Thistles

Day Thirty- 30 Paintings in 30 days

6x6 Oil on Board

SOLD

Daily Paintworks FB pick of the day

My last painting in the 30 in 30 challenge!! It's back to the Estuary again, where I started this challenge and where these thistles grow everywhere. I love their color and the way they stand up tall!

I am glad I did this challenge...some days were better than others but it's helped me in so many ways! I am not a fast painter, I like taking my time but this certainly pushed me along. My own challenge was to paint life around me with  only three colors and white...and I did it!!

Key to my Happy Place

Day Twenty-Nine-30 Paintings in 30 Days

6"x6" Oil on board

$90 +  s/h
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I thought I would do a fun painting today as it's the second to last day of the challenge! I didn't really want to paint  aluminum again, but that's what the door is made of!  This is the key to my studio... I call it my happy place!!  I've had it for years and can't remember where I got it from.... but I like the smiley face!

Licorice Allsorts

Day Twenty-Eight-30 Paintings in 30 Days

6x8 Oil on board

$90 + $15 s/h
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I had another day of not knowing what to paint! I went to the supermarket instead, hoping I would think of something by the time I returned home. It worked! I bought a bag of licorice allsorts and decided that was it.  I didn't arrange these...I tipped some onto  the lid of my turps tin ( it's clean) and painted them as they were! 

 

Coastguard

Day Twenty-Seven-30 Paintings in 30 Days

6"x8" Oil on board

$90+ s/h
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I took this photo yesterday just before I saw the gull...this is one of our  coastguard search and rescue boats and there had evidently been a call out to rescue someone because the crew were rushing to get on the boat! It was all very quick, then they were on their way! It's the first time I've ever seen this happen. All the crew members are volunteers and do a fantastic job saving lives!!

Standing in the Morning Sun

Day Twenty-Six - 30 Paintings in 30 Days
6"x6" Oil on board

$90+s/h

SOLD

 I did not have a clue what I was going to paint today, in fact the last thing I felt like doing was painting...it's Sunday, a beautiful sunny day and I wanted to be out!! I did go walking early this morning  and as luck would have it, I found my painting for the day!! This gull was just standing quietly in the sun...he even let me get close and take a photo! Very considerate of him I thought!!

Edge of the Pond

 Day Twenty-Five - 30 Paintings in 30 Days

6"x8" Oil on Board

$90 + s/h

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This is another one of the weed in the Estuary....I'm forever fascinated by the changes in the colors of it!  Some of  the clumps are a bit dead looking but the I love the subtle colors in them and the water around them is  a clear blue. Finish line for this challenge is getting closer now! Take a look at  all the other artists work on Leslie Saeta's blog.

Green Grapes

Day Twenty-Four-30 Paintings in 30 Days

6"x8" Oil on Board
$90 + s/h

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I had a limited amount of time again today! No matter how had I try I cannot seem to get ahead and still haven't been able to get two paintings done in one day!! Six days left...so I still have time to keep trying. These were a few grapes I had left so I sat them on a glazed pottery tray that my husband Bill made....I liked the reflections!

Flax

Day Twenty-Three-30 Paintings in 30 Days

 6"x6" Oil on Board

$90 + s/h

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 Nearly didn't make the challenge today!  I  started a painting then changed my mind and did another one....not a good idea when pushed for time!  I have a life drawing class tomorrow, so I will be up at daybreak to get my painting done for day twenty-four! This is one of the flaxes  that grow around the Estuary. 

Hush of Evening

Day Twenty-Two-30 Paintings in 30 Days
6'x8' Oil on Board
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The twenty second painting in this challenge started by Leslie Saeta. Nearly at the finishing line! It has been good most days...I am much more focused and have learned not to fuss so much because  there isn't enough time! I am still sticking with my goal of painting my surroundings and each one is painted using a limited palette of three colors and white.

This is a view from my place looking toward the hills in the West early one evening. I love this time of day, it's very mellow... a time to relax!

Morning Reflections

Day Twenty-One-30 Paintings in 30 Days

8"x6" Oil on board

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This is down at the inner harbour early one overcast morning...everything seemed dull except the reflections, the fishing boat was moving along slowly making it's way out to sea. This didn't photograph very well and  looks much better in life, I tried different settings  and this is the best I could do. So annoying when that happens!!

Yellow Plums

Day Twenty-30 Paintings in 30 Days

6"x6" Oil on board

$90 + s/h
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Another  purchase from the Farmers Market! These plums are the sweetest and juiciest  I have ever tasted and their skins are almost translucent...I wish I had bought more!  I was short on time today and nearly didn't finish this...stress!!! There are 10 days left...I have felt pressure at times while doing this challenge, but manage to get there in the end!!

Waiting

Day Nineteen- 30 paintings in 30 Days

I  came across the small girl waiting for her brother to catch up with her while they were out walking with their Father one Sunday morning. It was the blue dress that caught my eye and gave me a reason  to paint something other than landscapes or still life....perfect for this challenge too! I have been doing pencil drawings of people for the last couple of months and enjoy it so why not paint them!!

Onions

Day Eighteen-30 Paintings in 30 Days

6"x8" Oil on board

$90 +s/h

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Because it's Saturday here today, I thought I would go a bit easy on myself and paint something simple .... what could be hard about painting onions? Well I found out! There are a lot of subtle value changes for a start....then there is the skin that's peeling off in parts! Anyway I got through it and learned a lot...so it was worth it. I will  never think that way again!!!

Deco Style

Day Seventeen-30 Paintings in 30 days

8"x6" Oil on board

SOLD

Number seventeen...what to paint?  I have been looking around the house for  different things to paint for this challenge and this is what I came up with....my costume I wore to celebrate Art Deco Weekend a couple of years ago. Napier City  was rebuilt in the Art deco style after the massive 1931 earthquake. Every February we celebrate  and everyone dresses in deco style, it's a fun weekend with lots of different events!!

