Like Button

Thursday, December 19, 2013

To Paint or Not to Paint

What Say You?

January brings cold, snow, sleet, hail, rain
and 30 paintings in 30 days.

I'm still exhausted from the September Challenge.

My question to you all is,
Would you do it if you were me?
When I first heard about the challenge,
my eyes crossed with the daunting challenge.

But now that I've had a few days to consider it,
I'm beginning to think,
I may not make it all the way through, like I have with the other 2 challenges,
but there are things I want to paint and things I want to learn to paint.

Here's what I did during the first challenge.
Several are missing because the template didn't have room for 30 anythings.
I stretched my daring to paint a chicken which I was very pleased with,
and a whole series of beach paintings.
I painted my first still life with the tennis shoes and sea shells.
So that was all good.

These are from the September 2013 challenge.
I really made an effort to make things easier on myself 
by being more organized. 

I'm trying to survive Christmas right now with a sinus infection and a kidney problem.
So I don't know how much of that organization will happen this time.

But on this past challenge I learned an awful lot.
My painting really improved and that is an important part of the challenge.
I sold several of these really quickly and I had a great time,
even though I drove to Oklahoma for a private lesson with Jerry Yarnell,
Jim and I went to Myrtle Beach,
I still completed the challenge.

SO,
Please give me your opinion and advice.

Shall I paint or not
and do you want to see it as it happens?

 

16 comments:

  1. Dear, dear Sharon...I think you cannot HELP but paint! I look forward to seeing what you do, but please don't create any extra stress for yourself! Paint as you can...

    ReplyDelete
  2. Thanks Meredith. I'm not stressing, just trying to figure out what I want to learn this time.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I meant not to create stress in January...sounds like you've got enough going on....

      Delete
  3. I would do it, but don't bother with the 30 in 30. Just do what you can. It all helps.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Sharon, I am not sure what to tell you since I am also undecided about the 30 in 30 January challenge. I did it in 2013, but not sure whether to sign up again. I really hope your sinus infection and kidney problem get better soon.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Fay. I still have no decision and the deadline looms. But I will be painting in January, I just don't know if it will be every day. Sinus infection is doing better, not sure of the kidney yet. So appreciate your comment.

      Delete
  5. Paint how you want to Sharon...you will know if it's too stressful! I did one challenge, and I'm glad I did it....but... I learned I do not paint well under pressure, I am not a fast painter. I say go with your intuition!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Karen. I need to slow down, so this sort of puts me in a speed zone. Trying to learn it's not a race. But that's how I attack everything. Full bore or not at all.

      Delete
  6. Thanks Meredith and Sea. I appreciate your encouragement and support.

    ReplyDelete
  7. This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
  8. You did great with the previous challenges. Better than I felt I did. I have discovered that I paint better when it is from the heart and when I painted for the challenge it became more of a have-to rather than a
    want-to. So after sharing that info, you can see I cannot advise you, I can only relate my own experience.
    I love what you do and will be checking to see what your decision turns out to be.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you so much Julie. When I laid it all out for the Sept challenge, they were all things I would have painted with or without the challenge. I'm trying to figure out what I want to learn this time. I love your fracturing technique. It definitely intrigues me.

      Delete
  9. I agree if it doesn't stress you to do it that you should go for it. The upside is it makes you paint and that's all good. Merry Christmas sweet friend.

    ReplyDelete
  10. You're so right Barb. It does get me into my studio working and that's the main point I think. I learn so much during the challenge. Thanks for taking the time to comment as always Barb. You're the best.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Sharon, so sorry to hear that you're not feeling well. As for the challenge, I like what Julie said about painting "from the heart". I also like the idea of painting every day, but my best work is when I can take my time about it. I'm signed up for the 30 in 30, but will probably not post a new painting each day. My goal is to paint larger. Take care, and feel better!

    ReplyDelete
  12. Thanks Linda. I appreciate the advice. It seems I need to have a deadline or something to get me into my studio every day for a month. I don't know how all you daily painters do it every day. I love it and I learn so much, but I don't have the stamina to keep it up week after week. You're my hero.

    ReplyDelete

Receive my blog in your inbox

About Me

My photo
Ghent, Kentucky, United States
I'm a nature artist and I love to paint old barns, rivers and lakes, trees and fence rows and flowers. I work almost daily. You can purchase paintings by contacting me at slgraves6@gmail.com and there is also a tab across the top of my blog for available paintings and one for small paintings with buy now buttons. You can also purchase through my Etsy shop using the name of Fine Nature Art. . Thank you so much for stopping by.