Tuesday, January 31, 2017

All 30 Paintings at a glance!


"30 Paintings in 30 Days"  January 2017 Challenge

Here is the collection of all 30 Paintings from the January, 30 Paintings in 30 Days Challenge.   I used the website, www.picmonkey.com to make the collage of them.  I love that website.  It is very easy to use and I use it often after teaching, to make a collection of my student's paintings.  It used to be free, but now there is a small fee.  Totally worth it.  The site works best with square paintings, so you will notice that many of these only have partial images of my paintings, but enough for you to get the idea.  I knew that would be a problem when I decided to paint all quarter sheets, but decided to go ahead with that plan anyway.
Again, I want to thank all of you for being my cheerleaders during this challenge.  It really means a lot to hear your comments or to count up the "likes".  Thanks to Leslie Saeta, who thought up this great challenge for all of us!  Thank you to those who purchased many of my paintings too.  If any of you are interested, just go back to past blogs to see if your favorite is still available.  Great prices! 
Today, I totally relaxed!  Had a pedicure and a manicure.  Not sure that was real wise, since I will be painting in acrylics in only 5 days when I go to a Paint-in!  But it felt good to relax and have a little reward for my hard work.  Stay tuned to my blog.  My goal for 2017 is to post at least every 2 weeks.  I try to share my knowledge as an instructor with my students who stay tuned to my blog. I made many discoveries this month and can't wait to pursue those discoveries and fine tune them.  Check my website for details about future workshops. www.karenknutson.com I'm teaching all across the USA this year, both the East and the West coast.  (Below are available paintings)

2017 Schedule:
January- Cape Coral, FL
February- The Villages, FL
March-  Green Valley, AZ
April- Kanuga Conference Center (near Henderson, NC)
May- Louisville, KY
June- San Diego, CA
July- Alexandria, MN
August- Dickinson, ND
               White Bear Lake, MN
                Watertown, SD
September- Traverse City, MI
October-  Miles City, MT
November-  Home studio possible workshop
Available paintings from the 30 in 30 Challenge    $99 Each



































































































Here are all 30 Paintings that I did in January.  There is a website, www.picmonkey.com that is a great way to make a poster of your paintings.  It used to be free, but now, there is a small fee.  It's easy to use and I use it often, as an instructor to make a collection of my student's paintings.  On this, I had to crop several of the paintings, due to them being rectangular in shape.  The site is meant for square paintings.  But you get the idea anyway.  Many of these paintings are still for sale.  Go back to earlier blogs if interested.  






















Monday, January 30, 2017

Day 30: 30 Paintings in 30 Days!

"The Highest Power, #3"    NFS
Image:  11" x 15"    watercolor
     Yes!  I made it!  There were many times, when I wondered if I should quit, just for my health alone.  But I did easy paintings on those days, and then I got better.  For you runners out there, this was my marathon, and it feels really good to have made it across the finish line.
     I've been working on this painting here and there all month.  I needed a pure watercolor for the Transparent Watercolor Exhibition, so this will be one of my entries.  I know it's not a landscape, my original goal for this 30 Day Challenge, but I've already broken that many times with all my bird paintings.  So, why not break it one more time?  Go out with a bang, I say!       The study for this was the wire drawing below (drawings that look like a wire sculpture).   I've done 3 of these so far.  Every one is different, and surprises always arise as I'm painting.  Tomorrow, I will be posting the whole collection of 30 Day Paintings.  That will be your last chance to get in on the January bargain prices.  It's been a great ride, and as always, I learn so much along the way.  I really recommend you trying this.  Thanks for following along and cheering me on!

Wire Drawing of the original "Highest Power" painting

Sunday, January 29, 2017

Day 29: 30 Paintings in 30 Days!

"Sunrise on the Shore"        $99  SOLD
Image size:  11" x 15"       Watercolor
This painting was painted totally wet into wet.  I wondered why I wanted to paint in yellow today, and then happened to notice that our walls are painted yellow at our rented condo.  Yes, the colors around us do truly affect our color choices.  I've painted lots more yellow paintings since I've been in FL than I ever did in MN. One trick that I do when painting skies is to add the opposite color under the cloud masses.  In this case is was a dusty purple, created by mixing cerulean blue, Davinci Red Rose Deep, and a touch of New gamboge. The muted complimentary color makes the yellow even brighter.  That grey/purple color is in the rocky ground on the left side too.  Tomorrow is the last day of this 30 Day Challenge.  I can't believe it!  Check back at my past blogs to see if you want to purchase any now.  Remember, the prices will change in February. These prices are only good in January.

