30 in 30 - I'm in, again!

I participated in Leslie Saeta's challenge last year and I had great fun, but honestly, I was worn out at the end and only completed 25!  But I am up to try again.  Leslie suggested that we use a theme, and the only ones that keep coming to me are 'fun' and '4pm' which is usually the start of the 'golden hour' this time of year.  So I will try to have fun at around 4pm everyday and post my results here.  Here we go!

Angel, last portrait of the year!

Angel
10x8"
Acrylic on stretched canvas

This is Angel, who was dearly loved and lost earlier this year.  Angelique is the daughter-in-law of Angel's mom, Donna.  Angelique's husband was afraid that Donna (his mom) would be too upset, but Angelique talked to her sister-in-law, and they decided it would be OK - so we got it done before Christmas.  Angelique messaged me to let me know that Donna loved it!  We were both so relieved!

Bayou Sunrise

Bayou Sunrise

8"x10"

Oil on canvas panel

I painted this one yesterday from a photo, because a light drizzle and gray-ness kept me from painting outside.  This morning, my sunrise was an even more intense orange!  But I love the interplay of the complementary colors in this one, and will probably return to this subject again!

Brewton City Park Fountain

10"x8"Acrylic on Canvas Panel

Started this painting in the park Saturday during the Art in the Park event.  It's a little off kilter, but I was very distracted with all the friends, old and new, dropping by! It was a beautiful day and a fun event!

.

Jasper, BJ's Pup

8"x8", acrylic on canvas panel

Bayou Backwater

8"x10". Oil on canvas panel, painted en plein air!

Max, The Red Menace

Max
8"x8"
Acrylic on canvas panel

 

This my final entry in the 30 in 30 Challenge - nope, not nearly 30 paintings, but at least I got one done on the last day!  This big red guy was fun to paint, except for the fact that all of his photos have his eyes half-closed!  Apparently the big guy likes to sleep.  A lot!
Max
8"x8"
Acrylic on canvas panel

Daisy - finally done!

Daisy

14"x11"

Acrylic on stretched canvas

She's cute!  But I sort of liked the orange background!  I did give my client a last call - but she didn't realize that applied to the background too.  Oh well, what's a couple more hours of my life anyway?  I took the opportunity to move her collar up slightly, it was hanging a bit to low!

Daisy

Daisy
14"x11"
Acrylic on stretched canvas

I think she's done, but I always have to look at them for a while before I'm happy!  And now I think the photo is a little out of focus.  Oh well.

Daisy - in process...

In process... Just not enough hours in the day...

Blond Ambition

Blond Ambition

10"x8"

Acrylic and white pen on Multimedia Artboard

This painting was an experiment using Multimedia Artboard.  It is not at all suited to my painting style.  First I tried watercolor techniques - what a disaster!  Then I went over it with acrylic - and lost my sketch lines.  Whatever. I won't be using this board again if I can help it!

Started to call this one "Self Portrait" but I don't think anyone would be fooled!

Stormy Morning

Stormy Morning, 8"x10", oil on canvas board

Started painting this in July, but the storm was coming so, I didn't get much done.  Finished it today, but it still doesn't look like I want it to.  I may go back and rework some of it until I'm happy!

My newest obsession...

Bayou Shoreline, 8"x10", oil on canvas panel

Water-soluble oils!  Tried them with the plein-air group today, and another painter was trying them also!  We painted under the graffiti bridge, and the weather was warm, but clear.  Great day for painting!  I went much looser than I usually do, and it was fun!  I may go outside later today and try them some more.

Backyard visitor

Gray Fox

8"x10"

Acrylic on canvas panel

My husband was so excited to show me the photo of this little guy, who was captured on our wildlife cam near Escambia Bay in Florida. The image was not very high resolution, but I was more captivated by the wary pose.  It is a gray fox, but it has tawny red accents all over its body.  I think the snout is probably a little shorter than what I painted, but I was able to get this version done pretty quickly by painting without sketching first.

