Day 30-"Hot Chili Pepper"

"Hot Chili Pepper"
10"x8" oil on wrapped canvas
Fruit & Vegetable Series #10
sold

100% of sales proceeds of Fruit & Vegetable Series will be donated to Feed My People Children's Charity, Operator of Northern Arizona Foodbank

Well, I finally finished this chili pepper. Must say I'm glad to let it go. Today marks one month on my blog and my daily painting practice. I've heard it said that it takes 30 days of consistent behavior to make a change a habit. Don't know if that's true for me--but painting everyday is beginning to feel like a normal part of my day. The painting has become the central part of my day and everything else is planned around it--just like a normal job would be. And that's what I've been wanting to happen. I believe that the commitment to blog posting is what has enabled me to stay with it for the month. I know that I am really only making a commitment to myself, but I also feel a commitment to readers out there--real and imaginary. So, thank you for being there whoever you are. The journey goes on--Buen Camino, Kathy

Day 29-"Cabin in the Canyon"

"Cabin in the Canyon"
8"x6" oil on panel

Today was plein air painting class in Sedona, so in preparation for the class I did a little sketch from one of my previous plein air painting days. We can't do any additional work on paintings we do during class, because we need to compare how our ability to work on site is progressing throughout the class. I'm working too slow for good plein air studies. Today we were working in a much smaller format so I hoped this would provide a bit of warm up for class. Seeing the photo of the painting tells me I still have some work to do.

Day 27 & 28-"White House at Sundown"

"White House at Sundown"
9"x12" oil on panel

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I took Mother's Day off from painting. However, I did put in some volunteer time at the Artist's Coalition Gallery where I have a couple of paintings. I used the down time to work on some design ideas--so I guess that still counts for painting time.

Today I tried to finish up my vegetable painting but still don't have it where I want it. I was getting pretty frustrated with it, so decided to add some touches to this painting that I did last year. It's a little house in my neighborhood and was started as a "plein air" painting, but finished in my studio. I'm having a difficult time getting my camera to produce the actual color very well. But I think you can get the idea. I have almost finished another little landscape of a cabin in Oak Creek. Hopefully I'll have it ready to show soon, as well. I'm finding a really like having a few projects to jump around too, so I don't get too bogged down it something that isn't working they way I want.

Regarding the "Monument Valley Sketch" I posted last week, I thought I would do more on it before posting it to eBay, but I received several nice comments about it, so decided I'd leave it like it is and list it on eBay now--I'm really learning that I'm not a very good judge of what others will like.

Day 26-"Abstract #1"

"Abstract #1"

20"x16" oil on canvas

My vegetable painting is not going well today, so I thought I'd take the opportunity to post my first abstract painting. It is actually the surface that I've been using to discard the painting I have scrapped off my canvas, adding a little bit of paint day by day. I did not have a design idea in mind, however I did consciously try to distribute the paint in what felt like a pleasing placement. I don't know if I am finished with this piece. I originally thought I might use it as a background for a collage, but I'm finding I kind of like it this way too.

I am often attracted to abstract art, but always felt I didn't have it "in me" to do myself, so have not attempted it. I've never taken any classes in abstract art, and I don't know what the principles of abstract art might be. However, in the last few months, some of our class assignments have been leading me more in this direction. First, with our collage project, I did my "Organic Coffee" piece. And then yesterday's collaborative piece is leaning toward abstraction.

Last year I started trailrunning. It was something I wanted to do for a long time, but thought I would never be able to do because of my age, my bones, aching knees, among other excuses. But, instead I decided that, since it was something I really wanted to do, I should at least give it my best effort before I totally wrote it off. I started slow, took it one day at a time, doing lots of cross-training to strengthen my weaknesses, and found that in fact I could do it. Last fall I ran the "short course" (six miles) in the "Soulstice Race," my first running race ever. This year I signed up for the "long course" (twelve miles). I'm not very fast, but at my age there's not very many women in my age class. But, more important, I get to experience the thrill of running mountain trails I had so long yearned to do.

So, I guess, I'm coming to truly believe the adage, that if you truly desire to do something, you shouldn't say you can't do it until you've really given it your best effort.

Day 25- "Collaborative Painting #2

"Collaborative Painting #2"

11"x14" oil on panel

Today was the last day of class for the semester in my Friday workshop class at the community college. We each presented our portfolio for the semester. Carolyn and I just finished our second collaborative painting and presented it as well, so I thought I'd post our final effort. Carolyn did the original design and it evolved from there, passing back and forth several times. I feel very good about how it came out. It was a fun experience working together, and I think we each learned something from each others way of painting. So now we each have a painting signed by the two of us. This is the painting I will keep, she will keep the floral painting. I know that this painting will always make me smile.

Day 24- "Butternut Squash"

"Butternut Squash"

10"x8" oil on wrapped canvas
Fruit & Vegetable Series #9

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100% of sales proceeds of Fruit & Vegetable series sold on eBay will be donated to feed My People Children's Charity, operator of Northern Arizona Foodbank

This painting went through multiple transitions today-about three different background colors and many paint scrap-offs on the body of the squash. Definitely, not a painting that came easily. Finally, I had to stop at the end of the day and this is where it is.

Day 23- "Aloha Pineapple"

"Aloha Pineapple"

10"x8" oil on wrapped canvas

I don't know how to feel about this painting--but decided to go ahead and post it anyway, then decide tomorrow if I need to change it. I'm feeling like this painting is verging into the "expressive" category--when I've always categorized my work as "impressionistic"--but I'm not sure what the difference is--will have to look into that.

Day 22- "Monument Valley Sketch"

"Monument Valley Sketch"
8"x6" oil on panel

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I did this little sketch yesterday. It's from a photo I took driving through Monument Valley last month . I was overcome with the beauty of the area, but unfortunately did not have time, nor was I prepared for painting.
There's a glare on this photo, I'm OK with the way it is now, but would like to push it a little, or do something to make it more interesting. Anyway, I'll probably use it as the basis for another, and let you see what comes of it in a few days.

Today was plein air class in Sedona, not very productive for me. It was very windy, and I was struggling with my painting. Then a big gust of wind blew over my whole setup, landing my painting and all my paints in the red dust, and breaking my wooden easel--the joys of plein air painting. But....I'm still painting.

Day 19, 20, 21- "Regal Red Onion"

"Regal Red Onion"

10"x8" oil on wrapped canvas

100% of sales proceeds of Fruit & Vegetable Series will be donated to Feed My People Children's Charity, operator of Northern Arizona Foodbank

sold

I took the weekend off from painting, and instead focused on getting my studio organized. Also, put in sometime at the Artist's Coalition Gallery where I'm showing a few pieces. It's a member operated gallery so we all volunteer some time. So even though I wasn't actually painting, I was doing art stuff. Went back to painting this morning with a clean studio and renewed energy.

Day 18-"Red Tulips"

"Red Tulips"

8"x6" oil on panel

click here to bid

I painted this in my Friday workshop class this morning. One of the students brought these tulips in to paint, so I decided to share her set up. It's been unusual to have tulips for so long, but we've been without a snow storm for longer than usual this spring. In Flagstaff, our nice spring days are always treasured because we know that snow, or wind and cold are following close behind. It was a beautiful, sunny day today, but rain and snow are expected tomorrow-the tulips may be gone by Sunday.