Saturday, January 31

Save The Bees and 30in30 Collage

Save the Bees - 4x4x2" Acrylic on Gallery Canvas


I told you yesterday it would be simple. But I like how it turned out. Even though it's so little and it's kind of a speed painting, it's among my favorites for January. And really, we do need to put efforts into saving the bees. Saving the bees is saving us!

....to show small size

Sides

And, like everyone else doing the 30 in 30 January Challenge, I've made a collage for my project.


I'm happy I accomplished my goal of completing a painting every single day in January. I'm also a little sad it's over. It will be nice, though, to stop and take a breath. Oh wait....I have to finish scanning, sealing, putting wire hangers on, pricing, and taking them to the gallery to hang. Yikes! I wish being an artist was only about painting. How nice that would be! Haha!

Thanks for all of the encouragement and sweet comments during this project everyone! You guys kept me going on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and in the comments of this blog.

Happy weekend,
Ri

Friday, January 30

30 in 30 - Day 30 - Crimson Tide

Today is the last official day of the 30 paintings in 30 days challenge. I can't believe I made it all 30 days! I finished a painting every day! I do plan to continue painting daily. I may not finish a painting every single day, but it will be a daily thing. I can't exactly finish a huge painting in one day most days. I have lots of other things to do other than nurture my creative soul. But, this has gotten me into the daily habit. I will be taking weekends off, more than likely. Also, I know it's supposed to be a 30 day challenge and I know tomorrow is a weekend day, but I can't do every day in January except one. I just can't! Call me a perfectionist. Call me OCD. But I can't do it. So, even if it's the most simple, non recognizable painting ever created. There will be a painting finished tomorrow to round out January 2015!

So without further ado, here's the final painting of the challenge. It's called "Crimson Tide" as an ode to my husband. He's been patient with me about these days where we have no time and I still have to paint to keep up with the 30 in 30. He ran to get take out more this month than usual and he helped around the house. He's an Alabama "Crimson Tide" fan. And that's an understatement. The red color I used is called Napthol Crimson and the tide part is obvious. The color was, too, but just in case... Oh yeah, I said without further ado and then I ado'd all over the place. Sorry 'bout that! Here's the painting.



5x7x1.5" Acrylic on Gallery Wrapped Canvas

Side View

All of the paintings shown during the 30 in 30 challenge will be featured during the Mount Dora Art Festival (Feb7-8) through the 2nd Friday Art Stroll (Feb-13 6-8PM) at Painting Outside the Lines Gallery. The gallery is located on the main drag there in downtown Mount Dora beside One Flight Up Cafe. You'll have to go up the stairs to get to it, but it's worth the huffing and puffing. I promise. Plus, while you're there you can have a smoothie or coffee from the cafe, powder your nose somewhere other than a porta-let, and enjoy the nice atmosphere.

I'll be back tomorrow. Stop in and see what I have cookin'!

Rischa

Thursday, January 29

Day 29 - Shasta

Day 29 of 30 Paintings in 30 Days - Shasta

5x7x1.5" Acrylic on Gallery Wrapped Canvas

Side View


I wish I had one of these cute little campers. Wouldn't it be fun to roam around in?

One more day of the challenge!

See you tomorrow!

Wednesday, January 28

Day 28 - Name TBD

Day 28 - (Name suggestions?)

6x6x2" Acrylic on Canvas

For the life of me I couldn't get the photo to match the painting in my studio. So I took the painting into the living room and hung it on the wall to get a more accurate look at it with the camera. The colors are more accurate here...



I think it's the daylight bulbs mixed with all of the whitish colors of the painting. It blew the colors out. So anyway, that's day 28. Does anyone have a good name suggestion for me?

Tuesday, January 27

Day 27 - Adrenalin

Day 27 of 30 Paintings in 30 Days - Adrenalin

6x6x2" Acrylic on Back Stapled Canvas

Side View


I felt I might be slipping into a rut with all of the flower paintings, so I stepped back out of that comfort zone and went totally abstract. Don't get me wrong; I love the flowers. I just don't want to get too comfortable in flower town. Ruts can become boring. I love how this one turned out. It has many layers and a little bit of texture. I'll do another tomorrow.

See ya on Hump Day!
Rischa

Monday, January 26

Day 26 - Abstract Poppies

Day 26 - Abstract Poppies - 6x6x2" Acrylic on Back Stapled Canvas




I really didn't feel like painting today. I'm exhausted from the sleep study last night and my sinuses are having issues. When I have issues with sinuses I start having panic attacks because I can't breathe. So, I like the painting and at the same time, I'm glad I'm done with it so I can go to bed.

Goodnight and happy Monday,
Rischa

Sunday, January 25

Day 25 - Abstract Daisies

Day 25 - Abstract Daisies - 6x6x2" Acrylic on Back Stapled Canvas


This is my abstract version of the beautiful daisies Joel brought me on Friday. Below is the reference photo. I basically just used the reference photo to get inspired. Obviously this isn't very similar to the real flowers. I love how they turned out.

Reference photo

Side View


Thanks for stopping by!
Rischa

PS. Wish  me luck with my sleep study tonight!

Saturday, January 24

Day 24 - Abstract Roses

Day 24 of 30 Paintings in 30 Days - Abstract Roses

6x6x2" Acrylic on Back Stapled Canvas

Side View

Hipstamatic shot of the finished painting on my messy worktable.

I really enjoyed painting this one. Which is the complete opposite of yesterday's experience. I've come to learn that if I'm not in a good place when I sit down to paint that I will struggle with painting. I don't have to be a perky, smiling fool, but I can't be having a really tough day and sit down with a million things on my mind and produce a masterpiece. Not that this is a masterpiece, but it was a success because it was fun to paint and I like the end result. Win, win. This is one of my favorites.

