"Harvest "

"Harvest"

8 x 10 oil on canvas

$65

Today's post is number 25 in the 30 in 30. I had done this a while back, but redid part and tweeked it, so it is improved. This will be my last post in the challenge, as I have several obligations in the next few days that will prevent me from being able to paint. However, I feel that it was a fun experience and I have enjoyed meeting many artists and friends online. Such a challenge (painting one painting a day) has its' pros and cons. Obviously, seeing other artists daily work and meeting them on line is a plus, but the downside to me is that it seems the quality of my paintings suffer because of trying for quantity. Other folks may not agree, but I find that my small works are rather insignificant and I had rather spend more thoughtful painting time on larger works. So thanks for looking and hope you'll come back to my blog, as I continue to post paintings as I do them.

"End of Summer"

"End of Summer"

8 x 8 oil on panel

$55

This is number 24 in the 30 paintings in 30 days challenge. Only a few more to go and I  will be glad when I can go back to watercolors! Of course I could finish the challenge doing watercolors, but I am committed to the water soluble oils. Still, my watercolors lie in wait......

"Begonia with Garden Rocks"

"Begonia with Garden Rocks"

8 x 8 Oil on Canvas Panel

$65

This painting is number 23 in the 30 Paintings in 30 Days Challenge. It is a bit bigger than I have been painting, but I am out of my favorite 5 x 7 size. It is harder to photograph this size, and may take a bit longer to paint, too. Have you ever heard of "Artist Elbow"? It is basically like Tennis Elbow and I've had it a few times from long hours of painting. But I am progressing not only to a sore arm, but the whole shoulder! My doctor blames everything that happens to me (mostly allergies on my painting) and even  once asked if I would quit for a while! I laughed. Ha! How can an artist NOT paint? I'm sure the shoulder and arm will get better on its' own. Pass the W-D 40 please!

"Window in the Tropics"

"Window in the Tropics"

6 x 6 Oil on Gessobord

$55
I am trying to ease back into some flower paintings, so thought I'd do another window with a window box. The trouble with the 6 inch size is:

 I don't know how to change the size on the camera...technology is not my forte. In fact, I love doing a painting everyday, but the computer is another thing! It takes up far too much precious time, I think!! However, the good part about the challenge is that I have met some very nice people who enjoy looking at the paintings and some great artists, as well...all online.

"Little Brown Bowl"

"Little Brown Bowl"

6 x 6 oil on Gessobord

$55

This is number 21 in the 30 day painting challenge. To see the other artists paintings, please go to Slices of Life blog spot by Leslie Saeta.  Gessobord is a prepared panel that is very smooth, without the tooth of canvas, but nevertheless, very fun to paint on. I think it is a bit easier to be "painterly" or loose on Gessoboard, and it is recommended for oils and acrylics.

"BLT Time"

"BLT Time"

6 x 6 Oil on panel

$55

I don't know what happened to my intentions to paint flowers in the 30 day challenge. I seem to have drifted into veggies and the like without a thought! But I will go back to flowers soon.... we will have eaten all the veggie models and I'll have to look in the garden for models! This is number 20! Only 10 to go.

"Freshly Fall"

"Freshly Fall"

5 x 7 Oil on panel

$55

This painting is number 19 in the 30 day challenge. I had the hardest time photographing it! I tried the smart setting and the colors were terrible, so I tried setting it myself and that was a pain. I am not a photographer to say the least! This photo is too orange, but better than all the others. 

"Key West Cottage"

"Key West Cottage"

5 x 7 Oil on Panel

$55

This is one of those paintings that just happens. You sit down, don't have anything really in mind, just paint the whole thing some lush color thinly, let it dry, then just START. At first I thought I'd wipe it all off and plan something, but the more I fiddled with it, it just BECAME, so here it is. I guess it works. I can say that I am getting lots of experience with water soluble oils. Number 18 in the 30 paintings in 30 days challenge.

" A Plethora of Peppers"

"A Plethora of Peppers"

5 x 7 Oil on Panel

$55

Just love those waxy, shiny peppers! They just make you want to smile! It's the cheerful colors. Every time I buy a bag full, I sit around admiring them more than I do eating them!And I love the green background to make the colors pop. Believe it or not, I gave considerable thought on composing this composition. See the big guy on the left? He leads your eye into the center red one. This painting in number 17..we are moving right along!

"In the Pink"

"In The Pink"

5 x 7 Oil on Panel

$55

This is number 16 in the 30 day painting challenge sponsored by Leslie Saeta. There are numerous artists taking the challenge to paint 30 paintings in 30 days. Pretty awesome that so many are willing to paint that much! I would be painting anyway, but I am using this exercise in discipline to paint with water-soluble oils which is a bit out of my comfort zone. I will admit that I am loving the way they handle by using walnut oil as a medium. The other plus is that they hardly have any odor and no allergic reaction so far.

"Blooms and Marbles"

"Blooms and Marbles"

8 x 10 Oil on Stretched Canvas

$135

This painting is number 15 in the 30 Day Challenge, so we are at the half way mark! I actually re-did  a painting completely instead of starting a new one, but it was entirely as much work and certainly a big improvement on the earlier painting! I now like it lots better than I did before. Often an artist will not know when to quit and almost ruin a painting; on this one I had quit too soon and it needed some depth of color, clarification and shadows. 

"McIntosh Apples"

"McIntosh Apples"

5 x 7 Oil on panel

$55

I had just bought some of my favorite apples in the Fall...McIntosh...and washed them when the droplets of water made me look twice and bring them to the studio to paint! This was fun. I was pleased with the way it turned out. This painting is number 14 in the 30 day challenge. We are almost half through the challenge. 

