Day 30 - Show Off

Day 30 !!!!! - Show Off

Not me, the daisies!

8" x 8" acrylic on a panel

$95 + $6 shipping.

These daisies grow in my yard and they spread like crazy.  Notice that one in the middle, staring at us, seems to be saying, "I am the prettiest, the biggest and the best daisy in the garden".  There's always one in every crowd who is a show off.  Even in this crowd.

Thank you for coming along on this journey with me.  I hope it hasn't been as exhausting for you as it has been for me!  I am tired, but no time to rest this week.  Teaching garden stones tonight, teaching grade school teachers tomorrow night, Friday night I'm hosting an opening reception at River Run Gallery Fun Art Studio, 449 Main St., Carrollton, KY., from 4-8 p.m.  The 30 paintings in 30 days will all be there ready for you to view them.  We'll have food, friends and fun and hopefully you.

 

Day 29 - Precious

Day 29 - Precious

OMG!  She is so precious!

8" x 8" acrylic on a panel

$95 + $6

My husband, Jim, raises lots of animals on our small farm.  He has rabbits, goats, a calf, miniature horses, pigeons and sheep.  Sheep are calm and mostly nice.  The rams will, however, often but you if he thinks you're doing something he doesn't like.  The mom, though are sweet and very good mothers.  

Baby goats sometimes struggle at birth and we sometimes keep them in a box in our kitchen in the winter.  Baby lambs are much stronger and within minutes are  bouncing around.  And, they are so CUTE!  

Thank you for following along on this, my fourth 30 paintings in 30 days challenge and I hope you have enjoyed the "scenes from my front door".  Friday, Oct. 3, 4-8 p.m. is an opening reception and all 30 paintings will be on display.  If I painted something of yours and you would like to purchase it, you can take 10% off that night.  Please stop by and enjoy some food, fun and friends.   

Day 28 - My Blue Heaven

Day 28 - My Blue Heaven

8" x 8" acrylic on a panel

$95 + $6 shipping

I live out on a small farm in Kentucky and we have lots of hills and trees and the sunsets are often spectacular, but they don't last long.  I snapped this one Friday night on the way into the house.  Then I tried to paint in from my cell phone pic on Saturday for Sunday's painting.  I have barely been able to keep up let alone get ahead, so this is the first time I've been ahead since Day One.

I've done the 30 in 30 days challenge by Leslie Saeta all four times now and as I've said, this has been the hardest of the four.  I don't know that I'll go again if we do it in January.  But we'll have to see.

Friday, Oct. 3, from 4-8 p.m I'm having a reception at River Run Gallery Fun Art Studio, 449 Main St., Carrollton, KY featuring the  30 paintings in 30 days.  Please come out and join me, if you're in the area.  We'll have some fun, food, friends and art, as seen from my front door.

Day 27 Red Case

Day 27 - Red Case 

8" x 8" acrylic on a panel

$95 + $6 shipping

I'm not sure if it's vintage or antique, but I do know it's beautiful.

But it's also red.  All red.  Everything is red.

And that's really hard to show a shape  or features if everything is one color.

I mixed up a half a  dozen or more of reds so I could get some shape and dimension. 

Even the engine is red.

Good thing the tires are black.

Day 27.  The challenge is almost over.
Friday, Oct. 3, 4-8 p.m. at River Run Gallery, 449 Main St., Carrollton, KY.,
 I'm having an artist reception featuring all 30 paintings.
There will be some light refreshments, friends and hopefully you.
Please stop in.

 

Day 26 - Two For Tea

Day 26 - Two For Tea

8" x 8" acrylic on a panel

$95 + $6 shipping

Day 26, only four more to go in the 30 paintings in 30 days challenge and I see daylight.  Please don't be a train.  This time the challenge has been very challenging, but I have had several break through moments and that's what happens when you can paint every day with some kind of goal.  The goal can be to paint 20 minutes, to paint using two colors and white, to paint something I've never painted before, to not let a pear kick me all over the studio.  This one did.