Happy Saturday!
Rischa

Thursday, January 22

30 Paintings in 30 Days - Day 22 - Folk Art Rose

30 Paintings in 30 Days - Day 22 - Folk Art Rose

6x6x2" Acrylic on Back Stapled Canvas

Side View

...and one more.

It's a folk art rose. Not much else to say today. I like the painting. I had fun painting it. I have a lot to do this week and I've still got a lot on my mind. But I'm proud that I've gone 22 days in a row doing a painting from start to finish. I don't know if I will continue to complete a painting every single day after this project, but I will continue painting daily. Completing one every day puts a lot of pressure on a person. At first I thought they had to be perfect. Now I'm leaning more toward having fun and completing the task. I can do big impressive works after the project. This has gotten me into a daily schedule, though. I needed that. 

Rischa

Wednesday, January 21

30 Paintings in 30 Days - Day 21 - Minimalist Gardener

30 Paintings in 30 Days - Day 21 - Minimalist Gardener 

6x6x2" Acrylic on Back Stapled Canvas


I'm very much enjoying the whimsy paintings. I enjoy doing them and I like the end result. I'm also loving more white space. My mind has been cluttered lately. There's no reason my paintings should be. The white space has a calming effect on me. I've been trying to simplify my home and life, as well. Sometimes you just need room to breath, am I right? This is one of those times for me.

Wishing you minimal mind clutter,
Rischa

Tuesday, January 20

30 Paintings in 30 Days - Day 20 - Blowing Kisses

30 Paintings in 30 Days - Day 20 - Blowing Kisses

5x5x2" Acrylic on Gallery Wrapped Canvas


Side View

A small grouping of the daily paintings with the day 20 painting.

My headache is sticking around today, but that's ok. I still had fun painting this whimsy painting. I asked Joel for help naming it and he suggested, "blowing kisses".  It seemed appropriate.

Thanks for stopping by! Happy Tuesday!

Rischa

Monday, January 19

30 Paintings in 30 Days - Day 19 - Whimsical Wildflowers

30 Paintings in 30 Days - Day 19 - Whimsical Wildflowers

5x5x2" Acrylic on Gallery Canvas

Side View

I had every intention of doing a more impressive painting today of a more realistic school bus toy. But, things change. Migraines happen. But then....I had the best time painting this one! You know how excited you'd get to color when you were a child? And you'd just sit down to have fun without worrying about the outcome? Well, this is the kind of fun I had with this painting. And I enjoy whimsy art, so I'm happy with how it turned out, too. It may not be the most impressive painting I've done for the 30 in 30, but it certainly was the most fun. I will be doing more of these. My migraine is gone, by the way. It's just a dull headache, now, so I'm so happy with that. I'll take a dull headache over a migraine any day!

Happy Monday!
Rischa


Sunday, January 18

30 Paintings in 30 Days - Day 18 - Be Mine

Day 18 of 30 paintings in 30 days - Be Mine

4x4x2" Acrylic on Gallery Wrapped Canvas

Side View

Day 17 and Day 18 side by side.

I may add some words to each of these. "I love you" on one and "Be Mine" or "Happily Ever After" on the other. Hmmm....decisions, decisions. I think it might make them a little more adorable. Maybe? We'll see. 

I hope you're having a nice weekend!
Rischa

Saturday, January 17

Daily Painting - Day 17 - Valentine's Heart

Daily Painting - Day 17 - Valentine's Heart - 4x4x2" Acrylic on Gallery Canvas


Since today is my birthday I wanted to keep it simple. I have some celebrating to do, after all. I also have been wanting to do some Valentine's Day inspired artwork since the Art Stroll is the evening before Valentine's Day. Maybe some nice couple will come in and feel romantic about this painting and the one to go with it tomorrow. I used the Robert Burridge method to paint this one. If you haven't heard of him you should check him out on YouTube. He's inspiring and he keeps things simple and easy to learn. He also has DVDs, other learning tools, and an iPhone app.

Side View

Have a nice weekend!
Rischa

Friday, January 16

30 Paintings in 30 Days - Day 16 - Wild Pear

Day 16 - Wild Pear
4x4x2" Acrylic on Gallery Canvas

Side View

Reference photo.

The reference photo is just for the shapes and shadows and somewhat for the colors. I didn't bother with a nice background. I take a photo with my iPhone and really boost the colors and contrast using Snapseed so everything is easy to decipher. 

I'm happy with this crazy bright pear, now. But when I was painting it I just couldn't get it to look right until I stepped away for a minute. Sometimes it's hard for me to see with my artist brain instead of my logical brain. Once I reminded myself to stop just painting what I thought I saw and to actually paint what is there, I was fine. Well, I painted a version of what I saw. The colors and brushstrokes are obviously very abstract. But you get what I'm saying, right? Right!

Thanks for stopping by!
Rischa

Thursday, January 15

Daily Painting - Day 15 - Expressive Apple

30 Paintings in 30 Days - 4x4x2" Acrylic on Gallery Wrapped Canvas - Expressive Apple


Side view.

I haven't felt well the last couple of days, so I wanted something fun and quick. I opted for a technique I've been wanting to try using expressive, bold brushstrokes. It's something I see myself doing in the future quite a bit. I love the look of this technique. I see a lot of daily painters doing it and I always find my eye going toward their paintings in Google searches. I only used one brush for most of the painting. I did get a smaller brush for the stem and white highlights, but the rest is done with one larger flat brush. I always use a Copic pen to sign acrylic paintings, by the way. So that wasn't done with a brush. I have a hard enough time writing my name legibly without adding a brush and paint to the mix. I would like for people to actually be able to easily read who painted it!

Thanks for stopping by!
Rischa