30 Days Come and Gone

30 in 30 hosted by Leslie Saeta

I remember being a young girl when my mother would comment about how fast the time has passed. I thought she was nuts. "Time doesn't pass quickly!", I would reply. But now that I am older, I realize she's right. It's gone in a blink of an eye. And thus the January 30 in 30 is over. It was great fun and I have enjoyed making some new art and some new friends.

I still have an alcohol ink that needs to be finished which I hope to complete this next week along with a mini series of Rockford in alcohol inks. But for today, I need to get back to some book keeping, bill paying and oh yeah, that newsletter that I promised everyone would be out at the end of January. If you are interested in receiving it you can sign up at:

http://eepurl.com/SHx-f

For now it's on to that to-do list I have been putting off for 30 days.

Day 29, Oils, Blended

30 in 30 hosted by Leslie Saeta.

Today I got the oils out again and enjoyed myself. This is a small abstract on an art board with some of that wonderful molding paste added for texture.

Blended

Oils 

6" x 6"

$20

For day 29 I wanted to get back to some of this month's paintings that I wanted to change when the paint dried.

Daylilies, Day 21;

I felt like the background of the fence was fighting with the flower too much.

Counterbalance, Day 23;
I wanted to add a lime green color to the painting and well, once I got started I couldn't stop.

Day 28, Pastels, Jardin des Tuileries

30 in 30 hosted by Leslie Saeta.

To simplify I have copied yesterday's Post. It actually took three days to complete but who's counting?

Jardin des Tuiliers

Pastels

11.5" x 17"

$185

(From 1/27/15)
Sorry to do a work in progress two days in a row but I couldn't help myself. I've been looking at this photograph for a few years now and have wanted to paint it. I'm interested in putting more people in my works. For me, this is a large pastel piece, 11" x 17". I felt that there was so much going on in this picture that it had to be big.

The Rockford Art Guild put forth a challenge for this month; use the theme of friendship. There are several kinds of friendships here; people you work with, family members, long time friends and acquaintances. This is a park cafe in Paris on a beautiful May day. I spent a lot of time with the background because I think it is so important to the story. The waiters fascinate me as do the cooks that are indicated only by their black outlines. I love the way the sun shines through the kitchenette revealing the park on the other side.

Tomorrow I will finish the rest of this pastel.

Day 27, Pastels, Work in Progress

30 in 30 hosted by Leslie Saeta.

Sorry to do a work in progress two days in a row but I couldn't help myself. I've been looking at this photograph for a few years now and have wanted to paint it. I'm interested in putting more people in my works. For me, this is a large pastel piece, 11" x 17". I felt that there was so much going on in this picture that it had to be big.

The Rockford Art Guild put forth a challenge for this month; use the theme of friendship. There are several kinds of friendships here; people you work with, family members, long time friends and acquaintances. This is a park cafe in Paris on a beautiful May day. I spent a lot of time with the background because I think it is so important to the story. The waiters fascinate me as do the cooks that are indicated only by their black outlines. I love the way the sun shines through the kitchenette revealing the park on the other side.

Tomorrow I will finish the rest of this pastel.

Day 26, Watercolors, Work in Progress

30 in 30 hosted by Leslie Saeta.


I have some watercolors that I have been working on for a long time. It's hard to paint everyday and not work on them. So yesterday I gave myself a treat and I worked on my Lily painting. It still has quite a ways to go and I 'm still figuring out the background - although I think I know what I want to do.

Work in Progress

Watercolor

11" x 17'

NSF

I was struggling with where to put my I pod while I painted. My husband bought me an I Pad clamp for my work desk. It can stand freely, or attach to a tripod. I'm loving it! I can paint and easily change Pandora channels or check social media quickly.

It also works great for Painting selfies: 

Day 25, Watercolors and Pen, The Marina

30 in 30 hosted by Leslie Saeta.

The Marina

Watercolor and Pen

8" x 12"

$85

 

I started this painting last Fall. It's the marina at Madeline Island in Wisconsin. It feels good to get some of these pieces done that I have left unfinished. Not sure what I'll do tomorrow; pastel in Paris, Rockford Alcohol Ink or work on one of the three watercolors I have left unfinished. Hard to tell, I guess we'll just have to wait to see.

Day 2, Alcohol Ink and Pen, Piazza della Signoria

30 in 30 hosted by Leslie Saeta.

It's the last week of the 30 in 30. I'm getting tired and a bit behind in other projects and responsibilities but I'm looking forward to the week ahead. This is a great opportunity to work on a mini series for the Rockford Museum Show and the Guild  monthly challenge, which is friendship.

Piazza della Signoria

Alcohol ink and Pen

8" x 12"

$95 

I never tire of going through photos I've taken over the years and then painting them. So fun, just like being there again.

Day 23, Oils, Counterbalance

30 in 30 hosted by Leslie Saeta.



I'm having a good time playing with abstracts. Multiple layers of paint and textures really interest me. I'm already thinking of adding another layer to this painting... a lemon green by the dark green sounds good. First this layer of paint needs to dry. I'll keep you posted.

I did a makeover of this painting on the last day. (1-30-15)

Counterbalance

Oils

12 x 12

$60 

Day 22, Watercolors, My Day in the Garden

30 in 30 hosted by Leslie Saeta.


What a wonderful day I had yesterday. It started with painting at Katie's Cup, just me, Pandora Radio, the fireplace, and the view of the snow falling outside the window. There were other people around  too, having their business meetings or working on their computers. I realized that I just love painting around people, not as a voyeuristic thing, but more as an inclusive thing. It's like I'm in my own little world but still apart of the crowd. It feels right.

