"Longing", a study for future painting

I did this 30 minute sketch, using markers, while up at a friend's cabin.  Kim Grant had invited 3 artists to join her for 3 days of painting.  Check out Kim's website to see how great her art is!  http://www.kimgrantdesigns.com/  She is the most imaginative artist that I know!  We had a fabulous time, sharing ideas, laughing lots, and painting late into the evenings!  We made every minute count.  This study is already being transformed into a 15" x 15" painting.  It's my goal to stay with pure watercolor, but it's been a struggle for me not to add collage to this one! 

Patterns, 30 minute study

I'm still doing my 30 minute studies, using Tombow markers.  This time, I decided to use patterns as my main objective.  I had seen a portrait that was only in black and white, and it inspired me to try to keep mine in the neutral colors too.  Can't wait to do a watercolor and collage painting of this one.  I'll change the background, but stay with the black and white color pallette.

Adding metallic to paintings

Tomorrow, I'm teaching a workshop in Bethel, just north of Minneapolis.  The subject is metallics.  I've been preparing for this workshop all week, and am excited to share everything that I know.  This is a painting that I did several years ago, when I taught in Oregon.  It's got 3 different metallic effects on it.  I actually teach 12 different techniques! 

Sisters

Today, I did another 30 minute sketch, using markers.  I used a photo of my sister and me.  Although this doesn't look like either one of us, it was so fun to do, and I think the love between sisters really came through. I look forward to turning this into a larger painting, and having more background, so that I can have fun with abstract design. 

Sketching faces, 30 minute studies

Here are 2 more of my 30 minute studies.  I had the goal last year-to paint more people.  These are a type of fun carricature sketches.  Really fun to do.  I challenge all of you to do a 30 minute study every day.  The one below is done totally with a sharpie marker.  The girl above was done with Tombow markers.  They make great cards!

These are 2 of my 30 minute studies, where I didn't like the colors in the first one, and did the same design, but with different colors.  I like the simple design, and that's really why I keep the time to only 30 minutes.  You can't get too detailed when there's a limited time. This design will be the start of many paintings to come.  By the way, these are done, using Tombo markers.  I found that watecolors were too slow for my 30 minute time frame, so I work with the markers, very much like I paint with watercolors, still building up to the darks, and glazing to get new colors.

30 Minute Studies- ONE YEAR ANNIVERSARY!!!

Today, October 2nd, marks exactly one year since I gave myself a challenge- to do a 30 minute study every single day.  Actually, I started out with only a 90 day challenge, but upon completing that, I decided to keep it up and today marks one year!!!!  I can't begin to tell you how this has improved my artwork.  And I also can tell you from my experience, that this has made my whole life better in every way!  This is the first time that I've ever really completed a promise to myself.  That's really BIG in my book.  I think we're all like that, putting ourselves last.  So, I'm very proud that for once, I really fulfilled my promise to myself.  (I have to confess that I did miss 4 days within this year.  But that was because I totally forgot!  Otherwise, I accepted NO EXCUSES, no matter how tired I was, or whatever else was going on.) 
We went on  trip to Fargo, ND this weekend, and saw lots of cornfields and barns on the way.  So, I thought that this scene would be best to post as my first study.  I actually did this on January 9, 2011.  I try to write a little paragraph by each study, so that I can look back and see what influenced my choice of subject, and also to see how life really does influence your artwork.