Trip to Bermuda

I did this watercolor pencil and ink sketch on Horse Shoe Bay Beach in Bermuda on October 18, 2013. I finally got to see clear blue water on a beautiful beach; a life-long wish! It's much prettier than depicted here.

Collage of Paintings

Collage of most of my 30 days of painting!

Day 30 - Retrospective

State St. (old work in progress)

Marblehead, Mass.

8 x 10

Colored Pencil

This has been a challenging and productive month! I have learned a lot and hopefully have developed some new habits to take with me into my future art projects. This piece is one I started in 2006, and never finished, because I was so intimidated by using colored pencils. I needed something to finish out the month. I couldn't just NOT post something for Day 30! I have quite a few pieces I want to go back and touch up or just finish. October will be a good month for doing just that, as well as taking time out for some traveling.

Day 29 - Sailing

Sailing

6 x 9

Watercolor

I couldn't get through this month without at least one boat, as I do live in Annapolis where sailing is big. It's not my favorite subject, but I gave it a try. I need one more painting to make it to 30, but it will have to be late.

Day 28 - Sunflower

Sunflower

9 x 12

Watercolor and colored pencil

The colors don't show true on this one. I am too tired to try and get it right in Photoshop. I got a lot of watercolor "blooms" on the petals, so I just embraced that for fun. I am finding it difficult to get really good dark, dark colors with watercolor. So I used colored pencils for the background because I wanted a good contrast. Its getting late, so I will have to post my last two projects tomorrow. 

Day 27 - A Little Lamb

Basking in the Glow

9 x 12

Watercolor

I loved painting this one! I fell in love with the lamb while painting him/her. I used a photo from this website - http://paintmyphoto.ning.com/photo/just-another-lazy-day.

Day 26 - Are we done yet?

USNA Chapel Study

3 x 5

Loose watercolor and colored pencil

I took another break today. I started a painting I really like working on, but didn't have it in me to finish for today. This is a plein air sketch I did of the front of the Naval Academy Chapel. This is a subject of many of my attempts to sketch. The building is massive and I could never fit the whole thing into one painting. One of these days I'm going to try and paint the Chapel dome...

Day 25 - Back to Trees

Lonely Tree

9 x 12

Watercolor

I used a photo from the website Paint My Photo, only they must have moved this one because I can't find the reference link for the photographer! Hopefully, I can find it and edit this post to give credit. I enjoyed painting this one.

Day 24 - Puppy

Puppy

6 x 9

Watercolor

I did a very wet-into-wet wash with this one. Not satisfied that it is finished. I may go back in later and add some more details. It was really hard to see the puppy's nose in the photograph I used, so I had to "make up" that area.

Day 23 - A Gorgeous Day

Another Autumn Day

4 x 6

Runny Pen & Watercolor

It was gorgeous weather outside. I wasn't planning to go out and paint, but that's what I ended up doing. I love to use a marker pen that is non-waterproof, and then use my paint brush to make a wash and add color. The trees here have just started changing color. In a few weeks, there will be yellows, reds and oranges everywhere. I look forward to that.

Day 22 - A Sabbath Rest

Autumn Foliage

9 x 12

Ink & Watercolor

Today I needed my rest so I posted an autumn sketch I did last year. Happy first day of Autumn 2013!

Day 21 - Painting in the Rain

Harness Creek

9 x 12

Watercolor

My husband and I went to a local park, Quiet Waters, in Annapolis, MD. We found a bench overlooking Harness Creek from where I was able to paint this scene. It started to rain as I was almost finished, so there are some authentic splash marks from the sky on this one!

Day 20 - Husband's New Car

New Car

2 x 4

Watercolor & Watercolor Pencils

Today I was so exhausted, I wasn't even going to bother painting. My husband and I went out to dinner and he suggested I paint his new car. So that's what I did, only on a very small scale! I don't like to paint cars, but I was desperate for content!

Day 19 - Monochromatic Peaches

Three Amigos

6 x 9

Watercolor

This one took longer to do. I decided to do layers of glazing, wet-into-wet. This required: 1. paint a layer, 2. let it dry; repeat 4 times or more. It was a fun piece to do. I chose a monochromatic color scheme for harmony. Photo reference: http://paintmyphoto.ning.com/photo/peaches

Day 18 - Moonlight

Harvest Moon

6 x 9

Ink and Watercolor

Tonight, I think, is a harvest moon, so I decided to paint one, too.

Day 17 - Starting to run out of steam...

Pelican

6 x 9

Watercolor

I am running out of ideas of what to paint. Here's yet another bird. I will definitely try something else for tomorrow. I am having trouble with feathers, fur and eyes.  This has been very good practice. I am getting into a rhythm, albeit an exhausted and sometimes cranky rhythm! I will check on the other artists to see how they are doing - http://lesliesaeta.blogspot.com/?m=0

Day 16 - Chicken Study

Chicken

6 x 9

Watercolor

Today I was very distracted and wasn't able to do my best. Got a photo of a chicken from the Fair yesterday and tried to get the feet correct, but they were hard to decipher. Everyone has an off day once in a while. Being a suburban girl most of my life, I haven't seen real chickens up close very often. They are pretty animals in person.

Day 15 - Break Time!

