A Cause for Celebration

5" x 7"

Oil on Gessoboard

 

The last day for Leslie Saeta's 30 Paintings in 30 Days Painting Challenge.  I thought a celebration cupcake would be well suited for the occasion.  As well it is my birthday today so more reason for celebration.  I had a great day today and finished it off this evening by painting my cupcake.  It has been fun the past month!

Bowl of Boscs

5 " x 7"

Oil on Gessoboard

Day 29 of Leslie Saeta's Painting Challenge.  The second to last day.  Another weekend with too much to do so I had to squeeze the painting time in.  I have painted this pottery bowl in pastel before and could capture the texture very well.  I found it difficult to do it with oil in one sitting because of the wetness of the oils.  I will probably go back to this one once it dries and work on the bowl a bit.

Slice of Lemon

3" x 4"

Oil on Cradled Wood Panel

Day 28 of the Painting Challenge.  This one was a challenge for me.  I haven't painted anything this small before.  I think I bought the small board to do a Christmas ornament a number of years ago but didn't use it.  It was sitting on the shelf for ages so I thought I would give it a try.  I would have liked some brushes that were a bit smaller, it got quite frustrating to work with.  Larger size from now on.

Lemon Yellow

5" x 7"

Oil on Gessoboard

Day 27 of Leslie Saeta's Painting Challenge.  Only three more to go.  I really do enjoy doing these and they have become a warm up for working on larger paintings.  When I work on small pieces I don't feel the same hesitation that I feel when working on a larger piece.  If a small painting doesn't work out, it's no big deal.  If a larger painting isn't working I feel I am wasting materials and time.  Working on a small painting before moving to a larger piece allows me to loosen up and relax.

Cherry Perfume

6" x 8"

Oil on Canvas

Day 26 of the painting challenge.  It is getting down to the final few.  I am hoping to continue to paint regularly but not daily.  I don't want painting to be a chore.  Also, I find I am not spending as much time with a painting as I would like.  I will probably go back to a number of the pieces I have done over the past month and add some more to them.  With the oil paint I would like to give it a chance to dry before I add final details and trying to finish one each day means that the paint is too wet to add any details.

Lean on Me

6" x 6"

Oil on Canvas

Day 25 of the painting challenge.  Another song going through my head as I am painting gives it the title.  I should have done my whole thirty paintings based on song titles.  Maybe next time.  I don't have much time for painting today so I decided to do another pear.  The background color is different for me and it gave me some trouble so it took me longer than usual.  I just notice as I am writing this that the shadow for my stem in the front pear isn't right.  That's what happens when you are in a hurry and don't spend time with the painting.

Under the Sea

5" x 5"

Oil on Board

Day 24 of Leslie Saeta's 30 Paintings in 30 Days.  I have been watching the Little Mermaid with my Granddaughter lately.  I seemed to be singing 'Under the Sea' while painting so that's the title it is given.  You know how it is with little kids, you watch the movie over and over again and sometimes you can't get a song out of your mind.

I am on the Dundas Studio Tour in a couple of weeks and today I set up some of my paintings in a cafe in town to advertise the tour.  Hopefully it will help attract people to my studio.  We have seven studios with 30 artists participating.  I am looking forward to it.

Life is Like a Bowl of Cherries

6" x 8"

Oil on Canvas

Day 23 of the painting challenge.  Is there a saying 'Life is like a bowl of Cherries'.  I kept singing it while I was painting it so I couldn't call it anything else.  I am caught up again and only 7 more to go.  I really admire the true daily painters.  It is a real commitment to keep this up for a long period of time.  I think I could manage Monday to Friday, but I really get behind on the weekends.

On the Slope

8" x 8"

Oil on Canvas

This painting is for Day 22 of Leslie Saeta's painting challenge.  I am a day late today.  I had a show to do yesterday and thought I would get a chance to do some painting but it was busier than I thought it would be.  I sold some paintings, met some new people, and listened to some great music.  It was a little cool yesterday but it did turn out to be a great show.  Now I have to paint one for today. 

Perched

6" x 6"

Oil on Canvas

Day 21 of the painting challenge.  Time constraints today, so we have a pear.  I think I will go back in and work on the grain of the wood box a bit more but it will have to wait.  I have a preview show today for a studio tour I am on in November and I have an outdoor show Sunday.  Lots to do!

Plum Tired

4" x 6"

Oil on Board

This is Day 20 of Leslie Saeta's Painting Challenge.  Ten more to go.  I didn't do a pear this morning, I decided to paint my breakfast instead.  It took me about 40 minutes to paint and then I was able to eat!  I have to spend the rest of the day preparing for the show on the weekend.

Snuggle

6" x 6"

Oil on Canvas

We are in Day 19 of Leslie Saeta's Painting challenge.  I have a show this weekend so I will be doing some pears the next couple of days.  It only takes me about 45 minutes to do a pear and I am short on time right now getting ready for the show.  I will be painting during the show as a demo, so I should be able to get a few small ones done then.

Coffee and Kiwi

5" x 7"

Oil on Board

Day 18 of 30 Paintings in 30 Days.  I am counting down to how many are left.  I wasn't really in the mood to paint this morning but I did it.  Not really happy with it.  I think it comes across in the painting if you aren't really in the zone.

Orange Tea

5" x 7"

Oil on Board

Day 17 of Leslie Saeta's painting challenge.  I love the little teapot and I have cups to match which I will have to include in another painting.

