30 Paintings in 30 Days ~ Precious As A Pearl ~ Day 10

"Real friendship, like real poetry, 

is extremely rare and as   

precious as a pearl.” 

~ Tahar Ben Jelloun

"Precious As A Pearl" 8 x 10" Alcohol Ink on Gessoed Hardboard email: sandy@sandysandy.com for purchase info.

"Precious As A Pearl"
8 x 10" Alcohol Ink on Gessoed Hardboard
email: sandy@sandysandy.com for purchase info. 

"Do not give what is holy to dogs, and do not throw pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces." (Matthew 7:6)

This allegorical, biblical passage speaks of not offering that which is valuable to those who have no appreciation for it. I am sure we have all had relationships or circumstances where we feel used and abused or taken for granted. It hurts to feel that our efforts were not appreciated. Sometimes relationships start out beautiful, shiny like a pearl, but somehow they end up in the dirty ole pig pen. 

This painting spoke to me of that rare, symbiotic friendship. It's a relationship where each party appreciates the other and reciprocates equally. It is so hard to come by and even harder to maintain that it may be far more rare and more precious than a pearl.

"The language of friendship is not words but meanings."

~ Henry David Thoreau

“I have lost friends; some by death,

others by the sheer inability to cross the street.”

~ Virginia Woolf

Wow, we are 1/3 of the way through the challenge today!
I am still stretching, trying to use different color combinations, stay abstract , hang loose and give up my control to the inks.

Thanks so much for your comments about my subjects, quotes and your interest in and interpretations of my abstracts!

I really can't thank you enough.

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 ~ Reach For The Stars ~ Day 8

"Aim for the stars 

and maybe you'll reach the sky."

~ John Lubbock

"Reach For The Stars" 10 x 8" Alcohol Ink on Gessoed Hardboard email: sandy@sandysandy.com for purchase info.

"Reach For The Stars"
10 x 8" Alcohol Ink on Gessoed Hardboard
email: sandy@sandysandy.com for purchase info.

"We are the creators of the seeds that we have planted in the past; whether they were happiness, comfort, abundance, prosperity, family, children, ideas, or other thoughts that have given birth to our world. Feel the arms of Mother Earth's beauty reaching out to you and be patient as you watch your seeds take root and grow. Nurture them as they become strong and healthy. Open yourself to the life force of the Universe as you nurture yourself, and infuse your soul with love and compassion from the loving space of your heart center. By doing so, soon others will see and feel your devotion. This benevolent energy that resides there will assist you in making sacrifices in order to care for and grow, and help others, as well as yourself.” ~ Angie Karan Krezos

How do you feel about today's quotes?

Thank you very much for your thoughts and comments.

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 ~ It's Complicated ~ Day 6

“The most complicated skill is to be simple.” 

~ Dejan Stojanovic

"It's Complicated"
20 x 8" Alcohol Ink on Gessoed Hardboard
email: sandy@sandysandy.com for purchase info.

“Life is random. Life is complicated. Life is often unforgiving. And we must each live it anyway. And I don’t mean live it as if it’s a chore, something to be endured, survived. I mean, dig in, get muddy, howl at the moon, take pictures of sunsets, play in the rain, make love, savor your food, smile as much as you can. And cry when you’re sad. Live it despite the fact it pisses you off. Live it and pay as much attention as you can muster” ~ Thomas Lloyd Qualls 

 Moving right along, today we are 1/6 of the way through the January 30 in 30 challenge.

Thanks so much for your friendship and  comments!

X ♥  O

30 Paintings in 30 Days ~ Instant Vacation ~ Day 5

"Laughter is an instant vacation." 

~ Milton Berle

"Soap for the Soul"
8 x 10" Matted Alcohol Inks on Yupo paper
email: sandy@sandysandy.com for purchase info.

Sometimes we need laughter more than food. It is good medicine for whatever ails you. Laughing has been proven to relieve stress, heal the sick and help mend broken hearts. Like a glorified internal message, it can revitalize areas of ourselves that are unresponsive to any other form of stimulation. "What soap is to the body, laughter is to the soul".

Thanks so much for your friendship, comments and interest in my work! Your feedback is greatly appreciated. 

X ♥  O

30 Paintings in 30 Days ~ Visiting Ideas ~ Day 4

“Someday, man will visit ideas 

instead of places.”

~ Toba Beta

"Visiting Ideas"
10 x 8" Matted Alcohol Ink Painting on Yupo Paper
email: sandy@sandysandy.com for purchase info.

I love being inspired by all of the great art and ideas presented by the artists participating in this month's 30 in 30 painting challenge! There are so many blogs, websites and links to explore. My mind is just spinning with possibilities. I'm so keyed up, I'm finding it hard to sleep at night. All I can think of is getting up and painting. Sheila Delgado made a comment on my last post and asked where I was headed. Quite honestly friends, I just don't know, but I sure am hanging on tight and enjoying the ride!

Thanks so much for your friendship, comments and interest in my work! Your feedback is greatly appreciated. 

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