30* Paintings in 30 Days

Day 31— It's interesting to see these all together and realize I lean toward a cool palette
and those who know me are not surprised by the heavy use of purple.

What I  learned:

I like to paint fish, teacups, bunnies and cows. Paint what you love or you won't love to paint.
Retro kitchen equipment is a challenge and rewarding.
This was my first bouquet of flowers.
Experiment with different supports (surfaces).
The exposure brings surprising connections: new friends and old family.
Never post a negative comment about your own work.

* There are only 29 paintings here, one just didn't work.

Tempest in a Teacup

Tempest in a Teacup  6 x 6 pastel

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Day 30 — I was able to do 30 paintings!  I am exhausted, but I learned a lot— I like to paint fish, teacups, bunnies and cows. 

Tomorrow I will post a collage of all 30 paintings. Then I will take a day off. Thank you for watching.

Ansel

Ansel  6 x 6 pastel

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Day 29 — Here is another snow bunny. Named Ansel for no reason other than it was
the first name that came to me.

One more day left to the challenge. I have painted almost every day, or done two in one
day if I had to.

Celadon Star Cup

Celadon Star Cup  6 x 6 pastel

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Day 28— Almost at the end of the 30/30 Challenge. Really hard cup to paint.

Ode to Juno

Ode to Juno  12 x 12 pastel

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Day 27 — It really felt good to paint some summer hydrangeas during the big blizzard in the Northeast.

Gerard's Porch

Gerard's Porch  8 x 10 pastel

Day 26 — I never knew Gerard. About a year ago, I was gifted his pastels from his daughter-in-law Ellen Hopkins Fountain, an amazing watercolor artist.

I have lots of pastels, and they are all mixed together in my working box, but somehow I just know when I am using one of Gerard's sticks. In fact his stash netted my coveted Girault #282 periwinkle.

Last summer Ellen invited me to the family summer house in Maine. This home is everything a summer house is supposed to be: comfy chairs to read in, board games, old Yankee Magazines, funny outdated kitchen gadgets, an outdoor shower —  and Gerard's porch.

Mixmaster

Mixmaster  14 x 11  pastel

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Day 25 — I was on my way to an opening in this fall and saw a church rummage sale, so I had to stop. This mixer stood out across a room of junk and I ran over and started photographing it. The elderly man sitting there said "What are you taking pictures for?" I said "To do a painting" He said "Well why don't you just take it so I don't have to haul it out to the curb?" So I did. 

It really need to be a larger painting.

Teacup 7290

Teacup 7290  6 x 6 pastel

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Day 24 —Why "7290" you ask? Because that is the only writing on this ornate teacup. I think it's English Bone China, but I do not know what company made it. I do know it was not easy to paint.

Snapper

Snapper  5 x 9 pastel

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Day 23 — This is a colorful Red Snapper from the local fish market. I may have reached the end of my fishing line.

Lois

 

Lois 6 x 6 pastel

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Day 22 — Lois is from Stone Barns in the Rockefeller State Park. I spent a lot of time there in the late '60s, when the property was still private—walking the bridle trails, stealing horses from the barns and other teenage mischief.

At least I think that's what happened, it was the 60s after all...

Market Fish

Market Fish  5 x 9 pastel

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Day 21— My husband went to the fish market and took a lot of photos for me, but didn't write
down what kind of fish they were, so for now this is Market Fish. 

If anyone knows this fish, speak up and he will get a better title.

Rainbow Trout

Rainbow Trout 5 x 9 pastel

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Day 20 —The rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) is native only to the rivers and lakes of North America, west of the Rocky Mountains. They prefer cool, clear rivers, streams, and lakes, though some will leave their freshwater homes and follow a river out to the sea. These migratory adults, called steelheads because they acquire more silvery markings, will spend several years in the ocean.

I admit I never knew that. Painting fish has opened a new world.

Fun with Onions

Fun with Onions 8 x 10

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Day 19 — The 30/30 is a good time to experiment with different styles and materials.
I used a rougher homemade surface and you can see some the texture of the gesso in spots.
This type of surface really eats up the pastels too.

Skuša

Skuša 5 x 9 pastel

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Day 18 — Skuša, Slovenian for mackerel, from the fish market in Ljubljana.

Salmon Scalloped

Salmon Scalloped  6 x 6 pastel

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Day 17 — I was trying to find the name of this china pattern with no luck. I did spend way too much time reading about the difference between porcelain, fine china and bone china. Quite interesting— bone china is 30% ground up bones (cattle).

And then I found this:
Charles Krafft's Villa Delirium Delft Works produces porcelain family memorabilia from human ashes.
His motto? "Ashes to ashes, dust to delft".

P.S. The background on this painting is a soft periwinkle, NOT swimming pool blue. No amount of futzing in Photoshop will get me the correct color.