Saturday, January 28, 2017

Day 28: 30 Paintings in 30 Days!

"Dusk"      $99 SOLD
Image size:  11" x 15"     watercolor
This painting has the appearance of a wood cut.  It's a great technique.  Supposedly, I was going to do an easy painting today.  But that changed!  I learned the process of masking out the sky from Nita Engle, one of the top watercolor artists in the country.  I took a workshop from Nita Engle when I had only been painting for about a year.  She was such a master! AFTER I carefully masked around the trees and the reflections in the water, etc.  I realized that I would have to take all the mask off later on. And one thing that I forgot on this FL trip, was my maskoid remover.  Ugh!  So, after I poured on the colors for the background trees and the grasses, I dried the paper and then used rolled up masking tape to remove the maskoid.  It works great in a pinch.  Below is what my painting looked like with the masking fluid protecting the sky, sky holes in the background trees, and the reflections.  Only 2 more days to get these great deals.  It's been a fun journey.

Friday, January 27, 2017

Day 27: 30 Paintings in 30 Days!

"Jungle Fever"    $99  (SOLD)
Image:  11" x 15"      Watercolor
Today, I tried something new!  I started the painting by drawing random doodles on the paper using a really wet brush.  Then I floated the color into the wet lines and let the drips happen wherever they broke through.  After that was dry, I drew the bird on the paper, trying to have the line work break across the bird.  I'm excited about this procedure because I now have a new lesson to teach for the next couple of years.  Below is the start of this painting.  To learn more, you will have to take one of my workshops!  (wink, wink) :)  Check my website for future workshops.  I've got a full schedule, traveling to many states on the East and West coast.
Beginning stages of "Jungle Fever"

Thursday, January 26, 2017

Day 26: 30 Paintings in 30 Days!

"Rock Springs"       $99.    SOLD
Image:  15" x 11"   watercolor
Today, I chose to do an easy painting.  It was such fun to work totally wet into wet.  First I wet the Arches cold press paper on both sides and let it soak in before starting.  I began, changing colors often and creating a dark trail that leads the viewer's eye toward the bottom of the paper.  Then I changed to a 1/2 inch flat brush and I added depth to the rocks and the tree masses. When the paper almost loses it's shine, I lifted out the negative space between the trees.  It was so fun to see the white paper when doing this.  Trying to vary the shapes of the background lights is important.  Adding salt at the bottom of the paper for a feeling of water running off the rocks.  I thought I was done at this point, but after an hour of viewing it from the couch, I decided that it needed more.  The first version is below.  I decided to add illusionary lines for a little more depth.  To do this, you draw a light box shape, then paint on the outside of the shape partly, and then switch to painting on the inside.  This should be a very light wash, so that you can make it disappear. I like the finished version lots better.  Do you agree?

Wednesday, January 25, 2017

Day 25: 30 Paintings in 30 Days!

"Eyes of the Forest"      NFS
Image:  15" x 11"      Watercolor
This painting started out as just a tree painting.  Then, I just had to add a bird.  My intention is to have the viewer aware of how we need to preserve our world by recycling, and conserving energy as much as we can.  Our forests are beautiful and I want them around for generations to come. I intentionally made the bird illusionary, as if it were a ghostly being, watching over its habitat.  That's why I named it "Eyes of the Forest".  I worked on this painting all day today, and may enter this painting into an upcoming national show, so I'm not selling it yet.  If interested, you can private message me.

Tuesday, January 24, 2017

Day 24: 30 Paintings in 30 Days!

"Early Bird gets the Worm"      $99 SOLD
Image size:  11" z 15"     Watercolor, Charcoal, and Collage
I'm torn about painting landscapes or painting birds.  I love the process of painting birds, so I've been switching back and forth.  I've also been really wanting to do a total abstract painting lately, but I'm committed to finishing this 30 day challenge.  I'm finding it really hard to do this challenge this year, since I'm in Florida.  We've had lots of company, I taught a workshop one week, AND I got sick for a week.  Now, all that is behind me, but the nice weather keeps calling my name.  I'm loving my times at the beach or the pool.  It was easy to paint in MN when it was cold and snowing outside.  This is teaching me to be very organized and try to paint ahead.  I should do this more often.

