#32 of 60 paintings a day

Whew...today was crazy, but I was determined to get my painting done, no matter what. I had to paint this one standing at the kitchen while sink cooking.
I had gotten these beauties yesterday, to have those wonderful stuffed jalapeno peppers. That made for a no-brainer when it came to picking out what I wanted to paint.
Being in a crunch for time, I basically only did a quick study. I like when I paint in a hurry, it always looks so painterly and I like that in my work.

The way it's looking right now, I will be painting and cooking at the same again tomorrow.

#31 of my "60 in 60" challenge

Well, here we go. I'm trying for 60 paintings in 60 days. I just have too many paintings to do, to stop now.
 I was thinking of some kind of theme for this challenge, but I seem to want to paint my first thoughts of the day. Who knows where this might take us.
Today, you can probably tell what's on my mind, and I bet you're thinking football weekend. Yes, it's Super Bowl Sunday, but just as much as I love football, I have to confess, I'll use any excuse to eat snacks...yes, wonderful snacks.
I will plan for three days what I want to have for a three hour game. Chips are usually just the beginning.

Looks like I may be painting food for the next couple of days...lol.

Day 30 of the "30 in 30" painting challenge.

Let me start by saying, thank you for following along with me this month. It certainly encourages me to continue with a personal challenge, to keep painting every day.

I have decided to go for a "60 in 60" painting challenge, due to having too many painting ideas to stop now.
If you are a painting friend, and want to have a go at it with me, please let me know. I would love for us to cheer each other on.
As for this little painting, it is a painting just for me. I wanted to paint at least one rose for this challenge, but I can't think of a rose without thinking of  purple violets and the man I married 25 years ago.
For 25 years, every year, I have received four things for Valentine's Day.
1. chocolate
2. a card... that has gotten bigger every year
3. At least one rose, usually more
and,
4. my special poem he says to me.
So, you see, this painting represents that special poem.
                                                                                        Here goes...  Roses are red
                                                                                                             Violets are purple
                                                                                                             You're as sweet,
                                                                                                              as maple surple.
Now you can see why I had to paint a red rose with purple violets. Not something most artist would choose.

Day 29 of the "30 in 30" painting challenge

Yesterday, I knocked your socks of with color, so, I thought I'd take it easy today. A nice quiet, peaceful day.

This scene seems to be calling me to grab the rod and reel, then throw a big ole worm in. Wouldn't need to catch anything, just want to sit there for awhile and dream.

Day 28 of the "30 in 30" painting challenge

As this challenge comes to an end, in a couple of days, I thought it appropriate to do a setting sun.
Living on the water, every afternoon, you got to close your day with spectacular light shows. As a painter, I could feel the excitement to run and grab my paints, and paint as fast as I could. Sorry to say, that never happened. By the time you run to get your paints, it would be gone. Even if you had your equipment set up, I knew I would never be able to paint fast enough to capture it. It would change in a blink of an eye.
I would have to settle on taking pictures, but then, the camera could never catch the drama I would be seeing.

For years now, I have procrastinated, thinking one day I would give it a try... so here it is.
I must say, it feels good to finally paint the sunset I only once dreamed of doing.

Day 27 of the "30 in 30" painting challenge

This was about the 5th day of this challenge, I had made up my mind to paint that rose. And again, I have been sidetrack by another inspiration.
This morning while brushing my teeth, I over heard someone on the television mention that it was Berry Appreciation Day.
I'll go ahead and admit, I think I may be somewhat of an impressionable sort. I like to think that I'm easily inspired.
Whatever the case, I did enjoy painting these blackberries.

Blackberries grow everywhere on this mountain, and I love the fact that I only have to step out the door to enjoy them. Free!!

Day 26 of the "30 in 30" painting challenge.

I am very fortunate to live on a mountain that also has two small lakes. Many afternoons, I take a walk down to the lake, sit and enjoy the water and all of the natural sounds. I take my sketchbook and do small sketches, while sitting on the bank.
My favorite time of the year, is when the cattails are just about to burst open. They grow so tall, I have to stand up to have a view of the water.
This is a small painting I did today from one of those sketches.

Day 25 of the "30 in 30" painting challenge

Not being too big on hiking, well, hiking is okay, to be honest, I really don't want to be confronted by a Bigfoot.
I have always loved things that can't be explained, ghost, UFOs, Sasquatch, etc... I'm just not wild about encountering any of them.
So, when my husband wants to stop and take some time to enjoy a scene like this, I have very mixed emotions. I love to see all of these wooded areas, but, I can't help  looking around for something lurking around one of the trees.

I also have the dilemma of, do I look up for Bigfoot, or do I look down for snakes. I can see why rabbits are so twitchy, I can identify.

Day 24 of the "30 in 30" painting challenge

This little painting pretty much explains itself.
I had great intention to paint a cute cupcake painting today. I had Richard, my husband, stop by the store to pick up one cupcake yesterday., so I could get it sketched out.
I have seen so many other artist paint cupcakes, I wanted to give it a go.
 I sat the cake in front of me, then thought, if I took a bite out of it, it would make for a more interesting painting. That was my downfall!! 
I was down to the last bite, still thinking it would make an even better painting....well, you can see where this went, or should I say, where "it" went.
I think I'll try it again, and have Richard pick up another one today!!!

Day 23 of the "30 in 30" painting challenge

Not too much of a story for this painting, I just happen to love Blackeyed Susan's.  They grow in abundance here on the mountain, and every year I take many pictures of them.
For this challenge, I didn't really want to confine myself to a theme, I only wanted to get back in the habit of painting everyday. But, as you can see, a process of painting all of those accumulated reference photos I have taken over the years, has been the main theme.
I'm sad that this is the last week of this challenge.  I have learned so much about myself and my habits, good and bad, I wish that it could go for another month.
I have decided, as a personnel challenge, to continue to try to do a painting every day for as long as I can. Plus, take some of these small daily exercises and turn them into bigger paintings.
So, I'll see you tomorrow.... Thanks so much for taking the time to follow my blog!!