Creativity Boot Camp Day 7

"Fly", 5 by 7, Pastel Painting

"Fly" is my response to day 7 of Creativity Boot Camp. You guessed it, the word prompt for the day was "fly." I'm officially half way done now. This is 5 by 7 on pastelbord done with soft pastels and pastel pencils. I think I spent more time sharpening pencils than I did actually painting today. My leads kept breaking and I think my sharpeners are getting dull.

The colors in the background of this photo drew me in. They were much more subtle in the original photograph, but I played them up. I'm very pleased with the way this turned out.

Next is "ornament." I'm not too sure where I'm going to take that one. I better figure it out! :)

Creativity Boot Camp Day 3

"Multilayered" 5 by 7, Pastel Painting

The word prompt from day 3 of Creativity Boot Camp was "multilayered" and this painting is my response to that. I knew as soon as I saw this photograph that it would make a perfect "multilayered" painting. However, it was much more difficult than I thought it was going to be. I really love working in pastels, but it's difficult to achieve fine lines and details. But I took my time and I'm pleased with the way it turned out. The word prompt for day 4 is "heavymetal." I'm not sure if I have my idea planned out yet or not - this one is tricky!

Thank you to Kathleen Young for allowing me to use her beautiful photograph as a reference for this painting!

Day 15

Today's photograph is one that I took last weekend. I bought these lilies from a local florist and tried propping them against different things to get some interesting photos. I've never seen lilies this big before! They're so bright and fun.

I decided that I'm going to stop this "painting challenge" for now. I have just been posting photographs, which is fun, but wasn't my original intent. I am just too super busy at the moment to paint. I started a painting today, but I don't know when I'll have another opportunity to work on it. I'm going to be participating in "Creativity Bootcamp" in a couple weeks, and it's 2 weeks long. During this "training" I will be painting everyday for 2 weeks and it will wrap up this challenge perfectly. It begins June 6th, and I'm very excited about it.

Today's Quote: "The happiness of a man in this life does not consist in the absence but in the mastery of his passions." Alfred Lord Tennyson

Day 14

Today's photograph I took recently at my favorite greenhouse. I regret not purchasing some of these flowers. I bought Foxgloves instead, and I love them, but these would have been nice too.

Well today has been spent getting ready for company - hanging up curtains, pictures, and cleaning. I accomplished a lot, but I still have a lot to do. I'm pacing myself :). I'll be lucky if I can get any painting done this week. It just might be a week full of photographs! :)

Today's Quote: "I’ve learned that making a 'living' is not the same thing as making a 'life'." Maya Angelou

Day 13 - Painting Challenge

It's a photograph today. I love this picture. The colors of the Dahlia petals are just stunning. I think it would make a great pastel painting.. hmmm... All I need is more ideas! :)

I received an order of art supplies yesterday so I'm excited to break them in and try some new things. I mentioned botany artist Billy Showell the other day. I've been wanting to try some realism in watercolor (inspired by her), because I have more of a loose style, but I didn't have any hotpress paper. I've never even seen hotpress paper before, so I was quite surprised at the type of surface it is. I generally enjoy painting on rough watercolor paper, so this is very different. Now my only problem is finding the time. I'm expecting some company next week, and I've been busy getting the house ready. So, I will continue posting what I can, when I can. :)

Today's Quote: "I perhaps owe having become a painter to flowers." - Claude Monet

Have a great weekend!!!

Day 11 - Painting Challenge

This is a work-in-progress. It's the same lily that I painted yesterday in watercolor. It's a 6 by 6, on pastelbord. It needs a lot of work yet - lots of touch ups and details. I plan to finish it tomorrow.

Today's quote: "All true artists, whether they know it or not, create from a place of no-mind, from inner stillness." - Eckhart Tolle

Day 10 - Painting Challenge

I finally painted today! I was missing it too much so I made sure that I set aside some time today. I got these lovely lily stems from the florist yesterday and I wish I would have asked what kind of lily they were. Anyway, the picture above is just a quick shot of my painting setup. I'm not sure if the painting is done. I painted it very loose, and I may have gotten a little too carried away! :) I'm going to leave it for now and go back to it and see what I think. Tomorrow I think I will try the same lily in pastel. I'm not sure I can wait, I might start it today!