Monday, January 23, 2017

Day 23: 30 Paintings in 30 Days"

"Florida Palms"       $99
13" x 9"        watercolor
     Yes, we really are in Florida.  And it took 23 days for me to finally paint a palm tree.  I love the way they sway in the wind.  We are loving retirement.  Venice is a very friendly town.  Artists have been very welcoming to me and Dick is loving the golf here.
     Today's painting is pretty basic, but was really fun to paint.  I started by wetting both sides of the paper and then blocking in the base color (light green for the trees and light blue for the sky).  From there, I just kept changing to smaller brushes and thicker paint to create the shadows and deeper look of the palms.  Watch for more contemporary palms in the future.  I plan to make cards of this image.
     Yesterday,we spent the day on the beach.  I could get used to this life!

Sunday, January 22, 2017

Day 22: 30 Paintings in 30 Days!

"Sunrise Splendor"       $99
11" x 11"          watercolor
We have company this weekend, so I am doing pretty easy paintings this weekend for the 30 Day Challenge.  I am allowing my love for the color red to come out lately.  One of my challenges this year is to study color.  One of my heroes is Vincent Van Gogh.  Just click on his name and I've provided a link to see his luscious paintings.  The colors he got by layering are incredible!  So, get ready for some blue and yellow paintings in the future.
I've always heard that when you move to Florida, you never are lonely, cuz lots of friends and family come to visit.  It's true!  And I love it!  We are already making plans for next year when we will be staying here in Venice for 3 or 4 months, instead of the short visit this year.  Nice to escape the MN winters.

Saturday, January 21, 2017

Day 21: 30 Paintings in 30 Days!

"The Magic of a Lake"   $99
Image:  11" x 14"      Watercolor
Another Lake Scene from my memory.  These are such quick paintings, but they are great exercises on timing.  Wetting both sides of the paper allows for more time to paint the sky ad water with wet washes.  Then, I change to a smaller 1/2 inch flat brush when I paint the tree masses.  Changing colors often is the trick here.  Adding salt at the base of the trees makes great bushes.  These quarter sheet paintings only take about 15 minutes to do!  

Friday, January 20, 2017

Day 20: 30 Paintings in 30 days!

"Country Charm"       NFS
Image:  11" x 15"       Acrylic painting
My early years on a ranch were such happy memories.  Every now and then, I just need to paint a farm scene.  Actually, if we are getting specific, I was raised on a ranch in Montana.  No farms in that area, only ranches.  It was a great life!
This painting was so much fun to do!  Layers of acrylic.  Although I'm not a quilter, I kind of paint as if I'm quilting.  Weaving layers of different colors and adjusting the colors as I go.  I will be teaching more acrylic workshops in the future.  Check out my website for my workshop schedule.  This painting is going to be entered into a national show, so I can't sell it yet.  If you are interested, let me know.

Thursday, January 19, 2017

Day 19: 30 Paintings in 30 Days!

"North Shore Cove"    $99
11" x 14" image       Watercolor
For all you blog followers who are not from Minnesota, this is what our North Shore (of Lake Superior) looks like.  My favorite spots are Lutsen Resort, Solbakken Resort, and Cove Point Lodge. It is peaceful, quiet, and serene.  We used to own one of the condos at Lutsen Resort.  Beautiful area! In November, the waves can get as big as a house, but in summer, most of the time, the waves gently lap onto the rocks and really create the perfect sound for getting back to your inner soul.  Every year, I try to make it up there at least twice.  It's about a 5 hour drive from Minneapolis.  Life slows down there.  Even when you get groceries, the employee takes the time to ask you about your day, and gets into a conversation with you.  I remember the first time, when I was waiting in line, waiting for her to stop talking and start ringing up the person's groceries.  I was being impatient and was in my City Mode of busy, busy, busy.  Then, when it was my turn, I got the same friendly conversation.  That was a great life lesson, and it's when it struck me, to take it easy, and just breathe!  My blood pressure always goes down there.  This painting is available for only $99, during January.  Then after that, it goes back up to a normal price.

Wednesday, January 18, 2017

Day 18: 30 Paintings in 30 Days!

"Colors of Fall"    $99
11" x 14" image      watercolor
Today, I chose a simple lake scene that is very much like the view from our house!  I'm trying to paint several paintings ahead so that I will be able to enjoy our son and daughter in law's visit when they come in 2 more days.  This paper was wet on both sides as to allow me to work wet into wet for a long period of time.  I even painted the foreground tree when the paper was still damp so that it would be very slightly out of focus.  MN lakes are so beautiful, and we Minnesotans are very proud of our 10, 000 lakes!

Tuesday, January 17, 2017

Day 17: 30 Paintings in 30 Days!

