10 Oil Paintings from Photos: 4th Painting

What was I thinking!

I got nothing done during the holidays! Why do I put so much pressure on myself?

Well here I started something to get my juices boiling again before I start my full-time position at Lyme Academy College of Fine Arts. I can only hope I can keep it up. I need some motivation. Painting was helping me destress. Maybe I can use it for that after work?

My Father's Parents

They were probably in their 40-50's ?

Their clothing tells you that it was 1970's.

My father's father was a farmer and I think his mother worked on the farm too.

Now my dad owns the farm where his mother worked plucking chickens and cleaning the eggs.

10 Oil Paintings from Photos: 3rd

My next adventure is to paint this photo of me when I was 5 years old before my tap recital. I convinced my mother to have me start dancing at age four. My mother was very adamant that I wait till five years old but I was a very independent thinker with a talent of convince my parents my view was the better one. So here I am at my second year of dancing! I continued through age 14.

Here is my quick pencil rendition.

Now looking at it on the computer I see a lot of problems but that is what painting is for. Hopefully I can fix them when I paint it.

See you tomorrow. I plan to paint as much as possible before Christmas!

December 21, 2009

I spent 6 more hours taking some time with this painting while I watched two movies.
1. "Friends with Money" with Jennifer Aniston

2. "About Schmit" with Jack Nicholson

They were both good. This is not my first time watching either movie. I am really bad like that. I get it from my mother. Mom if you are reading this ... you know what I mean.

I am happy with the painting but I have a lot of problems I hope to resolve tomorrow.
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Oh, I have taken up a knew habit of writing down what paint colors I use.
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This painting used 7 colors: Zince White, Naples Yellow Hue, Permanent Magenta, Windsor Green, Phthalo Turquoise, Sap Green, and Indian Red.

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I usually keep my palette very slim, 4 or so colors but this time I went way out. Wooo?

I was talking to a lady in her sixties who has been doing portrait painting for a while. She said if I want to learn I should just move on and paint as many pieces as possible. That is my intentions so I am moving on. I am stuck with this piece but I will find what I am missing by working and painting and continuing!

See you on the flip side!

10 Paintings from Photos: 2nd

"Husband's Father 30 years ago"

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I finally started working on the next painting from a photo. I decided to pick a picture of my husband's father about 30 years ago. I like this photo, because it has an idyllic style with an aesthetic beauty and emotional pull.
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I worked on a sketch.

Then I started on a preliminary painting.

This painting was a lot of fun. I still have more to do but it looks so much better then I expected. I work with the picture underneath the canvas I am painting on so that it is always in my view.

You might look down on me but I also listen to a movie running on my little DVD player too! I love watching movies. The movie- "Waitress" with Kerri Russell playing in the background. I love movies about women who move passed their horrible lives into their dreams! For example, the movie I watched during the painting of the two children was "Julie & Julia".

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December 18, 2009

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I actually did something today. See my blog: http://renewu.blogspot.com/ and you will understand the whole story. I painted more of the picture of my husband's father.

It is more colorful and deep. It is funny how hard I am on myself though. Even my husband likes this painting and I don't feel I have even touched the surface of what I could do. I just have to do more- right? Let me just say that ever since I became unemployed I realized that there is something I need to do. As the months go on I know that it is all up to me! It might take sometime but it is possible.

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I write this blog to not only motivate myself but to motivate who ever might read this. If there is something you always wished to do, no matter how small or stupid, do it! Do what you love and only something wonderful will come out of it. I truly believe this.

Today's movie in the background is "The Terminal". I love how Tom Hanks takes on the task of getting out of the terminal by focusing on doing what he is good at. He gets a job working in the airport as a contractor just by doing what he loves. There is a lesson to be learned. Do it and it will come!

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December 19, 2009

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I went to a Christmas Party today but once I got home I went straight up to my art studio! I was a bit stressed out from an issue with a friend that I could not resolve and I actually thought doing some painting would help me take my mind off of it. I realized that I am finally using art to help me with other problems in my life. This is a good sign.
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I started by turning on "Julie & Julia" again. Thankfully my husband was downstairs and did not have to hear the same movie playing over and over. The painting was going smoothly..the phone rang.

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My friend ( not the one I was having problems with ) from Chicago called. I was pleasantly surprised. I had not heard from her in a while but we had planned on seeing each other after Christmas. We caught up on all our trials and tribulations.

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It is probably not the best idea to paint while you are talking on the phone; however, it seemed to help me from messing it up royally. It was finished after an 1 hour or so of talking on the phone.

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10 Oil Paintings from Photos: 1st

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December 14, 2009

I choose a photo

I draw the photo 16" x 20" canvas paper.

I paint the photo over the drawing.

I sit in my studio (which is a large closet mind you) and watch usually the same movie over and over. I am amazed my husband has not gone crazy by now with the words "Bon Appetite!" sounding in the background.

When I started this project just 4 days ago, I thought it would take me a short time to paint. I was so wrong. I still don't like it but I have to go on to the other one.

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October 2009- 30 Paintings in 30 days

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10- paintings of my environment
10-self-portrait paintings
10-paintings of other people

All paintings of people are on 9" x 12" canvas paper.

1. All paintings of environment are on 16" x 20" canvas paper.
   
2. Each painting should only take 2-3hours to produce.


3. They do not have to be completely finished but it would be nice to bring the painting to a stopping point.
   

The Paintings are in order by:

Environment
Self Portrait
Other People

In chronological order

Wishes:
I hoped that this exercise would help me rekindle my passion for art. I have been feeling uninspired and wondering why I would ever want to do any art. So far I find that painting is really relaxing and helps me zone out so that I stop thinking so much!

I. ENVIRONMENT
Park St.- Framed Print 8" x 10" $50.00

II. SELF-PORTRAIT














































































































































III. OTHER PEOPLE

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