September Challenge #30

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Oh frabjous day! Calooh! Callay! This the last day of the challenge and painting #30. Whew!

Well, for all my whining and fussing, I really did have fun with this challenge. I've learned a lot. While I'm glad to be done with the daily pressure of producing a finished painting, I'll continue to make a concerted effort to be at the easel every day. Not only does the practice help with improving skill, I believe strongly in the meditative benefits of painting. Isn't it wonderful that something which brings such pleasure can also be good for one's mental and spiritual health?

I've also enjoyed visiting the blogs of other challengers, and so appreciate the kind comments left on my blog. All in all, a fabulous experience.

September Challenge #21

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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 #18

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I finished this by 9:00 p.m. this evening. Moving a bit faster, but getting tired of painting every evening. It's hard for me to see this painting. You folks who are painters know what I mean...sometimes you stare at something for so long that it's almost impossible to judge what you're seeing. I'll look at this tomorrow - maybe I'll be able to see more clearly in the morning.

September Challenge #16

NFS

Whew! I'm still in the challenge (although nobody's counting but me). This is the chocolate sunflower that gave me such fits last night. It gave me fits tonight, too, but at least I finished it. I need to get one extra painting done to take the pressure off of having to get the paintings posted the same evening they're painted. Maybe I'll paint two on Saturday.

September Challenge #14

SOLD

These hibiscus are among the few remaining summer flowers in the garden. It's a time of transition and the mums and zinneas are just beginning to put on their autumn show.

I'm continuing to practice the fracturing technique that was created by Julie Ford Oliver. I'm trying to paint more loosely and add an element of abstraction to my paintings. It feels a little like jumping into a lake. Fun and exhilerating, but a bit scary.