Day 6, 7, 8, 9 Continuing Daily Painting

Day 6 River Bend 5x7

RiverBend 5x7, 20 Minutes, Day 6

Officially, my 5 Day ArtWorkLiving Challenge is complete! The Daily Painting Challenge was such a good experience that I've decided to keep going, tomorrow will be Day 9 of Daily Painting. I painted River Bend on Tuesday, my 6th day (in a row) to paint.

I am happy with the composition of River Bend, I think it is interesting. I also like the water reflections. Honestly, I struggled putting in the branches, I need to work on painting thin lines. At first I wasn't super happy, but the more I look at this, the more I like it. I like the water very much and probably I would have noodled and muddied it--but in 20 minutes I had no chance to do that!

I go to a portrait painting studio on Wednesdays and Fridays. So I painted Wednesday too,  a portrait at the studio, for Day 7!  Tonight, for Day 8,  I am going to paint another 20 Minute Quick study,  can you tell I am motivated to keep going? Tomorrow I am painting at the portrait studio so by then I will be on Day 9 of painting. Wow! I am going to form this painting habit and improve my painting skills, all of this painting going toward my 2018 goal of "Paint MORE." Yes, yes I will.

Day 5 ArtWorkLivingChallenge

Reflections on a 5 Day Painting Challenge
Day 5 5x7 20 minutes

Left Tree 5x7 20 minutes

Left Tree took a lot of paint. I like the sky and clouds. I would change the middle far trees, they actually had more color but perhaps they need a touch more blue- atmosphere. The water I did not have time to finish. Overall, I like the composition. I need to think about how to put the foreground rocks into shadow, what color should they be? Hmmm - much to think about and reflect on.



Mary Bentz Gilkerson gave a lovely speech about Reflection and Tracking and Accountability.

I need to include tracking in my art habits, I am not good at this and it is part of my 2018 Goals. Per Mary we will make greater progress if we record our progress. "We are happier when we are progressing toward a goal." Yes, this is so true, I know this and I need this!

The 5 Questions to Reflect On are (Mary's questions, my answers):

1. What is your why/Your Goal for the Challenge?
   My goal was to paint and blog every day of the challenge. 
2. What Steps have you taken to reach your goal?
   Prep canvas panels (tone), prep images (select on computer and place in a folder), designated art table in dining/living room, thumbnail sketch before painting.
3. What is still getting in your way/why?
   I am still in my way, my lack of motivation hurts me and my paint time, my lack of a proper routine also gets in my way--I very much want to work on this. I am also too critical of my photo references, perhaps too particular. 
4. What have you learned about your painting/your self?
   I am learning that for my painting I like and need to use MORE paint, I like and need to start with simplified color block ins for composition, I need to prep (perhaps for the whole week) my canvases and I need to incorporate thumbnail sketches into my pre paint prep. I need a good routine. A small amount of paint time is "doable", I should incorporate this into my artist life.
5. What are the next small steps to get you to your goal?
   First, I ordered an Apron which will arrive this week. I need a starter process to tell my mind that I am "ready to paint"--Apron On! I may need to continue this challenge - perhaps I shouldn't stop today at day 5, I should continue this challenge and paint every day. So tomorrow I need to prep my art supplies for the week--canvases out and toned. Brushes cleaned, images chosen, station clean and ready to go.

#ArtWorkLivingChallenge Day 5

Day Four ArtWorkLiving Challenge

Through The Trees 6x6

Day 4, 20 minutes, 6x6 Through The Trees


I am loving this 5 day challenge-- I enjoy planning and painting each day.

I felt good and strong at the 10 minute mark - I've learned that I like the 10 minute "pause" to evaluate where I am in my paint process. Additionally, I like the big simple shapes at this point.

I liked what Mary B Gilkerson said in her FB video post today, it was about giving yourself positive feedback.

Positive Feedback: I did this painting in 20 minutes! Yay! I like the light and shadow patterns in the lower half of the painting. Critique: I dislike my blue sky at the top--the keyholes could be stronger and better, I should spend more time on that.Also, I think maybe a more orange than pink in the middle water.
Positive: Lastly, I am happy with the dark color of the shaded tree on right. And, this painting looks good from across the room!

