Day 29 - 30/30 Challenge - Lopaus Point

Day 1 of Pastel workshop with Michael Chesley Johnson at Acadia Workshop Center. An overcast day, too breezy down at Lopaus Point to work on the south side with the beach...so here we are at the marsh.

I'd like to direct you to my Etsy page. Please consider purchasing a painting because, a. Christmas is coming, and these little paintings really make nice gifts, and/or b. the mermaid needs to buy some picture frames for the big solo show and selling a couple of these little guys would be a BIG help!

I'd also like to suggest that you sign up on the right side of this page for emails (not every day), and the follow button to get notifications when this blog is updated (for this month nearly every day, most times, not so much).

Day 26 - 30/30 Challenge - Wait haven't we seen this before???

Yes. Yes you have. A little more than a year ago, this is how I kicked off my trip to Maine and the start of the 30/30 Challenge. This is an ink and watercolor pencil drawing of/on the Cross Sound Ferry.
More to come when I get to Maine!

I'd like to direct you to my Etsy page. Please consider purchasing a painting because, a. Christmas is coming, and these little paintings really make nice gifts, and/or b. the mermaid needs to buy some picture frames for the big solo show and selling a couple of these little guys would be a BIG help!

I'd also like to suggest that you sign up on the right side of this page for emails (not every day), and the follow button to get notifications when this blog is updated (for this month nearly every day, most times, not so much).

Day 20 - 30/30 Challenge - How Cute Am I?

How Cute Am I? Neupastel on watercolor paper, 4.5 x 6

When you're pressed for time, sometimes you just paint what's next to you. That might be an apple or a coffee cup, or a lemon, but today a cat put on her upside-down-in-the-window-how-adorable-am-I? act and I went with it! This is neupastel on a scrap of watercolor paper.

LAST DAY!! I'd like to direct you to my Etsy page where I'm having a little sale. Please consider purchasing a painting because, a. Christmas is coming, and these little 6x6s really make nice gifts, and/or b. the mermaid needs to buy some picture frames for the big solo show and selling a couple of these little guys would be a BIG help!

I'd also like to suggest that you sign up on the right side of this page for emails (not every day), and the follow button to get notifications when this blog is updated (for this month nearly every day, most times, not so much).

Get more info on the 30/30 challenge go to Leslie Saeta's blog by clicking here.

Day 19 - 30/30 Challenge - Pumpkin Truck

Pumpkin truck, pastel, approx 7" x 7"

Alas, I think Fall is here. Farewell summer. It was lovely. But, the crispness is in the evening air, the leaves are starting to just get golden and orange around the edges. It's amazing how, one day it's a perfect beach day, and the next you get an urge to pick pumpkins.

This lovely old truck full of pumpkins was on display at the farm we went to last year to pick pumpkins. There were hay rides and barn animals and roasted corn and candy apples. Just a lovely place! I'm looking forward to going back!

Though many of these paintings won't be for sale right away, I'd like to direct you to my Etsy page where I'm having a little sale. Please consider purchasing a painting because, a. Christmas is coming, and these little 6x6s really make nice gifts, and/or b. the mermaid needs to buy some picture frames for the big solo show and selling a couple of these little guys would be a BIG help!

I'd also like to suggest that you sign up on the right side of this page for emails (not every day), and the follow button to get notifications when this blog is updated (for this month nearly every day, most times, not so much).

Get more info on the 30/30 challenge go to Leslie Saeta's blog by clicking here.

Day 18 - 30/30 Challenge - Fishermen's Road, Pencil Sketch

Fishermen's Road, Caumsett   Pencil on paper, approx 8.5 x 8.5

Life is busy! Life is good! But not much time for painting this week, though I am trying to make the effort. A new job, and juggling freelance work has left me with not a lot of time.

Today I only had about 20 minutes (30 if you count the time I need to make this post), so I decided to just pick a random photo and draw it. In pencil. Black and white.  This is from a photo taken at Caumsett State Park along the "fishermen's road." Maybe I'll even paint it - someday!

Though many of these paintings won't be for sale right away (or even for sale at all), I'd like to direct you to my Etsy page where I'm having a little sale. This is the final week!

Please consider purchasing a painting because, a. Christmas is coming, and these little 6x6s really make nice gifts, and/or b. the mermaid needs to buy some picture frames for the big solo show and selling a couple of these little guys would be a BIG help!

I'd also like to suggest that you sign up on the right side of this page for emails (not every day), and the follow button to get notifications when this blog is updated (for this month nearly every day, most times, not so much).

