Thursday, January 31, 2013

Day 24

This is the last day of the challenge and I want to thank Leslie so much for starting this. I have learned much this month, even though I didn't quite get 30 paintings done. I learned a lot more about the medium I use and I also learned how to paint better, making every stroke count. This challenge was the perfect nudge I needed after the holidays and weeks away from my studio.
This bird arrived in our yard 2 years agao during a very snowy winter. He liked the bird seed. Not sure whatever happened to him as we have not seen him since.


Wednesday, January 30, 2013

Day 23

These lovely singers annoy some, but he sits at the top of one of our pines and sings his heart out every morning in the spring and summer. I realize it is often at 4 or 5 am...reason for annoyance..I love to listen to them.

Tuesday, January 29, 2013

Day 22

I love the subtle coloring of the female cardinal. I had to do this one again as the first attempt was not to my liking...

Monday, January 28, 2013

Day 21

Back from the busy weekend and here is a little charmer that we enjoy all summer. oil pastel, 6 x 6.

I may get 24 of the 30 done by the 31st. Pretty good for me. Check out the other paintings in the challenge here.


Friday, January 25, 2013

Day 19 & 20

I cought up on one today, but sadly will have no time over the weekend to do more, maybe next week I can catch up more.
These are both oil pastels 6 x 6. This is a redbelly woodpecker that visits our suet frequently. He is very shy.

And this is a carolina wren that visits our suet also. A friend of mine has one that makes a nest in her mailbox every spring, so she puts out a pail for the mailman until the babies are gone.


Thursday, January 24, 2013

Day 18

I did finish another bird today. This is a mourning dove and they frequent our yard all year long. My husband calls them the ladies as they slowly walk down our driveway every morning to the feeder.

I did start another today so by tomorrow I should be able to have 2 more done. Thanks everyone for all your nice comments, much appreciated.

Wednesday, January 23, 2013

color

I had my first class last night in our gallery space. Much better, lots of room to spread out. There were 3 new students along with the 4 that have been coming for awhile now, making a total of seven. A larger group is much more fun and the new students added another dimension to the mix.
Last time I started with Pegg Kroll Roberts value lesson using the cubes, so this time I added the color and caught the new people up on values. I didn't take a pic of my demo as it took them a while to draw the set up. We are working in oil pastel. I brought mine to the table as the new students didn't have any and I wanted them to try the different brands to see what they liked and what they might want to start with.
Here is the set up

And here are a few of the students work. They didn't have time to finish, but the person who did the second one said she had no idea how to draw. I indicated we would learn as we went along. She did great! It is going to be a fun class.


2 birds coming up for tomorrow.



Tuesday, January 22, 2013

Day17

I did get another in today. Do you think spring is around the corner?
I was mostly busy getting ready for my class tonight. I will be teaching in our gallery now as the number of students won't fit in my studio.



Monday, January 21, 2013

Day 15 & 16

Well despite the business of the past 2 days I did manage to get 2 birds done today. I didn't get to the studio until noon, had lunch w/my 2 studio mates and then did these.
Another junco who seems to be rather scarce this year...not wintery enough, I guess. Also a chippping sparrow. These little ones are around all summer in the grasses.



Sunday, January 20, 2013

Missed

EEk, I missed today but I am sure I can do 2 tomorrow....So much going on, life happens and it is good..Maybe snow coming....and I hope it doesn't interfere with the beginning of my class on Tuesday. Thanks, Nancy for Peggy Kroll Roberts instructional kits. I am using one of them, started last week and the class found it difficult. Good to review the concepts.

Pat

Saturday, January 19, 2013

Day 14

Here is today's entry....another nuthatch, but the variety that we most often have in our yard. We refer to them as upside down birds as they are usually running down the trees. For the past 2 summers we have had a family nest in our old apple tree.


Friday, January 18, 2013

Day13

Here is the next one...still not caught up, but working on it.
Every now and then we will have one of thse acrobats on our suet.
oil pastel on colorfix 6" x 6".

Thursday, January 17, 2013

Day 12

Still 3 behind...was hoping to catch up yesterday, but spent 3 hours shoveling our driveway...not enough snow for the plow and then today there was no one sitting in the gallery so I took that shift....anyway, I do hope to catch up before the end of 30 days. We don't have as many of these little fluffs as usual. They often arrive in November as a harbinger of winter, but they were late this year...mild winter??
Forgot to say that this is an oil pastel on uArt paper 6" x 6".

Tuesday, January 15, 2013

Day 11

Here is day 11, still 2 days behind....
I had a hard time with this one as the oil pastel yellows are transparent and really need to "set up", but there was no time. This is oil pastel on 6 x 6 uArt paper 800 grit.
I love to see the goldfinches changing color in the early spring. It is a sure harbinger of warmer weather.


Sunday, January 13, 2013

Day 10

I am a few days late, but trying to catch up now over this coming week. I will be judging Globe scholastics tomorrow so no post then, but the rest of the week will give me time.
I love these little birds, so friendly and perky and they nest all summer in one of our birdhouses.

Friday, January 11, 2013

None today....

Well, I am now behind, but I will catch up on Sunday. We hung the gallery show today and tomorrow is the opening so I will be there doing stuff and making things.....
If you are in the area and want to see a great photography show please stop by.

Thursday, January 10, 2013

Day 9

Here is todays entry and I did it in the gallery while taking in work.

Wednesday, January 9, 2013

Day 8

Onward and upward, here is the next entry. I took my pastels to the gallery today as I was accepting work for our new show and I finished him there.

Tuesday, January 8, 2013

Day 7

Amazing that I am still keeping up....here is #7.  I had fun with this one...sometimes a painting almost paints itself and this was one. We have a pair of finches at our feeder every morning.


Monday, January 7, 2013

Day 6

It was good to be back at the studio today using my familiar materials. I was interrupted a lot, but did manage to finish another entry. I love these little birds...they almost eat out of your hand.

Sunday, January 6, 2013

Day 5

I had a terrible time with this today, fought me all the way, but I was determined to finish. I really do not LIKE these oil pastels and I will be so glad to get back to my studio and use my goodies. This was not fun today. Next week I am going to bring some of them home! Anyway here he is...

Saturday, January 5, 2013

Day 4

It is the weekend and I did another...I brought a small box of oil pastels (cheapos) home and some paper as I don't have my art supplies at home and Leslie said we didn't have the weekend off...sheesh...
I had a very difficult time, so used to having all my supplies at hand, but here it is...I tried to pick a bird with not a lot of variation in color as the set didn't have many colors and they don't blend well....grrrrr...

By tomorrow, I may be used to these....

Friday, January 4, 2013

Day 3 - SOLD

I did manage to get another one done today....This is an Eastern Bluebird, 6 x 6 in oil pastel.
I even brought some supplies home to get some done over the weekend.
I am having fun with these so hope I can do them all....

Thursday, January 3, 2013

Day2

So far so good, but I'm sure at some point I will have some catching up to do. Here is my second bird in the challenge, an australian robin. This is an oil pastel on 6" x 6" uArt paper.

Wednesday, January 2, 2013

Day 1

Well, here is my first attempt. For me to work this fast is a REAL challenge. I will probably go back and tweak it some more in the future.
I'll try another tomorrow.

Tuesday, January 1, 2013

A Challenge


Well, I am going to try something new this month and hope I can keep up with it. I know it will be good for me and definitely a challenge as I don't go to my studio every day. I have already started by collecting pictures of birds, not sure I'll have 30 but it is a start anyway, may move on to family after that.
This is a project by Leslie Saeta. Lots of people signed up so far.
I think I am going to start with this one when I go to my studio tomorrow.