Always Flowers

A small 8x10" ... I'll always paint flowers. Because that makes me happy ! .. BJ

Workshop

Well if I could have stayed I would !  The Joyce Hicks workshop was wonderful..From Day 1 to the end I never stopped learning something. Landscapes, and working in transparent watercolors,
and Joyces mantra  " Never revisit a brushstroke." 
  At the end of 4 days she had lots of demos and full paintings, then had a raffle .. Since there were six of us,  we all won something.
I was thrilled to get the one below.. 
As to staying right on the beach what can I say... it was beautiful.
Yes, got some sand in my toes , and thoroughly enjoyed every minute. .. So now I'm back and hope to apply what I've learned to my own paintings.. BJ 

Hummer

A few years back I did a humming bird on a coneflower and it took second place at a local art show.. 
I like that painting, so decided to paint it again and offer it in my Etsy Shop... This one is smaller 8x10" in the mat. 
I seem to be doing a lot of birds lately ?  HMMMMM ! 
Bird-brained. !!!   

Mrs. Robinson Again.

I've painted this robin several times from photos that a friend in England sent me.. This robin is almost like a pet.. 
I'm trying to learn how to 'pour' paint, so that's how the branch was done, but it's losing something in the translation... the poured paint is supposed to be a part of all of it ... I'm just not getting it. !

 I've written about my upcoming workshop Watercolor Landscapes on my  'Journey'  blog and where I'll be staying.
Yesterday I drove there, sort of a 'dry run.'  Went to the Suntan Art Center.. where the class is being held.  What a great facility.  Large light classroom.. even a full kitchen !!! oh you know I'll not be using that. But I peeked in.... LOL !!!  
There was a watercolor class going on.. I listened in for a few minutes.. too bad I couldn't have hidden under one of the tables.. It looked like such fun... 
  Right now painting and wanting to get more stock into my Etsy shop... I've had one sale... and from what I hear,, it takes a long while. I did this once before and it must have been a rare event, as I sold five paintings within a very short time... Well, that's alright I can wait..

In the Tropics

Painting this a.m.  Actually I've painted just about every day since the 'challenge' ended and I opened the Etsy.  I believe it's all about being 'seen'... Unbelievable amount of talented artists out there.
You are like a needle in the haystack...But you know me, I'll paint anyway..  
This one above is in an 8x10" mat .. as are all the ones on Etsy. 
 I now use almost all transparent watercolors.. Once  the light bulb went on  in my head , I'm finding painting much easier.. I know what mixes with what. Hey ! it only took me 25 years... LOL ! 

Etsy Shop Open !

No, I haven't been resting up from the Challenge! Busy opening the Etsy Shop . It's changed a lot (for the better).  And that means typing and filling in every little concern for the customer.
 The shop, yourself, the item of course, photos, explanations covering shipping, shop policies, payments, on and on.. Well it's open to the public..  I've already sold a painting.. and they are all originals, no prints..

One of the problems about trying to sell on a blog is this....
Think about it ....Everyone who visits your blog is an artist, and if they are like me have tons of artwork of their own.. . I paint for my self as I found I cannot not paint.. if that makes any sense. 
The art exhibits and art shows are few and far between where I live.

If you 'd like to see the shop, click on the Etsy button on the right sidebar.
I've just started by listing about a dozen small paintings, all 
( I think) from the challenge and I offer them at very reasonable prices..  There will be more added all the time.. as yes, I intend to paint a lot more... BJ

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 .... 

 

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' . 

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  

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.

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.  

Day #25

.

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. 
 

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.  !!

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. 
 

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 !!!!!
 

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

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 !

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 ...

Day #18

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

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

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.
 

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 !

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

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.    

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..

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..

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. 

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 ....

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