Feeling Groovy-Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel

Feelin Groovy-Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel. This weeks challenge is paint your pet. I looked through a bunch of our photos for a candidate (as I don't have a pet here in North Dakota). I was going through some really old pics and found a great picture of Groovy. In 1968 my dad got a job in Panama. We lived there for 9 months when I was 10. Dad bought this green parrot along the road one day for my sisters and I. When we went back to the states.....he went along. Parrots live a really long time . He was passed on to other parts of the family in the 90's or so and lived to be a very old bird:) Cantankerous old guy, he could whistle and repeat all kinds of stuff. 

Here is the music.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TJBhdKrwTOc

Memories of Old Days-Gentle Giant

Memories of Old Days-Gentle Giant. I painted this one from a still life setup last week over at my cohort Susan's studio. She has a wonderful set up with a light box, a couple of easels and ample space, plus some interesting objects. That is an old butter press. We both painted the same subjects with different results. The song is an old one from 1969. Enjoy!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y2FfQxPyRrM

Reflections of My Life-Marmalade

Reflections of My Life- Marmalade.....1969......What a cool song.

Finally finished with this one. Sending to a local museum to see if it is accepted. I will let you know:) Hopefully. Cross your fingers!

Oil on 12x16 stretched Canvas. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xTeI65yrhGw

skip the dang ad!!!

Starry Starry Night- Don McLean

Starry Starry Night- Don McLean

The challenge this week on Daily Paintworks is Starry Sky. I have been thinking of doing a painting on galaxies or sky or stars......so this gave me the opportunity this week to really go "out there" Ha ha pun intended. The northern lights are also in the same category!! Right?? I thought of the song for this one even before I put any paint on the canvas, and I have been singing it all day long. 

Fabulous song. Click here for the music https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oxHnRfhDmrk

skip the ad!

Walking on Sunshine-Katrina and The Waves. This was the last week we were in Guatemala and we just HAD to spend part of it at the black sand beaches of Monterrico. The beach slants sharply down to the ocean and the waves break very close. It was a beautiful foggy sunrise. For the music click here.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iPUmE-tne5U

8x8 Original Oil Painting on Canvas Panel 

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Toys in the Attic-Aerosmith

Toys in the Attic-Aerosmith........9x12 Oil on Gessoboard. Here is one of my junk store finds and another of my FAVORITE things. I have an obsession with old suitcases. I buy them when ever I see them; at yard sales, thrift shops and antique stores. Mostly because they can be useful storage containers and partly cause I just like them. This one stores my watercolors for camping and traveling. I like how fluffy the bear turned out:)

Red Hollyhocks

Red Hollyhocks- I took the reference photo for this painting of my hollyhocks in Guatemala. In Guatemala you could throw seeds on the ground and they would grow:) Anyone could have a green thumb there!  I love the colors and the simpleness of this one. I just read Carol Marine's book about color mixology and am really digging this palette. 

Workin' for a Livin'-Huey Lewis and the News

Workin for a Livin- Huey Lewis and the News... Painted this for the challenge on Daily Paintworks this week. No problem finding inspiration in "Boomtown USA", it is all around us! Lots and lots of industrial sites here. Tim told me awhile ago to paint some rigs and pumpers, but I wasn't inspired. Might even do another. Here is the music.....I have always liked this song. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9N2CANatVYQ

Sunflower Chair

This is for the James Memorial "Chair-ity" Auction to be held in Williston in December. I volunteered to paint a chair to be auctioned to benefit the art center. It took me awhile to come up with a theme. At first, I was thinking.... child's chair, bunnies and stuff. Tim suggested an American or Western theme. I hemmed and hawed and then it came to me in the middle of the night, (which by the way is when I solve alot of my dilemmas!) There are so many sunflower farms in North Dakota. I always want to stop and take photos of the beautiful fields. I so enjoyed painting them. I hope someone at the auction will agree!

Tangerine-Led Zeppelin

Tangerine-Led Zeppelin. This painting is the first in a series of paintings to come from my junk store travels. My friend Susan (a fellow painter) and I have decided to visit a local thrift shop every few weeks to find a item to paint. I found this little teapot and immediately knew I had to paint it. It had a design on the front which I decided to leave out as I like the plain gold trim better. The tangerine adds just a splash of color. For music click here. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LyM4vxxu2jA

Up Around The Bend-CCR

Up Around The Bend-CCR. 11x14 on gallery wrapped canvas. I actually managed to get one painted this week! Been a challenging week managing my time as we have a special guest in our home, my brother-in-law who needs a lot of special care:) This one is the Yellowstone River around Glendive a few weeks ago. The fall colors are just beautiful. 

Peaceful Easy Feeling- The Eagles

Have been working on this for a few days! 20x16 Snowdrops. Finally I think it is done! The background is still wet, thus the shine!

