Day 30

Day 30 of the 30/30 challenge

     I just can't seem to 'keep it simple', even though I try.   I had to add this painting in a frame, because it looked so empty in the background... Oh, Whoa is me... ha ha 

Day 29

Day 29 of the 30/30 challenge

     I almost always have asparagus in the refrigerator, so they were a 'given' for a painting.  These little lemons have done their duty in several paintings, too. 

     I was concerned about the compositional flow of this one, with the asparagus leading the eye into the painting.  It was fun to paint this one.. Only 2 more to go !

 

Day 28 - Royal Reds

Day 28 of the 30/30 challenge

     Something different today.  I was inspired by a subject my friend, Dawn, set up to paint a couple of years ago,.  She did some small fish, and I loved the way they turned out, always meaning to go over to Olive St. and visit a seafood store and get some.   This was in my freezer, so it saved me a trip.

     These shrimp are very large, and taste like lobster.  We (my sister and I ) discovered these at a restaurant in Biloxi Mississippi a few years back.  

     They are sometimes available at Schnucks, and come from the coast of Argentina...

Day 27

Day 27 of the 30/30 challenge

     To me, purple hyacinths are the first indication of springtime.  Although this one came from the store, it still makes me think there will be warmer days ahead, soon..... These days, any positive thoughts are Welcome.....

     The smell is delightful, too.

Day 26

Day 26 of the 30/30 challenge

     I always enjoyed the shape of this bowl.  I love the perwinkle color, too.  

     These new apples (for me, anyway) are called ENVY, and they are really wonderful.  You can't find them just everywhere, but it is worth looking for them at your supermarket.....

Day 25

Day 25 of the 30/30 challenge

     I finished this one this morning with time to spare..... That's what happens when you stay in your studio, and don't run around all over town.   ha ha ha 

     This is another of the pairs of heels I bought at the thrift store, because of the shape, and the strappy feel to them.   More fun to paint than to wear, I'd say...

 

Day 24

Day 24 of the 30/30 challenge

  I got behind with posting here, NOT with painting, however.... ha ha 

     It is actually the 25th today, but yesterday was SO busy, I didn't get my painting on the blog....

     Here is the one for yesterday... It took awhile to paint it, too... ha

 

Day 23

Day 23 of the 30/30 challenge

     Busy day..... My sis and I are doing genealogical research for our family.  We go into the downtown city library and see how much info we can find for our family story.  Yesterday we found our mom's high school yearbook, she graduated in January, 1930.   SO CUTE !  Loads of pics we had never seen before, plus the illustrations which she did for the various groups, athletics, clubs, etc. She always used her art, all her life, to make a living. 

     Well,didn't finish this until late, and didn't have time to post. so Here it is...

Oh, yes, I forgot to tell you, I have this THING about cute little bowls, too.  I have so many !   These are a few of my most favorite .

Day 22

Day 22 of the 30/30 challenge

     Well, I'm having fun with these shoes.   I guess I really enjoy the shapes.  Hope you enjoy them, too.

     Since they are solid black, I dressed up the color with a piece of fabric that I bought awhile ago to make a tote bag out out.... Obviously, I never made the tote bag.  (I was famous for buying fabric and then finding it years later, just as I left it).... I know, I'm not proud of that, but this time I got good use out of it.

Day 21

Day 21 of the 30/30 challenge

     I found this cute vintage book at the thrift store, and could just picture the red shoes on it.  I had fun with it, and realized recently that I love painting shoes of all kinds . 

      I DO remember having my students in drawing class years ago, do contour drawings of their shoe, and sketches of their shoes in their sketchbooks, and I always had a fun time doing those drawings, too.  Do I have a 'shoe fetish' ?

Day 20

Day 20 of the 30/30 challenge

     I really should try to get my compositions a little simpler so I can finish this challenge, but for some reason, I am unable to do that. 

     This Hall pitcher is a vintage one, like from the 50s, maybe.  I used to share a booth at the Eureka antique mall with my sis, and I still have a few things from that era, plus, I developed a love for all things vintage like this, and have to buy them...... even if I have to rationalize a bit better now.

