Day 13 - Josh - Lessons Learned

Day 13 - Josh - Lessons Learned

This past summer I went to Utah to visit my son James and help his wife Angela after surgery.

Josh, 3, and I took a drive into town and stopped at the town square in Tremonton where they had a very nice war memorial.

 

I snapped this pic of Josh as he looked at a giant statue of a soldier in front on a stone monument.

 

I struggled with this painting, I like it, 

but I'm also disappointed.

It doesn't look like Josh.

Josh had on a blue shirt in the original pic,

but it was just too much blue,

(that from a Kentucky fan)

so I changed it to red. 

One of the things I learned was you have to study your subject very closely.  I knew something was off, but couldn't figure it out.  Then I realized Josh's head was too small.

In the pic it was out over his shoulder more.

There's several problems with it still,

but I can't fix it.

It's still not signed, so maybe tomorrow,

but I have to move on to another figure/portrait painting.  

This is all new to me, so I have to call it done,

learn from it

and move on.

Those are my Lessons Learned from this painting. 

Day 12 - Karter

Day 12 - Karter

Figure Painting 101

One of my goals during the challenge,

was to do figure painting.

I've never painted figures before.

I'm terrified of painting figures.

But today was THE day.

This shows toooo bright,

so

I tried again.

 

 

And this is toooo dark.

So it's somewhere in the middle.

 

My grandson Karter is a swimmer, among other things,

and going to swim meets is something I love to do,

but parking is always a nightmare,

and the chaos is almost unbelievable.

Fun, but crazy!

 

I took this photo last year when he was 8.

He is a great swimmer and swims on relays with much older boys and boys that swim year round.

 

Anyway,

tomorrow will be another figure painting.

 

I am totally exhausted from this,

and I need to go take a nap,

or eat a brownie,

or eat a brownie and then take a nap!

I like that idea.

 

Oh and by the way,

it's not for sale.

 

Blogaversary Update

 

I just drew out a name for my online iris painting class for my blogaversary.

 

Hope you're entered.

 

If not

Scroll back up to the top on the right hand side and put your email in the box that says

(wait for it)

"Subscribe To My Blog"

(get it - Blogaversary)

Put your email in the box and then when you receive an email asking you to confirm you actually did sign up,

confirm it.

Then you're in and there's nothing more to do.

If I draw your name out of my virtual hat,

I'll send you an email with 

"NO Joke! YOU WON!"

in the subject line.

Answer me in 24 hours and you get the prize.

 

 

Day 11 - Good Eatin

Day 11 -Good Eatin

First and foremost,

May everyone remember 9/11 today

as we mark the anniversary of one of the worst days,

in my lifetime, in America.

I pray for the families, the first responders and our nation as a whole as we continue to feel the effects of that day.

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My son was in last week and one day we went to Cincinnati, OH to Findlay Market and to Jungle Jim's, so much more than a grocery store.

Findlay Market has been around for well over 100 years

and it is so charmingly beautiful 

and I knew when I was there I would be painting from the reference photos I took.

 Let's Eat

10" x 10" Acrylic on a Panel

$75 (Only during the challenge) FREE Shipping

 

I remember going to Findlay Market as a child,

and it was impressive then.

I was very young and I still remember looking up at sausages hanging all hooked together in a long rope.

Here are a few process pics.

(I'd do more, but it's taking my computer forever to download).

 Putting buildings in.

 Doors and sides of buildings.

And right in the middle,

this happened.

Broke one of my fav brushes.

 I glued it back together .

 Putting details on doors, awnings, door handles.

 Shadows, signs, getting ready for the star of this show,

the lamp post.

That's right.

I did all that work so I'd have a back drop for a lamp post.

Findlay Market is in the old German section of Cincinnati,

(I know, which section of Cincinnati isn't an old German section)

The buildings are tall and skinny,

quaint,

beautifully painted,

and there are lots of flowers, flower boxes,

even flowers on lamp posts.