Like A Rolling Stone- Bob Dylan

Day 25 of 30 Paintings in 30 Days.....Like a Rolling Stone-Bob Dylan. The challenge on Daily Paintworks this week is paint a stone, or some stones. I found this photo on Paint my Photo and just loved the abstractness and the color of the stones in the water. This is not exactly how I pictured the end result....is it ever???...but I think it works. It is abstract but still decipherable? 

for the music.......https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0MdFW6dYOJ0&list=RD0MdFW6dYOJ0#t=129

You May Be Right- Billy Joel

Day 24.....Oops skipped a few. Just been in a funk the last few days and couldn't get it done! But finally got out the brushes yesterday. The title of this one is "You May Be Right"- Billy Joel, looks as if he really may be trying to tell her something! These are two baby swallows getting up their courage:) 

for the music:   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jAHixzBVPcA

Magic Carpet Ride - Steppenwolf

Day 18 of 30 Paintings in 30 Days......Magic Carpet Ride- Steppenwolf. A carpet of poppies! 

For the music.......https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UemWekmfMU0

Don't Stop-Fleetwood Mac

Day 17.......of the 30 paintings in 30 days. Throwing in a Daily Paintworks Challenge. The challenge is to photograph yourself in your garden or a park in a handmirror. Yikes, the photo took me a 1/2 hour to take as I had so much trouble fiddling around with the mirror, the camera, getting the car in. Finally I had SOMETHING to try to paint. This little bug is a hand-me-down from my daughter. When we went to Guate I sold my PT Cruiser to my parents and for the first time since..uh maybe 1974... I had no wheels. So when we came back from Guate, Meggie was getting a new car and going to trade this little convertible in so we decided I could use it until winter at least. Well my little Vera (yes, I named her) has heated seats, and I love her:) So here is my entry for the challenge. The song.....It is my all time favorite. Don't stop.... thinking about tomorrow....is very good advice!! 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SybgWaQy7_c&list=RDSybgWaQy7_c#t=29 for the music.

Max and Sammy Go to the Beach

Max and Sammy Go to the Beach. 12x24" Oil on stretched canvas. These two are my great nephews.......yes.....GREAT! They are quite a pair these two...always keeping their mommy and daddy hopping. Day 16

Fishin

We went fishing today! Tim caught two white bass and I painted. Nice sunshine today for fishin. The wasps were the biggest pests. I think the frost last night finally killed most of the mosquitoes! Here are some watercolors. Not very accomplished at watercolor but would like to do better. I guess I need to practice much more:) I love the speed of watercolors. But really hard to do!

A Whiter Shade Of Pale - Procol Harum

Day 12 of 30 Paintings in 30 Days.......A Whiter Shade of Pale...Not sure of the meaning, but do love the song. One of my favorite things to buy in Guatemala was the beautiful silky white Calla Lilies. They lasted only a few days when I brought them home, but I loved having them in the house. They were so easy to get in Guate. I purchased a plant in Williston (at Walmart no less), that I have about killed! My husband Tim always says, "now why did you buy that to kill." But, sometimes I surprise him and get them to grow:) 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mb3iPP-tHdA

Day 11- Upside Down- Jack Johnson

Day 11- Upside Down- Jack Johnson....What a sweet little nuthatch. I love the way they are sometimes upside down! Thus the title of this one. And love this song too. It's not pre-80's rock like the others, but still love it!!! 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dqUdI4AIDF0&list=RDdqUdI4AIDF0&index=1

Day 10- Riders on the Storm - The Doors

Day 10 of the 30 in 30...Riders on the Storm- The Doors. I decided to throw in the weekly challenge on Daily Paintworks. Here is my entry for the Stormy Weather Challenge. Tim and I were out driving here in North Dakota and I had the camera (of course). I loved how the rain was so distinct off in the distance. Plus the canola fields almost light up! 

Day 9- Crimson and Clover - Tommy James and The Shondells

Crimson and Clover - Tommy James and The Shondells. The title for this one took me quite awhile. Although it is a purple finch, I used quite a bit of crimson red. It is closely related to the house finch and many times is mistaken for it. 

Day 8. Sharp Dressed Man-ZZ Top

Day 8 of the 30 in 30. Dang it I messed around and didn't get this posted for the 7th so I guess I will post it for the 8th. Yay... This is a very chubby male goldfinch. Just a sweet little guy. I have been experimenting with using a palette knife for the background. Leaves lots of gooey texture and the base wash showing thru. I think I like it:) 

Time of the Season- The Zombies

Day 6 of 30 Paintings in 30 Days. So proud of myself for actually painting on a Saturday!! Took me until 2:00 p.m. to get motivated but I did it. 

For the music..https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RBxK3CcOQD8

I Want You to Want Me- Cheap Trick

Day 5 of 30 in 30. I just love chickadees! And what is the conversation here about??? I looked at so many appropriate titles and this one just made me laugh.

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-qgpewMCVjs 

for the video:) I don't know how to get rid of the ad on this video:(

Welcome to the Jungle- Guns and Roses

Day 4 of the 30 Paintings in 30 Days. I painted this one for the challenge this week on daily paintworks. This photo was a challenge a few weeks ago that I never had time to paint. But I saw it yesterday and decided it would be a good candidate for the Value Over Color Challenge this week! 