Charles Krafft’s Villa Delirium Delft Works produces porcelain family memorabilia from human ashes. His motto? "Ashes to ashes, dust to delft… " - See more at: http://1800recycling.com/2010/10/bone-china-recycled-human-remains#sthash.iG3IFewu.dpuf

Charles Krafft’s Villa Delirium Delft Works produces porcelain family memorabilia from human ashes. His motto? "Ashes to ashes, dust to delft… " - See more at: http://1800recycling.com/2010/10/bone-china-recycled-human-remains#sthash.iG3IFewu.dpuf

Charles Krafft’s Villa Delirium Delft Works produces porcelain family memorabilia from human ashes. His motto? "Ashes to ashes, dust to delft… " - See more at: http://1800recycling.com/2010/10/bone-china-recycled-human-remains#sthash.iG3IFewu.dpuf

Charles Krafft’s Villa Delirium Delft Works produces porcelain family memorabilia from human ashes. His motto? "Ashes to ashes, dust to delft… " - See more at: http://1800recycling.com/2010/10/bone-china-recycled-human-remains#sthash.iG3IFewu.dpuf

Hive 1

Hive 1  5 x 6 pastel

Day 16—

Do I think it's a sketch? 
Yes, probably, for a larger painting.

Is it a hive from Let It Bee Honey, here in Hastings on Hudson, NY? 
Most likely.

Beauregarde

Beauregarde 6x 6 pastel

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Day 15 — I asked my husband to help me title my painting. Without looking he said
"Beauregarde" and I said "perfect."

Not Consomme

Not Consomme  6 x 6 pastel

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Day 14 — You are probably wondering about the title. I borrowed some cups from my
neighbor Carol. This was a consomme cup, and they have two handles (who knew?).
I didn't paint the second handle and consider it a teacup.

Antique Molds

Antique Molds  10 x 8 pastel

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Day 13— These molds were also at the market in Ljubljana, Slovenia.

Slovenian Branzino

Slovenian Branzino  5 x 9 pastel

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Day 12 — Last summer we had a great trip to Germany/Austria/Slovenia/Croatia. Ljubljana is the
capital of Slovenia, and "the next Prague." It has a walkable, pedestrian-only Old Town, lively cafe
culture and great food.

There is a large outdoor market with everything from fruits and vegetables to sneakers
and tube socks... and fish.

Brody

Brody  6 x 6 pastel

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Day 11 — I really wanted to paint something I could pet today, and I am out of teacups.

Brody comes from the Woodstock Animal Farm Sanctuary, well their website at least.
My friend, Susan Williamson, had a link on her blog. I don't normally "steal" off the internet,
but this guy was just too cute.

Take a moment to look at Susan's work, she is an amazing artist:
susanwilliamson.blogspot.com

No Name Teacup

No Name Teacup 7 x 5 pastel

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Day 10 — I had no idea what to call this painting so I thought I should look for the hallmark
and maybe that would inspire me.  Nothing, nada, zip. The are no markings on this cup. Too bad, it's a sweet little cup not to have an identity.

Dirty Lemons

Dirty Lemons  6 x 6 pastel

Day 9 — I only had about 45 mins. to paint today. Rather than blow it off, I took a simple subject and basically made a muddy mess. I would like to try this again sometime, but think about it a tad more before mushing pastel on a board (sigh).

In keeping with the spirit of the challenge, I will post everything— the good, the bad and the ugly.

Sow Siesta

Sow Siesta  6 x 6 pastel

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Day 8— Took a break from tea cups.

Another Cup

Another Cup 6 x 6 pastel

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Day 7— Yes, another cup. I think I need a soft, ethereal landscape or something not as demanding.

This one was very hard to photograph. The painting is a bit warmer, but I'm tired and don't feel
like futzing in Photoshop. 

From the Rivertowns PATCH (do you have a PATCH? I hope so, they are hysterical):

The Hudson Valley will see temperatures drop to dangerously cold levels Wednesday night and Thursday, according to the National Weather Service, which calls the period the “coldest air of the season.” Wednesday night, temperatures are expected to plummet into the single digits, with wind chills below zero. Thursday’s high is not expected to reach 20 degrees, and again the wind chill will drop those numbers even lower.

If you live in areas even colder than the suburbs of NYC, do not laugh at us. Maybe make a
cup of tea?

Dimitri

Dimitri  7 x 5 pastel

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Day 6 — Today's painting was a wipe out. I was lucky to have Dimitri waiting in the wings to sub for just this reason. He is a Silver Spangled Hamburg, currently residing in NH.

Downton Tea

Downton Tea  5 x 7 pastel

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Day 5 —It seemed fitting to honor the gang as we kick off season 5, but I think I need
a break from tea cups.

I have painted this before, but back then I left out the inside embellishment. 

Hot Cuppa  18 x 24 pastel

Black and Whites

Black and Whites  6 x 6 pastel

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Day 4 — I am channeling my inner Wayne Thiebaud here (I wish!). 

When I was a kid, these came in Black OR White, you never had the option of both on one.
And we called the Flying Saucers.

Teabird of Paradise

Teabird of Paradise  6 x 6 pastel

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Day 3 — I felt compelled to try a complicated subject, but treat it loose and painterly. I am beginning to see this may be my goal for the month.

If you have responded to my blog emails by hitting "reply"— I never received it because the blog was going out as "noreply@blogger.com". It is now fixed so if you choose to "reply" I will receive it.

Sheepish

Sheepish  6 x 6 pastel

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Day 2 — I thought this guy was looking a little sheepish, ergo the title.

I have a new little technique I am using lately. I take my images into Photoshop and posterize them.
It whacks out the color and is a lot of fun. My paintings seem to land somewhere between photo realism and impressionism, sort of.