30 PAINTINGS IN 30 DAYS -Last Day of the Challenge!

Riverbank 6 x 7.5

30 PAINTINGS IN 30 DAYS #26

Autumn Clouds 15 x 22

30 PAINTINGS IN 30 DAYS - #25

Iron Posts 9 x 12

30 PAINTINGS IN 30 DAYS #24

Winter Clouds 5.5 x 10

30 PAINTINGS IN 30 DAYS #23

Cemetery Peonies 6 x 6

Started out painting a 20 x 14  with back lit trees and a nice pattern of sun on grass. Just could not get the trees to look right. Next time I see a painting with back lighting I will study it and appreciate it, it is not easy to convey. So after major amputation I decided I liked the lower right corner. 

30 PAINTINGS IN 30 DAYS - Painting #22

Morning Sun on Barn with Silo - 100 strokes - 5 x 11

I love doing the 100 stroke paintings. Makes me stop and think before I put the pastel to paper, since every stroke must count (no pun intended). The 100 stroke paintings are probably more of an exercise than to be counted as a painting, but never the less this is my entry today for the 30 in 30 challenge.

Only five days left in the challenge. I will need to get busy creating larger works for three separate shows coming up this spring. But I might create a new challenge for myself involving the 100 strokes works. I think there is much to be learned from keeping the strokes to a minimum, and making myself stop after the count is complete. Those last strokes become very deliberate. A fun challenge.

30 Paintings in 30 Days - Painting #21

Approaching Storm 6 x 10

30 PAINTINGS IN 30 DAYS - #20

Spring Willow 11 x 14

I have never been comfortable posting paintings before I have time to evaluate them so this challenge makes me feel quite 'exposed'; showing work that is not truly ready to be seen. I have quite a few projects and three spring shows to get ready for, but I might make changes to some of the 30 Day Challenge paintings when the 30 days is over and I have time to evaluate. Some might become larger paintings if I feel the small ones 'worked'. I an interested to know what ones you feel would work as larger paintings.

30 PAINTINGS IN 30 DAYS - #19

Soft Evening Light 9 x 12

30 PAINTINGS IN 30 DAYS #18

Autumn Mixed Hardwoods 6.5 x 8

30 PAINTINGS IN 30 DAYS - #17

RED TRUCK 8 X 10

This painting was started over a week ago, when friends and I got together to paint. I didn't finish it until today. An earlier version I painted from the same photo reference in the GALLERY on my website. I missed two days of the 30 day challenge and I'm still not feeling great, so finishing this rather than starting fresh today was just what I needed.

30 PAINTINGS IN 30 DAYS #16

Field Bouquet 6 x 6

I missed painting  the last two days...the flu caught me and held on. I am better today, compared to the last two days. This painting, as small and simple as it looks was quite a challenge. I should have known better than to take on subject matter that is not typical. The camera had a hard time reading the colors and focusing so it took extra time to get this image. So...this one wore me out. Tomorrow back to the landscapes I know. 

30 PAINTINGS IN 30 DAYS - DAY 15

Reflections and Lily Pads 6 x 6

This was a quick study done from a photo; I spent most of my day preparing receipts and forms for taxes. Even though I didn't feel well today I had to post something on this 15th day - HALF WAY THERE!

30 PAINTINGS IN 30 DAYS - DAY 14

Pasture and Creek 14 x 20

On this cold winter day I needed to work on a summer painting. Almost half way through the challenge.

30 PAINTINGS IN 30 DAYS - DAY 13

Summer Clouds 10 x 14

ARTIST'S TRADE

This wonderful watercolor will soon belong to me. Susan Medyn and I "met" while appreciating each others art through the 30 day painting challenge. After admiring each others art we decided a trade would work for both of us. Today I sent off Day One's painting: Winter Farm Field. I am excitedly waiting to see "Poppies" in person. Maybe one day Susan Medyn and I will meet in person too! To see more of Susan Medyn's  art work visit her blog: http://susanmedyn.com/
 Now, I must go paint -  it is 5:30 and I don't have my daily painting started!

30 PAINTINGS IN 30 DAYS - DAY 12

Moon Bunny 11 x 11
Tomorrow is my daughter's birthday, my first child. It is not hard to instantly recall the rush of feelings the moment I first saw her. I painted this just for her, that's why there is a bunny in it; she has a special love for bunnies. Even the wild bunnies seem to know and run toward her when they see her. This moon lit bunny seems rather sad; maybe it's a mommy bunny missing her baby bunnies.