" The Garden Fence"

"The Garden Fence"

5 x 7 Oil on Panel

$55

This is number 13 in the 30 painting in 30 days challenge. I loved painting the old rustic fence and thought the result was quite nice. Click on it for a closer view. You also know that all my paintings are for sale. All you have to do is click on Buy Now in the right column and  you can buy through PayPal. Now is a good time to start your own small size paintings collection. They look great grouped together!

"Key West Porch"

"Key West Porch"

5 x 7 Oil on Panel

$55

Oh, the Tropics! Don't you just love the look of a welcoming porch nestled among Palm fronds? And it doesn't hurt that the houses are painted in lovely colors, either. Long windows, colorful doors, shady vistas all beacon one into a tropical paradise! I enjoyed painting this and hope you like it. It is # 12 in the 30 day painting challenge.

"Green Pots"

"Green Pots"

5 x 7 Oil on Panel

$100

I wanted to paint loosely using bits of color next to each other without mixing in areas and then dabbing color on top of color in other areas. I also used a sponge a bit to loosen things up a bit. I liked the result and hope you do, too! Comments are appreciated. This is #11 in the challenge.

"Red Cottage"

"Red Cottage"

5 x 7 Oil on panel

$55

Adapted from a photo I took of a cottage in Ireland, this red house with window boxes is quaint and interesting. The curtains give it a homey feel. Click on it for a closer view. This is #10 in the 30 paintings
in 30 days challenge. Check out all the artists' paintings in the challenge by going to Leslie Saeta Blogspot.

"A Snuggled Bouquet"

"A Snuggled Bouquet"

12 x 12 Oil on Canvas

$135

Hydrangeas are a favorite of mine and I have finally got several plants going in my garden. I love to bring the blooms inside and also to hang them upside down to dry. They dry beautifully. I added some  Fall looking zinnias to this arrangement of blooms, all nestled together. The color combination is nice and the shapes of different petals interesting. Hope you like this painting and your comments are very appreciated! This is number 9 in the 30 paintings in 30 days challenge.

"Blue Shutters"

"Blue Shutters"

5 x 7 Oil on Panel

$55

Sorry to say that I missed #6  and #7 in the 30 paintings in 30 days challenge, but happily I was on a mini vacation and gathering painting ideas, photos and sketches. So I did some things, but I was unable to post and really was too busy having fun in the quaint little village of Micanopy, Florida.
I will get right back on tract, though, so hopefully I can do a painting every day throughout the remainder of September. I hope you like this one, done loosely. It was fun to paint!

"Hibiscus Duet"

"Hibiscus Duet"

5 x 7 Oil on Panel

$55

The Hibiscus is one of the prettiest tropical flowers of all! Yesterday after my morning swim at KOA, I noticed a huge pot newly planted with a beautiful Hibiscus bush and I had to pick a bloom. Forgive me, KOA! The blooms only last one day, so if you want to capture one on canvas, you must get to work and I did, making it a duet....isn't the harmony of two better than solo, often times? So this is painting number 5 in the 30 in 30 challenge. Your comments are appreciated. Buying it will  be even more appreciated!

"Tea in the Garden"

"Tea in the Garden"

5 x 7 Oil on Panel

$45

Yesterday, for painting # 4, I went into the garden searching for some flowers to paint and saw that I still had a few miniature zinnias in bloom. I put them along with some plumbago that resembles hydrangea in a little china teacup, thinking that I would do a little delicate floral still life. I painted for hours and to my dismay, it looked quite awful. I finally simplified it somewhat and with tongue in cheek, added a tea bag and named it happily, "Tea in the Garden". I even painted dirt around the tea cup! Sometimes plans just change and even though I am not amazed or over-joyed with this effort, at least it has a bit of humor! On to bigger and better things, I hope for tomorrow. 

"In From The Garden"

" In From The Garden"

5 x 7 Oil on Panel

$55

Here is number 3, on the 3rd Day of 30 Paintings in 30 Days! I still have the beautiful sunflowers in the studio and for this painting, I partnered a bloom with a little boy's vintage boot. Not only do sunflowers make me smile, but think of some cute little boy of long ago wearing leather boots like this, picking him mother a pretty sunflower. Paintings that tell a story or evoke pleasant memories are always the most special! Hope you enjoy this. Your comments are appreciated.

"Sunflower Solo"

"Sunflower Solo"

5 x 7 Oil on Panel

$55

Here is the second painting in 30 in 30 challenge for September. The studio sunflowers are still looking quite pretty, so today I will be painting them yet again, or at least one of them, lounging with another object. I haven't planned too far ahead on these paintings as I like to keep things a little surprising, even to myself. I thought "Sunflower Solo" was from a little different vantage point, simple, yet interesting. Hope you like it! Your comments are appreciated.

"Sunflower Trio"

"Sunflower Trio"

5 x 7 Oil on panel

$55

Today is the first day of 30 Paintings in 30 Days, a challenge started by Leslie Saeta and in which many artists are participating. I have committed to try and do this challenge and this is my first painting. Each day, all month, I will attempt to post a new oil painting. They will be small, as I will be working in oils and will also be doing my regular large scale watercolors, too. For this first painting, I bought some sunflowers at the market for models and they are so beautiful that I will keep using them in different ways as long as they last. I will feature flowers in all 30 paintings in some way, whether as the main subject or to enhance other subjects. Flowers make me smile, so need I say more? I hope they also make you smile and your comments are welcome. Pop over to http://lesliesaeta.blogspot.com/  to view other artists paintings and follow what is happening for the 30 Paintings in 30 Days challenge!