September 30, 2014

Day # 30

It's the last day of the 30 in 30 day Challenge.
OMG! what will I do tomorrow?   This was an experience I wouldn't want to have missed, but I doubt I would do it again. 
When I signed up and posted my first painting on Sept 1,  I already knew I would finish and not miss even one day. . 
There aren't many rules to this challenge and you were allowed to do a few ahead or even two in one day.  Well I did both and still found myself constantly pressured to do yet another. I didn't choose a 'theme', but chose to paint what I wanted.. I knew I'd get crazy painting 30 of anything day after day.. 
 Supposedly there were over a thousand registered although I never saw more than 400 entries on any given day. As the days went by it dropped by ten and twenty. 
There will be another Challenge in 2015  if you care to do it.
For now that's it for me. I'm looking forward to doing some mixed media, collage and watercolor. I'm also going to open an Etsy account (again) and offer my original paintings at a very affordable price.. I'll let you know when it's opened.. 
Thanks to Jan Werdin who,  along with me struggled through it to the last day..She was a 'team mate' and we cheered each other on..
  Congratulations Jan, we made it!!! Jan is a watercolorist and  mixed media artist and does wonderful work with handmade papers and collages..Click on her name above and check it out.
Many thanks to all of my blogfriends who came every single day to encourage me . (even when some of my paintings were not up to par and a little scary )  .. I won't name names as I fear I might forget one or two, but you know who you are...  
Now looking forward to my 4 day vacation/workshop at St. Pete Beach... end of this month.  It's my birthday present to me,
Barbra Joan .... 

 

September 29, 2014

Day #29

When all else fails, we paint pears.. and sometimes they look a bit wonky, and flat.  But this IS next to the last day of the Challenge.  
So I'll see you all tomorrow for the big 'End of Challenge  Celebration Party'

September 28, 2014

Day #28

Today I dedicate 'The Hawk' in memory of my son Louis. 9/28/ 'Although many years have passed, and I see you only in a dream once in a while.  Memories never leave the heart'.  Mom. 

To others who may read this, thank you for understanding today is not only about art.
 I cannot let the day go by without acknowledging that he was very much a part of our world for twenty six years. .  Barbra Joan  

September 27, 2014

Day #27

H I think we can safely say it's Indian Corn for today.  The Challenge is coming to a close. Just three more days , just 3 more pieces.
I'll tell you my thoughts on it when it's over.

September 26, 2014

Day #26

 Sold !
In case you haven't figured it out .... it's a tomato..
This one is for my friend Jerry who lives out in Oregon and is the best farmer ... Flowers and veggies, he does it all... So for you JC here's the tomato that could look like an apple, but who cares.
Just a few days to go on the 30 paintings in 30 day Challenge and I'll be darned it looks like I just may make it.  

September 25, 2014

Day #25

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One final flower (I think) for the 30 in 30 Challenge
When all else fails I paint flowers... For most of you summer is coming to an end.. but not here, not yet. If you get time check out Leslies' blog... lots of good art in there doing the challenge. 
 

September 24, 2014

Day #24

Well yeaaah, just a funny frog for today... The Challenge is coming to a close with less than a week to finish... I think I'm getting a bit crazy from this, but no one will notice.  !!

September 23, 2014

Day #23

This one wasn't quick and it isn't 'loose'. Old habits are hard to die and I wanted this to look like a pile of wine corks... so I did it over the course of several days in between my quick paintings.
One week to go ... just 7 days and  yes, I have painted and posted every day.  One or two things I now know about myself. 

For me, it has been quantity but not quality..  I'm not a daily painter. So I'm not good under pressure, although bound and determined to finish, ( even if it kills me) lol... that's the Scorpio in me.. The other is... I'm not consistent... one day 'loose', one day tight. What's with  that anyway???  See you tomorrow. 
 


September 22, 2014

Day #22

Day 22 of the Challenge .. I'm painting every day, it's starting to be a struggle, but I'm bound and determined to finish . Painting every single day teaches something. Staying on a schedule (of any kind) is not something I do well. It looks like I may finish this project in spite of myself.  This is a painting of my eyes. Pretty desperate when you start painting your own body parts !!!!!
 

September 21, 2014

Day #21

For the Challenge today I painted this tulip..
 For the past six months I've looked at using mostly transparent watercolors ...One of the reasons I'm taking the workshop end of October is that it incorporates both landscapes and transparent w/c. Once I was able to understand about the pigments I found I could mix clear, clean colors, and no mud. I confess I still keep my beloved Indigo... uh oh !  Although I've always been a Winsor Newton fan, as I needed to replace colors I went with DaVinci paints. No more, 'let me try this, or that.'   I know what colors I'll get when I mix.. 2 and 3 still give beautiful results..Better late than never.  B



September 20, 2014

Day #20

My offering for day #20.... in the Challenge  . My intention was to have a checkerboard style cloth under this melon...but it was not to be ... lol !

September 19, 2014

Day #19

Today I chose something simple and familiar as I've done the jug and flowers before. We're getting to the downside of the 30  in 30 Challenge. The fact that I've learned ( learning) to work with mostly transparent pigments has made painting easier,  but not necessarily  better. ! lol. Thank you for your constant encouragement ...comments ...

September 18, 2014

Day #18

A very quick sketch as I'm still in the 30 paintings in 30 days.
Done with indigo w/c .   

September 17, 2014

Day #17

 I'm late, I'm late, and I confess it's catching up to me... This is a quick one of a demo in Joyce Hicks' books... and I'll be going to her workshop end of Oct... I have much to learn about landscapes.. 
Now you can see why.  LOL !  Bear with me..
Only 13?  more to go .  I'll make it... I promise. 
BJ

September 16, 2014

Day #16

Had to do one of my macro flowers ...for the 30 paintings in 30 day challenge.  Using only transparent paints, this one is Perm Rose, Cobalt Blue, Quin Gold. 
AND OMGawd!   I believe the 'mystery fruit' below is Papaya... 
How could I not know that... ????Someone suggested that,  and I googled and there it was.... sorry Papaya.
 