Miss Maddie Lou, Rescue Kitty

Maddie Lou, 8"x10 ", acrylic on canvas panel

Miss Maddie Lou came to us last fall, and was supposed to be transferred to a rescue, for which I had pulled her from the shelter.  She wheedled her way into my heart in about 2.5 seconds and I found that I couldn't send her on, even after determining that she was, indeed, pregnant.  Two weeks later she presented us with a beautiful litter of five kittens, most of which I was able to place into great homes.  But, we still have Maddie and two of her kittens!  She was a wonderful mother, but could not wait to get back to cattin' around, so we quickly had her spayed and she comes and goes as she pleases.  She is happy to have a home that feeds her so well!

I did this painting after I got home from class last night, while the hubs watched a soccer game on TV.  Managed to get this one down in about an hour and a half!

Gray Tabby

Gray Tabby

6"x6"

Acrylic on canvas panel

Worked on this little guy to get that inquisitive expression just right, still don't think I captured his mischievous character!

Ball?

Kaya

14"x11"

Acrylic on stretched canvas

Her eyes still look a little odd to me, but at least I think they are in the right place!

Blue eyes

Himalayan Kitten, 6"x6", acrylic on canvas panel

I know there's a nose in there somewhere, but I just couldn't find it!  What a cute boy!  

OK - this is 8 paintings in 8 days, can I stop now?  I am exhausted!  And I have a house to clean, and shopping to do, which I just am not going to get done if I keep this up!  Seriously, these are taking all of my free time!  Well, most, I do find time to eat!

More ear hair!

White Turkish Van

White Turkish Van

 6"x6"

 Acrylic on canvas panel

This is re-do of a painting I did a while back for the "White on White" challenge.  That painting had a pale blue background and I always felt like it was a little washed out.  For this one, I went with a really dark blue background and I think the white cat really stands out now.  

The Turkish Van is also called the swimming cat, and although this one has two amber eyes, they sometimes have one blue and one green or amber eye.  Lovely cats!

Lindsey's Cats - Rusty

Lindsey's Rusty, 6"x6", acrylic on canvas board

Lindsey's Cats - Taffy

Lindsey's Taffy, 6"x6", acrylic on canvas board

Another challenging painting, and I am still not sure I am happy with it.  I'll look at it again tomorrow and decide.  

Lindsey's Cats - Maggie

Lindsey's Maggie, 6"x6", acrylic on canvas panel

This sweet girl was a challenge!  Her eyes are huge, and a little crossed, so it was difficult getting them to look right.  Still not sure Lindsey will like it, but she can still be tweaked a bit.  I think her nose may need to be a little pinker too.

Lindsey' Cats - Zoe

Lindsey's Zoe, 6"x6", acrylic on canvas panel

I need to retake this photo - too rainy today for natural light!  But here it is - Day 3 of the challenge, and I am doing another of Lindsey's cats.  They are lovely cats, and I enjoy painting them, but, WOW - they take a lot of time.  I need to do something with a little less detail to finish this challenge!

Lindsey's Cats - Callie

Lindsey's Callie, 6"x6", Acrylic on canvas panel

Lindsey's Cats - Molly

Lindsey's Molly, 6x6, acrylic on canvas panel

21 Cows

Saw these girls several weeks ago when I was looking for something to paint near Atmore, Alabama.  A whole herd was standing in a large puddle in the field, and I just couldn't resist their placid faces. So here are two of them.

 

Highway 21 Cows

8"x10"

Oil on canvas board

Serenity

This evening I prepared this painting for our college's In Residence Show.  I have had it in a gift shop for a year, and it was looking tired, so it needed some spiffing up before sharing it again.  I just love the quiet beauty of this pony as she sips from a pond.  I used an image from MorgueFile and wrote to the photographer to let her know how much I appreciated her allowing artists to use her photos. 

This is larger than what I usually do - but I enjoyed working that large. You forget how much paint it takes to cover the area when you are used to doing 5x7" watercolors!

 

Serenity

24" x 20"

Acrylic on deep stretched canvas

http://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/lyn-gill/serenity/134635

 

 

Hot Pink Pony

These gray winter days are getting me down!  So I painted this hot pink pony to lift my mood  The pony looks a little down though.  On to a spring-y mood painting soon!

