Sunday, January 3, 2016
Day 3
Day 3 of Leslie Saeta's online challenge of 30 Paintings in 30 Days. This is Face #16 of my personal challenge of painting 100 faces. Isn't she a cutie?!
Day 2
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| Oil - 6 x 6 |
This is my painting for Day 2 of Leslie Saeta's online challenge of 30 Paintings in 30 Days. It is my own personal challenge of painting One Hundred Faces - #15.
Friday, January 1, 2016
Hello 2016
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| Sebastian - 6 x 6 |
I have signed up for Leslie Saeta's 30 Paintings in 30 Days! So for the next few days I will continue to paint my 100 faces. The above painting is of a dear friend's daughter meeting her son for the first time. I just love how the mom is holding her son so dearly and the baby looks like he is trying to look at his mom and it brings tears to my eyes to see that precious wrinkled finger touching his mother.
New Life and a New Year!
Thursday, October 1, 2015
14 Paintings in 30 Days
The month of September was full of learning and letting go. I have been in the Sierra's for the last three weeks and thought I would have oodles of time to paint since some of that time I was at the cabin alone.
Number One - I went to a larger size canvas. In January's online challenge to paint 30 paintings in 30 days, I used 6 x 6 panels and this time I was using 8 x 10. Just that little difference made for a longer painting session.
Number Two - I used my own photographs for the most part instead of an artist's rendering which is what I did in January. With the photograph I had to make my own decisions as to how I perceived the image.....this took longer than the artist's rendering where they have already made most of the decisions for you, like cropping, composition, coloring, etc.
Number Three - In January I was very disciplined about having a daily painting schedule. There was something about being in the mountains this time that made me think....."I'm on vacation and there will be plenty of time later."
Number Four - Was about cutting myself some slack and being proud of what I did accomplish in 30 days. I have 14 new paintings that I would not of had otherwise!
I still intend on doing my 30 paintings but now on a more leisurely schedule. I'll keep you posted!
Sunday, September 20, 2015
Challenge - Day 13
This green shuttered house was painted while relaxing with family and friends in Lake Tahoe! Day 13 of Leslie Saeta's online challenge of painting 30 Paintings in 30 Days.
Saturday, September 12, 2015
Painting Challenge - Day 10, 11 & 12
Day 10 of Leslie Saeta's online painting challenge 30 Paintings in 30 Days was of a small window in a house in the French Pyrenees. Friends of ours own this house and barn up in the Pyrenees near the town of Banca. What I found interesting about this window was the little hole in the shutter and the sliding cover. The window faces the barn and I imagine the farmers wife yelling for her husband to come in for dinner through the little hole during a cold winter snowstorm.
Day 11 is of a charming yellow door with wonky stone steps leading up to it with a beautiful climbing rose on the wall nearby.
Day 12 is of a row of windows with light green shutters and window boxes full of a jumble of flowers tumbling out. Location is in Dinan France.
Monday, September 7, 2015
Challenge - Day 7
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| Day 7 - Dinan, FR |
Sorry if you received two posts today as I forgot to publish Day 6 on time! So it is officially one week into this challenge and Day 7 is of two lovely shuttered window where the late afternoon sunlight is casting long shadows across the stones and the white shutters. I love how "wonky" and ancient everything feels!
This is Day 7 in Leslie Saeta's online challenge 30 Paintings in 30 Days.
Saturday, September 5, 2015
Challenge - Day 5
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| Day 5 - Dinan, FR |
My husband and I have traveled to this little town in France several times. Dinan is a walled Breton town with many half-timbered buildings along cobblestone streets. I enjoy sitting along the river bank sketching the delightful town & her people.
This is day 5 in Leslie Saeta's online challenge - 30 Paintings in 30 Days.
Challenge - Day 6
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| Day 6 - Lamon, Italy |
Ten years ago I was fortunate enough to visit where my grandparents came from in Northern Italy. It is quite common in those areas to see this type of shutter on windows. Many times there would be an elderly woman watching the activity on the street or talking to a neighbor through them.
This is Day 6 of Leslie Saeta's online challenge - 30 Paintings in 30 Days.