     I loved the shape of this pitcher, plus the color.  The glass is an old one that my grand daughters love to drink their water out of.....

Day 19

Day 19 of the 30/30 challenge

     I am really having fun with this month's challenge.   I get excited about my paintings, and have fun struggling with the next composition.  (It also gives me a perfect excuse to visit the thrift store across the street for more finds)   ha, although my husband accuses me laughingly of being a hoarder..... I am NOT.... ha...

     A close up of yesterdays bouquet... I must paint these quickly, because, being in the strong light of my set-up, the flowers open up while I am painting, and it makes it hard to get the shapes and values right.  quick is best, as a photo does little good in this situation.

Day 18

Day 18 of the 30/30 challenge

     Today's painting is my favorite subject (or one of my favorites)  Flowers...

     Trader Joe's has the best flowers, especially appreciated when spring seems so far away here in St. Louis.   I loved the color on these,  the outsides are a muted orange, but even when they were only buds I could see a brilliant red center.   Had to have 'em.

Day 17

Day 17 of the 30/30 challenge

     Mixed it up by changing directions today.  Found these cute Beatrix Potter items at the thrift store, and had to try my luck with them.   This scene looks as though my granddaughter, Vivian, will soon sit down at my table for lunch, including her favorite cheese and juice.   Miss you, Vivi 

Day 16

Day 16 of the 30/30 challenge

     Here's a little different angle on these bad boys..... I wanted to rethink the background color, but almost got it exactly the same, without realizing it, so I at least added the orange to spice it up a bit.... 

     Backgrounds are SO crucial.... I didn't realize that until I started painting every day.

Day 15

Day 15 of the 30/30 challenge

     

   Well, I've made it half way.... whew.  It's been a great exercise in discipline.   I have painted every day, except for one, which I had another painting to post.   I usually get the painting done, photographed, into my picasa files, so I can go right to it the next morning and post it.   I usually really like the leave the studio already set up for the next day.   A practice I read about awhile ago, and I think it's very helpful.  It eliminates a bit of the anxiety of setting foot in the studio without any idea what I want to paint.   

     Here's the painting for today.  These bad boys were a great nab at the local goodwill.  I guess the brave person who bought them originally had to surrender....  it had to be hard to walk in these......

Day 14

Day 14 of the 30/30 challenge

     "Kickin' 'em Off"  says it all.  I could never walk in these, not even when I was younger.  I admire those who can withstand the pain.   Hahaha

     I had fun with these, and criss-crossed them so I could get them onto the small 6 x 6 format.  Working on these in such a small painting takes a little practice, and I'm having fun painting shoes.

 

     It stands to reason I would enjoy painting these as subjects, since my mother, before I was even born, was a women's SHOE DESIGNER in St. Louis.   She went to ART school after high school, and used her talent throughout her entire career, in different capacities. 

Day 13

Day 13 of the 30/30 challenge

     Trying some big girl shoes today... ha...

     I found these at goodwill and loved the color and shape, even though the size didn't matter at all, because I was never going to actually WEAR them.  I never wore heels this high, and taught school my whole career, so never had to put myself through this torture.  I think they look painful, so I made them paintful..... 

      I would be kicking them off SO FAST, I will paint them like that tomorrow !

Day 12

Day 12 of the 30/30 challenge

     I went looking at the thrift store for some new stuff for my paintings and found this adorable pair of shoes, and couldn't resist the print on the inside.    I love painting the patent leather, with it's reflective surface and the cute straps to hold the shoes on with buckles.  I remember putting these on my daughter and granddaughters, as well.  They are so fun to paint.  

Day 11

Day 11 of the 30/30 challenge

     This Eiffel tower picture I did about 3 weeks ago.  I had to crop it to fit into the Leslie Saeta website format, which is square... It actually is a cute little 6 x 8 image, reminiscent of our trips to Paris, which we loved !

     I became interested in painting the Eiffel tower after the attack took place in Paris...... We must not buckle to the terrorists who seek to make up fearful of our world.