My Secret Closet..only time can tell.

 A few weeks back, a good friend, Charlotte Evans, posted a quote by Robert Henri that I had never heard before.
I had read his book, "The Art Spirit", and used it as reference many times, but for the life of me, I couldn't remember seeing the quote... "Paint the flying spirit of the birds rather than it's feathers". 
When I saw that post, it struck a cord in me, and my mind went straight to what I call my "secret closet".
 The secret closet is where I store paintings, 44 to be exact, that I can't finish for one reason or another.  Most, or should I say, all of them are unfinished due to lack of knowledge. I put them in there til I can grow in some way or another, be it technical skills, emotionally, or spiritually.
 Over the last couple of weeks, I haven't posted a blog because, I opened the door to the closet, after reading that quote, and pulled out this painting I had started it in 1994. With fresh energy and renewed inspiration, thanks to Charlotte, I will be revisiting this work, along with a few others I came across.
 I wanted to share this painting with you, in it's beginning stages because, I may be getting back to my painting roots in the near future.
 I was heavily influenced by artist Audrey Flack, Rene' Magritte, and M.C. Escher, not necessarily by their technical skills, which were great, but mainly in their thinking process.

Thank you Char!!  Please visit Charlotte's website  http://charevansart.blogspot.com she has some beautiful paintings!

#41/60 Daily painting challenge

Over the years, I have spent many hours sitting on the bleachers watching the kids play ball... football ,softball, baseball, and soccer.
If you happen to be one of those bleacher sitters,like me, then you'll know what it's like to see those little kids play, or should I say, try to play.
I could watch them all day every day... run and throw the wrong way, then the coaches screaming and pointing to get them to go the other way.  I especially love to watch peewee football. Those little guys are sooooo funny, they look like little bobble head dolls running in every different direction.
This painting is done from a photo my dear friends, Connie and Tommy Hawkins took a few years back. They specialize in sports photography, and have a  talent for capturing that perfect moment, like this one.

I just couldn't resist painting it today, considering it's that time of year again. Yes, today was sign up day for the coming softball season.... so, I guess it's time to dust off the ole bleacher cushion.

#40/60 Daily painting challenge.

Painting a mountain stream, is the closest thing to meditation I can think of.
 I can get into the artist zone so quickly,  I can actually hear the water flowing through the trees.
 Having to be careful though, I can very easily overwork it, because, like a good book, I never want it to end.
There's not too much more to say about this painting, except,  I could feel the stress leave my body as soon as I started painting it.
I hope you can get the same feeling by viewing it!!

#39/60 Daily painting challenge.

There are times, when you just have to put your interest aside, and line up priorities in life.
When the best intentions get interrupted, you take a deep breath and move forward, knowing you can catch up later if need be.
For me, the last few days, have been one of those times. I have been involved with studying World War 1 history, helping to make a display of 3 types of communications used in the fields, writing a paper, and rehearsing a two minute speech.
Needless to say, I have gotten a little behind in my challenge, but well worth it, considering it will be 250 points of her grade...her, being my granddaughter.
 I will be posting a picture of our sculptor in a later post, but for right now, I'll be trying to get caught up on my painting.

With the color red being the inspiration for this painting, I want to wish you all, a very happy Valentine's Day!

#38/60 daily painting challenge.

If you have ever had a puppy, kitten, or basically any pet, I know you've experience the inquisitive head tilt. It always makes me smile and wonder if they really can understand, or do they understand, then tilt their little head because they are astonished that you are doing something odd. You know, such as talk in that baby talk we all do.
That's the main reason I chose to paint this guy, but when I finished, I got to thinking about other things it could mean.

 For one, I know that the wisest people always seem to question everything. I like to think that's the way I am, for you see, I happen to have been that obnoxious kid in school that had to question everything. I know the other kids would get furious when I would raise my hand. I could always here that dreaded moan coming from the other kids, then the teacher would stop the class and go into lengthy explanations for me.
 Then there's one other thing I thought about... when an artist picks something to paint, and at the end we step back,  all the questioning begins. Does it say anything, will people get it, did I accomplish what I set out to do, have I missed any of the technical problems...etc.
As a matter of fact, I think I might name this "Questionable" what do you think?

#37/60 daily painting challenge.

Today it happens to be a cold, rainy day here in the south. When it's like this during the winter, I like to do two things. First I make a big mug of hot chocolate, then settle in to enjoy a quiet time painting.
 Even though we don't get too much snow, I still like to think of the coziness of the house and studio, as if we had three feet of snow on the ground.
During the early 90"s, we traveled to upstate New York, to visit with my daughter, that was living there at the time. We were caught in a terrible blizzard, but I was able to take many photo's to work from.

Brrrr... it's now time to get another mug of hot chocolate!!!

#36/60 daily painting challenge

I have titled this painting, "Martha's Sunrise". It was inspired by a photo Martha Mills took the other morning as she was leaving for work.
This painting is one I said I'd never do...LOL   You know what "they" say...never say never.
What I'm really saying is, I knew it would always be a challenge to try to paint such glowing beauty. I don't think any paint has, or ever will match the brilliance of what God has made.

Here is about as close as I came come for right now.

#35/60 daily paingting challenge

I have chosen another flower picture to day. Think I must be anxious for spring, or I'm seeing too many flower commercials on the television.
I also had a lot of pink left over from yesterdays painting.
No matter what the reason, I think there is nothing prettier than when all the azaleas start to bloom.
I have plans to plant about 20 in my yard this year, and can't wait. Painting will have to do for now though. 

In this painting, I was drawn to these small delicate flowers, and how they seem to over power all that iron trying to hold them in.

#34/60 daily painting challenge

In every artist's life, there are aha moments. Moments of discovery, when you visit an art gallery, or museum, and there is that one or two paintings that jolt you creatively.
I had two of those moments growing up. My first moment is when I went to see my first Monet exhibit, in New Orleans. As I turned into the first room, there hung a painting the size of the wall. It was huge, and had all of these pink blobs all over it. Something that resembled a vine and nothing else but raw canvas. I was astonish, young, and just getting started on my life in the arts In my naive mind, I thought...what's so great about this, I could do that. As I took in more of the exhibit, I started to get more of an understanding of his work and his life, but ... then came the aha moment. We were across the room from the blob painting, then, I looked around at it from a distance. My mouth liked to have hit the floor, The most beautiful painting of roses just came to life. I could see every petal and leaf, even the background made sense.
Then, my second aha moment was visiting the Ringling museum, in Sarasota, Florida. Standing in front of a John Singer Sargent painting is something I'll never forget. I saw the same thing in the fabric he painted as I had seen in the Monet painting. How could they do such things with so few strokes. I was at awe with these paintings. If only someday I could paint like them.
There was also something else that I loved visiting at the Ringling museum....the beautiful rose gardens out in the back of the house. It is amazing, I would love to paint there all year round!

So, today's painting is reminiscent of those two aha moments.
If you have a large screen monitor, I ask you, please back away a few feet, or reduce the size and you'll get the idea of what distance can do when viewing a painting.

#33/60 daily paintings.

I have always loved the water, along with any of the water sports. Having learned to swim at an early age, in the fashion of being thrown in, then told to sink or swim.  It's pretty obvious that I swam... like a fish.
Some would say today that being done like that is child abuse. I say it probably saved  my life several time. Not just in knowing how to swim, but in managing those sinking times during life. 
This painting also serves to say something in regard to that theme.

No matter how big the rocks, the water always finds a way to get around them. Something to think about.

#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!!