September 13, 30 in 30

Day 13, 30 painting in 30 day
hosted by Leslie Saeta.

I think some paintings have a life of their own. They let you know when they're done. Sometimes they aren't ready and they need to be put away for awhile. Sometimes they get forgotten.

Today's work is such a painting. Over a year ago I was inspired by a technique I found in a watercolor magazine. I liked it but I just wasn't quite ready to finish it and I moved on. Recently, a friend of mine went to Florence and through her phone was able to share her trip with me as it unfolded. What a thrill it is to see real time videos of the music and happenings of Piazza della Signoria!  It brought the trip my husband and I took several years ago back to mind. And as I walked into my studio one day, there it was. This painting waiting for the right time. Waiting to be penned. I wasn't even sure if I could find the photograph that was used for the painting. But there it was, patiently waiting, in my store of photos under Europe.

So today's painting was several years in the making but I am so grateful to it. With it, I was able to travel back to the banks of the Arno on an evening Mark and I enjoyed a walkabout. On top of the hill you can see a bit of Piazzale Michelangelo.

Florence, Along the Arno

Watercolor on heavy Watercolor Paper

11.5" x 17.75"

$155 + S&H

Buy Me Now

 

Day 6, Mc Kee House

January 6, 30 paintings in 30 days hosted by Leslie Saeta.

Day 6: 3 hours Monthly Total: 18.5 hours

I'm still not done with this commission but feel as if I need to back away from it and "live with it" awhile. I'll go back to it and add more to the trees and shadows in the building. It was wonderful going back to the watercolors and I plan on doing several more hours in that medium before this 30 in 30 is done.

My current commission, the McKee House was built in 1936 by the WPA (Work progress Administration). All the bricks are Naperville Firestone, hand chiseled by the Civilian Conservation Corps. The building served as the headquarters and superintendent's residence for the DuPage County Forest Preserve from 1936 to 1982. Robert L. McKee was the 1st superintendent of the Forest Preserve. He is responsible for acquiring large parts of the current preserve, planting thousands of trees, speaking out against water pollution. He worked on battling Dutch Elm Disease and was instrumental in the preservation of the Graw Mill at Fullersburg Woods.

The Illinois Historic Preservation Agency deemed the house and its outbuildings as likely candidates to be included on the National Register of Historic Places in 2006.  In 2013 a study was commissioned by the Preserve to decide the cost of bring back the building from its current state of disrepair. The cost was well over $4 million so this beautiful building was at risk of being torn down.

The McKee House Coalition is fighting to stabilize the condition of the house with a new roof and other improvements. They'd like to see the home used by county residents as a multi purpose facility.

For more information see the McKee House Facebook Page click here

The McKee House

Work in Progress

Watercolor and Pen

Day 5, January 30 in 30

Day 5, January 5th

30 in 30 hosted by Leslie Saeta.

Today is from the waterfront where the
building are 250 + years old.
Thanks to Samantha Golden for letting me use her photo.

Savannah Candy Kitchen

Watercolor and Pen

9 x 11

Day 3, January 30 in 30

Day 3, January 3rd

30 in 30 hosted by Leslie Saeta.

A view of 405 Tattnall Street.

Carley's Retreat
This is the house we have been staying in while here in Savannah. 405 is a light yellow Italianate with green shutters. This really was just the perfect house for us. Not only does it have an incredible view of Jones Street out the front windows and is 40 feet from Crystal Beer Parlor, but it has some wonderful similarities to the house back in Rockton that Mark, my husband, is restoring.

This building was built in 1878 by Milton Homer Cooper, a civil war veteran who became a railroad engineer. He and his wife Jane lived in this house for the remainder of their lives. Their son remained in the home until 1920 when he moved further south.

The house has the same door knocker as our 1858 home in Rockton.
The stairway post is almost identical to our house and interestingly enough, broke in the same place. The layout is very similar to our house although this is a bit smaller. It was exciting to see the renovations the current owners made; modernizing the place while keeping the original flavor of the house.  The Ikea cabinets in this house are the same as Mark is currently installing.

We will miss this house as it was a truly memorable trip.

Day 2, January 30 in 30

Day 2, January 2nd

30 in 30 hosted by Leslie Saeta.

