September Challenge #21

SOLD

Day 21 of the 30 day challenge. It was nice to have some time to paint today without feeling so stressed about the time. I did take the morning to do some housekeeping tasks that have been sitting undone for the past week...and, I created a new shadow box using PVC pipe based on Carol Marine's tutorial. I had been using a big cardboard box that finally came crashing down last evening as I was cleaning up after painting. It was a precarious contraption and I should have expected the inevitable.

At any rate, I have a new shadow box now, and I like it! Not so sure about this painting, though. Need to step away from it for awhile.

September Challenge #11

Just a quick post. I'm running late this morning, so will wait to comment until this evening.

Update: This painting just gave me fits.  I was still working on it at 2:00 a.m. this morning. (That's why I overslept!)

I think there were two reasons for the struggle. The first problem that presented itself was my old nemesis, composition. I thought this arrangement looked ok, but once I got it on canvas, I wasn't happy with it - I need to do more work on composition. The other struggle was with the yellow color...maybe too acid. I use a simple five color palette and can mix most colors with it, but the mixed yellow for this painting wasn't what I was looking for.

I'm just whipped from not sleeping last night, so this evening's painting is going to be something simple...although that's no guarantee that I'll get it finished at a reasonable hour.

September Challenge #10

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These are zinneas and bluebeard from our garden. I'm continuing to use Julie Ford Oliver's fracturing technique, and I'm enjoying the process. It took me a long time to paint this, but I'm happy with the way it turned out.

September Challenge #9

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These flowers were from our garden in mid-summer. I painted them from a sketch I had done in July. I usually don't do sketches, but I found it to be so helpful in working out the composition. I plan to do preparatory drawing from now on.  Another example of how a little preparation saves time in the long run.

Baby Shower Bouquet

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We're so excited...we are expecting a baby granddaughter in November! My daughter's friends held a baby shower for her yesterday. It was so fun. The party was an outdoor luncheon and the decorations were bouquets of tiny pink carnations and miniature roses. The hostess gave me a bouquet to take home. It is so beautiful that I just had to paint it.