Reflections Of 2019

A Time to Reflect and to Start 2020 Goals

to help me: Time Tracking Journal & Pens

Looking back on my art for 2019, I feel that this has been a good professional art year for me. I stayed focused on painting more and on using more paint, my biggest overall goal. My art group and I had two large shows (back to back) -we had to create and frame and schedule it all. And, I balanced the portrait painting with painting en plein air.

A Review of  my Art 2019:

• I won an award early on at a juried show: Poetry And Art Night (PAN)
• I was juried into a Week Long plein Air Event in Texas
• I discovered a new professional organization - Portrait Society of America (PSA)
• I discovered new amazing national artists to aspire to at the PSA 
• I discovered a new favorite art tool - Oil Sticks
• Oil sticks are a turning point as it has changed my approach to art, and I am more inspired, more creative, and laying down more paint
• I have 4 smallworks landscapes juried into a show - Northville Art House
• I attended one portrait workshop and one plein air workshop. But I did not find an art workshop with an "Aspire To" artist. I identified my Aspire To Artists last year and have kept an eye on their websites in hopes that they post workshops.
• I sold paintings at two different shows! I had artwork in 8 shows this year (most juried)

Met Goals 

• Paint more/use more paint -- this has been number one for awhile. And yes, I still want to PAINT MORE!
• More plein air painting
• Consistent blog and website updating
• Sell larger work - sold a 12X16 portrait! 

Un-Met Goals:
Time Tracking App - hmm. My hubby helped me find a free time tracker app --that I tried to use, really!  My life gets so interrupted (Senoir dogs who had cancer and diabetes this year)!  I would forget to start the app timer and forget to stop it. Literally the minute I sit down at the easel, a dog barks to go outside or has a diabetes issue -every time! Since I am still a list maker (pen and paper), I just ordered supplies from amazon - a daily journal and some pens--  gonna try this 'manual time tracker'-- gotta figure out what works for me!

As I look back, I note happily that I  am getting stronger and more confident in the art world. And, I have lots of thoughts for my 2020 goals to improve as an artist...stay tuned...

Plein Air MY Heart

Fall 2019

The weather this fall has not been warm and lovely as it has in the past and yet I made a huge effort to get outside and plein air paint as I know that Winter is Coming! Being outside this fall I have mostly had issues with “breezy” as seriously weather forecasters, let’s call it what it is – gusty! Gusts are not conducive to plein air painting! In the past, there have been sunny calm 70s fall days, but that is not the case this year - bummer! Still, I know it will only get colder and greyer, I gotta get out while I can! 

One art friend and I have been trying to get together to plein air paint, she is a busy lady with many social commitments, its been tough. Finally, we made some time and some plans. We headed to downtown and the houses being hit with sunlight were so pretty! We each painted a different house on the street and it was really fun. Then we went back and painted one street over, where I found my skeleton in front of a cute little house. Love him! Always in this little town they decorate with skeletons in the fall, this time I had saw more skeletons than ever!

Then, I found a new plein air group and they meet twice a month which is thrilling! I was so glad to have found them. The first time I met them, the weather was not great, it frosted that morning and was breezy and cold! It was in the 40s—colder than I like to paint in. So I put on my thermal underwear, long sleeves, scarf, sweater, puffy coat, fingerless gloves, hand and feet warmers. I felt overdressed but with the breeze I was warm enough. And, I feel that I got a great painting and made new art friends!