"Sing like a Cardinal"      $99 SOLD
11" x 14" image      Watercolor, charcoal, and collage
I had started this painting last week in prep for the Cape Coral workshop.  So I decided to finish it up for one of my 30 paintings this month.  Cardinals are such a fun bird to watch, especially in MN when I spot them in the trees in the Spring.  It's like our first bit of color all winter, and of course, it's my favorite color, red!  This painting, started with a charcoal pour, explained in earlier blogs this month.  The preparation process is in the book by Virginia Cobb, Discovering the Inner Eye, Experiments in Water Media.   Then I added collage for the wings and in the background.  I love collage! This painting is available for purchase at the special January price of $99 plus shipping.

Day 16: 30 Paintings in 30 Days!

"Favorite Meditation Spot"     $99   (SOLD)
11" x 12"         Watercolor and charcoal pour
I am playing catch up, after hosting our daughter and 2 granddaughters at our condo in FL for the past 3 days.  (Great time!)  When we were swimming in the pool, I floated on my back and it felt so good to just BE.  I think I'd like to make that a part of my every day routine.  Finding somewhere that is special to me to meditate.  When in MN, that place is the North Shore of Lake Superior, where the sound of the waves, lots of birch, pine trees, and great rocks make the perfect spot for me to get back to my soul.
This painting started with a charcoal pour, where I sprinkle ground charcoal on a paper and throw a huge bucket of water on the paper, which disperses the charcoal towards the outer edges with great force.  Below I have my start to this painting.  I could envision a landscape from this beginning. Using a credit card loaded with paint, I scraped in the markings on the birch trees.  It's a great technique.  This was a very limited palette, so that the charcoal markings could match the paint.  I used burnt sienna mixed with ultramarine blue.  At the end, I added a little raw sienna to warm up the painting.
Charcoal Pour Start

Sunday, January 15, 2017

Day 15: 30 Paintings in 30 Days!

"Bird's Eye View"   $99 SOLD

This was my demo for the Cape Coral, FL workshop. It was so fun to show my eager students how to complete their charcoal pour beginnings. This lesson included collage, charcoal pour procedure, negative painting to create depth in the branch area, and how to paint the bird's eye. They seemed to enjoy the eye lesson the most. Even tho the eyes are very small, there are about 7 steps to creating the glassy look. Their paintings turned out so well!  I'm back in Venice, FL now, enjoying the beaches and warm weather.  :)  We are renting a condo for all of January and I love it here.  Nice to escape the cold winter of MN.

Saturday, January 14, 2017

Day 14: 30 Paintings in 30 Days!

"Rest Stop"        $99 (SOLD)
11" x 14"   Watercolor and collage

Yes, another bird!  I've done so many crow paintings, and I still get excited every time I start a new one!  Adding collage for the feathers and adding brightly color napkins and collage papers is such fun.  I always have loved quilts, and I think my paintings even resemble quilts sometimes.  Too much work to actually sew one. To read about the process of the charcoal pour for this painting, check back to Day 11 of my blog.  Almost to halfway of this challenge!! Thank you, Leslie Saeta for posting this 30 day Challenge.

Friday, January 13, 2017

Day 13: 30 Paintings in 30 Days!

"Birch Tree News"        $99 (special discount price during January)
11" x 14"        Original watercolor and collage
What fun to collage newspaper onto the birch trees!  It adds the look of the linework on the birches like magic.  I love collage and learned how to collage from Gerald Brommer years ago.  He is the master of collage, and a great, great man and artist.  I have so much respect for him, as an artist and teacher, but also, for the gentle spirit that he is.  He has written many books.  Check them out!

Thursday, January 12, 2017

Day 12: 30 Paintings in 30 Days!

"Time to Reflect"       $99 (Special discount price during January)
11" x 14" image       Original watercolor
This painting was such a pleasure to do.  I purposely kept is as simple as possible.  Picking only 3 colors, burnt sienna, cobalt blue and raw sienna. Then I wet both sides of the paper and put in the sky and then waited for a bit to add the distant tree mass, using thicker paint.  Then it was a waiting game to add salt and create back-spills and runs on purpose.  Timing is everything in this piece.  Although it was a pretty fast painting to do, you have to be pretty experienced painter to pull it off.  I would recommend reading Zoltan Szabo's books about this procedure.  He was one of the most influential artists for my instructor, when I first took classes back in 1985.  I love testing my timing skills with one of these from time to time.

Wednesday, January 11, 2017

Day 11: 30 Paintings in 30 Days!

