Zenscape - 5

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

End Game and Take Aways

Here's a collage of all the paintings completed during the past 30 days for Leslie Saeta's "30 Paintings in 30 Days" challenge.  This is my sixth challenge and the feeling of accomplishment is huge this time! 

September is a very busy month for me with Open Studio Tours; planning for classes; taking on a new consulting client; working on getting a new on-line account going and getting ready for another show coming up in December.  Many times I asked my Self "am I crazy" for doing this again?  And several times I nearly quit but after seeing the finished product, I'm so glad I didn't.

I enjoy doing these challenges for a myriad of reasons, including:

• Challenging myself to a different topic/technique/medium
• Networking with other participating artists from all over the world
• Building my own following on social media and expanding my web presence
• Further establishing my discipline of being a nearly full-time artist
• Stretching my artistic and marketing abilities to new levels
• Building a new body of work that is able to be sold and licensed

Now that the challenge is over, I am heading right into another journey of teaching two classes on "Fusing Glass Holiday Ornaments" this weekend out of my studio (I haven't taught fused glass in ages!) and yesterday, setting up an artist's presence in a new local nursery/shop with my paintings and glass.  It's been a crazy week for this busy artist!! 

Thanks to everyone who commented on my paintings and for those of you who contacted me about purchasing originals and larger works.  I will be selling prints of these paintings in my Fine Art America Shop - will be uploading photos later this weekend and early next week.  And once this is done, this girl is headed to the beach for some R&R - I'm one happy but exhausted artist!

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

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

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

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!

 

 

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.