30 Days of Myths, Legends and Folk Tales ~ In Watercolor on Yupo Paper

“It has been said that next to hunger and thirst,

our most basic human need is for storytelling.” 

~ Khalil Gibran

Myths, Folk Tales and Legends Collection

Watercolors On Yupo Paper In Varied Sizes

This is a collage of artwork done for the 2nd 2013 30 Paintings In 30 Days Challenge. Each number and title links to a larger view with painting details and the story that inspired each piece. 

              1. Kokopelli's Magic      2. Sing A Song Of Sixpence      3. Magical Unicorn

4.  Jersey Devil On A Starry Starry Night      5. Kokopelli's Nighttime Magic

6. Kokopelli's Daytime Magic      7. Beloved Local Dragon     8. Pretty In Pink

9. Baa Baa Black Sheep      10. Jersey Devil On A Spooky Starry Night

11. Eagle's Keen Eyesight      12. Friday The 13th      13. White Buffalo Woman

14. The Dreamcatcher      15. The Tortoise And The Hare      16. Rainbow Crow

17. Eloping Elephants      18. Talk Like A Pirate      19. Buried Pirate Treasure

20. Bad Luck Bananas      21. Blue Moon      22. Moving Into The Dark

23. The Dragon's Haunt      24. Mermaid Dream      25. Flying Horses

26. The Colors Of A Hummingbird      27. The Heron And The Hummingbird

28. Spring Bunny      29. The Wolves Within      30. The Creation Of Butterflies

“Stories make us more alive, more human,

more courageous, more loving.”

~ Madeleine L’Engle

See my first 30 Paintings in 30 Days Series,
"Paintings Inspired By Quotes About Trees" January 2013.

I hope you can find one or two that resonate with you!

X ♥  O

Sizzling Summer Sunflower

"Chase down your passion

like it's the last bus of the night."

~ Terri Guillemets

Sizzling Sunflower

7.5" x 5.5" hand painted watercolor on Yupo paper

A.F. Double Mat w/ Backing in sleeve - 8" x 10"

Signed and certified by the artist
See purchase information here.

A photo of the above painting in progress.

Here, the background was approached differently.

It was applied with a 3" roller, then over painted with thick pigment.

I really like today's quote. As time hurries on, it seems as though I have to run ever faster and harder to catch that speeding bus! It's even a recurring dream I've had since childhood. I think all my marathon chasing is starting to pay off though. 

I'll be doing a drawing and painting demonstration at the Hammonton Arts Center during the town's Third Thursday Event on September 19th and also have drawing classes and a Watercolor On Yupo Workshop scheduled there for the fall. I'll post more details here as soon as the dates are confirmed.

I'm planning on going up to NYC next week to do my dry run for my grand opening demonstration. I'll meet with Marc from Legion Papers and then go to check out the Dick Blick Store where I'll be demonstrating Painting on Yupo Paper on August 22nd.

This set up is working out well.  I'm using the laptop to view lessons online
and the desktop computer to follow along and do the work in Dreamweaver.

The online website course from Timothy Training is going well and I'm more than half way through it. I've started to organize 15+ years of online / website files and feel pretty confident that it will soon all start to come together. It feels good to finally be making some headway in that department.

Jerry and I are busier than ever taking care of the businesses, our place, the horses, the cats, the wildlife and the hummingbirds. We are going through about a gallon and a half of nectar every day now. I guess we have used about 40 lbs. or more of sugar so far this season. It's kind of hard to calculate though, because the sneaky sugar industry changed from 5lb. bags to 4lb. bags this year. I guess they thought nobody would notice! That reminds me, I'd better go and check those hummingbird feeders. I forgot to fill them at lunch time and I'm sure they are empty.

I hope your summer is going well and you have found a way to stay cool!

 Tell us what you've been up to!

Thanks for stopping by!

X ♥  O

You Are My Sunshine ~ Sunny Summer Sunflower

"Those who bring sunshine into the lives of others,

cannot keep it from themselves." 

~ James Matthew Barr

You Are My Sunshine  Purchase painting here.

You Are My Sunshine

 Purchase painting here.

I was happy to hear about a sunflower painting challenge yesterday on DPW (Daily Paintworks). Coincidentally, I was just itching to paint some of these exuberant beauties and had already downloaded a few photos of sunflowers from PMP (Paint My Photo). I painted most of this piece as a demo for a private lesson today. I'm excited because my new student is a very quick study and did extremely well with her first painting on Yupo paper! I also got a call today from the president of a local art center about teaching watercolor on Yupo paper there in the fall. Wow, I am truly blessed. The sun has clearly been shining down on me and my Yupo painting lately! Here is the first in my new series of Sunny Summer Sunflowers.

Hope you can beat the heat and have a great 4th of July holiday!

X ♥  O

In The Meadow - En Plein Air

  May all your weeds be wildflowers. 

In The Meadow

11.5" x 15" hand painted 'en plein air' watercolor on Yupo paper

16" x 20" double matted w/ foam core backing

See purchase information here.

This image is available for license here.

