Anyone Out There?

Another ACEO. I really like these tiny pieces of art. such fun. I'm also on an animal kick again. I do like animals so much better than most people.

This one is oil on canvas paper.

White One

Another Atc. I scanned the painting, but it didnt catch all the little things I love about it. 

And, I think I need to rename this blog...

1- 100

On the left, my very first painting. On the right, number 100. I decided to do a simular subject for comparision. In hind sight, it would have been much less stressful if I had done something else for such a prestigious event. :)

So now I've completed my 100th painting. I now have the right to ask myself..."am I any good? Well, in all honesty, I dont know. I do know I am much better than when I started.

Today is the day (God Willing)

Today is the day (GOD willing) that I reach my goal. If all goes well, I will finish the goal I have been striving for, for the past almost 3 years.  As you can tell by the delay between  the 99 and 100. I have mixed emotions about finishing. I mean what then? What is next? Also, the flower trading thing is almost over. I believe I only have one left of those too. Between that, and my personal life. Seams everything is ending and it is difficult to push through.

I received the latest trade from the flower trade (all the way from Australia) and it is bright and cheerful. I on the other hand am no where near that emotion. I've put the flower in front of my keyboard to remind me to cheer up. It's all in GOD's hands. Weather my 100th painting is any good, weather I get a car (my died this week and I can't afford to buy another), weather I continue to help the elderly couple I've taken care of for the past 5 years (it's getting beyond me with both dementia), when my poor dog will die (recently discovered he has brain cancer), and even when I will be a widow again. My poor wonderful husband has been fighting recurring kidney cancer for 6 years. It recently became aggressive. We have tried all the treatments allowed by the FDA, and nothing worked for long. So in a desperate attempt to keep him alive a bit longer, a week ago he had surgery. (Understand the first surgeons we requested this from denied us). When they got inside they found it was much worse than anticipated. Bigger and attached to everything. They layed in the area where his kidney used to be.The largest one measured over 8 cm (that is large for cancer). It was attached to the Aorta, Vena Cava, completely encased the adrenal gland, in several lymph nodes, attached to his diaphragm, and the one I feared - it was attache to his liver.

The skillful surgeon had originally said it would take 3 hours. It took 7 (plus closing). When it was over the doctor himself came out and actually drew me a picture of what he found, and what he did. He said he believed he got it all. The one worry is whether he got enough of the liver. You can only take so much of it, and he was not positive he got enough for clear margins. The liver is a miraculous thing in that it will re-grow itself if it has enough left. So we wait for results on the margin. The last thing the surgeon said as he was leaving. "This was difficult. More so than I thought it would be, but it went well. Just remember, this is kidney cancer. It will come back. We don't know how long or where but it will come back". Not that I needed to be reminded of this. We were told by everyone this whole time, even as we asked doctors to do the surgery. But hopefully, it buys my husband more time. Hopefully, I'll still be married at our 1 year anniversary.

Back to the original subject. Things ending. Today, GOD willing, I will finish my 100th painting.

Pressure

The next painting is it. The very next painting. Nothing like a bit of pressure. So of course I can't decide what to paint.... I've been thinking of maybe doing some eggs in a bowl. That was what my first painting was I think. 4 years of building up to this painting... Wow.

99- PINK CALLA LILY

Pink Calla Lily ATC - I like how soft this one is. Yet another for the trade. Also the countdown has ONE painting left. Very scary at this point...if you read the beginning of this blog, the reason for the blog... you are not suppose to decide if you are good or not at painting until you have painted 100 paintings... ALMOST THERE...soooo scarey.

So the question is...so what? So if I am no good does that mean I wont paint anymore? No, that is not what that means. I love to paint. The only thing that changes is my willingness to share my paintings. If they arent good, why share?

98 - BLOWING IT atc

I wish I could get the color to show more true on this one... in person it is lovely.

97 - BLUE WINDOW ATC

Another ATC for the trade in wetcanvas. I just counted, I only have a few left to do. I think I'll be sad and will need to do something else. I really like the small size.

This particular painting...ahhh not so much. I mean I dont hate it, but not in love either.

It's Spring In Mini - 96

Another ACEO/ATC One of those rare occurances that I start and finish a painting in one setting. Completed in acrylic. I like it enough I may do a larger painting.

Only 4 more to reach the 100. The count down has begun in earnest. I would like the 100th painting to be just spectacular, but I cant always count on that. I'm thinking I'd like to do something to celebrate too, but I havent decided what.

