30 Paintings in 30 Days ~ Moonlight Magic ~ Day 20

“Dance when the moon sings 

and don't cry about troubles 

that haven't yet come" 

~ Patricia Briggs

"Moonlight Serenade"
10 x 24" Alcohol Ink on Tile Board
email: sandy@sandysandy.com for purchase info.

“You've gotta dance like there's nobody watching,

Love like you'll never be hurt,
Sing like there's nobody listening,
And live like it's heaven on earth.”

~ William W. Purkey

Wow, this has been such a great 30 in 30 challenge! We are 2/3 of the way through it today. Doing this challenge has many perks, especially all the great friends one makes along the way! I really appreciate your feedback and friendship. Thank you so very much!

Happy Creating!!

X ♥  O

30 Paintings in 30 Days ~ Tears Are Only Water ~ Day 13

“Don't be ashamed to weep; 

'tis right to grieve. Tears are only water, 

and flowers, trees, and fruit 

cannot grow without water. 

But there must be sunlight also. 

A wounded heart will heal in time, 

and when it does, the memory 

and love of our lost ones 

is sealed inside to comfort us.” 

~ Brian Jacques

"A Wave Washes Over"
24" x 10" Alcohol Ink on Tile Board
email: sandy@sandysandy.com for purchase info.

“You will lose someone you can’t live without and your heart will be badly broken, and the bad news is that you never completely get over the loss of your beloved. But this is also the good news. They live forever in your broken heart that doesn’t seal back up. And you come through. It’s like having a broken leg that never heals perfectly; that still hurts when the weather gets cold, but you learn to dance with the limp.” ~ Anne Lamott

Maybe it's just the lack of sunlight at this time of year and I'm experiencing SAD, but for some reason, this piece brings back tears and waves of grief for my thirty four year old horse, Rudy, that I lost in August. I cry for the loss of his sweet presence and company, my lost youth, all the experiences and adventures we once had together and all the dozens of people who had been a part of my life because of him. I got him as a yearling and we spent so many happy years together. My other horse, Rita, still misses him very much too. I think grief is the same, whether it is for a person or an animal. It still equals a loved one, and my heart just can't tell the difference.

How about you? Do you see something less melancholy and positive here? I hope I haven't bummed you out too bad.

Thanks so much for your continued support and friendship.

X ♥  O

30 Paintings in 30 Days ~ Made Of Stardust ~ Day 9

“We ourselves are made of Stardust.”

~ Carl Sagan 

"Billion Year Old Carbon"
10 x 24" Alcohol Ink on Tile Board
email: sandy@sandysandy.com for purchase info

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“The Cosmos is all that is, or was, or ever will be. Our feeblest contemplations of the Cosmos stirs us. There is a tingling in the spine, a catch in the voice, a faint sensation, as if a distant memory, of falling from a height, still lingers. We know we are approaching the greatest of mysteries.” ~ Carl Sagan

I've been so tempted to add a few representational elements to some of these paintings, but I've resisted. Keeping them totally abstract has opened up my vision and the imagination of many of my viewers. The comments I've been receiving have been encouraging and enlightening. This piece also looks good hung vertically. Like another abstract artist here online, my signature, painting ID, thumbprint, date & title are on the back of this painting to allow it to be hung in any direction.

I'm anxious to hear your comments on this piece.

What does this one remind you of? 

Happy creating my friends!

X ♥  O

30 Paintings in 30 Days ~ Go With The Flow ~ Day 7

"Life flows on, within you 

and without you." 

~ George Harrison 

"Breathe, Then Go With The Flow"
8 x 10" Alcohol Ink on Tile Board
email: sandy@sandysandy.com for purchase info.

Painting these abstracts is a valuable lesson in going with the flow.  I start with an idea of what I want, but somewhere along the way the inks take over. It's swim with the current or sink like a stone from that point on.

“Planning is helpful. If you don’t know what you want, you’ll seldom get it. But, no matter how well you plan, you will fare better if you expect the unexpected. The unexpected, by nature, comes unseen, unthought, unenvisioned. All you can do is plan to go unplanned, prepare to be unprepared, make going with the flow part of your agenda, for the most successful among us envision, plan, and prepare, but cast all aside as needed, while those who are unable to go with the flow often suffer, if they survive.” ~ David W. Jones

Do you often find it hard or easy to "go with the flow"?

Thank you very much for your comments.

X ♥  O

30 Paintings in 30 Days ~ Dreaming of Spring ~ Day 3

"Winter is a season 

of recovery and preparation."

~ Paul Theroux

"Dreaming of Spring"
8 x 10" Alcohol Inks on Tile Board
email: sandy@sandysandy.com for purchase info.

January is a great time for Leslie Saeta's 30 Paintings in 30 Days Challenge. Symbolically and physically, it is a period of recovery and preparation. I love painting everyday with the knowledge that a vast sisterhood of like minded artists are doing the very same thing. This challenge has become a welcome biannual project for many. The discipline strengthens skills and helps to expand creatively. When I look back on my first 30 in 30 in January of 2013, I am amazed at how much richer my life is because of it. And it's exhilarating being reacquainted with old challenge buddies, developing relationships with new colleagues and being inspired by lots of really great art!

Thanks again for your friendship, comments and interest in my work! Your feedback helps fuel my fire. 

X ♥  O

30 Paintings in 30 Days ~ Moon Dance ~ Day 2

"There is a bit of insanity in dancing 

that does everybody a great deal of good." 

~ Edwin Denby

"A Beautiful Night For A Moon Dance"
8 x 10" Alcohol Inks on Tile Board
Signed and certified / Frame included

• Sold

I truly appreciate all the feedback on yesterday's painting! Once I choose a color palette, I am trying to stay loose, follow along with my right brain and let the inks do their thing. This piece took on a life of its own as I painted, danced and played. It was liberating and exhilarating to step back and allow the painting to show me where it wanted to go as I surrendered control of the lead.

Thanks for your friendship and interest in my work!

X ♥  O

30 Paintings in 30 Days Challenge ~ Day 1

"I equate inspiration with desire. 

It's desire that moves us to 

be artists in the first place. 

To attempt to make a painting

without this motivation 

is a waste of time."

~ Nita Engle

"Wash Away Worry"
10 x 8" Alcohol Inks on Tile Board
email: sandy@sandysandy.com for purchase info.

Please join me for the 5th 30 Paintings in 30 Days Challenge! I'll be painting and posting a new abstract painting here everyday for the whole month of January. Yes, I know it has 31 days, but I also plan to do some extras. In the right column, you can sign up to get my blog announcements by RSS or email, join this site and get notifications via. blogger or Google+. Follow my posts on facebooK here. Or just bookmark my blog and stop back here from time to time to see what's happening. I really and truly appreciate your feedback because I'm navigating uncharted waters. Your feedback, good or bad, will help me evaluate my direction and stay on course.

FYI - The substrate here is "Tile Board". It's masonite with an acrylic coating. That's what Lowe's and Home Depot call it and it is used in construction instead of drywall in showers, back splashes, etc, where there is a lot of moisture and where tiles will be applied. My hubby says Home Depot here will not cut the board anymore, but Lowes will still cut it into manageable pieces of 2' or larger sections. Here is a screen shot from Lowe's website.

WISHING YOU A VERY HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Thanks for your friendship and support!!

X ♥  O