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

ART-Thankful 2017

The Studio: Artists Taking a Break

As I look back this year, I am so thankful for my art friends, family and community.

The Studio

This is a creative and happy place that I am so lucky to have found. I have a good day each and every time I gather my art gear and meet my art friends at the studio. The studio space is a calm and wonderful environment (and I am more motivated there than at home). No matter the weather or my mood, I go to the studio--my disposition is always improved there! Additionally, I  have met the most wonderful group of dedicated  and talented artists at the studio.

The Artists/Community
I am so lucky and grateful to have an art community that is supportive and encouraging. Community means that I am not an artist alone. I can consult and question and get support from my group of artist friends--this happens often.  I have artists friends whom I paint with at the studio weekly.  Then I have friends in monthly Art Critique. And I have connections via memberships with art associations both local and online. This network of artists is vitally important to me and to my artistic development.

I am thankful for:
My Spouse: he supports me and understands that my art is work

My Family: I think they are starting to understand this strange career path of mine.

My Art Mentors: They support me and paint with me and give me advice and critique my work. I do not have 'A Mentor' per say but I do count on my art studio friends and their advice and companionship, my invaluable art resources.

My Instructors: Mostly via workshops these days, but I appreciate advice and insight and I do love listening and learning, trying to glean as much as I can. I get little bits at a time, someday it will all stick!

My Art Friends: We can talk and information share. We talk mostly about art and mediums and workshops and frustrations. The forum in the studio with artists is incredibly helpful. Plus my friends have directed me to art shows, art instructors, art books and Dvds--all help me grow as an Artist.

Lastly, I am thankful that I can dedicate my time to the pursuit of art. These last few years have been wonderful and I look forward to more art making in 2018.

Looking Back & Looking Forward

It’s Been A Very Good Year -- Looking Back

SOLD! Eyes of Time

I have completed several personal favorite paintings in 2017. 

I know/knew that I like an ‘unfinished’ portrait look—to which I aspire but have not yet mastered. My favorite portrait paintings seem unfinished which some call studies, but personally I know it is too easy to overwork a painting.  Knowing when to stop painting is a talent too! 

Constructing Colin

Constructing Colin and Eyes of Time are two of my favorite paintings from this year. Eyes of Time also sold this year and I knew from the time I finished painting it that it was something special.  My focus the last half of the year has been landscapes but there were some portrait breakthroughs. 

Quick Study 5x7 Ellicott City Shop

Another 2017 item was Quick Studies, small paintings (5x7) typically completed in an hour. I have a nice little stack of these in my studio and they have helped me to learn about fast decisions, compositions and paint application. Not every one is a winner, but often I feel satisfied with my results. 

Bustance Barn

Bustance Barn was painted en plein air-- out on a dirt road (outside and onsite) at my first plein air retreat. It was exhausting and wonderful, painting and visiting with artists for days, an amazing retreat --critiques at night being my favorite part. I was proud that I captured the sunny and shady sides of the barn. I knew that I was going against the composition rules and putting the barn in the center of the canvas, but I really wanted the barn to be big on the canvas. I still am proud of this one as I feel that I captured the the light and shadow.

It’s Been A Very Good Year -- Looking Forward

In 2018, I will continue my portrait work and improve my 'Painting-The-Portrait-From-Life' skills. And once again, I want to focus on Plein Air painting, at least one day a week outside in Summer and Fall. Also, there are several juried shows which I hope to enter. Brushwork is something that I really need to focus my attention on and I plan on spending time studying other artist works and of course painting more!

I am comfortable with my color palette, I am able to get skin tone (portrait) and greens (landscape) and this is very important. In 2018, I am seriously considering doing the Color Charts which involves a lot of mixing, but which would enhance my color knowledge. I am going to read more about painters and painting and thoughts on painting. And, I am going to try to work on my paint 'control'. I paint intuitively but perhaps I need to slow down and be more precise...

Here are some of my favorite works from this last year…

In My Heart

La Frida Nueva

SOLD! Sunflowers At County Farm

The Pink Scarf

September at Matthaei Bridge

Brighter Than Sunshine

Of Avonlea 

Back to the Quick Studies

Heritage Barn, 5x7  Nov 2017

A Year AGO almost to THE Day, we began Art Quick Studies



I find great value in painting small Quick Studies which is something that I started doing almost exactly a year ago. In 2016 we started with 5 Quick Study Members, today we have 10 Members! I am so proud of the Quick Study painters, artists who post and comment on our Quick Studies each week. I have learned that the term "small works" has a different meaning for each artist. I love a nice little 5x7 canvas panel (Centurion) whereas my friend Janet can whip out a 'small' 8x10 in no time!

Bright Fall 7x5 Nov 2017

I feel that I have become a more decisive plein air painter --in part due to the practice of Quick Studies. Unfortunately, I got so busy in August and September that I went way off track and lost my Quick Study mojo! I did not get any Quick Studies done for several months! Oh no!

I have to get back to the twice a week, one hour each, small quick study. I REALLY do believe there is value in this biweekly painting practice.

What I have learned from painting Quick Studies:

• FAST DECISIONS: They help me to make fast decisions when plein air painting. I did many Quick Studies before my first Paint Out this year, I think they helped me out in the field.
• It is EASY TO START a Quick study, most I complete at home with a one hour timer. Although I did complete a Quick Study during the plein air paint out--I had just enough time to do one! Also, it is a great way to start or finish a plein air day, this is a good painting warm-up exercise.
• COMPOSITIONS seem to come more easily to me when I plein air paint.
• LESS PRESSURE: There is less pressure to make a 'perfect' painting when it is a Quick Study
• SCHEDULE: One hour of painting works into my schedule (most of the time). I NEED to make time for these!
• SMALL WORKS ARE SHOW WORTHY: Many area galleries have annual Small Works shows, I have a Quick Study in a show right now!
• FUN: The Quick Paintings are fun to do! 

Here's to one more successful year of Quick Studies - paint on!