Beach Scene

4 x 6 

Ink and Watercolor

I took the day off for a trip to our County Fair. Got a bunch of good animal photos to use as potential future paintings. This is a sketch I did from our balcony when we stayed in Ocean City, MD a few years ago. Back to painting tomorrow!

Day 14 - Naval Academy

"View from the Severn"

(Naval Academy)

9 x 12

Watercolor

I took this photo from a boat ride in the Severn River a few weeks ago. I only painted the basic shapes. Tomorrow I won't be able to paint, so I'll have to post a sketch previously done. I do need a day off! We are going to the Anne Arundel County Fair after church tomorrow. Fun, and more possible painting fodder!

Day 13 - Mini Painting

"Surf Boys"

3 x 4

Watercolor & Acrylic

Another beach scene. I am getting so tired, but I can't quit! I'm running out of ideas. Pretty soon I will be painting pieces of fruit again. Any suggestions on what to paint next (except portraits)?

Day 12 - Bird Study

Beach Bird

6 x 9

Watercolor

I didn't get to go to the beach this summer, so I looked for painting fodder from previous trips. I don't know what kind of bird this is, but it was on a beach in Stuart, Florida. It was nice to think about being there again.

Day 11 - Abstract Experiment

Untitled

9 x 12

Ink and Watercolor

I tried an experiment with ink. I wanted to see how plain black would work with watercolor. It looks rather stark. I really don't like it, but that's all I got in me today. I did enjoy playing with the ink. I may try more of that without the watercolor.  Tonight is the first meeting of the Annapolis Watercolor Club for the season. I joined again in the hopes of finding some one out there I can get together with and paint!

Day 10 - Gnarly Tree

"The Crying Tree"

9 x 12

Watercolor

I found this tree recently at Greenbury Point in Annapolis. The vines that flow out of the knobby stub ends looks like tears to me. I could tweak the painting some more, but I'm exhausted and its late! At least I made it on time.

Day 9 - Cat Study

"Abigail"

6 x 6

Watercolor

It had to happen eventually - I painted one of my cats today. I need to practice animal eyes! They are so difficult! But then, so is fur. I am getting exhausted with the daily painting, but I will continue because I am learning so much. I have no idea what I am painting tomorrow...

Day 8 - Mixed Media

"Annapolis Skyline"

9 x 12

Watercolor with Photoshop filter

Had to try out one of my Photoshop filters on this one. It looks a lot better this way than the actual painting. So frustrating to try and get the paint to do what you want and it doesn't cooperate. I like the mysterious feel of this one.

Day 7 - Partially Finished

Phoebe (WIP)

Watercolor underpainting with Colored Pencil

8 x 8

This is a work in progress. I slept most of today due to about three nights in a row of terrible insomnia. When I finish it, I will post it again.

Day 6 - Plein Air

"Spring"

5 x 7

Watercolor

I had to take a day off today, so I'm posting a plein air watercolor I did last spring. I am having bouts of insomnia lately that just make me weary. I started a painting today and hope to finish it tomorrow, if I can get some good sleep. I am hoping to do some plein air pieces during this month's challenge.

Day 5 - Two Dogs

Kona and Jolie (I think)

8 x 10

Watercolor

I learned a couple lessons with this one. I started this for a Facebook friend two years ago - procrastinating a painting for several years makes for difficulty in keeping up momentum. I had a terrible time with the eyes. I didn't have a very high resolution photo to work from. Note for later - always ask for high res!

Day 4 - Daisy

"Daisy"

5 x 7

Watercolor

I actually finished early today! Hooray! This is my niece's family dog. I love her one black ear. This is my first time painting a white dog. That was a challenge. The hardest part of this process is getting a good snapshot for posting. I use my camera, then load it into Photoshop and tweak the colors. I tend to be a very light-handed painter, meaning, my colors are faint. This one was fun because I didn't feel rushed today.

Day 3 - Tina

"Tina"

8 x 10

Mixed Media, but mainly watercolor

I was too busy to paint today, so I'm posting a work I did earlier this summer, though I touched it up a bit this evening before posting. This is a sweet dog of a friend, from my own photo reference.

Day 2 - Study of Trees

Study of trees at Naval Academy Golf Club

4 x 6

Colored Pencil & Watercolor

Not much time to paint today, so I just finished a little sketch that I had started awhile ago. I actually painted it while I was at the pool today. After today, no more pool for the year. I don't want summer to end yet!

Day 1 - Dappled Light

" Dappled Light"

6x8

Watercolor on Mixed Media paper

First day of the 30 paintings month. Whew! I didn't think I'd make it. I used mixed media paper and I think that was a mistake. Tomorrow I will try regular watercolor paper. On this one, I was more interested in the play on light in the background than in the birds on the posts.

Coming in September - 30 Paintings in 30 Days

I've basically ignored my blog for the last three years, preferring to use Facebook. Looks like its time to fire it up again. I have joined a group of artists organized by Leslie Saeta. We have all committed to painting one painting a day for the month of September.

I must be out of my mind to attempt this. I maybe START 5 paintings a year, let alone finish one a day. But I need the motivation to get painting more, so my artwork can improve. With God's help, I will have the discipline to pull this off.

I am going to attempt to paint animals and landscapes in watercolor and mixed media. This all starts on September 1st. Oh boy, looks like I will be busy!

Check out all the other artists who have joined this challenge: http://lesliesaeta.blogspot.com/2013/08/join-me-for-september-30-paintings-in.html?m=0