Hot Pink Pony
7"x5"
Watercolor on Paper

Coop King II

Another no-sketch rooster!  There is something very liberating about just putting a loaded brush to paper without having to stay inside the lines!
I enjoy the contrast of the brilliant colors in these roosters - these are very close to the actual colors in the bird, which is a bit of a departure from my usual preference of changing them around!

Coop King II
10"x 8"
Watercolor on 140# Fabriano paper

Lulu

Lulu is our year-old (approximately) bulldog blend who followed my husband home from a jog one day last August.  We tried to find her owners, but no one stepped up, and after two weeks, we decided that she had chosen us.  She has the most joyful personality, and she's just a goofy dog.  So this is my husband's Valentine's present, complete with frame, ready to hang.  Hope he likes it!

Lulu
6"x6"
Acrylic on canvas panel

Coop King!

Saw a painting of a rooster the other day on DPW that the artist painted without sketching it first.  Decided to try it.  Harder than it sounds, but here it is!  I started with the eye and worked my way out, but I don't think there is enough separation in the values where the neck meets the back.  I enjoyed this one, though,  and may have to try him again!

Coop King
6"x10"
Watercolor on paper

White Pony

Another pony to finish out the 30 painting challenge.
Sketched this and another from photos taken last summer, so one more pony, and I think I will let them rest for a while. 

White Pony
7"x5"
Watercolor on paper

Heifer 2

Life goes on, and I found a little time to get my painting done today.  To be honest, I took two days off to finish another project, and I was itching to get back to it.  I had sketched this one last week while I was still trying to finish the challenge, but I just couldn't get it finished.  So here she is, painted after the lights went out in New Orleans!

Heifer 2
5"x7"
Watercolor on paper

Not quite 30 in 30!

So, NOT 30 paintings in 30 days, but I'm OK with it.  I have several more literally on the drawing board that I will complete in the next few days. 
This was a valuable lesson for me, and it helped me to work faster and try to complete a painting in one sitting.  It didn't always happen, but that's OK too!
It also let me focus on watercolor, my first love, for a month.  Some of these will become larger paintings, and some I did for expedience, but I enjoyed all of them.  Well, most of them.  If you have a favorite, let me know!

My first collage!
4x6 of my January 2013 paintings!

30 in 30 Challenge - Day 30

The last to be posted was really the first one I did to get ready for the challenge - because I had a day off and knew I would have some 11 hour days like today. 
The Challenge has been good for me, but I'm glad it's over, for now.  I'm ready to get back to painting some larger works and getting back to trying some new things that I need more time to do.  I will set new goals - still trying to get some reasonable ones to work toward.
But right now I need to rest and recharge - I have another project that is due this weekend - and then I will get back to it.

Prancer
13"x10"
Watercolor on paper

30 in 30 - Day 29

I sure am glad this challenge is almost over - I have started to feel really pressured to get these paintings done.  I have challenged myself with some new subject material, including cows and crabs and angels, but I'm feeling like I don't have the time to fully explore them because I am in such a hurry to get them finished!
I worked on four sketches today, but this is the only one that was finished. 

Heifer
5"x7"
Watercolor on paper

30 in 30 - Day 28

Just two more days in the challenge, and I wanted to end it with some of my favorite subjects: cats, dogs, flowers, etc.  So here is a warm-up I did for a painting I will do next month in acrylic for a friend.  I love this guy's sweet expression and beautiful green eyes!

Maine Coon
7"x5"
Watercolor on paper

30 in 30 - Day 27

Worked on this angel on Sunday, from the same reference I used last week, just a different focal point.  I just had to include that elaborate hair!  Worked harder on getting the shading under the jawline. 
I think that's it for the angels right now, I need to finish the challenge with something fun!  Just three more days, but I still haven't met the 30 paintings goal that I should have completed by the end of the challenge.  Well, you have to have a life outside of painting, right???

