Side Entry Nest - day 30 in the challenge

Side Entry Nest

11x9" watercolor on Yupo Paper NFS

Day 30

Artist Note.

A friend gave me this wonderful

nest recently.  

He knew that the nest was no 

longer occupied and he thoughtfully

included the tree branches which 

supported it rather than

destroy it's structure.

I love the "side entry" type nest, but this one 

tragically came with two tiny

skeletons in the interior.

Unanswered questions.

Were they too large to have

been recently hatched?

Or were they the parents?

I will be very respectful 

in my handling of them 

and their lovingly made home

If you can use your imagination

 there are two leaves up on the right

near the opening which I painted to 

form an abstract shape suggesting

a bird flying towards it.

This is the last painting

for the challenge.

I will do a wrap up of my experience 

tomorrow.

Watercolor Changes - day 29 in the Challenge

Sunflowers and Pomegranates

13x10" watercolor on Yupo paper

unfinished

Day 29

Artist Note.

On yesterday's post I mentioned how I had just

been given some fresh pomegranates and

would like to TRY adding one to this painting.

It is on Yupo and it's plastic surface makes it easy

to lift off a previously painted area  See below

I formed the shape I wanted with a 

damp paper towel. I also removed the sunflower

 resting at the bottom of the jar.

Next I placed the actual pom in the position

I thought would be best

Naturally... and I know you will ALL understand this...

other changes then started to happen. 

It seems pretty impossible to make a change 

without the eye noticing all the other areas

 effected by the new shape and color.

Also it is a sunny day and my set up

appeared much brighter.

One back pear disappeared.

The jar became slightly wider

A cooler blue was added - so much for 

limited palette! Other colors and shapes

changed too.

(I do enjoy a warm and cool of each primary.)

I sharpened up some edges 

and softened others.

Below is the one before the changes

I have to live with this new version for a while

to see how I feel about it.

I do know I am glad that I tried the pom addition.

Bit more energy.

Watercolor Floral - day 28 in the Challenge

Watercolor Floral

12x9" on Yupo paper

Unfinished

Day 28

Artist Note

I am trying new colors and a 

truly, truly

limited palette with watercolor.

One red - one blue and one yellow.

I have experienced continual cloudy days and

I find it has really

affected my color vision.

It also has provided me with a deeper understanding 

of the old master's paintings 

when brown was 

dominate in the background.

 Candlelight was their major source 

of illumination at night and on 

rainy days I now feel I understand

what it was like.

Explains a lot!

I have been presented with more fresh

pomegranates and think I will remove

the pears in this still life and 

put at least one of the poms in. 

That is the beauty of Yupo.

Wipes off clear back to the white.

I will show you tomorrow what it 

looks like with the changes.

Experimenting - day 27 of the challenge

Single Pom

12x9

Not for sale.

Artist Note

The following is a handy and 

creative way to break up your 

color/value areas if you want to try for

a looser effect, but enjoy painting smoothly.

Start with a random black/grey white paint

patterns on canvas or paper.  You can drip, 

splatter or place, but use a generous amount.

(I used gesso)

Lay another piece of paper or canvas

 over it and

gently press and lift straight off.

It will look similar to an abstract  

mono print

Next I used a palette knife to 

smooth some areas, but if you like what you

see, then leave it alone.

Let dry.

You have two abstracts to work on.

Next draw what your subject will be.

Mine happens to be a pomegranate.

I used a rigger brush and thinned oil paint.

 Let the fun begin. 

I started with transparent colors

Adding some opaque paint where I did

not want the dark underneath to show through.

I am going to do a landscape with the other 

piece of paper - which was the one used on top..

The possibilities are endless.

I want to thank Mary Maxim for 

saying such nice things about my blog on the 

radio show Artists Helping Artists

It plays on Thursdays, 

but you can pick it up at any time.

Leslie Saeta hosts the show and is the energy

which makes it work. Mary was the co-host 

for this month and came up with fabulous 

ideas and art information.

If you are not familiar with 

Mary's truly amazing paintings 

you can

check them out HERE

Have a lovely weekend.

Pomegranate Trio - day 26 in the challenge

Pomegranate Trio

6x8in oil on canvas panel SOLD

Day 26

Artist Note

I'm still pushing color!

I was given a few pomegranates

with twigs and leaves still attached.

Wonderful - thank you, Gail!

I have been doing some experimental

stuff and I will show that tomorrow.

