30 in 30 Day 30

First off, I did not make the goal of 30 in 30 - life happens, but this experience was really good for me as a painter.  I think I'm a better painter today than when I started.  I certainly produced more paintings in a month than I have in the last year!  They're clearly not finished masterpieces but each one taught me something.  Here's a collage of 20 from this month (they're in order, but number one is in the lower right corner and if you go up each column you'll get to the last one in the upper left corner).  I have no doubt I'll do this again sometime!  Next month, I'll work on some of these and see if they're worth keeping.

30 in 30 Day 28

Another nocturnal - Christmas on Bullard Street!

30 in 30 Day 27

Missed the morning session today at Crystal's workshop but did another quick "view from the porch".  What a great group of painters!!

30 in 30 Day 26

Hmmm...falling further behind this 30 in 30 thing.   But, today was a painting day.  Spent the day with a great group of painters at Crystal Foreman-Brown's workshop in Silver City.  This is the scene from Tuesday when all the snow clouds were clearing up.

30 in 30 Day 21

Well, the weather caused problems around here.  Lots of snow and then the electricity went out for about 18 hours.  Started this painting in honor of all the women marching yesterday but just got too cold for me in the back room (what a wimp!).  Power back on at 2:00 this morning so I touched it up a bit.  My husband's nephew and his wife worked in Malawi for many years.  This is a photo they made.  I've always loved the posture and expressions of these two friends.

30 in 30 Day 19

Worked on the block in I did several days ago.  This photo was taken on a camping trip to Morphy Lake State Park in northern New Mexico.  Again, I just liked the geometric shapes of this one.  I'm trying not to work on these again until I finish the month.

30 in 30 Day 18

This was a backstreet Silver City scene that has always appealed to me - maybe because of the abstract quality.  At any rate, this was a rushed job.  What it makes me want to do is paint it again!  For the last two days, I've been experimenting with using a very limited palette, one suggested by Lori Putnam for her plein air studies.  Four colors - White, Ultramarine Blue, Napthol Red, and Cadmium Yellow Light.  Takes a little getting used to but does help with color mixing.

30 in 30 Day 17

Another "start" - a snowy New Mexico scene.

30 in 30 Day 16

Today's schedule looked wide open so I thought surely I could do two starts.  Didn't happen, but I did have fun with this nocturnal scene of our local Sonic.  this is an 8 x 10.

30 in 30 Day 15

Well, it's possible that I might do 30 paintings in 30 days but a daily painting is really hard to pull off.  Life happens.  So, no painting on Day 14.  But yesterday a friend in town asked if I'd do a painting of a glass of bourbon with ice for her brother.  Seemed like a good project for today.  As with most of the other paintings, it needs some tweaking but another start!

30 in 30 Day 13

I really enjoyed doing this little one today!

30 in 30 Day 11 and 12

Worked on three "starts' today since I didn't get to paint yesterday.  I'm discovering that I like having several ones blocked in at one time.  So, I did the block in on the three panels this morning and worked on the snow scene this afternoon.  Stevie and Silvia, you'll recognize one of these I think!

This is a scene taken last year while camped at Kartchner Caverns State Park in Arizona.

This is a small town in northern New Mexcio on the way to Morphy Lake.  I like the geometric shapes of this scene.

Touring with dog in Lapland

30 in 30 Day 10

View from several years ago coming down the mountain from Pinos Altos.

30 in 30 Day 9

This is the Gila River that flows through our area in southwest New Mexico.  Tom Holt, a local painter (and very supportive instructor) frequently paints the river and mountains around here and today I was trying to "channel" Tom.  I'll keep trying :-)

30 in 30 Day 8

This is my "filler" painting - a little 6 x 8 I did the end of December since I knew today wouldn't be a painting day due to prior commitments.  So, in truth, it's really number 1.  Good thing there are no rules to this challenge!  Maybe I'll get two done tomorrow.....
Just looked at Stephen Magsig's Postcards from Detroit.  He's been doing daily paintings for YEARS - amazing!

30 in 30 Day 7

Was trying to work a detailed subject with looser brush work and more color but....as the night progressed it got a little tighter.  I've got to start earlier in the morning - ha!  My nighttime painting sessions haven't been as productive.

30 in 30 Day 6

Went back to some old still life photos I had taken years ago. I find I simply run out of time (or energy) at the end of the day.  So, at the end of these 30 days I will have a lot of paintings that need a little more work.  Probably good that I put them aside for a while instead of belaboring them even more than I normally do - ha!

30 in 30 Day 5

Spent the morning working on yesterday's start, then moved on to something more colorful.

Discovered it's hard to make a fish look expressive - ha!  But I did enjoy the jewel tone colors.  Needs a little definition on the fly.  Maybe tomorrow. 

30 in 30 Day 4

Well, today my friend Jane and I watched a DVD by the painter Lori Putnam in preparation for attending her workshop in March.  I love her paintings and was surprised by how much thought she put into value and color temperature decisions before she applied the paint. Her brush strokes are so full of energy one would think she paints like a madman.   At any rate, got a late start on my own painting today so I will continue working on this one tomorrow.  This is a scene from Patagonia State Park in Arizona where we were camped last year.  I loved the glow on the mountains in the background.

30 in 30 Day 3

I couldn't resist those eyes!  This one was fun.  This is a small one which made it a little easier today - it's only 6 x 6.  Need to add a few whiskers but calling it quits for tonight.  Thank you, Leigh for posting that great photo!

30 in 30 - Day 2

This one was frustrating.  Put car in, took car out, changed road, changed it back - ha!  Finally surrendered for the night.  Must keep in mind the words of Robert Henri in "The Art Spirit":

"The value of repeated studies of beginnings of paintings cannot be overestimated.  Those who cannot begin do not finish."

This is the view heading west toward ShowLow, AZ.

Quick Sketch

Quick pen and water sketch of my husband, Jim, while waiting in the doctor's office :-(  I like the pose.  One day I'll try it in oil......

Happy New Year! 30 in 30 - Day 1

I decided I needed a little push to get me painting again on a regular basis.   The start of a new year seemed the right time to set some goals.  So I took the "30 paintings in 30 days challenge" issued by painter Leslie Saeta.  #30paintingsin30days!  No rules - only the hope that I develop more discipline about my painting habits.  So, ready, set, go!

This is a view from the trail near my home in the Gila National Forest.