I've never painted a pear before and I've heard several people say how hard they are with all the angles.  Well, they were right.  The pear was much harder than the apple.  The teapot, oh the teapot.  I love it and all it's reflections bouncing everywhere since it is enamel.  It was a great find at a local auction recently.

Thanks for following along on this journey this month.  Whew,I'm tired! 

Day 25 - Main Street Hibiscus

Day 25 - Main Street Hibiscus

 8" x 8" acrylic on a panel

$95 + $6 shipping

This potted hibiscus can be seen from my gallery, since that's my theme, "scenes from my front door".  If you live in Carrollton, KY., no doubt you've seen it, but where have you seen it.  Think hard I'm sure it will come to you.  Leave a comment if you know where to find it.

Breakthrough Moment:   As I was painting this I had a break through moment painting the leaves.  I have had trouble in the past painting a flower with a trumpet center, but I also learned a lot about that from this flower.  I photographed it and painted it from the photo.  The most important part of being an artist is learning how to see, and I stared at this photo a lot before and during the painting process.  I learned how to get the ruffles in the petals and how to get the trumpet looking longer.  You have to make a hard edge across the front of the trumpet in a lighter shade with the back of the trumpet being darker and with no bend. 

Thank you for following along on this challenge and you're invited to a gallery opening Friday, October 3, from 4-8 p.m.  I'll have all 30 paintings on display with information about each one.  If you own the building or item I painted and want to purchase it, you will receive a 10% discount that night. 

Day 24 - Dinner at Grandma's

Dinner At Grandma's

8" x 8" acrylic on a panel

$95 + $6 shipping

This is my plate from my Grandma Kirk's best Sunday China.  I doubt I ever ate off of it because I don't think I ever got to eat at the dining room table.  We were always at a card table in the living room with all the "children".  But I have a plate.

I've looked all over the country for more plates or other pieces to go with my plate, but I've never found one single piece.  It's got freesias and not roses, so you don't see them every day.  But any way, it hangs on the wall and it can be seen from my front door which is my theme.

Only six more days and the challenge will be over.  I'm exhausted this time, but I'm going to make it.  But I may not be able to do it again in January this time.  But I have learned so much from each challenge I've participated in and I am so grateful to all my family and friends who have followed along on this journey.

 

Day 23 - Tent City

Day 23 - Tent City

 Tent City

8" x 8" acrylic on a panel

$95 + $6 shipping

It's fall and festivals are happening everywhere.  Carrollton, KY is no different as we have the tobacco festival this weekend.  Carrollton once was the king of the burley tobacco market and this festival has been going on for over 60 years.

There's a parade, pageants, the bucket brigade, rides, fried everything, raffles, giveaways, and lots of things for sale.  There is free entertainment every night and dancing in the street.

The two tents I painted are directly across the street from River Run Gallery.  The pageants were held there the last several nights.  I had a really bad day yesterday, painting and otherwise, so this one is a day late, but as long as I get the 30 paintings done in 30 days it counts in my world.

Thank you so much for following along on my crazy challenging journey this month.  I appreciate everyone of you.   

Day 22 - Banana Shade

Day 22 - Banana Shade

This little park scene is steps from River Run Gallery,

But it was kicking my behind all over the sidewalk.

I've never painted banana leaves before,

And they were fun figuring out how to paint them.

The tables were another story.

I'm thinking about changing the color of the umbrellas,

but this is the color they are right now.

I don't know what will happen to these banana trees,

cause we get snow in Kentucky,

so they'll need to come out of there.

Anyway, this little bit of paradise is a beautiful tropical spot in Carrollton, KY.

 

Day 21 - Sunday Afternoon

Day 21 - Sunday Afternoon

Day 21 - Sunday Afternoon

8" x 8" acrylic on a panel $95 + $6 shipping

Small towns all across the country look a lot like this.  Empty.  Shops, stores and offices closed up.
Quiet. Restful. Unassuming.

