Day 16 - In the Road

I am doing birds for the next few days as they are fun and generally quick... I have daughter's birthday coming up, an art opening Friday and a party to throw on Saturday, so it is necessary!  This guy is the same rooster as yesterday, just in a different position.  I like everything about how this one turned out... like it even better than yesterdays rooster.   He looked to me to be standing on a road somewhere... I just hope he made it across!

In The Road, oil on panel, 6"x6"
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Day 26 - Colorado Abstract

So, as I have painted landscapes over the past few weeks, I have noticed that I am seeing them more and more as abstracted shapes, colors and values.  It makes me wonder if they hold up composition-ally when turned 180 degrees. Tonight I am posting a painting both as the original orientation that I painted it and flipped upside-down to see what I think.  Theoretically, in my opinion, the painting should be equally pleasurable to view no matter what the orientation.  (Right?)  I don't know, but I think this should be so.  So, today's painting, simply titled "Colorado" is up to you how you like it (as all of my paintings are, actually)...
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Colorado, oil on panel, 6"x6"
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(because it makes me smile)  Odaroloc, oil on panel, 6"x6"
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The Winged Buddha

Sometimes you have to follow your heart.... Today is the first day of Leslie Saeta's 30 in 30 painting 'challenge' and I am posting my first painting!   It is a great way to kick off 2015 and I am sending this out into the cloud as my prayer for the world in the upcoming year... I pray for peace for the world because I think that covers pretty much all of the bases.  I don't subscribe to one particular religion or philosophic belief, but I am highly spiritual and have been on a lifelong quest for meaning and living to honor this life that I have been given.  I wanted to paint an image that represented reverence, peace and inward meditation.... Hopefully I have succeeded!  Happy New Year!

Winged Buddha, oil on panel, 9" x 12",
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Yesterday's Chickadee

This Could be the name of a poem....
But its not!  I am of course referencing the painting I completed yesterday...  I was commissioned to do this by a man I know from Reiffton and he is giving it to his girlfriend for Christmas.  What a great gift!  His girlfriend is a very sweet person and I hope she enjoys!  I will be framing this and delivering it next week.

Cheryl's Chickadee, 11" x 14", oil on panel, sold

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Day 18 - Janies Frog

Don't have too much time to post now and will elaborate later... Todays painting in the 30 in 30 challenge is a frog  that my aunt in law sent a pic of last night.  Love this guy!  Thanks Janie!

Update... a word about photographing my artwork-
I posted the bottom image last night and had to do it quickly as I needed to leave for work.  Consequently, I snapped a picture in my studio under my studio lights, which happen to be LED daylight bulbs.  I knew then that the colors weren't quite right and I would have to re-take the picture today outside.  Artwork is best photographed in natural light. That being said, it is not always easy finding the perfect spot with just the right light.  Sometimes the light is dappled by shadows. Direct sunlight is too harsh.  Shade sometimes alters the color of the painting by what ever is causing the shade (i.e. a green tree).  I have found the the perfect spot to photograph my paintings is in a west facing corner of my house that has a white wall and white gravel on the ground.  But, as I found this morning, it also is best in the late afternoon... Although the colors are correct in the top photo this one shows quite a bit of glare, which I couldn't seem to avoid, no matter how I turned my painting.  Yes, the painting is still wet, but in the late afternoon, it is as if there is a sweet spot of perfect lighting to photograph my paintings.  Maybe I'll take another one later today and post that to compare!

Janie's Frog, oil on panel, 6"x6",
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Photographed in natural light

Janie's Frog, photographed under LED lighting

Day 14 of the 30 in 30... The Fish Head

Today's painting was inspired by a Daily Paintworks weekly challenge.  The DPW website (one of the places I sell my artwork though) has a weekly painting challenge.  It could be anything from stormy weather (last weeks challenge) to painting a fish (one from the end of May).  I've never done one before, but I was perusing them last night and liked the look of this guy.  Thought he would be fun to try. So, here is my entry for the 30 in 30 painting challenge I am participating in with Leslie Saeta (and over 2000 other artist worldwide) and for the paint a fish DPW challenge.  I must say, blending the colors on this fish was definitely a challenge.  You may notice that the picture uses a complementary color scheme of blue and orange.  Great challenge for me today.   But anyway, lets get down to business.... Anyone want a fish head to hang on their wall?  ;)

The Fish Head, oil on panel, 6"x6"
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