Get more info on the 30/30 challenge go to Leslie Saeta's blog by clicking here.

Day 16 - 30/30 Challenge - Potting Shed

Potting shed, watercolor & pitt pen, in my sketchbook

I missed a few days - But honestly I had a good excuse! I was PAINTING at The Art Guild. Not Leslie Saeta-worthy painting. Nothing to post. Nothing anyone will ooh and aaahh over. Nothing Pinterest worthy. Just bookshelves and a kitchen, lots of painting at the Art Guild. Because we are cleaning up and sprucing up and getting ready to hang a show and open our doors once again! HURRAY!
(If you are in the area, please stop down for the OPENING! Sunday September 21 from 3-6 pm!)

That said, I was going to try and scramble to make up for lost days, but I realized, that's just too crazy right now. So I'll just pick up somewhere and move forward. This is a sketch/watercolor of a sweet little potting shed over at Martin Viette Nurseries in East Norwich. It's a lovely place. Pretty little nooks and crannies and best of all, they love when people come to draw or paint. (And they're getting dressed up for Fall now, tractors (see previous post), pumpkins, corn maze, mums – love the fall colors!) The Art Guild paints there once a month on Tuesday morning, and starting in November we'll be painting indoors!

Though many of these paintings won't be for sale right away, I'd like to direct you to my Etsy page where I'm having a little sale. Please consider purchasing a painting because, a. Christmas is coming, and these little 6x6s really make nice gifts, and/or b. the mermaid needs to buy some picture frames for the big solo show and selling a couple of these little guys would be a BIG help!

I'd also like to suggest that you sign up on the right side of this page for emails (not every day), and the follow button to get notifications when this blog is updated (for this month nearly every day, most times, not so much).

Get more info on the 30/30 challenge go to Leslie Saeta's blog by clicking here.

Day 10 - 30/30 Challenge - Dune Path, Sunken Meadow

Dune Path, Sunken Meadow, watercolor, 10.5" w x 7" h

Another busy day! Today we met at The Art Guild for some clean up and prep for our re-opening show on September 20 (reception & open house Sunday September 21, 3-6 pm). There were lots of things to put in order and so I had to really squeeze in a painting today!

This watercolor is painted from a bunch of photos I took on a very quick walk at Sunken Meadow State Park a couple of weeks ago. This dune over looks the Long Island Sound to the north and Stony Brook to the east. To the right of this area of dunes is a lovely tidal marsh and on the other side of the creek there are walking trails covering acres of wooded hills. I think it's interesting that sometimes blue in the sky is sky and sometimes it's how we represent clouds on an overcast day.

Though many of these paintings won't be for sale right away, I'd like to direct you to my Etsy page where I'm having a little sale. Please consider purchasing a painting because, a. Christmas is coming, and these little 6x6s really make nice gifts, and/or b. the mermaid needs to buy some picture frames for the big solo show and selling a couple of these little guys would be a BIG help!

I'd also like to suggest that you sign up on the right side of this page for emails (not every day), and the follow button to get notifications when this blog is updated (for this month nearly every day, most times, not so much).

Get more info on the 30/30 challenge go to Leslie Saeta's blog by clicking here.

Day 9 - 30/30 Challenge - PaintFest Tractor

Red Tractor, pastel, 8.5" x 6.5"

Today was PaintFest w/The Art Guild at Martin Viette Nurseries. I really wanted to go, but it was cold and dreary and I had a couple of client things I was catching up on, so I thought I would cancel. Then I got an email that a Facebook friend had joined TAG and was going to be at Martin Viette...I scrambled and got there.
It was wonderful to meet someone I'd only talked to on Facebook and Twitter for 3 or 4 years! We had a great chat and I got very little satisfying painting done (in fact it was downright ugly!). As we left I (we) took pictures of one of the tractors that has been put out for the harvest display. A cold and dreary day turned out to be quite "sunshiny" after all!

Though many of these paintings won't be for sale right away, I'd like to direct you to my Etsy page where I'm having a little sale. Please consider purchasing a painting because, a. Christmas is coming, and these little 6x6s really make nice gifts, and/or b. the mermaid needs to buy some picture frames for the big solo show and selling a couple of these little guys would be a BIG help!

I'd also like to suggest that you sign up on the right side of this page for emails (not every day), and the follow button to get notifications when this blog is updated (for this month nearly every day, most times, not so much).

Get more info on the 30/30 challenge go to Leslie Saeta's blog by clicking here.

