Day 11 Two Callas

                                                                   Two Callas

I love the shape of Calla Lilies.  They are so graceful and unique.  I paint them quite a bit as I need only walk out the door and draw.  My husband is always taking the greatest care to keep them coming back each year.  I am so grateful for the beauty we have around us to paint by just looking.  To see more of my paintings click Here

Day 10 Rusty Followers

                                                  Rusty Followers

This rusty old set of three bells, all metal - has followed us from the second year my husband and I were married, and adorned either an inside or outside wall of the current home we in which we resided.  There are just certain items that really follow us and truly have sentiment.  These bells are like that. They don't sound like much, a little clangy for me, but  I have drawn them, painted paintings of them and love to redraw them in different sizes.  They are familiar.  They are quirky and they remind me of all the walls of the places we have lived.   For more of my artwork click Here.

Day 8 - On the River

                                                                      On the River

Egrets and herons have always interested me.  I love the way they hunt, fly, stand, their form, color and feathers.  We have spent many hours hanging out on the river - floating down rapids, sitting in the sun, picnicking, watching others enjoy the river and the birds are always there....sometimes on one leg and sometimes two, seemingly oblivious to our nonsense.

Day Seven - Turning

                                                                 Turning

Not far from my home is a large farm where cattle graze and in the Fall, the area is just amazing.  There are shade trees spotted throughout the land turning colors at different rates and assorted warm tones depending on the tree.  One of my favorite scenes is this one with just one lone tree that turns bright orange at the height of it's transformation.  The gathering of lovely shapes and differing green trees behind it just set it off like the King of the Pasture.  It always catches my eye.  This is painted on  a piece of 2 x 2" Clayboard with transparent watercolors.

Day Five and Day Six....Whew!

                                                         Vintage Hand Tied

                                                       Fresh Apples

I am finding myself desperate at times when the deadline is drawing close to submit my painting.  This challenge is so good, but so, well, challenging.  The painting of the hand tied fly is one I found among my father's fishing gear.  I didn't have it in front of me so I painted it from memory.  I just recall it was much different than ones I see these days.  It was a little well worn too considering no fish ever got to keep it.

The second painting is of a bowl of apples I always have on my dining table.  The bowl is wood and I love it.  And apples....so simple, but so many shapes, sizes colors and ways to nestle.

Tomorrow I have no idea what will be on my paper when I'm finished but I know it will be fun!

Day 4 With Friends

"With Friends: is my submission for Day 4 of the Thirty Paintings in Thirty Days challenge.  You may view hundreds of paintings at lesliesaeta.blogspot.com

One of the many positive things that comes from committing to paint daily is you try new things, new subject matter and new colors. I have been using a more limited palette and more vivid colors with this challenge.  It is always fun and I enjoy it all!  View my other work at CaCoArt

Alaska Trip

Adventures can still be had in Alaska!  I took the chance and faced my age by going to my older brother's birthday party...age will remain undisclosed.  But the fun was not just at his party.

He is older, but he can beat me in any competition....of course he has a foot in height difference so it does matter in raquetball, basketball and this time, new to me- kayaking.  Although I could never catch him, I did run him off in the weeds once....success (still the little sister) The lake was glassy smooth and the weather was shirtsleeve even for me, the five layer burrito.  I was taking layers off out in the middle of the lake as my brother steadied my kayak.  It was such fun.  If that had been the only thing done all week, it would have been a marvelous trip

Arcadia Pines

                                                                   

  Arcadia Pines

I enjoy having a goal.  The "Thirty Paintings in Thirty Days" is going to be quite a challenge I'm finding at day 4.  Sometimes there is just no time, no inspiration....and that is what I love about this project.  Just do it!  So far I have completed 4 paintings.  The paintings are small - smaller than 8 x 10, but I hope to complete a full sheet 22 x 30 by the end of the month.   Each painting brings with it learning,  patience building and a new set of challenges, but each one is like a building block....in color, design, texture and perspective.   To view more of my paintings, click HERE

New Year Freeze

It has been very cold here in Oregon...by cold in our area, I mean 20 - 30 degrees, but that's cold to me.  And it is definitely cold to my poor Calla Lilies!  We didn't get to them quite soon enough and the poor things are wilted.  They are hearty, though and I have every hope they will be back in the spring even though their start was rough.  

Every year when they come up, I take my paints outside and do a few drawings and paintings of these graceful lilies.   I have used so many color combinations in painting different paintings.  I love Thalo Green, but it can be rather unforgiving when leaving large white areas.  I love the challenge of painting with staining colors with no masking fluid.  It's always a good exercise if not just plain fun!

So hopefully in a few months there will be another Calla Lily painting, maybe a series, appearing in my blog.  

To see more of my work, click here

From Our Garden...

This still life floral was some hydrangas and lazy susans that my husband had planted. I had a little basket of apples, but they turned out to look more like plums and I actually like that idea better.  My paintwater cup is in the foreground and the flowers are in a crock pitcher...slightly cracked....the afternoon sun coming in the window reminds me of warmer days ahead. 

I have not been much of a gardener, actually it has been best if I just water plants and keep my distance, but this year I do have a goal to learn more about the flowers and plants that I paint.  Hopefully my interest will translate into a better relationship with the garden and me.

 Transparent watercolor on 140lb. Arches paper

Happy New Year - 2015!

                                          Snow Scene Series I


And so I start another year and another challenge....Thirty Paintings in Thirty Days with Leslie Saeta at http://lesliesaeta.blogspot.com   There are artists from all over the world participating and I am looking forward to creating along with all the other artists.

I wish you all a very Happy New Year filled with blessings and joy!