Breakfast under the Palms

Looking down from our 6th floor room, I am interested by the patterns these big round tables make. 6x6 gouache on gessoed paper.

Fiddlers Creek

After I dropped my husband for golf, I walked out an elevated boardwalk to a covered deck, where I set up my gouache and did a quick study. 5x10 on gessoed paper.

Afternoon Light

Set up in the bedroom, in front of the window, to paint this scene so familiar to me. Snow again, and winds so high I have no interest in being anywhere but right here. 
Artist note: Remember that the outside is always a higher value than the inside, so when looking at the window frame, which is painted white, it will NOT be white in the end. The first rule is to squint down and then the values will appear clear to you.
12x12.

Solitude

I worked alone today, trying to focus, yet not focused. Asthma into bronchitis and the rounds of accompanying drugs leave me listless. Still good to be in the studio, where possibility gives hope. In spite of how things may seem.

Wrap Up and what's next

Here's the last wrap of the paintings I did in the 30 day challenge. I ask, why does it take a "challenge" to get me painting and posting every day? Or maybe it's normal to just crash after such an outpouring of paint and schedules changed to accommodate daily painting. 
I say, if I didn't work, if I didn't help with my grandchildren, if I wasn't engrossed in Edna O'Brien's biography, if , if, if. But honestly I love all those things and the time I spend doing them is also perfectly precious to me.
So what will be next for me? I have quite figured it out, but believe me, I will be letting you know!Going to be in the studio in the morning, something will start to cook, I'm sure of it.

All About Green and Thoughts on Change

Here are the paintings in green that I did for the 30 day challenge last month. I only painted from life, the problem child here was my bag from the Metropolitan Museum in New York, it started to sag midway through being painted. And I thought I could rely on an inanimate object to behave!
Artist note: expect change, no set up is without some variation, especially if any amount of time passes,  and to remain flexible is the best approach. Sometimes an unexpected result will occur that you might not have thought of. And you will be pleased if you don't hold too tightly to things as you "thought they should be."
Wear life like a loose painting smock.

There Was a Blizzard on Her Birthday

Ok, I woke up with a sore throat and still no power. We lost power last night about 8pm, a blizzard raging all around. I saw the beautiful birch branches snap and felt totally powerless. I set up the flowers my husband had delivered yesterday for my birthday today and got out the julian easel. I spent several hours working on this, 14x18, a view of my living room. We have a gas range, so we were set and power was restored about 4pm. A birthday to remember.
Artist note; in a complicated interior like this, I did a drawing first in my sketchbook, noting what I wanted to be the focal point. Of course it was the flowers, so I arranged my composition to showcase them. I used a primary palette, ultramarine, cad red light, cad yellow light and titanium.

January Car Studio

Looking at these landscapes painted from the car brought back memories. Thinking I wanted to paint a lighthouse and being dazzled by the brilliant sun on the water; thinking it was really warm enough to stand outside (only lasted an hour!); painting a tree with the emphasis on speed; watching surfers out of the corner of my eye as I painted rocks; painting a "landmark" of Paradise Valley and feeling connected to all painters, past and present. I learned I don't have to wait for a particular date to come around, I can load up my car and go painting anytime!

Three in Yellow

As I gathered up the yellow paintings I did for the 30 day challenge, I am struck by the small number. Yellow didn't capture me, especially as I included no paintings of flowers for the challenge. Rubber, lamp glow and old soft jersey were my materials. Obviously so different, but connected by hue.
Interesting.
I want to paint the rubber gloves again!

Orange

Here is the collection of red into orange paintings I did for the 30 day challenge by Leslie Saeta. I painted from direct observation and went around the color wheel. This gave me a sort of compass, so I didn't have to wander aimlessly wondering what to paint. I did think about things that were attainable, available and were, to my mind, worth investigating. The paper bag was much harder than I anticipated, and I am interested in making a landscape painting of the crumpled paper. The negative shapes with the scissors and tape interest me, lots of variations possible with those two items. This collage was made using PicMonkey.

Have A Heart

I painted this apple again, referencing the 6x6 painting I had done on the first day of the 30 day challenge.  This time I painted larger, 12x12 on linen and donated it to my favorite animal shelter here on Aquidneck Island, The Potter Shelter. Their annual fundraiser, HAVE A HEART,  is happening this Friday night, February 8th, at the Viking Hotel, and my painting will be available at auction, along with many other wonderful items.
On an artist note, don't be fooled that you can just make it bigger when you try to size up a painting. There are many subtle nuances to watch for, for me it was keeping the life in the shadows. Also, an opportunity to play a bit, those spots of orange will show up more when the whole painting is double in size! Watch too for edges.

Painting Red

Playing around with " picmonkey", I thought I'd group the paintings that I did for the 30 day challenge by color. After all, part of the challenge I gave myself was to paint around the color wheel. All of these are 6x6 oil paintings on panel. 

Sunday Morning

Into the studio to study the little pot of tulips. One pink bloom. 8x8 on cradled panel.

Recap of the 30 Day Challenge

This post is really a recap of the 30 Day Challenge by Leslie Saeta, in which I painted each day, from direct observation (no photos at all !), and worked my way around the color wheel. I also challenged myself to paint 4 plein air pieces from the car studio. One day was warm enough to actually stand on the street; but after an hour the temp seemed much cooler and I was glad to be done. Some of the paintings are quite complete, others I consider to be studies. I made this collage with picmonkey, which I plan to work more with. I didn't have the time or patience last night to design my own grid and include all 30 paintings. Oh well. 
One thing I have learned throughout this last month painting is to let go of the inner critic, the one voice so quick to say what I haven't done, how I've fallen short, how it could be better. I applaud and amaze myself and all my fellow artists who took part in this challenge. We are nothing less than one determined bunch!

What's missing from the Farmhouse?

This painting is a copy I made of Fairfield Porter's 1969 painting Island Farmhouse. I painted it on a 11x14 linen canvas and am entering it in Fakes & Forgeries, an extremely popular show at the Spring Bull Gallery, where I am an artist member. I took some liberty with my copy, making it my own by....do you see, do you remember? Here's a link for one of my favorite American artists: Fairfield Porter. 
This painting is available framed for $475. by emailing me at: annewinthropcordin@gmail.com