95- Morning Glory w Glitter ATC

5 Moreeeeeee

94- At The Window ATC

Another for the trade...if it goes as before, another one to another country... I kind of like that my paintings are getting well traveled.

BTW, 6 more until 100!

93 - TOBY

Yet another ATC... Toby

92- CROCUS - SOMETHING NEW

Something new.... I'm playing with something new. It was inspired by SkattyCat in wetcanvas. Her paintins have just a touch of glitter and the more I saw them the more I love love loved them. So I have started a series of paintings with glitter. Still using oils, but using the oil (no color) to "paint" with glitter. There is oil color on them, but I'm attaching the colored glitter with the oils. I hope that makes sense.

I tried to scan this, which usually brings better results than one of my awful photos, but it doesnt look anything close to what it looks like in person...

91- Wisteria On The Wall

Another ATC for the trade. I like this one. I think I've done more landscapes since I descovered ATC than I did before. Not as much commitment. Plus I dont feel I'm very good at them.

Also, this one is acrylic so it is rare in all kinds of ways. I'm not sure where this one is going, but if the trend continues (through the list) this one is going to another country.

90- Holly Hocks

The last little one of the day is a sweet little painting of Holly Hocks. One of my favorite flowers. And one of the reasons I almost didnt marry my husband last summer. (He doesnt like them. I came home frome taking care of some elderly people to him "helping me" by "weeding" my flower bed and in the process he removed all my Holly Hocks. I seriously concidered not marring him.)

89 - MORNING GLORY CLOSEUP

This one is bit more abstract than I normally paint, but one of the great things about ATCs are the ability (without guilt for me) to play with something new.... I like that. And I love this little one.

88 - THREE SUNFLOWERS IN GLASS

Yet another for the trade.

87 - PINK ZINNIA

The next of the trading ATCs. Zinnia have small yellow flowers in the center of the rest of the flower. It was quite difficult to allow my mind to accept this. I know sound weird, but when something is different than I expect them to be, I have a hard time painting it.

86- BACK PORCH ATC

This morning I'm getting several more ATCs ready to mail for the FLOWER project in wetcanvas. This first one is BACK PORCH. It was a quick project and I like how it turned out.

85 - About to Blow

Another ATC, Oil on canvas paper, for the wetcanvas swap.

Already more than last year

I just noticed that I've already (March) finished more paintings this year than I did the entire year last year. I know I feel I've gotten to paint more. And that always makes me happy.

84- Yellow Dandelion ATC

Still finishing up the ATC flower project. I have a bunch more to go, but at least I will get some of these in the mail tomorrow.

I love Dandelions, I know most people hate them, but I LOVE them. Always have since I was a little girl. They still make me smile. Usually I could get a ref from my ever over grown yard, but this time of year I had to use one from the ref gallery. Still, I like it. I hope the reciever does too.

83- Pink Portulaca ATC

This one just kind of happened. I was looking for another reference photo in the ref library when I came across this one. I had to paint it. And as it turns out, I painted ala prima or all in one setting (which is extremely rare for me). I almost never like what I've painted after only one setting. This one I love.

82 - African Violets ATC

Yup, another one for the flower project. I really liked the purples and pinks in this one. It was great fun!

Oil on paper canvas

81 - Calla Lily ATC

Calla Lily is small. Another ATC. This one is part of the trade I am part of in Wetcanvas. It has been fun recieving peoples ATCs as well as gettin mine ready to send.

This one is oil on canvas paper.

80 - Little Otter

I saw this sweet little face and had to paint it. The painting is little again, only 5"x6", oil on canvas.

79- Bleeding Hearts

After posting a picture a couple of weeks ago on facebook, one of my friends requested a painting of bleeding hearts. She joked she could never keep them alive, and could I paint them. It was strangely difficult, but I think I succeeded.

Bleeding Hearts, Oil On Canvas 5"x7"

ATC - Flower trade

Atc or Artist Trading Cards have been around for a while but I am quite new to them. People (usually artists) trade them (not sell them). The same size is concidered a ACEO if it is sold.

Wetcanvas miniature forum is hosting a trade that I signed up for. The only rule of what it is to be is flowers. I LOVE FLOWERS. I love painting them in all kinds of mediums, so of course I signed up.

I have six months to complete them. Then they must be mailed (one to each of the people on the list). Each person I mail to will also send one to me. Pretty cool I think. I have started several already. I had to stop starting them because I ran out of trading cards. I went to the art supply store to get more, but they were out of them. I did pick up some larger artist canvas pads that I can cut to several of the right size. Problem with that is we all know I have good intentions about such things but I really really hate cutting anything. I am not good at it. I dont cut straight, and it usually looks sloppy so I'll give it a few days and if I dont do it, I'll order some online.

