30 Paintings in 30 Days...Day 1 of My Eighth Challenge

WOW...the first 30 paintings in 30 days Challenge by Leslie Saeta Started in January of 2013! She has had 2 each year and I have signed up for them all!!

So here is my first painting for the Eighth round. I actually was working on my Christmas sample for an upcoming painting class and got distracted by thoughts of Halloween,  my favorite holiday. This may just be the last year for my kids to trick-or-treat as they are nearing that age. I though believe if they put in a substantial effort in a costume them they can go. So with memories of times when they were small...I was inspired to paint this little "treater" and his cat companion on a beautiful full moon night. SPOOKTACULAR FRIENDS out for an evening of treats was created with torn papers, stamping for texture and hand drawing and painting.

 

Spooktacular Friends"  6"x6" Original $43

Purchase Information HERE

30Paintings in 30 Days...Day 1 of My Eighth Challenge

WOW...the first 30 paintings in 30 days Challenge by Leslie Saeta Started in January of 2013! She has had 2 each year and I have signed up for them all!!

So here is my first painting for the Eighth round. I actually was working on my Christmas sample for an upcoming painting class and got distracted by thoughts of Halloween,  my favorite holiday. This may just be the last year for my kids to trick-or-treat as they are nearing that age. I though believe if they put in a substantial effort in a costume them they can go. So with memories of times when they were small...I was inspired to paint this little "treater" and his cat companion on a beautiful full moon night. This photo is not the completed painting. Will have to update it...I was so delighted with the finished piece I forgot to take another photo!!
 

 

"Treaters"  6"x6" Original $43

Purchase Information HERE

Bonus as Artist...View from Office

What can I say...brought kids for school Kennywood Amusement Park day. They're at the age I knew they would ditch me...
Seriously though thought we'd get past gate!
But now I'm set up in my "office" ready to sketch. As was my plan all along.;0).
Brought my favorite sketchbook-by Handbook,mechanical pencil- no sharpening required, waterbrush,eraser, watercolor set,head phones,sun glasses,glasses....My little monster case has some dbl sided tape,scissors,sharpener for a few colored pencils,pigma markers...mints, couple dollars
and Coke Zero.
Ready to go!
So easy to through a fee things in a bag. I'll use my phone( which I'm writing this post with) to take photos incase I want for later or move with the kids. More than I bet I use but it's my standard and most important to pack!!
Stop back for sketches...now I'm off to do just that.
Give it a try in your neighborhood sometime.

I Finally DID IT after all these years!

Doing it right on the main highway in Portersville, PA! Yep,first time!  I have a studio and gallery/retail space outside of my home!!
After doing some deep thinking,making the decision to move out, I began my search. I had my eye on this place for a while but was out of reach. Looking at a couple of options ,I got an invite to this house. I find it confirming that I came full circle back to this. It's a 1830's farm house. Six rooms and a great little kitchen to boot.

 

This is going to be the classroom area. Yep,fireplace works.

One of  these rooms upstairs I believe will be my studio work space.

 

That blue wallpaper has GOT to come off, walls patched and painted,lighting fixtures....but not much heavy duty work.

I'm so EXCITED! I'll keep you updated as progress is made. :D

Observe by Watching and Acrylic Mixed Media Iris

You can observe a lot by watching. 

                                              Yogi Berra

Watching Over  22" x 28" 

Mixed Media Acrylic $265.

Purchase Here

Observation:  the activity of paying close attention to someone or something in order to get information

As an artist I am constantly watching and observing. I have been told more times than I can count when I point out something how the person didn't even notice it. My kids are always wanting an electronic to entertain them on car rides, well in general really... I don't get it. I mean the clouds are changing,especially here north of Pittsburgh where we have LOTS of clouds at times. Now the season is changing again. Some tree leaves have started the show and are turning to shades of golden yellow with a few dropping already.Others are just thinking about the change. Then our mighty oak,standing strong and will hold on to its leaves till early spring. And how does it do that through the chilling cold and strong winds of winter?

Fields of greens, not just a single green, but have you really observed the shades of green alone? Look quickly as they are being washed away with rolling tans,creams of seeds ready to run about and plant their feet warmly in the soil for the winter and cornstalks fading into new shades. I can go on.

Observing and then recording the world around me is part of who I am. Putting down in paint,color choices and the images I choose all to express and emotion,feeling or memory to share. It is in pictures I take trying to capture the beauty in front of me, not always getting it in a way that evokes the original emotion in the first place but wanting to record it just the same.

All this observing does lend itself into my play and work. Then using things I learn from all this observing in my journals and in my paintings like this acrylic mixed media one WATCHING OVER. The leaves just seem to disappear somewhere down into the earth as they grow and just give beauty and support to the blossoms.I showed that with no definite ground and allowed the blues and purples of the petals to stand out and watch over. Look closely too and there are surprises of textures and patterns.

Step out and observe today. See what new things you observe. You won't be disappointed.