Just a few quick notes - I am now on Flickr and my username is "AngelaMarie292." I'm not entirely sure how active I will be on the site, but I am giving it a try. Also, it was recently brought to my attention that my blog was not allowing people to leave comments. I had no idea that I had the comments disabled! Oops! So needless to say, I have fixed it, and you can leave comments now.

Today's Quote: "A beautiful thing is never perfect." - Proverb

Day 8 - Painting Challenge

It's my birthday today and to celebrate, I went to one of my favorite greenhouses to take some pictures. I just feel in heaven surrounded by all those beautiful flowers! The photo above is one of my favorites from the day. I just love the color of those pansies. So rich and beautiful.

I plan on getting back to painting tomorrow since my homework is complete!

Today's Quote: "We look forward to the time when the Power of Love will replace the Love of Power. Then will our world know the blessings of peace." William Ewart Gladstone

Day 6 - Painting Challenge

As you can tell, no painting today. This is a photograph that I took on Sunday at the local park. I was completely struck by the beautiful colors of the tulips. They were probably the prettiest pink I have ever seen. I look forward to painting some of these flowers.

I was looking over how much school work I have this week, and I was overwhelmed! I have midterms and big assignments due this week. Don't they know I have a birthday Friday? :) Something tells me they really don't care! :) So, I have A LOT of work to do, and I don't have any time to sit down and paint. I hope to get back to painting by the weekend, or next week at the latest.

Today's Quote: "Chase down your passion like it's the last bus of the night." Glade Byron Addams

Day 4 - Painting Challenge

Today's painting, "Sunshine Lily," is on pastelbord (6x6). I've been wanting to paint this picture for a while now. The reference photo is from my own collection. I actually have a print of the original photograph available in my Etsy shop (It's called "Bright Yellow Lily"). I really like this painting, and I think it looks much more lifelike, in person. All paintings look better in person!

Today's Quote: "The best remedy for those who are afraid, lonely or unhappy is to go outside, somewhere where they can be quiet, alone with the heavens, nature and God. Because only then does one feel that all is as it should be and that God wishes to see people happy, amidst the simple beauty of nature." Anne Frank

Day 3 - Painting Challenge

Well as you can probably tell this is not a painting. I decided to substitute for a photograph today. Sunday's are usually pretty relaxed for me, and I decided to go and take some more pictures today. This tulip is one of my favorites. We ended up taking our dogs to the park today and as soon as we got there I noticed all of these beautiful flowers. I had to rush home and get my camera before the sun fell. I got some great shots, and we had fun too! :)

Happy Mother's Day to all of you Moms! I don't have children, but I feel like my two dogs are my kids! And I certainly love them as if they were :). I hope you all had a great weekend.

Today's Quote: "Mothers hold their children's hands for a short while, but their hearts forever." ~Author Unknown

Day 2 - Painting Challenge

Today's painting is titled "Garden Pansies." It's a 5 x 7 on rough 140lb watercolor paper. The reference photos I used for this painting are pictures I took of pansies that I planted last year. Speaking of which, pansies are supposed to be annuals, but I have some from last year that are still thriving. I dug most of them out to make room for new annuals, but I forgot a small patch. Now I wish I would have just left them.

Anyway, this painting was a lot of fun to do. I've never painted pansies in watercolor before, but I already have ideas for bigger paintings with them. This painting just might be available for sale in my Etsy store soon. :)

Today's quote: "Go confidently in the direction of your dreams. Live the life you have imagined." - Henry David Thoreau

Day 1 Painting Challenge

This is Day 1 of the 30-Day Painting Challenge that I am embarking on. "Shimmering Daffodils" is an original watercolor on 140lb rough watercolor paper. I named it "Shimmering Daffodils" because I painted the petals of the Daffodils with an iridescent yellow wash that shows through all the glazes on top of it. The photograph of the painting doesn't portray the true colors of the flowers. The petals are a much brighter yellow.

Quote of the day: "We are unlimited beings. We have no ceiling. The capabilities and the talents and the gifts and the power that is within every single individual that is on this planet, is unlimited." - Michael Beckwith