Day 13 of the 28 in 28 - Do You Like My Hat?

 When I was a child and then when I had children of my own, I read a book titled "Go Dog Go" by P.D. Eastman.  It is one of my all time favorite young reader books.. In it there is a dog couple who meet several times in the story.  Every time they meet, the girl dog is wearing a different and very wild hat.  She asks the boy dog, "Do you like my hat?" and every time but the last time he says, "No. I do not like your hat." and he rides away in his little car.  I laugh every single time I think about that senario, and looking at this cow, it is exactly what I think she is asking us... "Do you like my hat?" :)

I've painted Cows (and donkeys, giraffes, rabbits and pigs) inside of teacups before.. but, I've never balanced a teacup on one's head.  A seemingly trite and minor thing to change up, but it does make all the difference in the end result!

"Do You Like My Hat?", 9"x12", oil on panel
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Day 25 of the 30 in 30 challenge - Bird Bath

So this is another entry into my mini series of Visual idioms... I guess 'Bird Bath' is a kind of idiom..?Coming up with titles an be difficult. Sometimes more difficult than doing the painting itself!  But with this painting, as well as 2 others I recently did (Duck Tape and Rabbit Ears) the title came first.  Then I had to decide what kind of bird and what kind of bath... 

The bath was a no brainer.  I've painted claw foot tubs before and they are a lot of fun.. They come in all kinds of colors and have the best lines.  The bird took a bit more thinking.  I first looked up "what are the biggest birds in the world?".  I wanted a big guy, I knew.  I looked at ostriches, cassowaries (blue heads...), rheas and turkeys.. None of them quite worked.  In searching, I started to come across pelicans and remembered another pelican I had once painted.  The pelican I had painted previously had actually befriended a woman who lived on a house boat.  The story goes that she came across him and I think he was injured.  She cared for him and then come time for him to migrate, he did.  She didn't know if she would ever see him again.  Lo and behold, the following season, the pelican came back to her.  As far as I know, he comes back every season and hangs out on her house boat with her.  I love that so much.. So the decision was made.  Time to paint another pelican.  

As an aside, the nautical flag is the flag that symbolizes Charlie (C) and also means "Yes".  Always good to include a bit of the positive, I thought, and, maybe it's just me, but this pelican could definitely pass for a Charlie. :)

Bird Bath, Oil, 10"x10", click here to purchase

Day 14 of t he 30 in 30 - How About a Nice Cup of Tea?

Ah, Alice In Wonderland.  A fantastical story, maybe about growing up... maybe just an escape into temporary madness...  The lure of this story to audiences all over the world may very well be the sheer insanity of it all.  None of it makes much sense, fear often plays a role and all of the characters are ludicrous in some way.  But now that the real world seems to take on these characteristics more often, I wonder how much of an escape this story is!  None the less, I have a thing for painting rabbits right now and the March Hare is likely one of the most famous rabbits there is (Peter Rabbit a close contender).  How I didn't yet think of painting a Hare in a Teacup yet is actually a bit surprising. :)  Well, now I did.... In this painting, my rendition of the famous March Hare sits expectantly in his Drink Me tea cup.. Perhaps he is waiting for his unbirthday to begin?  Perhaps we are late for a very important date?

Also, see below for a sneak peak at how this could look in your house... :)

How About a Nice Cup of Tea?, Oil, 11"x14", Click here to purchase

This painting is not yet framed, but could be framed just like this, which would show well in many different types of decor.  It is pictured here in a Farmhouse styled kitchen :)

If you want to know more about framing, please contact me at karenlyn1772@gmail.com

Day 30 of the 30 in 30!!! - "I Honor the Place"

Today is the last day of this 30 in 30, and I cannot believe it!  It has been the absolute best 30 in 30 I have challenged myself to in so many ways...

I want to put this out to all of the people who have followed me through this round of paintings.  I have had over 700 page views on my blog since it started, which for me is a big deal! :) Plus lots of great feedback on my facebook and instagram.  Also, I met some new artists who are also participating in the challenge and amazingly, I have sold about 1/4 of the paintings I created!!! I appreciate all of the support, love and encouragement people give me every time I do one of these, and this time has been especially wonderful!  So, this painting is in honor of y'all... 

Namaste 

I honor the place in you 

in which the entire universe dwells.

I honor the place in you which is of love, light, peace and joy.

When you are in that place in you 

and I am in that place in me,

We Are One.

I Honor the Place, oil on canvas, 8"x8", to purchase click here

I tried to fill this painting with as much light as I could logically fit in... with glints of gold and rosey highlights to produce as much visual joy as I could... <3 <3 <3

Day 29 of the 30 in 30 - A Shining Affirmation

White... is not a mere absence of color; it is a shining and affirmative thing, as fierce as red, as definite as black... God paints in many colors; but he never paints so gorgeously, I had almost said so gaudily, as when he paints in white. 