Only nine more days in the 30 paintings in 30 days challenge.  Time has flown by.  I have grown a lot and had several break through moments.  This painting has some of the benefits of those break throughs.  Perspective has given me fits in the past, but I'm beginning to make some progress.  I had to draw this several times, because I couldn't get it right.  The street is going up hill but the angles of the buildings and windows needed to go down hill.  I knew what had to happen but I didn't know how to do it.  Finally, I saw it in my head.  Stop thinking about it and just do it.  So I did.   

Day 20 - The Pumpkin Patch

Day 20 - The Pumpkin Patch

Here in Carrollton, KY we are having yard sales and side walk sales 

all around the court house square.

It's a beautiful day, even if a little breezy.

A lady unloaded a bunch of pumpkins from her truck

so you know I had to paint one or two.

Day 19 - Hog Wild

Day 19 - Hog Wild

And Wild It Is.

This sits out on the street in front of the gallery daily,

and it is beautiful.  

 I haven't ridden a motorcycle since 1973,

but this is so pretty.

And it had lots of challenges.

Not to mention all the shapes, 

the distance perspective,

glass,

and all that chrome.

Hog Wild 

8" x 8" acrylic on a panel

$95 + $6 shipping

Day 18 - Abstract Sunflower

Day 18 - Abstract Sunflower

After being kicked all around the gallery today, starting over twice,

I finally decided the piece I was trying to do was too difficult to fit into an 8"x8" panel,

I didn't have the patience,

I couldn't get the perspective right

or any other excuse you want to create.

I wanted to complete a painting using my theme of "Scenes from my front door"

so I did what any self respecting artist would do,

I improvised. 

I got out my file of photos of things I've photographed in my front yard and voila'

Out came this sunflower.

It was in my front yard with all this beautiful light coming through lots of green leaves of some sort.

So,

here is Day 18 - Abstract Sunflower

8" x 8" acrylic on a panel

$95 + $6 shipping

Day 17 - Gased and Ready

Day 17 - Gased and Ready

This boat can be seen from the deck of River Run Gallery 

in Carrollton, KY.

It's at a private dock and I'm pretty sure it's gased and ready to go at a moment's notice.

I've been working on improving my perspective and this gave me lots of challenge.

Or as a friend I worked with would say, "Here's an opportunity to learn something."

I did learn a lot from this painting.

I also love to paint water and reflections.  

These were really fun because there were so many layers of reflections.  

Gased and Ready

8" x 8" acrylic on a panel

$95 + $6 shipping. 

Day 16 - Barred

Day 16 - Barred

This was a really fun painting to do because I did it plein air in front of the library.

I had lots of people walking by commenting on it, and at one time I had a pretty good size group of young people watching and asking questions.

One young man wanted to know what I was doing.

I told him I was painting the jail.

He said, "I know that, but why are you painting?"

I replied, "because that's what I do".

I thought about the exchange the rest of the evening and I don't know why,

it's just what I do.

 8" x 8" acrylic on a panel

$95 + $6 shipping

This jail is old, like Carrollton and it was used up until the late 1960's or early 70's as a jail.  It has four cells and a pot bellied stove in the middle to heat them all.  The windows are narrow slits in the stone work and they have glass now,but I'm not sure they always did.   It is a tourist attraction today and you can go in and walk all the way around the cells.  The Main St. office is upstairs, just under that over hang on the right.  You can take your photo in one of those scenes with the holes cut out for your face.  It's kind of creepy when you go in for the first time, and I've had more than one grandchild back their way out almost before they got in. 

So all you artists out there, put in the comments why you paint.  I'm still thinking about that answer myself.

OMG It's Day 15 - Dreams

OMG!  It's Day 15

Do You Have Dreams

I don't know how many of you had these kind of dreams as a little girl,

but I sure did.

This tutu and pointe shoes are in the dance studio down the street from me.

We all have dreams of one kind or another.

These were mine until I was about 17.

Then I finally realized I was not flexible enough,

didn't have good hip turnout,

and probably just didn't want it badly enough.

This is not quite ready for prime time,

a tweak and there needs to be done,

but it's day 15 and I can't dawdle.

I must move on to the next one.

