the Possibilities" - 20" x 16" on 1.5" canvas - mixed media

Wow - it's hard to believe we are 1/3 of the way through this challenge already.  It hasn't been as easy as I hoped it would be but it's infinitely more rewarding than I had expected.  I'm having a blast painting over old pieces and seeing what comes next, and I'm enjoying the process.

I knew working larger again would take more time but what I hadn't factored into the time crunch was the final finishing of the paintings.  I don't know about you, but I'm a procrastinator.  I love to do the paintings and can usually get them photographed and named - for me that's the best part of the process.  

But afterwards, the paintings sit in a "finished but not really ready to sell" state.  I let them stack up and just wait until a show comes along or someone wants to buy something.  Then I go into a panic mode because I need to install the hanging wire; finish painting the sides if they weren't already completed; sign the piece in the front and the back; and complete the piece with 2 coats of UV protective varnish (satin is my favorite finish).  For me, this set of chores is the least sexy part of painting and I dread doing it for some unknown reason.

Well - yesterday one of the art consultants I work with called to see if I had any new work she could look at for a client who needed something now.  I told her to come by this morning and I'd show her what I had.  Then last night one of my friends said she wanted to buy one of the paintings from the challenge and asked if she could stop by this afternoon to pay me for it.  And of course I said yes - but I was in a state of panic thinking about how I was going to get all of these pieces sale-ready before my meeting.  Yikes!

So I was up very late last night and got up early this morning to finish off 10 canvases.  I had an assembly line set up in my kitchen and dining room, and was freaking out thinking the varnish wouldn't be completely dry before the consultant arrived.  Thankfully it was and she loved the new pieces - now I'm keeping my fingers crossed her new client loves them too. 

What a way to learn an important lesson though - you can be sure that from now on, I'll be more diligent about completely finishing a painting before jumping into another one.  If I'm pegging myself as a professional artist, then obviously I need to act like one - and having a nice inventory of ready-to-sell work is preferable to having a studio of half-finished works.  After all - what would have happened if another consultant or designer had needed something in a hurry and I wasn't prepared? 

"Precious Moments" - SOLD

And later this afternoon I said good-bye to Day 8's offering called "Precious Moments" - which happens to be one of the highest rated paintings on my Instagram account to date and a personal favorite.  Suffice it to say, today was a very good day for this artist :-)

Once again this project is challenging me in more ways that I expected, and I would like to think that each and every challenge makes me a better artist.  So now I know I need to treat each painting like a commodity, ready to sell at a moment's notice.  Lesson learned - bigtime!

Day 9 of the 30 Paintings in 30 Days Challenge - "Day's End"

"Day's End" - 36" x 24" acrylic on 1.5" canvas

"Day's End" is another mysterious-looking painting from the "Reflections" series that I'm doing for the 30 Paintings in 30 Days challenge.  The wispy white lines you see at the upper left corner are dotted in silver for a luminescent veil that covers several areas on the canvas.  Of course you can't see all those silvery lines because of my sucky photographic skills (or shall I just say non-existent photographic skills??!!).

But I'm happy with the way this piece turned out.  It's mostly neutral grays, celadon, black and white with some light pthalo-blue and red oxide washes to add some interest.  Some of the original painting still remains - the striped running down the right side and the white dots above - I didn't want them to go away but the rest of the old painting is history!

Day 3 of the 30 Paintings in 30 Days Challenge - "A Pale Mystique"

"A Pale Mystique" - 12" x 12" acrylic & graphite on .75" canvas

Here's "A Pale Mystique" - a makeover of another old seascape, leaving very little of the original piece intact.  I see several faces in this piece that I didn't see until posting this blog - how any do you see?

Day 2 of the 30 Paintings in 30 Days Challenge - Whispers in the Winds"

"Whispers in the Winds" - 12" x 12" acrylic & graphite on .75" canvas

This was a "redo" of an old seascape that I had created while on vacation this past July in Sea Ranch.  I just couldn't seem to get the piece to work, so decided to cover most of it with the neutral colors but left a couple areas of the old ocean for good measure.  The dark turquoise area in the center reminds me of a vessel, and the swirls are list quiet whispers in the wind.....

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

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. 

Paintings 18 - 23 of the 100 Paintings Challenge

I thought I was starting to get the hang of the painting and posting and but apparently not.....here is a collage of the latest six offerings of the 100 Paintings challenge.  I'm happy to report this series seems to be a hit with my collectors and have sold 6 of the 23 paintings already.  I also created a small book on Shutterfly titled "Simple Balance" utilizing all of the paintings made through today.  I've been wanting to put another compilation of paintings into a book and was thrilled when Shutterfly sent me a coupon for a free 8" x 8" hardcover book!! 

I am starting to get a little bored with the vessel series but have several more in the works so may be shifting subject matter.  I'm not sure -- I accepted the challenge with the idea of doing neutral colors only but became enthralled with the vases/vessels and endless compositions available, so I'm not sure.  I have a big show coming up at the end of April so need to get busy with making some new art for that event in addition to finishing 3 commissions I've been avoiding. 

Procrastination is often my friend, so I'll probably be posting a few more group photo in the days to come.  Only 77 more paintings to go - wish me luck!!!

Five More Vessel Paintings for 100 Painting Challenge

"At Peace" - 13/100 - 6" x 6" mixed media on paper - $75 includes mat & shipping in US

"Delightful" - 14/100 - SOLD

"Spring Ahead" - 15/100 6x6 mixed media on paper - $75 inc. shipping & mat in US

"In Repose-1" 6x6 mixed media on paper - 16/100 - $75 inc. mat & shipping in US

"In Repose-2" 6x6 mixed media on paper - 17/100 - $75 inc. mat & shipping in US

A Dozen Down - Only Eighty-Eight More to Go!

11/100 - "Floral Delight" - 6" x 6" mixed media on paper - $75 includes mat & shipping to US

12/100 - "3 Vases" - 6" x 6" mixed media on paper - SOLD

Four More Vessel Paintings - 100 Paintings Challenge

"Two Tumblers" - 7/100 - 6" x 6" - $75 includes 14"x11" mat + free shipping in Continental US

"Pitcher" - 8/100 - 6" x 6" - $75 includes 14"x11" mat + free shipping in Continental US

"Lobelia" - 9/100 - 6" x 6" - $75 includes 14"x11" mat + free shipping in Continental US

"Bagging It" - 10/100 - 6" x 6" - $75 includes 14"x11" mat + free shipping in Continental US

2 More Studies for 100 Paintings Challenge

Finished two more studies this morning for the 100 Paintings Art Challenge.  The top painting is 5/100 and is called "3 Painting Jars" and the bottom one is "Morning Light, 6/100.  Both paintings are 6" x 6" mixed media on paper, and are for sale in my ETSY shop - $75 each and price includes free shipping to continental US and 14" x 11" mat.

I'm loving this challenge so far, and am enjoying the jars/vessels/vases theme.  We'll see how long I can do this theme for.....I'm dying to do some plain non-objective abstracts in neutral colors and some cityscapes/houses.