Antique Crock

6" x 8"

Oil on Canvas

Day 16 of Leslie Saeta's painting challenge.  I am quite happy with this painting.  Normally with small paintings I would do a close-up of an object and have stayed away from complete still life setups because I thought they may prove to be too difficult on a small canvas. This wasn't too bad.  It took me just over two hours to complete.  I think I will try some more!

Bartlett in a Bowl

5" x 5"

Oil on Board

This is day 15 of Leslie Saeta's painting challenge.  Half way there!  I was in a hurry today so I did another pear.  I like painting pears but I think everyone else must get tired of looking at them.  I painted this in an hour and didn't spend any time looking at after so I can see a problem with my bowl that I will go back in and fix (just not today).  I find that painting everyday is difficult to accomplish for me on the weekends, too much going on.  I will start fresh tomorrow and spend more time!

Cherry Martini

6" x 6"

Oil on Gessoboard

 

 

This is Day 14 of Leslie Saeta's Painting Challenge.  It is 10 p.m. for me and I just finished the painting.  We were babysitting our 3 year old Granddaughter today and only got a chance to finish the painting once she went to bed.  I am so tired, those 3 year olds never run out of energy!  I could use a martini myself about now!

Refelctions of Cherries

8" x 8"

Oil on Gessoboard

It is Friday the 13th today and day 13 of Leslie Saeta's 30 in 30.  I was happy with this painting.  I think I will do a bit of glazing once it dries to give it some more depth.  I love painting this type of tablecloth, gives it some interest.

You Can't Fit in Here

8" x 10"

Oil on Canvas

Day 12 of Leslie Saeta's 30 Paintings in 30 Days.  I find it is getting easier to keep up.  I guess I am getting more scheduled.  I am not thrilled with the apples in this painting but I do love the way the small bowl turned out.

Tomatoe on Glass

6" x 6"

Oil on Canvas

 

Day 11 of Leslie Saeta's 30 Paintings in 30 Days.  I have used the Canadian spelling for tomatoe.  I thought this would be an easy one but I had a bit of trouble with the glass.  I look doing glass on a darker background, I think it is easier with more contrast.

Hide 'n Seek

5" x 7"

Oil on Board

 

 

This is painting number 10 for Leslie Saeta's daily painting challenge.  We are one third of the way there.  This is a small antique cheese box with the Avocado halves hiding from each other.

Retro Coffee and Cream

5" x 7"

Oil on Board

Day 9 of Leslie Saeta's 30 Paintings in 30 Days.  I found this Fire King mug and creamer in some of the storage boxes I cleaned out.  When we were at the antique show on the weekend people were buying the Fire King like crazy.  The mugs styled like the one above were going for $40 each.  I think I will hold on to ours. 

Alone

 

5" x 7"

Oil on Board

 

 

This is Day 8 of Leslie Saeta's 30 Paintings in 30 Days.  A little late in the day for this one.  We were busy with our Granddaughter all day so I fit this one in this evening.  No plans tomorrow so I am going to get ahead of the game!

Couple of Clementines

6" x 6"

Oil on Gessoboard

 

 

This is Day 7 of Leslie Saeta's 30 in 30 painting challenge.  One week completed!  I spent part of the day today at a large antique show in our town.  It poured rain but we kept on going through and I found some great things to paint.  Looking forward to it.

Aglow

5" x 7"

Oil on Board

 

 

This is Day 6 of Leslie Saeta's Painting Challenge.  Feeling a little rushed toady so I thought I would turn to my most comfortable subject, pears.  I really enjoyed this one.  I think I may do a large version of it.

Too Many Tomatoes

6" x 6"

Oil on Cradled Wood Panel

 

This is Day 5 of Leslie Saeta's painting challenge.  I am keeping up but just barely.  I need to get ahead by a day!  I have been watching Downton Abbey on DVD while I have been painting but it is getting so interesting it is taking my concentration away from the painting sometimes.  I may have to switch to music.

Peartini

8" x 8"

Oil on Gallery Depth Cradled Wood Panel

 

This is Day 4 of Leslie Saeta's 30 Paintings in 30 Days challenge.  I just love to see everyone's work each day.  I finished this earlier in the day than the others and it feels good to accomplish that.  Now I will use the rest of the day to work on larger paintings.

Crock and Pears

8" x 8"

Oil on Gallery Depth Cradled Board

 

 

This is painting number 3 in Leslie Saeta's 30 in 30 painting challenge.  I have been going through storage boxes trying to clean out for future downsizing.  My husband and I loved to go through antique stores and through the years we have accumulated many items.  We are starting to sort through what we want to keep.  I have come across many items to use in still life paintings and will be using them over the next month.  

Lone Onion

 

6" x 6"

Oil on Canvas

 

 

This is Day 2 of Leslie Saeta's 30 Paintings in 30 Days.  I have been very busy today spending the holiday with Family but I managed to squeeze this in.  I am not really happy with the outcome but it is my painting for today.  When pushed for time I should stick with pears!

Waiting

Day 1 of Leslie Saeta's 30 Paintings in 30 Days

 

6" x 6"

Oil on Cradled Wood Panel

 

This is the first blog post I have done in such a long time.  Leslie Saeta is hosting another 30 paintings in 30 days and I have joined the group.  I have a number of shows coming up and I thought it would be great to have the extra paintings.

 

I have been spending a lot of time painting.  I have updated my website and now it is time to update my blog.  The work is never ending. 

 

I thought I would start off the challenge with pears, my all time favourite.  Also, I thought September 1st was tomorrow and so I was in a bit of a rush today to have a painting finished.  I am not completely happy with the pear on the left so I may do some adjusting later.  But, Here it is!