-Gilbert Keith Chesterton

Shining Affirmation, oil, 8"x8", on hold

I painted this while working in Art Plus Gallery today. I love my gallery!  And, a huge plus of this job is when I am in the gallery I get to sell art and make art... where is the flaw? :)  It is an affirming thing to be an artist, even on the hard days. I am truly grateful to be able to do what I do. <3

Day 25 of the 30 in 30 - "A Good Attitude"

Patience is not the ability to wait, but the ability to keep a good attitude while you wait.  This golden Labrador retriever is definitely practicing patience... Just don't ask how I got her to pose long enough to paint this picture... All I can say is that some dogs have patience in spades...  :)
For purchasing details, please click on the link under the picture.

A Good Attitude, oil, 8"x8", to purchase click here

Day 21 of the 30 in 30 - "Time Flies"

Time really does fly... I have been doing Leslie Saeta's 30 in 30 and I can't believe that we are now past the 2/3's point! So happy and thankful (feeling blessed...)  for all of the love and support I have gotten through the past 3 weeks :) Painting birds with various things that I find interesting (not necessarily bird related) has been my primary focus with this challenge.  When thinking of what to pair my bird friends with next, I was inspired to pair some with old clocks.  Amusingly, I didn't realize the obvious metaphor of 'Time Flies' until I was midway through painting this one...and then my logical brain caught up with my creative brain.. I had a genuine "Aha!" moment as I was painting along and idly trying to think of a title... Funny, is all I can say...  

Time Flies, oil, 8"x8", to purchase click here

Happy New Year! & My 3 words for 2017

I want to wish everyone a very happy and prosperous New Year!  May love, happiness, health and good fortune be the trademark of this year for you!

I am not starting any brand new things this year... instead, I feel that I will be approaching the different aspects of my life in a new way.  I am excited and ready to begin.

Chris Brogan is the owner of a company named Owner Media Group. Simply put, he helps business owners grow their businesses.  I follow his blog, so I read his advice from time to time.  One of his annual traditions is to choose 3 words to guide him through the coming year.  You can read more about it here.  I decided to choose 3 words to guide me in my coming year.  I have tried to do this in the past, and just couldn't come up with anything concrete to guide me. This year, the words were almost written before I thought of them!  Below are my 3 words and how I hope they will guide me.

1.Broaden:  I hope to broaden the scope of where my artwork is seen, and by whom.  I also hope to broaden the things my family and me do together, broaden the time we spend together and broaden our bond.

2. Connect:  I hope to make more and better connections with art collectors using social media, my newsletter, and simply through getting out there and talking about my art.  I also hope to connect with my family more often and more meaningfully. 

3. Consistency: I will be more consistent with my schedule - when I paint, when I spend time on the business side of things, when I spend time with my family.  I wish to declutter my schedule of the nonsense and unimportant things to leave room for me to consistently connect and broaden all of my relationships.

Day 6 of my Holiday Painting Spree - "Dali"

I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving yesterday! I am a bit turkeyed out, and ready to get back to the studio... Today's painting is 3rd in a mini series of roosters I painted, all named after a famous artist. This little guy is named Dali - he seems to me to be rushing into the room to make a statement... create a masterpiece perhaps.  He just needs that mustache.  

To purchase, please click here

Dali,  oil on panel, ready to hang
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Day 3 of my Holiday Painting Spree - "Tuesday's Blackbird"

This happy little girl flew in with the wind yesterday... Amazingly, in this wild wind we had here, I saw flocks of black birds flying in synchronized plumes of ever changing shapes and lines of them huddled on high wires... Black birds must be sturdy little birds to withstand the extreme weather!

This painting is the last (for now) in this mini series of blackbirds I did in the past few days.  She is for sale (at 20% off) at my Daily Paintworks site and is ready to hang!  Take a peek below to see how this painting could look in your home. :)

Tuesday's Blackbird, oil on panel, ready to hang
To purchase, please click here

Day 1 of my Holiday Painting Spree!

As I said in my previous post, my little paintings are popular with my followers.  I can see why! In the art world, a trend has been emerging toward personal, intimate, and small-scale paintings.  Not to mention, small paintings fit in difficult to design places and are more affordable than larger artwork.  I love painting in all different sizes, but I especially enjoy painting on small panels. It allows me to focus in on my subjects and paint alla prima - all in one sitting. So, I plan on focusing my paintbrush on these little guys through out the rest of November and into December.  

Today's painting is titled, "The Sentry".  I painted a series of little blackbirds a while back and sold most of them... Black birds mean many things to many people.  To me they can be pretty little birds that aren't flashy, but make a statement all the same.  And some of the species of black birds (crows and ravens for two) are quite intelligent. This guy is a young crow, keeping watch for you...  And stripes are back! I enjoy using the stripe motif in my backgrounds as they allow me to use interesting color combinations that I otherwise might not put together.