"Pause" at 10 minutes in, good start!

#ArtWorkLivingChallenge Day 4

Day Three ArtWorkLiving Challenge

Hastings I, 5x7    20 minutes!

Starting to Paint It Out!

Hastings I, 5x7, 20 Minutes

Finally feel a bit of success! Did a thumbnail sketch just to figure out big color blocks before I started, this helped. Planned to keep it simple while putting down a lot of paint. Drew the big areas in with a small brush then got a large brush, with lots of paint and painted in swaths of color.

One key lesson is that I am setting my timer for 10 minutes. Stopping painting then assessing what I need to do to finish, what I have left. Then starting timer for another 10 minutes--this helps me with this short-timed process!

This is the 5 minute photo. I am much further along than previous two days. This layout and the big color areas with tons of paint are key. This is the pattern thumbnail that I did, just a preliminary layout for the composition and color.

5 Minutes In, Doing Good

Prelim Sketch, placement impt!

#ArtWorkLiving Challenge

Day2 ArtWorkLivingChallenge

Day 2 - 25 minutes - 5x7 painting

I tried to limit my time to 20 minutes but I had a few struggles so my time increased to 25 minutes!

Sailing, 5x7 Day 2

Yesterday I learned that I needed bigger swaths of color and more paint and a simpler subject. Yes I do.

Today I knew I had to work to keep the sailboat out of the center of the painting and I had to decide between more sky or more foreground, I wanted more water because there was a bit of reflection.

I felt better today as I started the challenge but I got lost when trying to paint a straight line (the sailboat mast). It kept coming out way to fat and crooked no matter how small my brush! Ack! Eventually I used the edge of my palette knife to get the mast in. I knew that was how to get a straight line, I just didn't/couldn't think of the solution when I was against the timer!

#ArtWorkLivingChallenge 

Day One ArtWorkLiving Challenge

25 Minutes  & 1 Small Quick Painting 

Since I love the small works and quick painting, I signed up for this 5 day challenge online. Artist Mary Benz Gilkerson set up the challenge which is to paint for 20-30 minutes each day for the next 5 days, creating one small painting a day. Great idea, I signed up for the challenge!

I have picked and toned 5 5x7 canvas panels. I reviewed my photo images (taken by me<<very important) and placed them in a Quick studies folder.

Day One:
Wow, 20 minutes went too fast! Here is my painting at 25 minutes.

Reflections at 25 Minutes

Lesson learned - I need to work more simply. And yet there is something about this little study, I would like to paint a larger version of this someday.

And, I spent 10 more minutes working on the painting, here is the final version (confession I could have used way more time on this). I worked on adding definition to the trees and on the bushes.

Reflections, 5x7

Here we go #ArtWorkLivingChallenge

Taking After Their Aunt - Inspired By My Nieces

My nieces gave me the art inspiration that I needed this week

AB, age 9, Artist & Photographer

On Friday my niece AB received 3 awards for her photography - she is 9 and I am totally amazed by her talent. Congrats AB!

Looking at the composition and color in her photography, I feel that her artistic eye is superb. To me these photos are truly impressive and wonderful, keep up the fantastic work, I want to see a whole gallery of AB images!

Note how she captured the close up crop of the perfect dew drops on the pink plant leaves. And look at the colors and upward perspective in the spider photo, engaging and intriguing. Wow!

AG, Age 4, Artist

Also last Friday my niece AG decided (on her own) to make art gifts for her friends and teachers. She sat quietly painting and drawing, creating 17 drawings over the weekend. I am impressed with this 4 year old's determination and dedication. I do not know how she got this idea, but she is an amazing and talented artist.

I love how her flowers change in color and size as they wrap around the bee. Note how her bee and flowers are right aligned--the off center design is (to me) a sign of a natural artist. She did this all on her own, what incredible creativity.


Both girls inspired me to get out my art supplies and get to work! Paint Auntie Paint!

Love and big hugs to my Artist Nieces-- Auntie is incredibly impressed  and inspired by your art and creativity! Keep making art and taking photographs, you are strong and talented and I believe in you!

Original photographs and artwork are copyrighted to their creators 2018