Violet Vase

Violet Vase

8x6, soft pastel

Day 4 of the 30in30....so glad to have the heavy lifting done on the studio move...my new room has great natural lighting so I'm thrilled. I ran out to the backyard and grabbed a couple flowers, put them in a pretty little violet vase and voila! Day 4 challenge completed.  I hope you like it.

Plum Crazy

Plum Crazy

8x6, soft pastel

Funny thing, I painted two pictures yesterday and tonight I'm so glad I did!!!  I can submit my second painting in the 30in30 and still be on track. Today I was "plum crazy"...moving my little studio into our humongous master bedroom and moving the master bedroom furniture into the old studio space (which was an average sized spare bedroom). My husband is a saint for giving up our master bedroom for me.  It was even his idea!  Actually, the new bedroom for us is now so quaint...and looks out on the beautiful front yard and common area across the street.  It's kinda romantic. 

The new studio space is going to be awesome. With plenty of room to set up a painting area, office desk and framing/sketching table.  There's even room for a couch, chair, armoire and tv next to the fireplace (were my little dog Tubby will no doubt spend most of his time while I paint). My dear husband will have plenty of space to sit and relax while he visits me as I paint away.  I think it's going to work out well.  Sometimes the solution to a problem is right in front of us. 

Contemplation

Contemplation

6x8, soft pastel

Today's painting was from a photo shared on "Paint My Photo". A great website where photographers share their images as inspiration for artists.  The painting was a challenge in part because I haven't really painted sunsets before this and because I'm painting on a small 6x8 substrate.  It reminds me of my brother who has been hiking the Appalachian Trail for the past 4-5 months.  So it's in honor of my brother Rod. 

Beach Bum

Beach Bum

8x6, soft pastel

Today marks the first day of the 30 in 30 Challenge.  This year I'm living by a motto (I don't usually do this...but the time came in my life to hunker down and be an art student with the intent to learn all I could about painting with soft pastels).  Soooo, the motto I'm living by is to "Be Courageous".   I guess that will be my theme for this challenge.  I'll be painting at least one painting a day and will focus on trying new things...new subject matter, new techniques etc. They may not be the best I can do because of the time crunch...but it's going to be fun to try and loosen my style which is not an easy thing to do.  So, let the games begin!

Battered and Bruised

Battered and Bruised

8x6 pastel

These two sad looking pears where actually not so battered and bruised..until I took my "artistic license" out on them.  Poor things...they sat there posing and never saw it coming.  They didn't realize I had made a commitment to myself to complete 30 paintings in 30 days.  They had no idea that I had waited until nearly bedtime to begin to paint...after an already exhausting day.  They also didn't know I was only allocating a few minutes to get the job done. So, after those few minutes of painting (which was more like a bar brawl) we agreed to part as friends.  Not only were they very battered and bruised...but my ego was too.  (lol) 

Above The Rooftops

Above The Rooftops

6x8, soft pastel

The grain elevator towers above the rooftops in the small town of Odessa, Washington...almost as if it's standing guard.

Odessa Elevator At Sunrise

Odessa Elevator At Sunrise 

6x8, soft pastel

I was driving around one sunrise morning in Odessa, Washington and shot this scene. The sun rays on the grain elevator turned the metal siding into a kaleidoscope of colors.  It was magical.