Day 8 - 30/30 Challenge - Rowboat

Rowboat, Sunken Meadow, watercolor and ink marker, 5x8" NFS

Today I went down to the beach to read my book and do a painting for today, and realized that I forgot my sketchbook and paints. Later, I finished up a sketch that I started last week at Sunken Meadow State Park. I liked the shape of this rescue boat and amount of blues in the scene. The blue-purple-grey sky, the prussian blue of the sound and the Connecticut coast, the purple-blue shadow and the shot of sky-to-turquoise blue inside the rowboat. I certain I didn't capture it accurately, but those colors are embedded in my memory.

Though many of these paintings won't be for sale right away, I'd like to direct you to my Etsy page where I'm having a little sale. Please consider purchasing a painting because, a. Christmas is coming, and these little 6x6s really make nice gifts, and/or b. the mermaid needs to buy some picture frames for the big solo show and selling a couple of these little guys would be a BIG help!

I'd also like to suggest that you sign up on the right side of this page for emails (not every day), and the follow button to get notifications when this blog is updated (for this month nearly every day, most times, not so much).

Get more info on the 30/30 challenge go to Leslie Saeta's blog by clicking here.

Day 7 - 30/30 Challenge - Orient Point Lighthouse, Sunset - DONE

Orient Point Lighthouse, Sunset, pastel, 12x14.5"

I think this is FINISHED!  And honestly, this snapshot doesn't do it any justice. The purples are so much more vibrant. But such is the problem with blues and violets. Because of where blue and purple are on the spectrum, digital (RGB) cameras have a really hard time getting the color true. Eventually I'll photo in better light and make the adjustments in Photoshop to demonstrate.

On to the next!

Though many of these paintings won't be for sale right away, I'd like to direct you to my Etsy page where I'm having a little sale. Please consider purchasing a painting because, a. Christmas is coming, and these little 6x6s really make nice gifts, and/or b. the mermaid needs to buy some picture frames for the big solo show and selling a couple of these little guys would be a BIG help!

I'd also like to suggest that you sign up on the right side of this page for emails (not every day), and the follow button to get notifications when this blog is updated (for this month nearly every day, most times, not so much).

Get more info on the 30/30 challenge go to Leslie Saeta's blog by clicking here.

Day 6 - 30/30 Challenge - Cup of Beer

Cup of Beer at the Beach, watercolor, 5x8, in my watercolor sketchbook, NFS

Summer is quickly disappearing and a day at the beach is a treasured thing. As I read a book I noticed this cup of beer on a "neighbor's" mini-picnic table. It was so golden, and captured the feel of the day perfectly!

Though many of these paintings won't be for sale right away, I'd like to direct you to my Etsy page where I'm having a little sale. Please consider purchasing a painting because, a. Christmas is coming, and these little 6x6s really make nice gifts, and/or b. the mermaid needs to buy some picture frames for the big solo show and selling a couple of these little guys would be a BIG help!

I'd also like to suggest that you sign up on the right side of this page for emails (not every day), and the follow button to get notifications when this blog is updated (for this month nearly every day, most times, not so much).

Get more info on the 30/30 challenge go to Leslie Saeta's blog by clicking here.

Day 5 - 30/30 Challenge - Orient Lighthouse Progress

Orient Lighthouse, Sunset, pastel, unfinished

Under the heading of "Yes, you've seen this before." The painting of Orient Point Lighthouse is coming along nicely. I would say this is about 60% done in this picture. The rocks and the lighthouse, need to be more clear - some more definition. I've already done more with the sky than is in this picture. I'll post the final tomorrow.

My goal in this 30/30 Challenge is not necessarily to paint 30 finished pieces in 30 days, but to paint every day for 30 days. With a solo show coming in November and some other life changes, this time around, just painting everyday will be enough to get a substantial bit of work done.

Though many of these paintings won't be for sale right away, I'd like to direct you to my Etsy page where I'm having a little sale. Please consider purchasing a painting because, a. Christmas is coming, and these little 6x6s really make nice gifts, and/or b. the mermaid needs to buy some picture frames for the big solo show and selling a couple of these little guys would be a BIG help!

I'd also like to suggest that you sign up on the right side of this page for emails (not every day), and the follow button to get notifications when this blog is updated (for this month nearly every day, most times, not so much).

Get more info on the 30/30 challenge go to Leslie Saeta's blog by clicking here.