Oh, one more thing, we are not suppose to post the pictures of the flowers on wetcanvas until the people recieve them, I dont think it matters if I post it here as long as I dont say who it went to.

78 - White Pelican In Water

Another ACEO on canvas paper. I love painting these little ones, but man I really, really dislike trying to photograph them!







I posed a question in wetcanvas today, I'm not sure where you are suppose to sign and ACEO. My signature normally takes up a bit more room them I would like it to on an ACEO.




Although I've painted a couple of water scenes, I've not paited anything needing a reflection before so that was new (and challenging).

When I decided a few weeks ago that I would like to (for now anyway) specialize in animals (and maybe so florals) I think it was the right decision for me. When I wake up I am thinking of painting, and when I go to sleep I think of painting, and they are all pleasant thoughts. Much better than when I am frustratingly trying to get a persons portrait just right and they change their mind about what they want 6 times. Yup, think I like animals better than people. :)

77- Mini Wolf

I am loving painting ACEOs. They are so much fun to see how much detail I can get into how small of an area. LOVE IT. Now photographing it, that is a different story. I am awful and photography anyway, but something this small (2.5"x3.5") I am down right pittiful.

I like the painting though. Oil on canvas paper

And just so you can see the size with comparison...

76- Three Ladies In White

I know, 2 paintings and 3 posts in one day! Wow huh?

Well it is a day for sure. Some times I just feel it and today is one of those days, so I am feeling very blessed today!

This one is large, 22"x28" It is not my usual style, but I was practicing for a class I'm going to teach this spring. I like the way it turned out. Plus I'm a big fan of painter/instructor Wilson Bickford, and he just commented that he likes it! Yeah!

75- A Single One

I reworked and reworked the painting...I thought it was good, but just wasnt quite happy with it... So today...I got it and I love it...

Its 12"x16" Oil On canvas

I was accepted! :)

A couple of weeks ago I applied to the Indiana Wildlife Artists. A few days later I recieved an email informing me they had recieved my information and it would be shown to the committee and I would be informed in the next couple of weeks weather they accepted me or not.

Well, I kept checking my email, and checking, and nothing. I dont check my snail mail all that often. I just dont. I should have because when I checked it yesturday, along with several days worth of mail, was an exceptance letter. :)

The formalites still need to be done, like filling out a form, mailing the form and a check (membership dues), but, I was accepted. This is the first I had to be jurried into, so I am pretty happy right now... :)

74 - Flamingo

Tiny. This one is tiny. It is a Artist trading card size which is 2.5"x3.5". Tiny. I like it. I like painting animals...and I like painting small. So much more than I like painting people. LOL probably because I like animals more than I like people. :)

and this one is for size reference...

73 - Lily Of The Valley

Oil on canvas board, the smallest painting I've completed so far at 4" x 5". I really enjoyed it. A LOT. So I've started some more small ones.

I really wish I could take better photos. It looks so much better in person.

72 - Peach Rose

This is a larger one 22"x28". I just love painting roses! Clearly not enough time to paint them all but I intend to make a go of it. The large size of this one did make the process seam longer where I had to keep getting up and standing back and looking because it was too big to see it clearly up close. I painted it in oils with lots and lots of thin glazes. I rather like how it turned out.

71 - Great Grey Owl

This one changed at the last minute. I thought I had it done, then I took a picture, and when I did, the light changed part of the background. I REALLY liked what it did so I tried to duplicate it, and this is the background I ended up with when I was done. I like it.

16" x 20" oil on canvas

70- Cardinal In The Snow

For my new years resolution I've decided to take my art more seriously. When I say that I mean more accurately, dont take it for granted. I need to create. I need to paint. I feel alive and happy when I paint. I've decided to stop putting others needs first for a while in the hopes that if I take the time for me, I'll have more to give.

This is a small one. 8" x 10" oil on canvas. I wish I took better photos.

69 - Oriole in Acrylic

I got to paint to today. Not for a long time, but I got to paint for 2 glorious hours today! Yeah! I did a small painting (8"x 10") in acrylic. Not my best painting, but cute and I like it.

I love looking at birds. Dont know the names or anything but like looking at them. The whole time I was painting this one I thought it was a robbin, it wasnt until it was done my son corrected me and told me it was an oriole.

I decided I wasnt completely happy with the oriole painting so I went about adjusting it, this time in oils. I signed it this time so I think I'm happy with it