30 Paintings in 30 Days - Painting Challenge #5 and Beyond

“Creativity takes courage. ”

~ Henri Matisse

"Burning Desire"
5.5 x 7.5" alcohol ink on Yupo
email: sandy@sandysandy.com for purchase info.

Tomorrow I will be starting my 5th

Leslie Saeta / 30 Paintings in 30 Days CHALLENGE! 

My theme this time around will be abstracts and my goal is to experiment more, continue to grow as an artist and really have some fun! If you are up for an incentive to paint A LOT MORE this coming month, GO AHEAD AND GIVE IT A TRY! It really turbo-charged my painting career back in 2013! You've got ABSOLUTELY NOTHING TO LOSE! Find out all about it here:

Here's an overview of my past challenges:

# 1 - January, 2013 - Here's How that First Challenge Started:

The January 2013 Collection:

# 2 - Here's How the September 2013 - Second Challenge Started:

September 2013 - Second Challenge Series:

# 3 - Here's How the Third Challenge 1/1/2014 Started:

January 2014 - Third Challenge Collection:

# 4 - Here's How the September 2014 - Fourth Challenge Started:

September 2014 - Fourth 30 in 30 Collection:

# 5 - Here's How the January 2015 - Fifth Challenge Started:

January 2015 - Fifth 30 in 30 Collection: 

Wishing each and every one of you all the best in 2015.

Thanks so much for following along on my artistic journey.
Happy creating!

X ♥  O

Spice It Up!

"Variety's the very spice of life, 

That gives it all its flavor." 

~ William Cowper

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Spice It Up!~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Alcohol Inks and Watercolor on Yupo paper

See painting specifications and price here.

"I often quote myself. 

It adds spice to my conversation." 

~ George Bernard Shaw

My sister and I are having a good time with my mom and dad on their visit to NJ. We toured Philadelphia yesterday and saw all the sites via the BIG BUS. It was a bit chilly sitting on top, but we all had a very good day.

Al & Eve Sandy at Penn's Landing, Philadelphia, PA

X ♥  O

A Retrospective of 30 Paintings In Thirty Days

"When you do a thing, 

do it with all your might. 

Put your whole soul into it. 

Stamp it with your own personality. 

Be active, be energetic and faithful, 

and you will accomplish your object." 

~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

I am pleased to present this collage of artwork which represents my fourth 30 Paintings In 30 Days Challenge series. Each number and title links to a larger view with painting details and the post associated with each piece.

1.) Sunny Summer Days       2.) The Black Sheep       3.) Inspired By Wine

4.) Hummingbird Magic         5.) Believe in Magic        6.) Spirit of Guidance

7.) Rose Of Sharon      8.) Like a Feather in the Wind        9.) Blooming Iris

10.) Sly as a Fox      11.) Magical Garden       12.) Bold Blue Communicator

13.) Hummingbird Joy     14.) Life is Growth      15.) The Crocus Among Us

16.) Kokopelli's Day    17.) Kokopelli's Night     18.) Talk Like a Pirate Day

19.) A Pirate Legend      20.) The Dreamcatcher      21.) Day Of The Dead

22.) Love Tree           23.) Dream Hawk            24.) Jersey Devil Dragon

25.) Enchanted Garden       26.) Glorious Grapes       27.) A Dragon's Tale

28.) Wisdom of the Trees    29.) Dear Baby Deer    30.) Year Of The Horse

You can see links to all 90 paintings completed in previous challenges here!

I enjoyed reconnecting with old friends and making some new ones this past month. Seeing all the great work produced during the challenge is always inspiring.Thanks to everyone who stopped by my blog and shared their thoughts by commenting here or on Facebook. I truly appreciate your friendship, feedback and interest in my work.

Happy creating!

X ♥  O

Year Of The Horse (Day 30)

I was born in the

"Year Of The Horse" 

with a fascination in them

which predated every other 

single thing I remember. 

Before I knew the facts of life, 

way before I was in school, 

before I learned to read or draw, 

I wanted a horse so badly 

that I was certain one day 

I would have them.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Year Of The Horse~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Alcohol Inks and Watercolor on Yupo paper

See painting specifications and price here.

I bought my first horse at the age of 14, after saving up two whole years of babysitting money. My parents said I could have a horse if I paid for it myself and I think they were very surprised when I actually accomplished it. I always worked to support my horse and except for a few short years when I was in college, I have had horses as part of my family ever since. This is an album of photos on facebook of some of the horses I have owned and loved.

Today, another 30 paintings in 30 Days Challenge has come to an end! Now that it's over, I have mixed emotions. While I welcome the break and a slower pace, I will also miss the discipline and connection to the sisterhood of participating artist friends.

I am enjoying a visit from my parents now, along with getting ready for my 2nd Annual Sales Event, so you can be sure I will remain very busy this coming month! My studio show and sale is open to online collectors and actual local visitors. I've got an exciting line-up of recent works and older classic paintings and prints, all on sale at up to 55% off! Last year's show was a huge success. Be sure to mark your calendars and check out the details of this year's show here!

X ♥  O

Innocence (Day 29)

“Marvelous are the innocent.” 

~ Virginia Woolf

~~~~~~~~~~~~Dear Baby Deer~~~~~~~~~~~~

Alcohol Inks and Watercolor on Yupo paper

See painting specifications and price here.

"The great man is he who 

does not lose his child's-heart."

~ Mencius 

X ♥  O

Wisdom (Day 28)

"Be Happy.

It's one way of being wise.”  

~ Colette

~~~~~~~~Rich Counsels in the Trees~~~~~~~~

Alcohol Inks and Watercolor on Yupo paper

See painting specifications and price here.

"Never does nature say one thing and wisdom another." 

~ Juvenal Satires

"Mothers, teach your children this. Teach your children that Wisdom is everywhere. In pieces. Some of the Wisdom is in the trees, some of the Wisdom is with the animals. Some of the Wisdom is with the planets and the stars and the moons and the sun. Some of the Wisdom flows with the waters. Some of the Wisdom was with our ancestors. Some of the Wisdom is in our minds. All of the Wisdom is from the Spirit of God." ~ Esther Davis-Thompson

To sum it up, wisdom is everywhere. The important thing is being able to learn something valuable, while letting go of the things that have no worth in our lives. True Wisdom is knowing the difference.

X ♥  O

A Dragon's Tale (Day 27)

“The dragon turned on 

the children and unicorns, 

his mouth open. For a brief moment, 

they could see his eyes change from 

blue to a deep red, like coals in a fire." 

~  Bronwen Webb

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Friendship Feather~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Alcohol Ink on Yupo paper

See painting specifications and price here.

I believe the idea of flying foes started a long time ago, when dragon-like dinosaurs roamed the earth and mankind was very young. Ingrained in our original memory, winged creatures of the sky were the nightmares and reality of prehistoric times. Humans have never forgotten the terror and helplessness of being pursued by a giant Pterodactyl type creature. That may be the reason why dragons have appeared in so many cultures and their stories are still popular in legends and folktales today throughout the world. Do you also think this is a plausible scenario?

X ♥  O