"Crow's Perch"   $99 (only during January) SOLD
11" x 14"    watercolor and collage
Today, I'm preparing for the charcoal pour workshop that I'm teaching in Cape Coral on Thursday - Saturday.    This is one of my favorite workshops.  We sprinkle charcoal powder onto the watercolor paper and then throw a big bucket of water onto the paper, so that the charcoal spreads outs in a splatter fashion.  We do this outside, of course.  It's nice to be in Florida, where it's nice and sunny for this procedure.  This procedure is explained in Discovering the Inner Eye, Experiments in Mixed Media by Virginia Cobb.  This is my favorite mixed media book!  It's filled with inspiration and great paintings by one of my favorite artists, Virginia Cobb.  The bird's feathers are collaged, using napkins, collage papers, etc.
So, I figured I could get away with saying that this is a landscape because the bird is perched on a tree.  You knew I'd have to cheat somewhere along this journey, right?

Tuesday, January 10, 2017

Day 10- 30 Paintings in 30 Days!


"Birch Trees in red and green"     Original Watercolor
11" x 11"      $99 (during January, 2017

My favorite color scheme these days is red and green.  My house is decorated in those colors, and I wear those colors often.  I remember a workshop with Donna Watson, where she said you should keep to the colors you love.  Her paintings are lovely variations of grey.  I love the simplicity of her paintings.  My problem is that I love many other colors too.  But red and green are my favorites.  You probably will see many more birch paintings with different color schemes.  I think it would be a fun challenge within this challenge!

Monday, January 9, 2017

First 9 Paintings of the 30 Day Challenge

All of these paintings are 11" x 14" image and available for only $99 each during the month of January.  If interested, send me a private message on Facebook, or message me in the comment section below.  Hope you are enjoying this trip down landscape alley.  I have a sinus infection now, so it has zapped all my energy.  Hoping to produce more contemporary pieces as the month goes on.

Day 9 of 30 Paintings in 30 Days!

"Birch Tree Study of Erin White"     NFS
11" x 14"     Original Watercolor   
I could do 100 paintings of birch trees and still not fun out of ideas.  I may do more of these during this challenge.  It would be fun to try different color combinations.  The lighter grey color in this one was achieved by mixing burnt sienna and manganese blue, and the dark gray color was mixed using ultramarine blue and burnt sienna.  It was lots of fun to do!   It's great to be influenced by other artists, but you should always make it your own. Thoughout my painting career, there are 3 artists who I consider to be the top birch tree painters: Russell Norberg, Kay Sharkey, and Erin White.  This painting is a study of Erin White's birch painting.  Although I changed it a lot, it still looks too much like hers, so it will remain part of my private collection.  I feel very strongly about that.

Sunday, January 8, 2017

Day 8: 30 Paintings in 30 Days!

"Foggy Morning"    $99
11" x 14" image       Original watercolor
I'm trying new colors in these quick 15 minute paintings.  Today, it is very foggy in southern Florida, so this fits the mood.  I used raw sienna, burnt sienna, manganese blue hue, and new gamboge.  I'm still nursing a rather bad cold, so taking it easy is where it is at!  My hubby got my computer fixed, and bought me a new mouse to use with it, so I'm a happy camper.  He also spoiled me by making supper tonight.  I'm a very lucky girl!

Saturday, January 7, 2017

Day 7: 30 Paintings in 30 Days!

"Artist's Point".   $99
11"x14".  Original watercolor

This is one of my favorite places to go.  Located right off Grand Marais, MN, this is a peninsula of land with deep cut rocks and very flat rocks. Such a contrast. It has a very peaceful feeling, so I often will sketch while taking in its beauty.  I used plastic wrap on the rock area and actually directed the plastic wrap in different directions to create the deep cracks and crevices.

Friday, January 6, 2017

Day 6: 30 Paintings in 30 Days

"Into the Bliss". $99 (special Price during January)
11" X 14". Original watercolor

I've got a terrible cold today, so I took the easy way out with another 15 minute painting.  To prepare, wet both sides of the paper several times. Decide on your colors ahead of time. Start with a big brush and as the painting progresses, change to a 1/2 inch flat brush to paint the trees. Well, that's all the energy I have today. Back to bed.

Thursday, January 5, 2017

Day 5: 30 Paintings in 30 Days!