September 15, 2014

Day #15

This is 'mystery fruit'.....No it's not coconuts,  I don't know what they are.. They hang on a tree. That's all I know.
 So halfway through the 30 in 30 Challenge I'm painting things that I don't know . This is harder than I thought and I have more respect for the artists that did the last few challenges.. 
 Can you name this fruit??? LOL !


September 14, 2014

Day # 14

Well today was a struggle as you can see.. but fighting congestion kept me up all night long... I picked something simple and The Little Red Boat is it for today.  
Still in the 30 in 30 Challenge and about half way through. 
See you tomorrow... B

September 13, 2014

Day #13

 Sold!
Egrets are plentiful here in Florida. I see them everyday. This was done in a different format11x14" w/c paper, but taping off 8x10" for the subject.  There are still many awesome paintings on the 
30 Paintings in 30 Days so she is in good company. See you tomorrow.    

September 12, 2014

Day # 12

Day 12? Is that all? You know when you paint,  not every one turns out well..... so even though I may do more than one a day not all are 'postable'. I have tons of small paintings but this Challenge is about painting one every day..
My small landscapes are from J Hicks book and my attempt at doing the demos..

September 11, 2014

Day # 11

This is one of those that I 'saved ' for just such a day as today.
 I did it couple weeks ago... I knew I'd need a fill in for a few of the days in this Challenge...
LOL ! A Florida lady painting birds in the snow!  Now that's different !!  Ok, back to the painting board..


September 10, 2014

Day #10

I think Day 10 deserves a flower painting.  I'm a third through the 
'30 Day Challenge'.  I'll keep going as much as I can and intend to finish to the end... I'd like to thank all of you who come by here and leave comments every day.. It's so appreciated. 

September 9, 2014

Day # 9

This is my 'offering' for day number nine.. on the '30 paintings in 30 days challenge' . One thing I've never been happy with is landscapes. I'm about to take a workshop  end of October offered by Joyce Hicks . It will be held in St. Pete Beach .. 4 days and I'm staying there . Pinch me !! I've never taken a class or workshop before .. This will be my first venture, but I found an artist whose work I really admire.. and decided to do it. !!! I'll write more about it on my Journey blog . Following the demos in her book I painted the one above, changing the elements, but so much more to learn..  thanks for coming by ....

September 8, 2014

Day # 8

Day 8 brings me to a  not so simple shell called the Nautilus. I'm working on the 30 in 30 Challenge and that's where you can find the paintings that hundreds of artists have posted.. So now I'm about a quarter way through and still enjoying it.. Wonder how I'll feel about this in a week or so. ? LOL ! 
All of my 'Challenge Paintings' are for sale. Information can be found at the top of the page in the sidebar. Thanks for looking. BJ

September 7, 2014

Day # 7

For Day Seven I've posted the Black Crow. You can find the 
'30 paintings in 30 days' Challenge on Leslie Saeta blog.
I've painted crows before but this one is new... and as always I use no tube blacks, but prefer to mix my own.
This one was mixed from Prussian blue and Brnt. Sienna. 

 See you tomorrow.  BJ

September 6, 2014

Day #6

Yes this is one I did ahead and posting today on the 30 in 30 Challenge , . You can get there by clicking onto that title.
So far so good, but it's nice to be a few ahead . (My cat Jake needs me today) 
Sunflowers are starting to fade .. and this is wishing you a sunny day. BJ
 

September 5, 2014

Day #5

Today it's the pears... How many pears does an artist paint? As many as she likes... This is my post for the  30 in 30 Challenge.
 I didn't pick a 'theme' as suggested  because I paint many different subjects. Of course if I'd picked the 'Pear Theme' I'd never run out of material.  !  
In the meantime even though I had a few already done, I'm painting every day to stay ahead... BJ

September 4, 2014

Day #4

This is Mrs. Robinson. A real live robin who lives in the UK. 
I've painted her a few times. (In different poses) LOL ! 
She is now  day #4 on the 30 in 30 days challenge. You can find her on Slices of Life Leslie Saetas blog.    Mrs. R is in there around #67. No, none of mine are masterpieces, but it keeps that brush going.
Amazing to see all the hundreds of artists that are posting.. 
So now I'm dancing as fast as I can. (almost)  BJ
So away I go.... 

September 3, 2014

Day 3

 Sold!
I've done nests before both in pencil and watercolor, but this is a new one ... I just uploaded it to the 30 in 30 challenge. Even though I had a few done before the challenge ( which is allowed) I'm painting one every day to keep up.  They are all the same size 8x10", in a white mat, and all are for sale. If interested email me at bjoan1024@yahoo.com .  I'm picturing a very large wall ( which I don't have) to hang all 30 when I'm done... BJ 

September 2, 2014

Day 2

This is Jenny my cat #2. She was sitting on a bench in my bedroom looking out the window ... It's my second post on the 30 in 30 challenge on Leslie Saeta blog.. I'm surprised to see there are hundreds of artists posting thumbnail size pics...
 Well that's for day 2.  

September 1, 2014

30 on 30

This is the first of my 30 paintings in 30 days. It took me longer to post it on Leslie Saetas blog than it did to paint it..but I finally got it on there . Some very talented artists posting on there. Click on the link if you want to see them all .. I will give it my best. 
The rules stated that you could start early if you wanted and I did a few to keep ahead .. I know me, and I know there will be a few days in September that are not the best for painting... Stay tuned...BJ