Friday, September 4, 2015
Challenge - Day 4
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| Day 4 - Santa Fe, NM |
Several years ago I took a workshop with Carol Marine in Santa Fe, NM with fellow painter Nancy Hartley. Early one morning I walked around town and snapped some photos of doorways and windows. Amazing colors around that area of New Mexico!
So this is Day 4 of Leslie Saeta's 30 Paintings in 30 Days challenge. My theme for the 30 days is Passageways.
Thursday, September 3, 2015
Challenge - Day 3
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| Day 3 - Saint-Maximin-la-Sainte-Baume |
Saint-Maximin-la-Sainte-Baume is a small village in Southern France near Aix-en-Provence and is known for it Basilica which has relics of Mary Magdalene. There were some beautifully painted buildings near the Basilica and when I spotted this one with the linen outside airing, it reminded me of Italy. I love how part of the scene is in shadow while the rest is flooded in bright sunshine!
This is Day 3 of Leslie Saeta's 30 paintings in 30 days online challenge!
Wednesday, September 2, 2015
Day 2 Challenge
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| Day 2 - Saint-Cirq-Lapopie |
Saint-Cirq-Lapopie is named one of "Les Plus Beaux Villages de France" meaning it's one of the most beautiful villages in France. It's a quaint little village in South-Western France in the Lot area. My husband and I traveled there just last Fall. I have several windows from this charming little village!
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| The archway going into Saint-Cirq-Lapopie |
Tuesday, September 1, 2015
Day 1 for 30 in 30
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| Day 1 - The Blue Garden Door |
Last month I decided to once again join the online challenge of painting 30 paintings in 30 days!
After much deliberation on what to actually paint, I decided on Windows and Doors or what I like to think of as Passageways! I have so many photos that I have taken of passageways through our various travels that it was fun to go through them and reminisce about that particular trip.
This photo is actually one that I got off of a website that I use often for reference - Paint My Photo
It's a place where photographers and artists come together to share reference material. Thank you Rodney Campbell for the great shot!
Monday, February 2, 2015
I Have De-Boned the Duck
Day 30
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| After Toulouse-Lautrec |
I am sure many of you have seen the movie Julie & Julia in which the character, Julie keeps putting off the intimidating recipe where she has to de-bone a duck. My husband said at the beginning of this challenge of 30 Paintings in 30 Days, that it reminded him of that scene in the movie.
So my friends, I have completed the challenge with Painting #30 today.
Like Julie says in the move, one must be fearless - No Fear!
Sunday, February 1, 2015
Make up for Day 29
30 Paintings in 30 Days
Saturday, January 31, 2015
Final Day for 30 in 30
So Saturday was day number 30 in Leslie Saeta's challenge of 30 Paintings in 30 Days of which I am showing 28 in my collage above.
My husband and I took a trip to Yosemite and that threw me behind in the challenge for several days but I intend to catch up this week and finish my final two!
It has been a great challenge and I loved getting up each morning with an idea already planned to paint. But in a few days it will be good to get back to my own paintings and commissions!
Thanks to all for viewing and your support through this challenge!
Tuesday, January 27, 2015
Love that Man......et!
30 Paintings in 30 Days
Monday, January 26, 2015
After Thiebaud
30 Paintings in 30 Days
Sunday, January 25, 2015
One More Sorolla and a Hinkle
30 Paintings in 30 Days
After Sorolla (again!)
His nose really isn't this lavender, nor is his ear so red! Something is happening with my camera settings!!
And I needed to make up Day #2 as I was babysitting my niece's children that day and I just could not paint!
Day 2
After Clarence Hinkle (1880-1960)
Loved the dappled sunlight!
Saturday, January 24, 2015
After Vuillard
30 Paintings in 30 Days
OK. I have to tell you. I picked this one because of the hat!
Now for the original artist.....I think it is Edouard Vuillard. At least that is who it was attributed to on Pinterest but when I went to find it today on the internet, it had disappeared. Oh, it was still on Pinterest but when I Googled Vuillard, she didn't show up. When I went to the match program on Art.com, she didn't show up. So there you are. A great hat and an unknown artist.
Only 6 more days!




