Pansy Patterns - day 25 in the Challenge

Pansy Patterns

8x6in oil on canvas
work in progress.

Day 25
A colorful jolt to the senses!

Artist Note.

This is an older one I re-worked.
It is purely a decorative piece and I
still love having it around to
experiment on.

Back in late 2011
I did a series based on influences

from Picasso's work and cubism.
Using pattern and color as the main
focus it completely made me free
from the realistic motif of
light creating volume.
Good to have a change every so often...
especially near the end of a
Leslie Saeta 30 Day Challenge!
See all the beautiful paintings HERE

Hollyhocks - New Mexico. Day 24 in the Challenge

Hollyhocks- New Mexico

10x8" oil on canvas - $500.Framed

 and for sale thru 

M. Phillips Fine Art Gallery

575-525-1367

day 24

Artist Note.

Only a few more days left in the 

Leslie Saeta 30 Day Challenge.
(big smile)

This painting was painted from a 

plein air watercolor sketch I did 

earlier this summer.

It is larger than my usual blog size

and I have an agreement with 

the wonderful people at the (above) gallery,

Mark and Gail,

that anything larger than 8"x8" goes

through them.

It has turned out to be a win-win 

situation for all as their large and beautiful

 gallery is only one block

south on Main Street from my tiny,

Daily Painting Gallery. 

in the

Artist Guild of Southern New Mexico.
studio space.
We send interested collectors
in each direction!

Turquoise Leaf and Oleanders - day 23 in the Challenge

Turquoise Leaf and Oleanders

6x6in oil on canvas panel   SOLD

Day 23

I have loved this little leaf dish because the
glaze is so drop dead beautiful.
It gives the impression of caribbean water.
Glazes are something my mother excelled at
as a potter, and this is a color
she would have loved to have used.

Sun is out today - hooray!

Trio of Calla Lillies - day 22 of the challenge

Trio of Calla Lilies

6x6in oil on canvas panel $100.

Purchase HERE

Day 22

These are the type of calla lilies that are grown 

as a house plant.

Pretty, but nowhere near as gorgeous as the ones

that grow outside.

Artist Note.
We still have cloudy skies so my still life set-up
has a very dull cast to it. This is a great
opportunity to 

work with neutralized colors.
For example - the background pinkish
tone was originally a Napathol Red base
with a yellow/green mixed in with it.
I used Naples Yellow to lighten.
The leaves were made from Ultramarine Blue,
Perm Yellow and Transparent Brown Oxide.
 I also added a tiny amount of background
color mixed in - here and there.

I miss my sunshine!

Rose in Glass - days 19-20 in Challenge

Rose in Glass

6x6in oil on canvas panel

Days 19 - 20

Artist Note

It was Page Railsback 

(fabulous with color and design)

who commented on my previous post

that my work was so complicated

it was hard to believe I could do it in a day.

 And that made me think... maybe 

she was right?

I would try something simple.

Whip it out.

So here it is. - a single rose in a glass.

It should have been simple, right?

 ...wrong!

This little sucker took two days and 

I am still not sure if it is done.

See the amazing, colorful work of

Page Railsback HERE

Flowers - day 17 in the challenge

Stripes and Sunflowers.

8x6in oil on canvas $125. SOLD

Day 17

Artist Note

This was done a few weeks ago.

It went through some changes today 

as I freshened it up. 

my eyes not only had to get

accustomed to painting

something other than interiors...

but also the result of a visit to the retina

specialist earlier today.

I am attempting to paint

and type with dilated pupils.

A riot! I do know

the blue colors are not quite this vivid. 

Dont forget to check out all the 

wonderful paintings on the 30 in 30 Challenge

HERE

Open Door - day 16 in the challenge

Open Door

9x12in oil on canvas  

unfinished!

Artist Note.

This is a larger size than the others in this Challenge

 and when I started out I had a dog

included...

- took him out -

- put him in -

- took him out again -

 And I still want to see if I can put him in there,

This chair belongs to good friends and I feel

their much loved dog

should be included

Because of the pressure of the daily challenge 

I needed to post before completing it.

This is painted on black gesso canvas. 

You can see where it is not covered.

Tomorrow I start of a new theme - flowers!

Nap Time - day 15 in the challenge

Nap Time

8x6in oil on canvas panel  $125. SOLD

Day 15

This is my Grandcat. He is not longer

with us but left us with many happy memories.

This chair has a woven seat,

and sometimes, when he jumped up on the 

chair, his legs would go right through.

