January 2015 - Thirty Day Painting Challenge

Yet another great time painting this month! I'll continue to paint daily, but I can't promise I'll finish a painting a day! Make sure to find me on facebook if you haven't already. I'm usually posting there at least once a day.

Stop by and say hello, I'll be at the Portland International Jetport, Maine outside of the Paradies Gift Shop/ DownEast Marketplace for February and March Art Exhibits. If the weather permits... my plan is to travel there at least 4 times a month until the spring/summer season.

 Painting Workshops and events are listed on the right hand side of this blog.

UPDATE - SOLD Thirty Paintings in 30 Days - Day Thirty

Seguin Lighthouse

Original Mini Painting 4x6" Mat 

SOLD

Maine's second oldest and the tallest Lighthouse, and it is said to be haunted, yikes!

It's located on Seguin Island right off the Kennebeck River.

Well today's the last day of the 30 in 30 challenge! Ok, I'll admit it....I wasn't ready to do the challenge right after the holiday's but it's always a great way for me to re-focus on painting everyday.  I didn't complete one a day like in the past challenges - but I came pretty close. I'll be posting a collage of them tomorrow. 

 I've been holding a number of workshops and classes and getting ready to re-stock my prints and card orders for retailers, so I'm feeling really accomplished, plus I had a terrific sales month.

Can't wait to do it again in September!

Thirty Paintings in 30 Days - Day 28

"Nature Walk"

11x14 Watercolor in 16x20" Mat

$200

Really enjoyed painting my mini painting late last night so I wanted to re-create something a little similar but with a few more details in a larger painting. 

Here's a picture of the mini and the 16x20 Matted one from today.

Now it's time to part up all my supplies for tonight's Ink Workshop that I"ll be teaching at Joanns in Topsham, Maine tonight from 6-8pm. Fingers crossed that everyone makes it....some are still digging out from the Blizzard of 2015!

Dew Drop Lily Pad - From Private Collection

 Dew Drop Lily Pad

$225

This beautiful watercolor piece has been in my private collection since 2012 and I think I'm ready to let it go. Size is 8x10 and comes in a white 11x14 Mat with foam backing and acid free sleeve.

*Please keep in mind the the colors images here on the computer may vary form the original painting.

SOLD - Thirty Paintings in 30 Days - Day Twenty Seven

Update: SOLD
Many of you have heard about out big Nor-Easter Blizzard of 2015 I'm sure. Well here in Auburn, Maine we are up to 20"+ of snow and it's still going for another 5-8" overnight.  My hubby and son are out there now shoveling, yet again. The snowbanks are up to the tip of my husbands hat and  he's 6'2".

Fun Fun Fun! So here I am inside the warm house, I've been cooking dinner and just finished up some home made hot cocoa on the stove. All ready for them when the come in.  

CraftMania INK CLASS - Saturday March 14th 1-3pm

New Alcohol Ink Class for Beginners

 Experience the joy of painting with alcohol inks on tile -unparalleled

color, spontaneity, and vibrancy. No experience is required.

Fall in LOVE with this new paint technique!

Tickets are $30 per painter. 

Only 12 Seats Available

 

 

CraftMania, 730 Center Street, Auburn ME. 04210

Date: Saturday, March 14th, 2015

Time: 1-3pm.

Scene: Tree - 9x18" Tile

Materials Needed:  CraftMania is offering a 10% Discount or items purchased for the class.
3 Colors of Alcohol Ink (your Choice)
Small inexpensive brush
Alcohol Blending Solution or 91% Isopropyl rubbing alcohol

Here are a few pictures from the last class!

Thirty Paintings in 30 Days - Day Twenty Three - New Kids Scene

 New - Kids Painting Scene - Ages 5 and up.

Kids workshop - 16x20 Canvas using Acrylic paints! $35 per child for groups of 10+ All supplies are included! Click Here for more information.

Received a call from our local Rec Center about holding some classes for Kids ages 5 up during our school vacation week. They had a great idea of what they wanted to have for a painting scene, and gave me a few ideas. So today, I dumped the oil, ink, and watercolor and went with Acrylic!