Day 4 - 30/30 Challenge - Ocean Waves

Ocean Waves, Robert Moses Beach, 9x12", pastel on mi-teintes paper

I forgot I did this! This is one of the paintings I worked on ahead of time. I did it plein air in pastel on mi-teintes paper at Robert Moses Beach State Park. This was a couple of days after a hurricane passed far south and east. Though I wasn't there for the truly gigantic waves, they were still impressive – breaking far out from the shoreline, crashing at the sand bar and cresting again before hitting the beach. Beautiful!

Though many of these paintings won't be for sale right away, I'd like to direct you to my Etsy page where I'm having a little sale. Please consider purchasing a painting because, a. Christmas is coming, and these little 6x6s really make nice gifts, and/or b. the mermaid needs to buy some picture frames for the big solo show and selling a couple of these little guys would be a BIG help!

I'd also like to suggest that you sign up on the right side of this page for emails (not every day), and the follow button to get notifications when this blog is updated (for this month nearly every day, most times, not so much).

Get more info on the 30/30 challenge go to Leslie Saeta's blog by clicking here.

Day 3 – 30/30 Challenge, Round 4. Orient Lighthouse

So as promised – not a finished painting. I've been at work on this painting of a sunset at Orient Lighthouse (Coffee Pot) for a couple of days. I had a smaller version of this from another 30/30 Challenge, but fortunately it sold! So, because I'm trying to round-out some paintings for the November solo show, I decided to to a larger, more substantial one.

This is about 12" w x 10" h on a really nice black paper I bought several years ago and I can't remember what it is - maybe Strathmore? I don't recall if it's specifically a pastel paper, but it holds the pastel very nicely and can tolerate some wetting.

Though many of these paintings won't be for sale right away, I'd like to direct you to my Etsy page where I'm having a little sale. Please consider purchasing a painting because, a. Christmas is coming, and these little 6x6s really make nice gifts, and/or b. the mermaid needs to buy some picture frames for the big solo show and selling a couple of these little guys would be a BIG help!

I'd also like to suggest that you sign up on the right side of this page for emails (not every day), and the follow button to get notifications when this blog is updated (for this month nearly every day, most times, not so much).

Get more info on the 30/30 challenge go to Leslie Saeta's blog by clicking here.

Day 2 - 30/30 Challenge, Round 4

Nest 

9.5" x 9.5", watercolor and colored pencil on Arches Hot-Press paper.

This is another painting I finished up on Sunday for a show at The Art Guild for our long awaited Re-Opening at Elderfields. I'm still looking for a perfect title. "Nest" is so obvious, right? Suggestions welcome! (Please excuse the poor photo.)

This little nest is on the kitchen window sill at Elderfields. It simply appeared one day – this amazing little construction of mud and carefully chosen grasses and viney sticks. Then there was one egg, then four. But suddenly the robins abandoned it. A little sad.

I'm working on some other things - both painting and non-painting, so I'm not sure what to show you next. We'll be surprised together!

I'll be reminding you every day that I'm having a sale in my Etsy shop. Anything $35 and more is 15% off. (The mermaid has to buy some picture frames for that solo show, you know.) Please use the coupon code below...

Round 4 of the 30/30 Challenge - Day 1

Sailboats and Clouds, pastel, 9x12

Here we go again! The fourth go-round of the always interesting 30 Paintings in 30 Days Challenge. This little challenge was dreamed up by artist Leslie Saeta about two years ago. The rules are very loose – although the obvious stated goal is 30 paintings in 30 days – there are caveats. You can paint more than one a day, you can skip a day, etc. The ultimate goal is to paint everyday. There are about 700 artists participating over the next 30 days...That's potentially 21,000 pieces of art work! (Go to the link above to see where the participating artists are located.)

I will first confess, that it is highly unlikely that I'll get 30 paintings done this time. I have a number of paintings I need to do for a variety of reasons - not the least of which is a solo show – my first EVER – coming up in November! I know from past experience that working bigger than 6" x 6" will simply not produce a painting a day (I do have to pay my rent!). I will, however, try to paint something everyday – I need to paint something everyday. And I will post the progress.

I also will probably not be putting these up on Etsy immediately. Some may end up in the solo show – I need to fill those walls! (If you are absolutely in love with something, contact me and we can talk...)

Above is the completed pastel painting I started plein air last weekend. I finished it yesterday.  I just love the clouds and the sky. I don't know if it will be part of the November show, time will tell!

Oh and by-the-way I'm having a sale in my Etsy shop. Anything $35 and more is 15% off. (The mermaid has to buy some picture frames for that solo show, you know.) Use the coupon code below...