Angel Hair
7"x5"
Watercolor on paper

30 in 30 - Day 26

Angel series - continued. There are several angel statuary in the historic Union Cemetery in my hometown of Brewton, AL. This one is the most lovely, and the photo was taken on a January morning in soft morning sunlight.

Union Angel #1
7"x5"
Watercolor on paper

30 in 30 - day 25

I started this one while I was having my car serviced - don't feel like I ever really got in the zone with it, then I just wanted to finish!

Camellia 1
5"x7"
Watercolor on paper

30 in 30 - Day 24

This little guy was done the day before the official challenge started, but I knew there would be days like this when it will be unlikely I will put paint to paper.  So here he is.

I love this guy's gentle expression, so I used pastels and a light colored mane.  He'd be awfully pretty in a little girl's room!


Pale Paint Pony #57
5"x7"
Watercolor on 140# paper

30 in 30 - Day 23

A total departure from what I usually do - I painted this from an image I found on Morguefile in order to prepare for a series of paintings I'm planning to do soon.  I may try to do some of the small sketches from my own photos this weekend.
I thought this series of shadows and lights would be simple, but it turned out to be much more difficult than I thought it would be - the shadow side of the face needs some work, I think.  Well, it's late and I'll think about that tomorrow!

Angel Face 1
7"x5"
Watercolor on 140#paper

30 in 30 Challenge - Day 22

The final painting in the Osprey series was a doozy - the angle of the wings was a challenge, as was the lighting of the reference photo - it was a distance shot, so very dark and a bit fuzzy.
I like the background of this one better than the last one though. 
Even though this is the last in this series, I will be painting ospreys again, they are exciting subjects!  And my husband has suggested a second series of Bayside Dock birds!

Osprey 4 - Headed Home
5"x7"
Watercolor on 140# paper

30 in 30 Challenge - Day 21

This Osprey painting continues the series started Sunday.  This is the osprey immediately after the dive, with the catch of the day!  They are not always so lucky, sometimes they come up empty-uhh-taloned!

Osprey 3 - Snatch!
5"x7"
Watercolor on 140# paper

30 in 30 Challenge - Day 20

I stayed an extra day at the Bay house today because we had a the Martin Luther King Jr. Day holiday.  So I did more bird watching and more painting on my Bayside Birds series.  I love this diving angle, it has such a sense of movement to it!  Had to come home before lunchtime, so it cut my painting time a little short.  Got more done once I got home, though!

Osprey 2 - Dive!
5"x7"
Watercolor on 140# paper

30 in 30 - Day 19

Another project has taken my time the past few days, but I found a bit of time to paint this evening.
We love watching the birds at the bay house, and this is one of our favorites! They rarely get very close to the shore - it's too shallow for their diving, but this reference photo was taken when one hunted close by.


Osprey
5"x7"
Watercolor on 140# paper

30 in 30 Day 16

This is the last of the ponies I painted Sunday.  It was actually third in the sequence, but I wasn't happy with his nose, so I went back and added a darker background in front of his face.  The reference photo for this one was a gray horse, so it was difficult to find good darks on him.  I like the peaceful expression on his face.

Grazing Pony 4
7"x5"
Watercolor on 140# paper

30 in 30 Challenge - Day 15

This was the final painting of the four I did on Sunday, and I think it's my favorite.  I sketched and painted all day, and by the end of the day, I really wanted to push it with some hot bright colors!
It is pleasant to look at this one today - it's been gray and drizzly and getting steadily colder all day.  By Thursday morning, it may be snowing!  But I have this hot bright pony to look at to keep me warm!

Grazing Pony 4
7"x5"
Watercolor on 140#paper

30 in 30 - Day 13

An unusual angle, I know - but that's what made it so challenging!
Not any time to paint today - this was another from Sunday's marathon!

Grazing Pony 2
7"x5"
Watercolor on 140# paper

30 in 30 - Day 12

I set up four paintings at once on Sunday, and this is the first one I did of the four.  All four were grazing horses from different angles.  The idea was that I could hang them in a row and they would look like my own personal herd!

Grazing Pony 1
7"x5"
Watercolor on 140#paper