It was hysterical because he would

still nap with a couple of his legs hanging

through. After a while he learned to 

jump on the chest next to it, and 

carefully step down.

ARTIST NOTE

Half way through ...

Don't forget to take a look at all the 

other artists participating in the 

Leslie Saeta 30 in 30 Challenge

HERE

A Favorite Place - Days 13-14 in the challenge

A Favorite Place
6x8in oil on canvas panel  $125.

Purchase HERE

days 13 and 14

Artist Note

A dear friend's kitchen is where some
of the best Mexican food around
can be found.
I also could feast just on her chosen
palette of colors. Gorgeous!
I asked if I could paint a part of her room.
Received a yes...goody!

She shooed me out before I had finished yesterday
because she was preparing for company.
So back I went today...and as well as painting,
ate the best leftovers you could imagine.
As I said, a dear friend, who incidentally,
sweetly threaten death
if I mentioned her name on my blog.

Oh No...A Redo. How embarrassing!

A corrected version of my previous day's post

SOLD

day 12.

Artist Note
We all learn from others mistakes - right?
I am sharing this in the hope that it
will help someone else.

I noticed the weak design when I saw it with
  fresh eyes this morning.
Groan...and it was sold too.

Here is what I thought was wrong.

Two competing shapes and sizes .
What do you see - chair or fireplace
OR BOTH.
Eyes flicking back and forth between them
indicating no focal area?

Top it off with  a (floating) brown shape
see below

It did not link to anything - it just was there.

Oh My...what to do?

Can I sell something I feel is not my best

at that given time?

I know others must have gone through this same dilemma.

I struggled back and forth all day and then I pulled 

out the trusty glass and made a shape of another 

chair across from the one painted.

(shown below. - excuse the ratty taped corners on the glass!)

I knew right away that I preferred it this way.

It solidified the intimacy of the setting.

The fireplace becomes the area you 

should see first.

So I set about painting it and it solved the problem

of the dark pot too.

I do hope the person who had bought it 

agrees with my choices, and

if not, I know a neat couple who would be 

delighted to get it.

I did paint this today so I think it qualifies as

a challenge painting - in more ways than one.

By The Fire In New Mexico - day 11 of the challenge

By the Fire in New Mexico

6x6in oil on canvas panel $100

 purchase HERE 

Day 11

Every day this week I am painting interiors

for the 30 in 30 Challenge.

This one is in a friend's home

in Corrales, near Albuquerque. 

The kiva, adobe style fireplace is common

in the old homes in New Mexico and

are so popular that many of the new homes

have them.

Artist Note.

My first oil in the Challenge.

I was going to paint in watercolor for a month 

but started to miss my oils. 

It feels good to feel some texture.

I guess I will be using both.

I 

Early Light - day 10 in the CHALLENGE

Early Light

9x7in watercolor on Yupo  

Day 10

A friend's sunroom is the source of

this painting. It faces southeast

and is flooded with light in the mornings.

Her plants go crazy and put mine to shame.

Artist Note.

Yupo is not the easiest of papers to work

with. I admit I am more comfortable with it 

than when I first started, but still find it a 

tricky surface to get used to. 

I love the watery appearance so it has 

been worth the time experimenting and learning

all about it.

I am gathering 

quite an arsenal of techniques and will 

share them when I know they are solid.

Interiors - Red Chair - day 9

Red Chair with Broom

8x7in  watercolor  SOLD

Day 9

There was a wonderful birds nest tucked up

in the corner of this stable. Naturally I painted it 

long before I painted this chair.

Artist Note.

The next 7 days of the 30 day challenge

will have an interior theme.

I know from previous experience that

 having a whole month of the same theme 

does not work well for me 

so I decided to break it down into 

four, week long segments of a 

different focus.

I want to thank everyone for the 

supportive comments. I am trying to 

get around to all your blogs to keep up

with what you are doing plus seeing the 

wonderful work in the Challenge

I encourage you visit and see them all.

 click on the link

30 Day Challenge

Nesting - days 7 & 8 in the challenge

Nesting

8x7in watercolor on paper $NFS

Days 7&8

Artist note.

I started this one on day 6, but things got in

the way...like tennis finals and 

 Denver Bronco football.

No, not moi, but hubby is an avid watcher

of all sports..

When he became so ill last year I pulled 

out my old watercolors so I could sit and be with

him on weekends as he watched whatever sport is on.