My Day in the Garden

Watercolor

5 " x 7"

$65

 I love painting my garden in the winter. It's my way of reminding myself that the warm weather is coming. It made yesterday all the more special. Being my birthday, my husband took me out to lunch and made me a wonderful steak dinner at night. I loved getting all the well wishes during the day and I couldn't help thinking just how lucky I am to be surrounded by such wonderful people and loved so well. How terrific it is that I got to spend my day just perfectly... painting and with family. 

How blessed we all are, that those we love from so far away are visible on Facebook or other social media or just a Skipe call away.  

Thanks for helping to make all me dreams come true.

Day 21, Oils,Daylilies

30 in 30 hosted by Leslie Saeta.


This is the second painting for the Rockford Art Guild traveling show called Mosaic. It will debut February 20th at the Nicholson Conservatory. The show will feature the Art Guilds many artists and the 8 x 8 canvasses will be available for a good price. I'm hoping to pick up a few myself. I keep on seeing so many really talented artists not selling as much as they should be, myself included, so there is some really great works at really affordable prices.

Daylilies

Oils

8" x 8"

NSF

Here's the thing with my paintings; most of the flower paintings are from my garden. This painting is no exception. I grow them, I photograph them - A LOT, then I paint them. I usually already have figured out composition at the time of shooting the photograph. So when I see a photo like this I like it as it is. The fence is now 16 years old and various colors of grey with moss growing on it, or whatever, gives it the green color. I love the texture contrast to the flowers. So I knew the fence was a little overpowering to the flower so I toned it down a bit, but Ugh! The fence is too much! I will be changing the background soon to something dark and much less active. Sometimes I just doesn't work just as we plan it. I will post the reworked painting when I'm done.

Day 20, Pen and Prisma Colors, House in Blue

30 in 30 hosted by Leslie Saeta.

House In Blue

Pen and Prisma Colors 

$60

I just love these old Victorians. This one is is from downtown Rhinelander, Wisconsin.

Day 19, Watercolors, Up North

30 in 30 hosted by Leslie Saeta.


It's good to be back in watercolors and painting Wisconsin.

Up North

Watercolors

5" x 7"

$50

Day 18, Oils, Second Chances

30 in 30 hosted by Leslie Saeta.

Second Chances. We all need a second chance at some time. It can make all the difference. 

Second Chances

Oils

12" x 12"

$60

This is an abstract that I reworked. I loved the texture of the original but found the colors to be too dark. I'm much happier with it this way.

Day 17, Oils, The Pond in Fall

30 in 30 hosted by Leslie Saeta.

Back to the oils and it sure feels good. I love the way the studio smells after a day of painting with oils. 

The Pond in Fall

Oils

12" x 12"

$60

This is painted from a picture taken last Fall at Pitlik's Sand Beach Resort. I loved how an orange tree was reflecting off of the water.

Day 16, Alcohol Ink and Pen, Honeysuckle

30 in 30 hosted by Leslie Saeta.

Painting with alcohol ink is like a box of chocolates - you never know what you'll get.

Honeysuckle

Alcohol Ink and Pen

8" x 12"

$85

But the one thing you can count on with alcohol inks are bright, vibrant colors. I love the way the colors mix and make patterns. This is our honeysuckle bought in a box from Walmart 15 years ago. I never thought it would survive but it did more than that. It thrived, and is a favorite of many hummingbirds in the summer.

 To purchase this painting go to http://www.jillraefinallyart.com/30-in-30.php  Or just hit the "Visit My Web Site" button on the right of this blog. When you get there go to "My Art"  then "30 in 30 in the pull down menu.

Day 15,Watercolor, Pansies

30 in 30 hosted by Leslie Saeta.


Sometimes the art muse just doesn't show up quite when you want her to. Sometimes you just have to start without her and hope she eventually comes. This painting was like that. Usually, I feel like I've just stepped into comfortable shoes when I pick up my watercolors. Not with this painting. I started it last night, I drew it out and began with the flowers. It just wasn't happening for me so I went to bed after an hour. When I got back to it today again I struggled - starting with the leaves. Eventually, it happened, I once again became comfortable. Some days are like that. Glad we made it - the muse and I.

Pansies

Watercolor

5" x 7"

$50

And I guess that makes some days so terrific when you're in the zone with the muse from the beginning.
Until tomorrow...

 To purchase this painting go to http://www.jillraefinallyart.com/30-in-30.php  Or just hit the "Visit My Web Site" button on the right of this blog. When you get there go to "My Art"  then "30 in 30 in the pull down menu.

Day 14, Paper Collage, Connected

30 in 30 hosted by Leslie Saeta.





Another great thing about doing a 30 in 30 is the opportunity to finish previously started work. When my son needed a poster board for a school project we used some of my scrapbook paper to decorate it. Not wanting to waste the paper, I kept it knowing that I've seen some paper collages that have inspired me. So I started doing an abstract by gluing rectangular shapes on an art board but I wasn't happy with the glue I had for it and put it away.

Connected

Paper Collage

9" x 10"

$50

It occurred to me that I could use my circle cutter to add shapes to the picture, so I picked it back up yesterday. It was fun. I'm enjoying doing a few pieces that are not my norm. I didn't crop the photograph of this piece like I usually do because I didn't want to cut any of the edges off the photo. They are important to the composition of this piece.

 To purchase this paper collage go to http://www.jillraefinallyart.com/30-in-30.php  Or just hit the "Visit My Web Site" button on the right of this blog. When you get there go to "My Art"  then "30 in 30 in the pull down menu.