Findlay Market has food, glorious food

in all shapes, sizes, colors and smells.

The smells are incredible.

You can buy any kind of:

meat,

bread,

candy,

produce,

cheese,

fish,

ethnic food,

and the spices are incredible. 

We had a wonderful day,

and I'm sure I'll be going back.

Soon.

Till then,

I'll have to be content to paint from the reference photos I took.

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Blogaversary Update

I just notified two people of their winnings

and they both claimed their prizes!

I still have lots of paintings and online painting classes and a full blown art course to give away.

Scroll back up to the top on the right hand side and put your email in the box that says

(wait for it)

"Subscribe To My Blog"

(get it - Blogaversary)

Put your email in the box and then when you receive an email asking you to confirm you actually did sign up,

confirm it.

Then you're in and there's nothing more to do.

If I draw your name out of my virtual hat,

I'll send you an email with 

"NO Joke! YOU WON!"

in the subject line.

Answer me in 24 hours and you get the prize.

  

Day 10 - Flower Tangle

Day 10 - Flower Tangle

 Day 10 - Flower Tangle

Acrylic on 10" x 10" panel

$75 (Only during the challenge) FREE Shipping

(FYI This shows a little bluer than it really is)

Sometimes I know exactly where I want to go in a painting,

(doesn't mean it actually goes there) 

but it does mean I started out with a plan and maybe we wandered away from the plan, maybe we stuck with the plan.

This painting had absolutely No plan.

None

Nada

Nothing

But, regardless,

I like how it turned out.  

Remember all these paintings are priced at $75 with free shipping during the 30 paintings in 30 days challenge ONLY!

All prices will raise to $95 on October 1.

If ya want one,

now would be a really good time to lay claim to one.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Blogaversary in full swing

I just notified two people of their winnings.

I still have lots of paintings and online painting classes and a full blown art course to give away.

Scroll back up to the top on the right hand side and put your email in the box that says

(wait for it)

"Subscribe To My Blog"

(get it - Blogaversary)

Put your email in the box and then when you receive an email asking you to confirm you actually did sign up,

confirm it.

Then you're in and there's nothing more to do.

If I draw your name out of my virtual hat,

I'll send you an email with 

"NO Joke! YOU WON!"

in the subject line.

Answer me in 24 hours and you get the prize.

See,

not TOO difficult.

(It is easier to do on a laptop or desktop).

Now go get signed up if you haven't already.

Day 9 - Steam Heat

Day 9 - Steam Heat

Day 9 - Steam Heat
$75(only during the challenge) FREE Shipping 

On Day 9, I took my son James and his 9 year old daughter Karen to the airport to fly back home to Utah.

I've seen them twice this summer,
but that is an extreme rarety.
I might not see them again for another year.

On my way home from the airport on I-71,
the rolling hills near where I live
were often shrouded in fog,
and if there wasn't much fog, 
there was lots of steam coming up through the trees.

I talked myself through the composition on the way home.
Several layers of hills and trees, very gray sky, steam popping up all over the place.   
I guess it could be an eerie sight,

but if it's home, it's home. 

Any way, 
This bad boy didn't fight me too bad.
Here are a few time laps videos to see the process.

 
 

  

I purchased an app to put them all together,
but that hasn't worked out too well yet,
so you'll have to watch them separately.
Sorry,
Too much drama of all kinds this morning to fix it.

Blogaversary News
I've given away note cards and a small painting,
and I'm trying to give away one of four of my single subject iris online painting classes.

Yet to be given away:

 1.  4 more small paintings.

2.  2 medium sized paintings
 
3. 1 8" x 10" framed painting

4. 3 more single subject iris online painting classes

5. 1 full blown online art course.

To get in on the fun,
scroll back to the top right,
(works best on a lap or desk top)
and put your email in the 
"Subscribe to My Blog" box.
Then you'll receive an email asking you to confirm
that you did sign up. 
Once you've confirmed you should start receiving my blog in your inbox.
You'll be entered for everything I give away.

Have a great weekend.