Margaritaville-Jimmy Buffett

Day 3 of 30 Paintings in 30 Days. Another cupcake!!! Meg's creation. Salty Lime Tequila cupcake. Yumm! Bottoms Up Cupcakes:)

Bluebird-Buffalo Springfield

Day 2 of the 30 Paintings in 30 Days. Blue Bird........Yes the Birds won in the theme contest. Love the song too. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=449-P9O7AEI

Day 1 Purple Haze- Jimi Hendrix....Addictive Cupcakes

Day One of the 30 in 30 Paintings ......Meggie's Dr Pepper cupcakes are fabulous. The dark purple is so vivid.

Good Day Sunshine- The Beatles

This one was very difficult. Portrait and figure I am not very strong in. Took me quite awhile to get this believable.....and then I changed the shape of the umbrella a few days later...resulting in this one.

Celebrate- Three Dog Night

Yummm!

Who-Who are You?

Painted for the Challenge on Daily Paintworks.

Strawberry Sandwich

Painted this one for previous Weekly Challenge- Peanut butter and Jelly....which obviously it isn't. I didn't have peanut butter or jelly so I had to improvise. Strawberry and Butter. After staring at it for a couple of hours it started to look good enough to eat!!!! Has already sold though!

Dominican Republic...Punta Cana

Painted for the Weekly Challenge..Paint a Tree. I chose this seaside grove. Doesn't hurt that the tree in on a beach:) This was a wonderful relaxing vacation! I have been painting, just haven't posted for awhile. Getting back into the swing after moving to Nort da kota. 

The Poppy Road

Have all my painting supplies set up temporarily in our hotel room....so I can paint. Been at least a month since we left Guatemala, and I have sooooo been itching to get to it. The light in the room is marginal...so hard to photograph the finished artwork. Going to make the best of our time in this boom town in North Dakota. Been checking out the town and looking for housing. Very different world...busy place. Lots of opportunities.

Macaroons

I painted this for the challenge this week. Radiant Orchid. Wonderful color! My amigas and I recently went to a lovely French Restaurant here in Guatemala City named La Madeleine. They serve a fabulous lunch on a great terrace filled with french looking furniture. On our way out we each purchased a "set" of lovely macaroons. For the challenge I changed the color of the rose one to orchid. But, before I ate them.....of course, I had to paint them:)

I

Expressionism and Impressionism- The Beach Umbrella Challenge

This weeks painting challenge was Expressionism and Impressionism. Trying to paint somewhere in the middle. I am usually way to picky and overwork my paintings till they are mushy blobs. I am working on over obsessing.........Hmmmm. It's going to be awhile:) But love the beach and the ocean so this one was especially appealing for me to try! Hope you like it!

Four Color Challenge.......California Coast Dreaming!

The Daily Paintworks challenge this week is to paint using only 4 colors. I am always amazed at the amount of colors I can make with only 4 paint tubes! These challenges are great to make me really stretch the boundaries of only 4 colors and ask myself....what color is this really?. I used Phthalo Blue, Cad Red, Cad Yellow and White. 

Dang........Makes ya want to go huh!!! California Dreaming...

Ninas by the Fountain

These two little ninas were selling jewelry by the fountain in the plaza in Antigua, Guatemala. I caught them as they strolled by looking for tourists to sell their wares. These two look to be about 9-12, but there are also even younger children selling jewelry or gum to support their families. The colorful dress of the Mayan people is stunning. Guatemala...Land of Color!

This was drawn from a black and white photo in my grandmothers photo album. The challenge was to take 60 seconds to assess the photo for the figures and draw them out. I enjoyed imagining the colors of their clothes and the house! Grandma titled this, "In Our Prom Clothes" about 1927.

Two Little Piggies Stayed Home

I have been painting......well kind of (I did take two weeks off when company came to Guatemala) but I haven't posted them! So here is one I painted two weeks ago. My great niece, Shaylee, raised piglets for 4-H. They are so cute and inquisitive. She let me use her photos for inspiration.

Montana in the Morning

The inspiration for this painting was a photo I took while taking my grand kids to school in Laurel, Montana one morning. The light was so beautiful coming through these trees. The drive between Laurel and Billings at 7:30 a.m. can be just gorgeous. Right now it is covered in a blanket of snow!

One Stroke Challenge.........Bleeding Hearts

This weeks challenge is One Stroke....Do not overwork your paintings. Put down a color and then mix another until you are done. I chose this close up of bleeding hearts. Oh, and use a 1/2 flat brush. Now that is a challenge in itself. No fussing. Slap it on!!!

I decided the leaves of the previous painting were distracting and painted them out. Also the background was not showing off the main attraction. So I darkened it. Which is better?

Collage of the 30 in 30.....well I only have 22...hey but next time!

Here are all my paintings for the challenge!!!!Next year I will paint all 30!!!

I decided to have another go at the challenge this week. Last day of the 30 paintings in 30 days!! I was almost done and decided it was just a ho hum rendition........so I really slapped on the cobalt. I wanted it to be vibrant. I have to learn that I need to really emphasize the lights and darks. So here it is ....comments welcome.