Day 14 - Decco Daisies

Day 14 - Decco Daisies

8" x 8" acrylic on a panel

$95 + $6 shipping

I had a great time painting this still life.  I've never painted an apple or grapes before.  They were loads of fun and I'm sure I'll be painting them again.  

Day 13 - Light It Up

Day 13 - Light It Up

$95 + $6 shipping

The Carroll County Courthouse Square is right across the street from

River Run Gallery Fun Art Studio.

The courthouse was recently renovated inside and out 

and is surrounded by these beautiful Bradford pear trees and these vintage lamp posts.

This is my view out the front door of the gallery.  
So many pretty sites in such a small town.
 

Day 12 - Primary

Day 12 - Primary

8" x 8" acrylic on a panel

$95 + $6 shipping

Painting these beauties has been lots of fun.  I've seen them in so many different ways.

Learning to paint carnations has been challenging, but not as challenging as trying to get internet in my gallery.  I've spent a fair amount of time lately trying to get internet in the gallery and I still don't have it.  So, I'm frustrated.

But, the best thing about painting is you get so immersed, you forget all about your frustrations, aggravations and all else that weighs you down.

It's just you and the paint.  

Day 11 - Foggy Bottom

Day 11 - Foggy Bottom

This is out my back door looking out at our lake.

I know, you can't really see a lake.

It was covered up by fog.

8" x 8" acrylic on a panel

$95 + $6

Day 10 - Public Display

Day 10 - Public Display

This old courthouse has been around for years and years.

It has markings in the hall from the 1937 flood.

There are three floors and many county offices are here. 

This building has many angles and it has given me fits as I have tried to draw it before.

But today, I'm not sure what happened,

but I saw things I have never seen before and was able to get a fair representation down quickly.

The building has much more gingerbread on it than shown here,

but I got the angles and that's what I was concerned with.

Day 10 Public Display

 

8" x 8" acrylic on a panel

$95 + $6 shipping.

Day 9 - Deck Decco

Day 9 - Decking the Deck

The deck off the back of River Run Gallery faces the Ohio river.

It's a small deck, but it's fun to paint out there, when I get the chance.

I have these beautiful flowers left from Mary Ebert's artist of the month opening

and I have had a great time painting them and the new-to-me vases

I recently purchased at a local auction.

8" x 8" acrylic on a panel

$95 + $6 shipping

Tomorrow I will be 1/3 of the way through the 30 paintings in 30 days challenge.

WoooooHooooo!

Day 8 Solitary

Day 8 - Solitary

8" x 8" acrylic on a panel

$95 + $6 shipping

This is a view from my back deck at River Run Gallery Fun Art Studio in Carrollton, KY.  The road leads down to the boat dock and there is this one lone solitary tree. 

I got this done at the right time for the challenge, and I got it on the riverrungallery.blogspot.com blog, but I didn't get it on my personal blog until today.  Please forgive me.

 

Day 7 - I Made It Through the Week

Day 7

 Wow!  

I made it through the first week.

My theme, scenes from my front door is still in tact.

8" x 8" acrylic on a panel

$95 + $6 shipping

  These flowers are currently sitting near my front door.

They are from Mary Ebert's opening reception last night.

The vases I bought recently at a local auction.

How do you like all that blue and orange.

Your eye likes it because they are opposites on the color wheel

which makes them complements.

Your eye likes complements.

Complements work together also.

If you mix complements, it works great for shadows and lowlights.

Day 6 Kentucky Gold

Day 6 Kentucky Gold

This is a familiar sight where I live.

Coal traveling up and down the Ohio river to different utility companies, every day.

Tons and tons of coals every day.

8" x8" acrylic on a panel

$95 + $6 shipping

Day 5 - Watching Dishes

Day 5 - Watching Dishes

Don't you mean washing dishes?

No I really don't.

One of my kittens, likes to sit in my kitchen window watch me wash dishes.

So this morning I snapped her picture and then painted her at the gallery.

   She stares at me

and then stares at the dishes I'm washing.

She needs a name.

Leave your suggestions in the comments please.

8" x 8" acrylic on a panel $95