"Farm Charm"   $99 (special price during January, 2017) SOLD
Image size:  11" x 14"      Original Watercolor

I'm painting with 3 friends in Celebration, FL.  Karlyn Holman showed us how to begin with a black watercolor pencil, that smears when you wet it.  I still need more practice, but again, Karlyn has inspired me to try new things!
Speaking of Karlyn, you all need to check out her new Ecourse!  "Keeping up with Karlyn".  It's a subscription for online lessons in watercolor and mixed media.
If you are interested in the ecourse and would like to receive the earlybird discount, email orders and the staff will set you up.  Send requests to:  orders@karlynholman.com  Usually it's only $400, but if you sign up because of reading this blog, you will get a $50 dollar discount!!!  :) :)  This online workshop offers 24 lessons, 20 encore paintings lessons, 11 instructional videos, and a gift bag of selected artist materials.  Karlyn has been one of my mentors for all of my painting journey.  She still inspires me, encouraging me to try new products or techniques.  And FUN is her middle name!!!  I definitely recommend that you sign up!  You have 2 years to complete the lessons at your own pace.  What a deal!

Wednesday, January 4, 2017

Day 4 : 30 Paintings in 30 Days


"On Golden Pond"     $99 (special price during January)
Image Size:  11" x 14"     Original Watercolor
Since I was traveling in the car a good part of today, I decided to do a really simple landscape. When I teach landscape painting workshops, we warm up by painting a little 5" x 7" painting and I actually set the timer for 5 minutes.  Yes, we complete a painting in only 5 minutes.  The students like this so much, they don't want to stop!
So, I had never tried this fast process on a quarter sheet painting, but it worked pretty well.  I had to work very fast! I wet both sides of the paper several times before beginning.  You have to decide on your colors before beginning.  There is no time to contemplate this once you have started.  I work wet into wet, and changing to thicker paint as you move along on the painting.  Everything banks on getting the right wetness of the paper, and the thickness of paint.  So, this painting took only 15 minutes to complete!  How about that?

Tuesday, January 3, 2017

Day 3- 30 Paintings in 30 Days

"Perfect Getaway"   $99 (only at this special price during January)
Image size:  11" z 14"     Original watercolor 

Another North Shore painting.  I used to paint traditional landscapes back in 1998, and here I am, full circle returning to them.  It's fun for me to see how far I've come, especially in thinking about composition and design.  Back then, I wouldn't even consider doing a value sketch beforehand, and now, it's like going on a trip without a road map.  Take my word for it:  If you want to bring your paintings up to the next level, do a value sketch!
Lesson for the day:  Another fun technique to help finish off the vignette feeling of this painting, is to lightly sprinkle the bottom rock area with a water bottle, then spatter small spots at the bottom of the rocks.  Then very quickly, place wax paper over the dots, and this will spread them a little bit and make them more organic.  Leave the wax paper on for at least 20 minutes.  You will see light cracks formed by the wax paper.  It's the same process as the plastic wrap that I showed yesterday on my blog, but this is  more subtle and great for the transition into the white paper at the bottom of the rocks. See below:

Monday, January 2, 2017

Day 2- 30 Paintings in 30 Days

"Rock Slide"  $99  Image size:  11" x 14"
Original Watercolor
My theme is "Landscapes" for this year's 30 Day Challenge.  Each of these paintings are size 11"x 14" and are available for $99, just during this month.  Email or message me if interested in purchasing one of these.
Still playing catch up.  When I do these 30 in 30 challenges, I try to get ahead by painting 2 or 3, per day at the beginning of the month, so that when babysitting, vacationing, or teaching comes up, I can use the ones I have already done.  This painting is another memory of the North Shore of Lake Superior, where the rocks are beautiful, and there is a peacefulness that feeds my soul.  In order to paint the rocks, the easy way, I float a medium color in the rock area, spatter some drops at the bottom of them, and quickly place plastic wrap on the rock area.  Leave this on the paper for at least 20 minutes, until deep cracks appear.  Then I glaze with darker colors to create depth in the rocks and to lead the viewer's eye throughout the painting.








Sunday, January 1, 2017

30 Paintings in 30 Days- Day One!

"Tranquility"  Image size: 11" x 14"
Price:  $99 (Price good until January 31)
 It's here again! I'm doing the Leslie Saeta Challenge of 30 Paintings in 30 Days! I had 3 ideas for my subject matter.  But finally decided on landscapes so that I could prepare for my private show that will be at a museum in Miles City, MT in October. These paintings will all be 11" x 14" and will sell for $99 each through the end of January.  Then the price will go back up to the normal amount.  These 30 Day Challenges offer the viewer a chance to get a great deal on original art!  Below is my value sketch of this subject, which is the North Shore of Lake Superior.