Yesterday I competed in the Medford NJ, "2013 Paint Our Town - Plein Air Challenge". Although temperatures soared into the mid 90's, I managed to find a shady spot and held up pretty well. This year the event took place on the Medford Leas Retirement Community's 160 acre impressively landscaped grounds. It was lots of fun and a very well run event. Upon arrival, our painting surface was marked and we were supplied with maps and information about possible painting locations.

Here is my set-up.

I learned so much, on many levels through participating.  I haven't really painted on location in years and setting up and working outside is not like being in the studio where everything's at your fingertips! The only thing I forgot was a spray bottle and my paints kept drying out.  I'm planning on putting together a "Checklist for Plein Air Watercolorists" in my next newsletter. Be sure to sign up to receive it in your inbox.

This picture of me  was taken by Beth, a sweet resident I met
who contributes to the community newsletter.

It was really good for me to get off the property. I tend to be a hermit. Most days, I'm here in my studio, painting, on the computer or hanging out with my critters. It was good to get out in public and it was definitely good to get out of my routine and comfort zone. Even though it was a lot of work, I'm charged up to do it again, hopefully when it isn't so darn hot.

Cutie Pye inspects the maps, brochures, and winnings.

Everyone I met or was reacquainted with was so nice! There was even a reception with food and wine after the judging. I am happy to report that I got a second place award and a cash prize for my painting of Katzell Meadow, titled "In The Meadow". That was just the icing on the cake though. The true prize was just being there in the moment, observing, feeling, painting, outside, in the zone, in the meadow.

Go to the meadow to stretch and grow

Get lost in her plume topped amber glow

Sparkling with gems in every color and size

Joyful appreciation the true grand prize

When is the last time you tried something
out of your comfort zone or routine?

What was it?

  What did you learn from it?  

 As Always, I'd love to hear your thoughts!

Thanks for stopping by!

Snow Days In and Out of the Studio

There's something so seductively sensuous about

sparkling, snow slathered, surfaces!

After a short, early Saturday walk in the woods,

it was a good weekend to get caught up on

the framing of some sold tree paintings.

The title and quote for each piece was

laminated to the foam core backing, including

the number in the series and date of creation.

For many years now, I have been making

personalized thank you cards to

accompany each of my sold original paintings.

Appreciative collectors frequently tell

me it is a really nice touch.

Today I had another idea and

attached a clear acetate pocket to the back. 

When the hand written card is done being displayed,

it has a safe place where it is stored,

always with the painting.

The snow was so heavy here,

it bent the Cedars down across

this sand road preventing passage

except to 4-wheelers who didn't

mind getting their vehicles scratched up. 

I hope you had a good weekend and are enjoying

winter in your neck of the woods

as much as I am in mine.

As Always,

Best Wishes and Thanks for Reading,

30 Paintings in 30 Days ~ January 2013

"Every artist dips her brush into her soul,

and then paints her own nature into the picture." 

~ Henry Ward Beecher

Accompanied by a hand written

thank you note and an attached storage sleeve,

the title and quote for each piece is

laminated to the foam core backing, including

the number in the series and date of creation.

Seven have already been sold,
so pick out your favorites before it's too late.

Scroll back down through the posts to see close-up views of each individual painting on this blog. The images shown in this collage are in chronological order.

Of course, this blog is in reverse of that.

Thanks to everyone for your interest and feedback on this series.

X ♥  O

Maybe Someday, I'll Get It Right

“I keep painting the trees

the rocks, the river.

I'm still learning how to see them;

I'm still discovering how to render their forms.

I will spend a lifetime doing that.

Maybe someday I'll get it right.”

~ Alan Lee

Maybe Someday, I'll Get It Right

5.5" x 7.5" original watercolor on Yupo paper, matted to 8" x 10" - $85. 

Quotes will be hand lettered and laminated to the back of the painting's matting.

mats - (acid-free/white core) with foam core backing, in an acetate sleeve

- ready to fit into a standard 8" x 10" frame.

#30 of 30 - "Paintings Inspired by Quotes About Trees".

This quote reminded me of a favorite John Singer Sargent
painting of Monet painting at the edge of the woods.
Here is my interpretation of it in watercolor on Yupo paper.

OMG, I can't believe that Leslie Saeta's 30/30 challenge is over!

When I started this project, it seemed like a big challenge,

but now that it's over, it seems rather small and insignificant.

I'll admit, my friends, family and critters have suffered this month.

Cooking, shopping, housework and the barn have been neglected.

It all comes down to what is important,

and I confess, my art is pretty high up on that list.

Although this is painting number 30 in the 30 Day Challenge,
I will continue to paint and post a few more over the next
week or so. I've already got two more started.
The quotes about trees and the vast
beauty and uniqueness of the subject excites
my imagination and spurs me on creatively.
At the moment, the possibilities seem endless.

I am looking into putting together an ebook
and a printed book of this series with accompanying quotes.
Please let me know if you might be interested in purchasing
a copy and which type you'd be interested in.

I'm framing these paintings at no extra charge
to the first dozen people to purchase
one of the tree paintings in this series.

Thanks again for your interest and feedback here on my tree series.

I really appreciate it!

X ♥  O