Remember, all my paintings are 20% off through December 17th, including this one!

To purchase this painting, please visit my daily paintworks gallery here

The Sentry, oil on panel, 6"x6",
to purchase click here

Day 5 - Morning Dove

Today's painting is of my daughter.  As I said in an earlier post, she obliged me a few weeks back and posed in different locales wearing various dresses and costumes. I was trying to capture the beauty of this moment while pushing a little further into impressionism. Although the dove wasn't there in the original photograph, this composition was just calling out for one.. who knows why?  This was definitely one of those paintings that was telling me what needed to be done as I was painting it! Because I love this one so much right now, I fear it is not for sale at this time!  But I will definitely be revisiting the techniques I was experimenting with in future paintings. I am thoroughly enjoying this 30 in 30!

Morning Dove, Oil, 12"x24"

Day 27 - Focus

Wait.   Only 3 days left to this challenge?  What happened to January?  Even though I have been to my studio almost every day to paint this month, it still somehow feels like the month just slipped away.  There is way too much to accomplish in a day.  And it never seems to all get done.  This bird is titled focus. Focus to help me work more efficiently... focus to help me set better goals... focus to help me realize what is important and what can be left for later....

Oh, and hey, did you know this about bald eagles? ~ Their wingspan can reach 8 feet, they can reach 100 MPH in a dive and their nests are huge, sometimes weighing over a ton!  They are also endangered, largely because of humans.  We all need to focus on better ways for us all to live together on our planet...

Focus, oil on panel, 6" x 6"
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Day 19 - The Head Bird

Rooster #2 in a series of at least 4 that I am painting... This guy is the Head Bird, at least for now!  Maybe I named him this because I love the close up shot of the head... It is so much fun to see the brush work up close and personal... The texture.. colors... etc...

The Head Bird, oil on panel, 6" x 6"
to purchase this painting, please click here

The Head Bird, head...

Day 18 - Batman

I decided today that I am going to paint a series of 4 roosters in a similar style as today's. The first in the series is titled Batman for no other reason than it popped into my head.  There must be some connection in some way.  Maybe the blue in the background.  Maybe tomorrow's will be Robin?  Anyway, I am continuing on with my experimentation with stripes as well and having a great time figuring out the properties of acrylic paint, which are frankly very alien to me.

Batman, acrylic and oil on panel, 6"x 6",
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Day 9 - Starry Starry Rooster

Corny title, I know.  I don't care... it must be...vvI painted this painting on a black ground today.  The gesso I used was particularly absorbent and I needed to work fast and thick.... In addition, the past few days I have been leaving my photo reference behind about 1/2 way through the painting.  I then finish the painting using cues from the artwork itself, rather than the photo.  These factors made for a very expressive chicken!  This guy fits into my "vintage" category as it's breed is apparently a Silver Duckwing which is considered Old English game... so to me, this sounded pretty vintage... Anyway here it is... :)

Starry Starry Rooster,  oil, 6"x6",
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After taking a picture of it, I noticed how much it reminded me of VanGogh's Starry, Starry, Night.  Below is a closeup of a part that is particularly Van Gogh-ish...

Starry Starry Rooster, closeup

27 Cardinal Smile

I love the subtlety of colors in female cardinals.  No, they don't have the impact and punch of a bright red male, but the female's colors are just as beautiful, if not even more so... to me anyway!  This little girl looked happy to me, so I enhanced her smile a bit from the original reference photo.... just to add a little happiness to your day.  Have a nice rest of the weekend!

Cardinal Smile, oil on panel, 6" x 6"
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Day 20 - Blue Bird

Today's painting... another fluff of a blue bird.. This guy isn't quite as vibrant as the one from 2 day's ago... he is softer and a bit more subtle....  I wish I knew how to attract these cute birds to my bird feeder.  I get chickadees and finches.... but never a blue bird. Oh well. I painted 2 birds today to catch up since I didn't paint yesterday.  Will probably paint something different tomorrow!

"Blue Bird" oil on panel, 6" x 6",
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Day19 of the 30 in 30 - Evening Crane

I am posting this one a day late (but not a dollar short... :)) because I was busy partying down at my daughter's 17th birthday bash yesterday... but, I painted TWO today and will be posting both... This one is called Evening Crane because there is the last hints of the sunset glinting off of this crane's back.  My first crane painting.... will have to paint more!

Evening Crane, oil on panel, 6" x 6"
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Day 18 September Bird

I love it when a painting comes out better than you'd hoped... Today's bird was this way.. I have been so busy today preparing for my opening tonight that I thought, oh well, I may have to skip today's painting.  But then I got done with all the prep, and was faced with an 1 1/2 hours of extra time... I slipped up to my studio and this guy came out onto the panel... Gotta be thankful for small favors!

September Bird, oil on panel, 6" X 6",
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