The golf is my favorite because I look

up and see the most beautiful views.

It is tranquil with good background noise

to paint with.  By that I mean no screaming 

with excitement as someone is being 

smashed into the ground!

Anyway -  about the painting.

It looked rather too old fashioned because 

at first everything was so brown.

 I used Chinese white to add to some blue

and washed it into the background.

This nest is made up of dead grasses

and I am thinking a solid dark

background would make it pop...

My week's avian/nature theme is at an end. 

I start a new theme tomorrow

Mr. Quail - day 6 in the challenge

Mr.Quail

8x6in watercolor on paper $NFS

Day 6

Artist Note

If it was not for its strong dark head, the quail

would be hard to see as it scurries through

the desert outside my door. 

I tried to capture

some of the lost and found 

feeling I was experiencing with

this watercolor sketch.

I also used a Derwent Dark Wash pencil

to start me off.

One more day and I will move onto into 

my next theme

for the Challenge.

Feathers and Eggs - day 5 of the Challenge

Feathers and Eggs

8x8 in watercolor on paper $NFS
Day 5.

These are Flicker feathers.
(Woodpecker)
I am in awe of the markings and colors
these birds have.
Nature is truly a marvel.

I found it difficult to capture the luminosity
of the orange spine so I deliberately made the dark
background cooler.

Here are some Flicker
feathers from my collection.
Beautiful, eh?

Cutie! - day 4 of the Challenge

Cutie!

6x6in watercolor on paper  NFS

Artist Note.

When I compare this to yesterday's

bird, I have to laugh. 

Did the same artists do them?

This one is obviously fresh and 

spontaneous - yesterday's was labored and 

 I became so frustrated.

This one is a quick recording of what 

I saw and felt...not meant to be a 

a finished painting.

Neither was the other.

I prefer different areas in each of them.

 So what happens 

to the eye, mind and hand?

Consistency is elusive.

Ask any golfer!

A new nest - on loan from a friend.

Better than flowers... for me!

Looking, Watching... - day 3 of the Challenge.

Looking, Watching!

7x5in watercolor on paper NFS

Artist Note

I have painted this little goldfinch

several times, and I have 

many little sketches of him and his less 

colorful mate, busy building their nest.

I thought I could just pop a little painting out

as I was very familiar with the subject.

Ahem,...wrong!

You would think I would know better by now. 

TRUTH.

Painting is unpredictable.

Pressure...it is the darn "Challenge" and 

I thought with panic... I can't miss after

only three days

So I moved on to do a different bird

and just to let you see how frustrated I got

here is what an exasperated brush 

can do!  See the complete loss of white paper.

Oh boy!

Back to the goldfinch to see if I could

rescue it. By this time I am tired and frustrated.

Pity Party Time.

I had classes all day at the guild, 

and did not start painting until 8pm. 

I was tired as in midnight tired.

Hubby dearest suggested fresh eyes 

in the morning would help.

7am

 I splattered and used some 

chinese white on the nest.

Have to think about it some more...

But at least I posted!

HOME! - day 2 - 30 Day Challenge

Home!

8x8in watercolor on paper NFS

A study for future painting.

This is a new nest a friend gave me. 

(The eggs were not in it.)

I could paint nests for a week and be happy.

I marvel at the intricate weaving of twigs and 

other materials. 

This one was lined at the bottom 

with tiny, fluffy feathers

Their very own therapedic topper!

Solitude - 30 Day Challenge

Solitude

7x5in gouache on paper  NFS

This the first for the 30 Day Challenge.

I have not decided if this is finished or not.

It was a very quick sketch 

Artist Note.

I did not join the last two Challenges

because of my previous Challenge experience.

My fault entirely.

It was pressure I placed on myself 

to do all thirty...on time!

I found my quality suffered and the creativity 

which was there at the start, quickly diminished.

So why do this one then?

Because I had encouraged some other 

guild members to do it,

assuring them it does not matter if

they do not complete one a day, 

and feel I should 

 at least accompany them on their journey.

So this time, if life gets in the way and I miss

a day, it's okay...

I will not march myself into the tower of London!

The Challenge has become so large that 

there is no way I can get to see all the artists.

Not enough time.

Thats a shame because I hate to miss out on 

 seeing someone's work I may like. 

I think I read  there were over 

600 artists from 17 countries.

I encourage you to click on the link to see

all the paintings. (You have to scroll down.)

30 day Challenge

Good luck and lots of enjoyment to all participating.