Keeping the painting somewhat simple, the primary colors were chosen. We'll be mixing our colors to make the orange and greens, I think the kids will enjoy that.

We hope to accomplish "My Bubbles" in under an hour.

Sign Up - CraftMania's Saturday Watercolor Paint Day!

Options

Class No Frame $30.00 USD    Class with Frame $45.00 USD

Only 10 Seats Available

Join Local Artist Kellie Chasse for a fun afternoon of Watercolor Painting!

No Experience is required.

No Supplies to purchase - Kellie will bring everything you need to complete a

5x7 Watercolor painting of lupines!

Includes a FREE MAT

Frames will be available to purchase for an additional $15.00

SeaDog Watercolor Paint Night - Feb 10th, Tuesday 6:30-8:30

Options

Class No Frame $30.00 USD    Class with Frame $45.00 USD

The vote is in - come paint one of our newest additions to our scene choices!
15 Seats Available - We'll be painting "Make A Wish"

Come on in early and have something to eat and grab a drink special!
House wines $5 and beer special $4! You must tell them to seat you in the Painting section to get your specials!! 5x7 Watercolor Painting will be completed in less than 2 hours, no supplies are needed...just bring yourself! Free 8x10 Mat included for your art.

Thirty Paintings in 30 Days - Day Twenty One

 "Summer Moonlight"

Scene #60 PartyPainter

Still working on a creating a few new painting scenes for the Watercolor Paint Nights, and since folks on facebook seemed to really like the Ominous Moon that was created last fall, it seemed like a good one to try!

For more information about when and where classes will be held you can view it under the events section of the main blog page.

Thirty Paintings in 30 Days - Day Twenty

Attempted to re-create my oil painting in watercolor as a new watercolor class scene and tried to make it simple enough for new painters....it's deceivingly difficult!

My process is to paint the scene first then break it down into painting steps to see if it's a paint-able scene. Then I tweak it so that it's stays under a 2 hour class timeline.
....LIKE? If you do then make sure to head over to my post on Facebook and click the "Like" button please!

Thirty Paintings in 30 Days - Day Eighteen "Make a Wish

"Make A Wish"

40x30" Oil on Canvas

$900

 Wasn't sure where I was going with this one today, but I really had a great time being free to let it take me where the painting wanted to go.....Really loved the freedom of it!

 Check out the ART HAIR - well, honestly if you know me...this is how my hair is almost all the time. Put it up and get it out of the face kind of do!

Got this HUGE 40x30 Canvas for Christmas and I've been waiting until the mood hit me to paint something one it.

Have to work on painting the edges/sides later tonight....maybe after the football game - GO PATS!!
That's my wish - for them to win the super bowl!

SOLD Thirty Paintings in 30 Days - Day Seventeen

Mini painting 4x6" Mat.

It was a slow day at the Portland International Jetport, so I picked up my watercolors and
decided to take the time to do my daily painting.....Didn't feel like thinking too much so I thought I'd attempt the sand dollar again, but with watercolor instead of oils. It turned out pretty cute!

I may add this one to my Watercolor Paint Night Classes - what do you think?

Update: SOLD Thirty Paintings in 30 Days - Day Sixteen

SOLD

Didn't get my painting done for day 14 or 15 - and I wasn't going to get one

in for today, but I managed to paint this one late last night while watching America Idol lol.

I think I may work on it a bit more - but or I can call it done and a quick study!

Bass Harbor Lighthouse, Maine

It always looks better framed.

Thirty Paintings in 30 Days - Day Thirteen "Height of Land, Maine"

"Height of Land" 

Rangeley Lakes Region, Maine

5x7" Watercolor in 8x10" Mat
$125

I broke out my watercolors today because I realized that I have no more room for the oils to dry!
The good thing is that I have one larger 24x36' oil painting that IS finally dry is heading out to be
shipped in a few days, and I have 3 other larger paintings that are going on exhibit at the Atlantic Motorcar Center in Wisscasset on Thursday. That means more room will be coming available soon.

