Grape study  6"x6"   $45.00 - I made it just in time!  The challenge is over.   In the next few days I will reflect on this challenge and let you know my thoughts.  For now happy to be done!

Shades of Summer  9"x12"   $120.00    In August I started this painting "plein air", but never finished it.  Tonight needing no. 29 I pulled it out.  The challenge was to finish it without using a photo.  I think it's now done, or close to it. Done ???

Wave petunias-  6"x6"    $45.00   Today I used a pallete knife for most of the painting.  The advantages are you can really load on the paint, and the painting moves along fast.  Two more days left in the challenge!

Pick Me -   6"x6" $45.00  As I was painting these pumpkins they seemed to say "pick me".  Each wanted to be the star. This is my second pumpkin painting in this series.  Both remind me of carving/painting pumpkins with my children.

Cone Flowers- 6"x6"   $45.00   Time is up. The season for these flowers is just about over!  Their color alone makes them one of my favorites.  Only four more days of this challenge.

Waiting to Water - 6"x6"  $45.00   Only 5 more days of the challenge!  In keeping with my garden theme, I included a scene most people have seen.  A plastic watering can, filled waiting to be used.  Hmmm... I only have a few more to go!

A Day In The Park- $95.00  12"x9"   Today I painted in our local "Nashotah Park".  The colors are starting to turn on the early maples.  It was so beautiful, I'll be going back to work "plein air" again.

Ready To Pick- $45.00 - 6"x6"  It's starting to feel like fall in WI.  I went into a friend's garden looking for subjects to paint.  She had pumpkins still on the vine, ready to be picked!  I love fall colors.  This painting is no. 23!  One more week left.  

September By The River,  9"x12"  sold- I am using my second painting done for the Shorewood show as no.22 in the challenge.  

Poseidon, 9"x12"-  This fountain was painted for the "Shorewood Plein Air " competion.  Happy to say it sold last night. ( To those keeping track, I missed the posting date on a few because of the competion.)

"Ripe"   6"x6" - $45.00.   Today's effort was a quick study.  I will be painting in a plein air contest the next few days.  (I still hope to post those as my challenge paintings)  "wish me luck..."

Zinnia - oil - 6"x6"  $45.00  Grown for their color, zinnia (or is it zinnias?) don't disappoint!  For fun, I painted a darker value on top of the study.

Lupine  oil  6"x6"  $45.00   Todays effort has many of my favortie colors to paint.  Hope U enjoy it.

 Fall Flowers at Old World WI- Oil 6"x6"  $45.00 -Halfway there!  No. 15 of 30!!!  This painting is of the flowers that are in Old World WI this time of year.  Fall colors are coming soon., but until there is a frost the wild flowers are still blooming.

"Geranium Red"  oil  6"x6"  $45.00   I saw this pot of flowers at "Old World Wis."  this past month.  The red was so vivid I knew I wanted to paint it.  If there is any flowers U would like to see in this series let me know.

"Four Susans"  oil 6"x6"  $45.00   This is the third in the Susans series.  Here I tried to use some warmer colors.  Almost at half way point in the challenge. Next, more flowers or gardens?

"One Susan"  oil 6"x6"  $45.00   Today I am back to my regular palette colors.   This flower was so magnificent is deserved to be painted as a solo!   Sometimes I try the same subject more than once to see which colors, design ect. I like best.  I may try one more and "warm " the colors for tomorrow.   Let me know if U have a favorite!

 "Three Susans"  oil   6"x6"  $45.00  Day 11th- I chose to use a  pastel color palette.  I love color, so this is a departure for me.  Let me know how U like it?

Sunflower #1  oil  6"x6"  $45.   Today's painting # 10 means I am 1/3 of the way done with the challenge!!!  I used a different technique to get some of the light values on the petals. In WI we are seeing sunflowers everywhere!

"Simplicity"   oil   6"x6"  $45.   My goal today was to keep it simple.  Put down "marks" (paint) and let them be.  Let me know what U think.  Thanks Larry for the photo reference!

 "We Rent Fun"  9"x12"  oil- $120.  There is a local store in my home town that rents "fun". (or that's what the sign should say) During the summer, they open their side door and show everyone what they could rent!  Paddle boards, kayaks, canoes and more are available.   I love seeing the vibrant colors as I drive by. Two weeks ago I set up and started a "plein air painting" of this scene.  Today I finished it for the 8th painting of the 30 in 30 day challenge.(And- Yes , I had fun painting this!)