Coffee with Judith 1

 Day Sixteen-30 Paintings in 30 Days

6"x6" Oil on board

I bought a set of four  Gustav Klimt coffee mugs when I opened my studio a few years ago and whenever friends come over to paint we use them! Judith 1 is my favourite... my goal in this challenge is to paint life around me and this is part of my art life! I had fun painting this one there is quite a bit of detail...I lost all track of time!!

Agapanthus Bud

Day Fifteen-30 Paintings in 30 days

6"x8" Oil on board

$90 + s/h

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Half way mark in this challenge!! I am glad I have made it this far...I enjoy painting daily but when  it has to be posted every day the pressure goes on!! I usually only post 2-3 times a week because I like to make sure I'm happy with it!

It's been a while since I have painted flowers...this is the first bud on my plant this year. I painted the flower on a dark background a few years ago...when I picked this it was a cloudy day and it looked nice against the sky color, so I thought I'd try a lighter background  this time!

Estuary Weeds

Day Thirteen-30 Paintings in 30 Days

6"x6" Oil on board

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 A lovely summer morning produces a myriad of colors in the grass around the Estuary...but it was these bright green weeds that caught my eye!  I was hoping to get two paintings done today but it didn't happen....all sorts of non painting things to do...frustrating to say the least!!! Tomorrow is another day and maybe.. just maybe, I will get ahead!

Estuary Reeds

Day Twelve-30 Paintings in 30 Days

6"x8" Oil on board

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Another morning around the Estuary! I  love how the reeds that grow here are always changing color...this day was a bit overcast so they were not as colorful as they are on a clear sunny day! Tiredness  has been creeping in today, but I am still enjoying this challenge and looking at all the other beautiful work by the other artists! I'm off to bed to get a good nights sleep so I'm all ready for number 13 in the morning!!!

Cherry Tomatoes

Day Eleven-30 Paintings in 30 Days

6"x8" oil on board

$90+s/h
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These cherry tomatoes are from my garden...I leave them on my window sill to ripen properly! This painting was a bit of a marathon, my windows are aluminum and I had problems trying to get them to look like that! Never painted aluminum before..and won't ever again!! Anyway this is my number 11 painting! I am going to have a big glass of wine now!!!

Walk On The Wet Side

Day Ten-30 Paintings in 30 Days

6x6 Oil on board

$90 + s/h

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I was going to paint another still life today, but saw these two little dogs while I was out walking along the Estuary...that was it! My painting for today!! I loved the way they were trotting along the waters edge together. Life is good when I find subject matter like this!!!

Pod of Peas

Day Nine-30 Paintings in 30 Days
6"x8" Oil on board

$90 +s/h
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Another purchase from the market...lovely fresh peas!  I love going to the market and buying the new seasons vegetables and fruit...also nice to be able to paint them  as well! This challenge has made me really take notice of the simple things around me...I will never be short of subject matter!!

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Gesso Brush

Day Seven-30 Paintings in 30 Days

6"x6" Oil on board

$90 +s/h
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This is my brush I use to gesso all my boards including the 30 for the challenge, so I thought it deserved to be painted!! I like having a change from landscapes too. Although I'm enjoying this challenge I still find I can't keep ahead...a bit stressful some days! There is no shortage of subjects to paint...it's just making the time!!

Hazy Afternoon

Day Six-30 Paintings in 30 Days

6"x8" Oil on board

$90 + s/h

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I thought I would try a painting using mainly  greens...there are so many different ones in nature. This scene is another from the Estuary...I love the back light on the hazy afternoons over there and I was was able to experiment with  all the greens!! This was a bit of a trial but I loved painting it!

Tug Boat

Day Five-30 Paintings in 30 Days

6"x6" Oil on board

$90 + s/h

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Still at the beach...on a lovely clear day, watching as the tug boat guided this container ship into our Port!

It's the first time I've been able to get a good view of this happening...this was a challenge in itself even before I started painting it!!!I loved the bit of light on the tug boat!

Morning Glow

Day  Four - 30 Paintings in 30 Days

6"x6" Oil on board

$90 +s/h

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Another day another painting, whew!! Just made it...don't need anymore days away! This is early on a nice calm  morning looking out at the Pacific ocean...just two streets away from my home. I am loving this challenge!! So many different  subjects I can choose to paint!

Winter Blues

Day Three - 30 Paintings in 30 Days

 6"x8" Oil on board

$90+s/h

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It's day three already and it's another landscape! Still around the Estuary but this time one morning in winter...love the way the weed changes colors!  I am away until tomorrow, so I'm one day  without painting. There will be paint brushes working furiously when I get back home! I'm not sure yet if the next one will be a landscape, I have so many things in mind!

Sunshine and Shadows

Day Two- 30 Paintings in 30 Days
6"x6" Oil on board
$90+s/h
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Day #2 in  Leslie Saeta's 30 Paintings in 30 Days Challenge!  So far so good,but it's early days! I am feeling enthusiastic and positive...just have to hope there are no wipers! This is another part of the Estuary...it's a special place for me as far as painting goes, there is so much color and everyday the light changes...there is always something to paint!! Love it!!

Quiet Morning

6"x6" Oil on board
Click here to purchase  $90+s/h

Well it is January 2nd and this is my first painting for Leslie Saeta's 30 paintings in 30 days challenge! Every day this month I will post a small painting... or at least try! It's certainly going to be a mission to get one done every day, but I will give it my best shot! I am looking forward to taking part in it and seeing all the other paintings, it's exciting! I haven't got any theme in mind and will continue to paint life around me.  This is the Estuary I walk by  every morning...my favourite time of the day it's so nice and quiet!