30 in 30...day 30!!!!

I did it! I survived & I must say:  wow did I learn a lot with these 30 days. As difficult as it was to paint every day, I do feel that it is very valuable. As I am still trying to figure out my style, I feel that painting everyday (or every other/ or every 2 days) is a sure way to figure out where I want to be.

 

The below is an abstract of these magnificent purple/fuchsia trees that I like to walk by in the Baker neighborhood. I still need to  figure out how to get the fuchsia color I know I'm seeing....but for now...I will continue to paint frequently...even when I figure it out.

 

Purple Trees (2016)
Oil on canvas 12x12

Oh, and I did get the bridge done....just in time for April 31st. 

-Cheree

30 in 30...day 29

This is another painting done via the view from 900 square feet. It's out of our bedroom window that faces north. It was rushed; done at 5:30 this morning, when I was still a little asleep. Ok, I was a lot asleep. I have been back to painting in the early morning (as of this past week), as it is not too dark and cold these days...until today, when winter came back and with this gloomy, rainy, cold day, I really just wanted to sleep in. Honestly, if I wasn't so close to getting my 30 in 30 done, I would've skipped painting today and called it good. While I don't totally hate this painting, I do wish I would've done it on a bigger surface. 5x7 is just not big enough for these and it really makes getting the proportions done right, difficult for me. I will most likely scrape this one off and use it as a future practice board.

 

Untitled : getting scraped & recycled
Oil on gesso board
 

As much as I enjoy painting small....sometimes it's good to go big when you paint home.
-Cheree

 

30 in 30...day 28

Yesterday was such a nice, warm, sunny day. A friend & I took a long walk during lunch to soak up the beautiful day. We chose our route based on where the most flowers & trees were blooming.

The lilacs have just started to really get their bloom on. It's hard to pass by a lilac tree and not stop and smell them. They are the most lovely fragrance in nature. The smell of lilacs makes me happy.



Lilac Spring (2016)
Oil on clay board 8x8
 

We all need to stop & smell the lilacs.

-Cheree 

30 in 30...day 27

I tried a couple new things with today's painting & neither of them involved eating a tomatoe. I hate, hate, hate raw tomatoes. 

What I did do was paint from a top down view & I sketched the initial painting out trying to get value accomplished in the drawing first. This was much harder than I thought it would be. 

I see you three (2016)
Oil on board 6x6

But there is nothing harder than eating a raw tomatoe....except maybe eating pickles. 

-Cheree 

30 in 30...day 26

I originally bought these purple artichokes to eat but then realized I don't know how to cook artichokes. I'm fairly sure that these pretty purple ladies, swayed me into thinking I could cook anything. However, the fact is, I'm not really good at cooking anything unless I can throw all the ingredients into one pot and leave it to cook all on it's own. I don't enjoy cooking because there are better things for me to do instead, like engaging with all the pretty dolls and Legos who have been waiting all day for me to get home and play.



Artichoke Friends (2016)
Oil on board 6x6

 

Not to mention a few episodes of Big Bang Theory and Hollywood Medium waiting to be watched.

-Cheree



 

 





30 in 30...day 25

I going back to the little still lives for the next few paintings. These are my go tos when I'm working on figuring out color relations & how to have relations....with color, of course. Right now I'm working on greens & whites because for some reason I have difficulty with green shades & especially temperature. Contrariwise, finding color in white is just fun for the brain. You can get really playful with it. 

               A lily & an apple (2016)

                    Oil on board 6x6 

Green & white is basically how I balance work & play. 

-Cheree 

30 in 30...day 24

I have 6 days left to complete my 30 paintings in 30 days and well...while I have painted each day...I'm already behind. The most important thing I've learned so far with completing 30 paintings in 30 days is that: This is NOT how I work. It's a good challenge & there have been some great benefits for me. However, what I've found with this journey thus far is that my prior process worked quite well for me. I painted about every 2-3 days (more or less), often completing the painting, but also taking a few sessions to work on one painting. I also took days off to "miss" it, play with my family, read some books, & then get to it again. An important part of painting for me is taking the time that is needed (hours, days, weeks) to just stare at my work without finishing it & just thinking about it, taking in how I feel. Not getting rushed, finishing when the time is right. Some call this process procrastination and it is, but I like to work like this. So that is why the below painting is not done. I had to stop painting on it this morning & make a cup of tea, cook some eggs, pack up the day bag, go to the acupuncturist, return books to the library, see the Samurai exhibit at the art museum, weed the garden plot, drink tea and read some comics at the comic shop, pick up a toy kitchen, have a cup of tea, then I thought about working on it tonight....and then instead, I watched some Big Bang Theory. I will most likely finish this one on April 30th, because I work best under pressure.

(The picture for this painting was given to me by my good friend, Connie. She has painted this amazing site....And when I get this one done I will blog to it & give you the 411 on her & her amazing talents....so hold your horses) 

Untitled : in procrastination process
Oil on Clay board 8x10



             

 

Or I may get it done on April 31st.

-Cheree