30 PAINTINGS IN 30 DAYS - DAY 11

Evening Rhapsody 13 x 17

Did I mention before that I love to paint clouds?!

Whew! Number 11 - in the 30 day challenge. It didn't look like I was going to get a painting done today,  but I finally made it to  my studio this evening. I am thankful for the challenge because it is the reason I did a painting today; so I really wasn't too tired after all!

30 PAINTINGS IN 30 DAYS - DAY 10

Fog and Snow 5 x 7
Today the temperatures rose into the 40's and most of Wisconsin was blanketed in fog. It rained during the night last night and part of the morning but we still have snow on the ground, and the ski hill  near our house was open today. In this painting I tried to capture the cold fog.

30 PAINTINGS IN 30 DAYS - DAY 9

100 STROKES 5.5 X 9

A small study completed with 100 strokes. I might make this my next challenge - complete 100 - 100 stroke paintings in 100 days. I'll really have to think about that because I am getting ready for three upcoming exhibits all within the next six months so that challenge may have to wait until this summer. That would be a good time to do that challenge; I could add that the 100 paintings have to be done en plein air! 

30 PAINTINGS IN 30 DAYS - DAY 8

SUNSET 6 X 8.5
 Day 8 - I am still hanging in there, keeping up with Leslie Saeta's challenge to complete a  painting everyday, for thirty days. Hopefully this will become my life style - to paint every day. I have always admired daily painters, and now I have a little bit of an idea what it takes to do it. Of course, it takes much more dedication to keep it up for weeks, months and years; day after day. I am enjoying the painting but I am enjoying the connections I am making with people most of all.  

30 PAINTINGS IN 30 DAYS - DAY 7

AUTUMN DRIVE 6 X 6
Through Leslie Saeta's blog site and her 30 day challenge I have "met" many other artists who have accepted Leslie's challenge to complete a daily painting. The connections have been made by email with artists across the US and beyond. I've discussed a trade of artwork with another artist and shared ideas and comments with many others. It's been inspiring to know we are 'in this together' and supporting each other.
View the other artist's art at  lesliesaeta.blogspot.com

30 PAINTINGS IN 30 DAYS - DAY 6

RED BARN WITH CLOUDS 6.5 X 9
I've been a cloud watcher for as long as I can remember.  As a child I spent many hours lying in the grass, watching the clouds move past and chewing a blade of grass. I've been known to say "it's a good cloud day" and that usually means, cobalt blue sky with fluffy cumulus clouds.

30 PAINTINGS IN 30 DAYS - DAY 5

LATE SUMMER, LATE IN THE DAY  11.5 x 16
So far I am keeping up with Leslie Saeta's challenge to do a daily painting. There are so many artists that do this every day, every month, every year and I am truly in awe of their dedication. Actually the painting challenge is not quite as hard for me as getting an accurate photo of the image. Color balance is a huge issue for me. Sometimes it takes longer to photograph the image than it takes for me to paint it.

lesliesaeta.blogspot.com

30 PAINTINGS IN 30 DAYS - DAY 4

Freshly Fallen 7 x 8.5
The view just outside my door! My fourth day into the challenge set my Leslie Saota. Check out Leslie's blog to see the work of all the artists who have accepted the 30 day challenge. lesliesaeta.blogspot.com

30 PAINTINGS IN 30 DAYS - DAY 3

Autumn Reflections 8.5 x 7.5
The subjects of yesterday's painting and today's paintings are from the land that my friend Nancy and her husband  Tom own, about 3 miles from my home. This is a very sweet piece of land and I am honored that they allow me access to spend time there, take photos, and paint there. It is a quiet, beautiful and inspiring place, filled with wildlife, providing endless subject matter.

I am thankful to Leslie Saeta for providing space on her blog and issuing the 30 in 30 challenge. She also has offered words of encouragement for which I am very thankful. Read what she wrote and view the  work of
close to 300 other artists at Leslie blog:   lesliesaeta.blogspot.com

30 Paintings in 30 Days - Day 2

Sunlight on Sumac 6 x 9

30 PAINTINGS IN 30 DAYS - Day 1

Winter Farm Field

The first of 30 paintings. I accepted the challenge of Leslie Saeta to paint 30 paintings in 30 days in the month of January. It will be good discipline. My brother Stephen Magsig has been doing a daily painting for many years. Following his example, I hope I can complete the 30 day challenge.

 http://lesliesaeta.blogspot.com/  

POSTCARDS FROM DETROIT

myartspage.blogspot.com/