Today I am posting another  painting I just finished for the New Berlin, WI plein air competition.  There is a reception for the artists and the public on Sunday.  This is my second submission, called "Harvest".  It's a little larger for me 12"x24". Because of the size, I needed to work on this two afternoons.  Hay bales are showing up this time of year in the fields.  I'm glad I got a chance to paint them!

Day 6 and still painting.  "Wait- day 6 was yesterday", I just didn't get mine posted then.  So today is really day 6 and 7.  (yes I will post 2 today) I guess this challenge, plus a plein competition in New Berlin, WI has me confused.  This was painted in New Berlin, for the contest.  

What caught my eye was the color of the wheelbarrow, and the over flowing flowers.

When I put colors together, pink next to red isn't usually my first choice.  Coming from a family of "red heads" ( I don't have red hair though) my mom always said she couldn't wear pink because of her red hair.  I saw this plant hanging from a farmers barn door this past weekend.  My first thought was - pink is striking with the red!  I love color, and I loved this "pink"!

Flowers aren't the only colorful items in the garden.  Some cabbages are so colorful this time of year.  Kohlrabi looks like a turnip, but is part of the cabbage family.   The blue-green leafs, with the pale rose vegetable drew me in.  

 The Blue Pot  - Oil Painting -   "6x6"    $45.

Blue flower pots are a favorite of mine.  The blue I love best is "cobalt blue".  Maybe because there aren't many flowers that exact blue.  It makes a great triad with yellow and red!  That triad really pops!

This was painted after a gloomy day, when the sun came out.  The light hitting the pot and flowers made it glow! 

The Color Of Summer  Oil 6"x6"   $45.

Sometimes when you enter a garden everything is in full bloom!  The colors seem to glow.  

When I saw this pot of geranuims I knew I wanted to paint it!  As this challenge continues I hope to paint more garden themes.  If you have any favorites let me know, I may try them.

My first goal of this challenge is to post daily.  (this is my stuggle too)  I seem to be able to paint, but my computer skills need help.  Later today I am going to try and ask a son or daughter-law for help. (of course I will bribe them with Labor Day picnic food first!)

"Three Chimnies"   oil painting- 8"x10"   $75.00

This painting was done for the 30 paintings in thirty day challenge.  For the next 30 days over 330 artists will be participating in Leslie's challenge.  

My goals are to post a painting a day for 30 days, to try and blog about either the subject or the process of that painting.

Even though for this past year I have painted often (almost daily) I expect this to be a daunting task because of my computer skills.  Please be patient, I hope to improve!  The fun will be seeing all the art that is going to be posted.  I welcome comments.  If you would like to suggest a subject for me to paint, let me know and might try it. So here is no.1.  Hope you like it.

When plein air  painting, I usually meet many new people.  Most times I am focused on my canvas and don't notice those around me.

Often people approach me and ask questions.

The top questions, comments I get are:

No.1 - Directions, people think because I am painting at a location I know the area.  (I often use a G.P.S. to get to my subject area. If they would ask my husband he would tell them I am not good with directions. Ok, once I did get my girl scout troop lost on a trail..no big deal)

No.2-What am I painting ?  (people- this is not a confidence builder)

No.3- People tell me "who" they know that paint. (Them, their mom, aunt, uncle ect. anyone they can think of who paints)  Sometimes I hear all about it for awhile. (hey -I can't leave, I am painting.  They think I need to know all the details...)

This June while painting in Cedarburg I Meet Mr. Joseph Wu.  He came up and watched awhile. Then he said he admired my painting.  He asked me if I wanted to display my art in his Bagel cafe'.  Wow, great!  His shop "Big Apple Bagels"  is at 1961 Wisconsin Ave., Grafton,WI.  (for directions check your G.P.S. not me)

 Mr. Wu loves art and graciously  gives many artists a spot to show their work.  I will have 12 of my pieces on display for the month of September.  Come by and ccheck them out.

Oh, while there don't forget to try my favorite, a toasted seeded bagel with walnut, raisin cream cheese!  yum!!!