SOLD - Thirty Paintings in 30 Days - Day Twelve

"All About The Journey"

6x6 Oil on Deep Edge Canvas

SOLD

 I read a great quote  today -
"The only impossible journey, is the one you never begin." ~Anthony Robbins
Fit's me to a Tee - my journey is always taking me in different directions....in life and in art.

One of my favorite things about doing the 30in30 challenge is to use this time to experiment. The last one was with inks and this time more with oils. When I started painting, if you can believe it I only did abstract painting....I think that's why I like the inks and the more chunky style with the oils.

I love living here in Maine and the beach is one of my favorite spots to sit and reflect. Now when I was younger and thinner I would spend my time bathing in the sun getting my golden tan on...now I try to hit it later in the day or early in the morning when there is just me and the waves.

I've made a commitment to do more plein air painting this year, and plan to do a few of them right here in the sand. Maybe I'll find anther Sand dollar.

Where do you see your journey taking you this year?

Thirty Paintings in 30 Days - Day Eleven

Pet Portrait -  6x6" Oil painting on Canvas

Here is our do Primm, yep she was named after Primm Rose from the movie The Hunger Games. The movie has just come out (she's three) and we had a neighborhood poll and since her mom's name is Leigha-Rose it was a good fit!

Primm is an adorable little 15 pound Havanese and we love her dearly. She is hypoallergenic and doesn't shed, doesn't get any better than that!  She is a companion breed and hates to be left all alone. Lucky that I work from home, so she has my attention all the time. This is our "selfie" together!

Her hair is always a mess, and I've nicked named her "muppet" cause she looks like one of those little ones with the crazy hair (It think we have the same hair). She loves to dance and give high fives, thank you for teaching her Megan!

Off to paint day 12 - hope it's a great day for you all!

Thirty Paintings in 30 Days - Day Ten

Off on to day two of the pet portraits with oils - this is "DUKE" He has a lot of nooks and crannies, aka little folds in his fur, another bit of a challenge for me with oils! 

I've been meaning to paint Duke for years now, he's our dog Primm's best friend up to camp at Jo Mary Lake, in the Northern Maine woods. They would blissfully play and run around like two crazy kids and Primm always loved Dukes food much better than hers, although she would ultimately end up with the other kind of RUNS every time she snuck over and managed to eat, not just one...but the entire whole bowl if she could get away with it.

We miss it terribly up to Jo Mary, it was filled with our family and a number of fantastically fun and sweet people. But it was a three hour drive one way on the weekends and since we purchased our new small home with the water view we decided not to head back there last year. It's bitter sweet.

Thirty Paintings in 30 Days - Day Nine

"The Red Hoodie"

6x6 Oil on Deep Edge Canvas

$100

This is my first attempt with oil's doing a pet portrait - could really use the feedback on this one from you all. I'm so use of doing them in watercolor with "A LOT" of details and many many layers.

I decided to start with a small 6x6" canvas and I have to admit that I really had a blast with this! Much different with the oils...I used only 1 brush (challenging myself this 30 days) and used thick paint and larger strokes. Not as clean looking as watercolor but I'm kinda digging it.

I've painted "Mr Puck" before with watercolor....here's the difference.

He's just the cutest little "Star", thank you to Georgia for allowing me to paint him again!

Thirty Paintings in 30 Days - Day Eight

 "More On The Way"

6x6" Oil Deep Edge Cotton Stretched Canvas 

$100

I think I'm in love with the larger brush strokes and using only one brush!  I found these little mini 6x6" Deep Edge Canvas in my "Art Supply" closet, or my outside porch area. It's the little back porch that has the best view of the back yard and the water view, yet it's turned into my "stash" area for the winter.

That will change once the warmer weather comes, because we plan to finish that room off and make it into a "nice" charming/cozy area to drink our morning coffee and stare blissfully at the beautiful view we own, and yes I mean we "OWN" ....as in Mortgage Free!

Having no mortgage and a simplified home allows me to do what I love everyday! I am so lucky to have the support of my wonderful family and friends, and of course none of this would be possible if it wasn't for my collectors!

   Our backyard - see this is looking out my "stash area" window!

There is More on the way...day 9 starts soon!