Hello from Tybee Island Light House, or one of the buildings which houses the office. I found a quiet little place in the shade and painted as my family climbed to the top of the lighthouse. I don't like heights much and I have been up there before so I thought this would be a good time to paint. It's a bit of a challenge to paint while on vacation with the family but I feel determined to make a go at it.

Someone asked me if I really planned to work while on vacation. My answer is simple. Painting is my vacation... it's what I love to do.  I just need to keep busy and plan my free time well.

September 30 in 30, Day 15

Day 15

30 in 30 hosted by Leslie Saeta.

Today was an incredible day to sit outside in the shade and paint away.  It was our third plein air session and my favorite so far. We sat outside the Veteran's memorial Hall which was built in 1902 and dedicated by President Theodore Roosevelt. This building is full of war memorabilia from the Civil and Mexican wars along with a stunning theater on the second floor.  And no, silly me,I didn't take pictures - next time.

I sat outside and painted North which included the facade of the Coronado Theater. Opened October 9, 1927 it was an atmospheric style theatre and movie palace. The inside is beautiful with it's ornate decorations of Spanish castles, Italian Villa's and Oriental dragons.

At the Coronado

Watercolor and Pen

9" x 12"

$75

Title This Painting.

This is the piece I have been working on to donate to the Holiday Artisan Show.  
The proceeds go to the Rockford Rescue Mission.

 What do you think I should title it? I did a similar painting for the 30 in 30 which I named Dahlias in Summer. Not too exciting. What do you think it should be called? Please leave me a comment.

Showing Up and Smelling the Coffee at Katie's Cup

Sometimes just showing up is good enough.  I have been having so much fun painting at Katie's Cup  in downtown Rockford. The whole thing started as a Rockford Art Guild activity but so far no one from the guild has joined me. (I think Wednesdays are a bad day for many who are either teaching classes or taking them at our local Woman's Space.) The original idea was to get together and share some ideas and fellowship. But I have found that I love it! Every week people stop me and ask me about my work. There's always something going on. Today was a kick off for Credit Union Week. The local TV channel was there to get the story.

Andy Gannon of 23 News approached me and wanted to know what I was doing with the crazy plastic table cloth I had spread over the table for protection. By the time my painting session was all over I was given a $10 Katie's Cup gift card, promised a donation of art for breast cancer research and talked to several people. Not bad.

Harry's Flowers

Alcohol Inks and Pen

8 x 12

$75

http://www.jillraefinallyart.com/originals.php

I even got some work done in the process. I had forgotten that I did have some painting started for days 30 and 12 of the 30 in 30. I finished the alcohol ink part the night before and penned it at Katie's. Harry is my next door neighbor, Nancy's husband. He went through a very serious surgery in August. His work sent him a beautiful bouquet of flowers which got dropped off at my house. I couldn't help myself but photograph it. (More future paintings.) Does anyone know the name of these flowers?

I started adding watercolor to this drawing from Madeline Island. All in all I would say it was a very productive day - just by showing up.

Day 29, Watercolors and Pen, This Old Yellow House

30 in 30 hosted by Leslie Saeta.

This Old Yellow House

Watercolors and Pen

11 x 14

$95

In downtown Eagle River there is a splendid old Victorian house. I have been admiring it for years. Finally, I stopped this Fall to photograph it. It's about two blocks off of the main street, close to the library. I don't have any of it's history but it must be an early home to the town. It's stunning.

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 26, Watercolor and Pen, Zinnias in Yellow

30 in 30 hosted by Leslie Saeta.

Zinnias in Yellow

Watercolor and Pen

8 x 10

$65

Zinnias are one of the few flowers that I will start from seed. ( Also buy a few from the garden center just in case.) I love them. They make great cutting flowers and their colors are wonderful and bight. These yellow buds were a bit understated. They were quiet and undemanding- but totally stunning. What flowers do you plant by seed?

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 23, Watercolor and Pen, Foxglove

30 in 30 hosted by Leslie Saeta.

Foxglove

Watercolor and Pen

8 x 10

$65

Another flower considered "old fashioned". I love watching the hummingbirds feed on these beautiful flowers. I don't always have the best luck with plants returning from the previous year so I make a point to plant at least one new foxglove each 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.