Ahhh, it's January 31st, I love it!

"Poppies of Oz v.2014"   16"x20" acrylic on canvas    nfs

I know today is the 31st but I didn't post a painting yesterday, the 30th, so I'm going to deem this painting number 30! Yes! And because it's "Paint Party Friday" I'm going to share a paint party with you. This painting is "Poppies of Oz version 2014" and here is the group I was painting/teaching with. Oh, we had a great time, too, too, too much fun!

I thought they all turned out great!

Tomorrow, I will post another painting for Feb 1st and also a collage of all thirty January paintings.

Good night!

-JanettMarie

PS:  Possible rose tomorrow...

"Mixed" It's day 29...

"Mixed"  15"x11" oil on paper

I was going to wait to post this then I thought why not, surely I'll go quiet again for a bit after Friday.

This flower doesn't know if it's a rose or a tulip! Like this flower, I have mixed feelings. I don't know if I'll keep going or if I'll stop!

Mixed...  good night...

-JanettMarie

Wow, this is 28 and only two to go, or thirty more...

"Tuesday's Rose"  15"x11"  oil on paper  -Sold*

I always thought a yellow rose meant "Friends", but I've learned from a friend of mine that it really means "infidelity". Here is the story:

Yellow roses express jealousy and infidelity. They may also evoke a finishing love. According to the legend, the Prophet Mohammed, while away fighting a war, was tormented by the idea that his wife, Aisha, was being unfaithful. He asked the archangel Gabriel for help. Gabriel suggested that when he returned home Mohammed should ask his wife to drop whatever she was carrying into the water as a test. If she was faithful, it would stay the same colour and prove her unconditional love. Mohammed finally returned from his battle and Aisha rushed to greet him, carrying a huge bouquet of red roses. She was surprised when he commanded her to drop them into the river, but obeyed and the roses turned saffron yellow. Eventually, Mohammed forgave his favorite wife but, for some, the yellow rose remains a symbol of infidelity." 
More recently, yellow roses have been associated with friendship, but this newer meaning was probably an invention by rose producers to promote this color, as no underlying legend or tale seems to corroborate this symbol. The original symbolic meaning being that of jealousy and infidelity be very carefull to whom you offer yellow roses as it may be interpreted as if you are saying: "I am not worthy"!

The site where I found this story has more stories about thee rose. Change is in the air! I wonder if this is the story Carolyn was telling me about. Hmmm...

Leave it to sisters. My sister Jane suggested today that instead of doing 30 paintings in 30 days that I do 60 paintings in 60 days. It's tempting, but I still have a few commitment to accomplish and my focus would definitely have to change. Maybe after April 26th I could try that. More food for thought.

Okay, I better stop now, this post is getting way too long. Especially for me!

Good Night...

-JanettMarie

"Oh My Goodness" and "Myra's Sunglasses". -Sold & Sold

"Oh My Goodness"  8"x6" oil on canvas panel

"Oh My Goodness" is what I image this Santa is saying right now. This is a painting I started last year sometime and never got 'round to finishing it. Tonight I did and I think "Oh My Goodness" is what I'm saying too!

Another painting that was started, hmmm, I'd say in the beginning of November last year, I finished today too! Wow, two finished, I was aiming to finish three, but things changed on me today and I'll have to go for it tomorrow again. 

Here is "Myra's Sunglasses". For some reason while painting this one I was thinking about Myra...then all of a sudden the phone rang and it was Myra! Fun.

"Myra's Sunglasses"  6"x6" oil on canvas

My goodness red and pinks are hard to photograph. I'm not sure that Myra wears hats like this but she is from Texas!

These two paintings catch me up to 27 paintings finished for the 30 paintings in 30 days challenge!

Good night Gracie...

-JanettMarie

"Orange Roughy"

"Orange Roughy"  8"x6" oil on canvas panel

Was a rough day for this painting today. I did a little experimenting, some good, some not so good, or maybe... just different.

Here is a view of the first part of my experiment. I used complimentary colors as an underpainting for this flower. I wasn't sure what compliment to use for the whitish background, so I used raw sienna.

under painting using compliments

Then, for some reason I got carried away with the gel medium that I was using and it seemed like the paint got really soupy on me. I had this before I broke out the painting knife!

Just before the paint knife came out.

I suppose this wasn't that bad, it just seemed a little boring to me, so I knifed it up!

I'm calling this painting number 25 of my thirty. Yesterday I painted twice, once in the morning for Cookies & Canvas and again later that night for Wine & Canvas. I posted the Cookies & Canvas painting on Leslie Saeta's site as painting 24. I decided being just one behind is still okay.

Oh, here is my "Cookies" painting from yesterday. Cute, huh? Sorry this guy is not for sale.

"Snow Friends"  14"x11" acrylic on canvas

How about a photo of all the painters last night? I'll tell you what, we had a great time!

Oh, that's my painting you can see in the monitors!

Hope to chat with you tomorrow.

-JanettMarie

Orange you glad I didn't say Banana...

"Orange One"   8"x6" oil on canvas panel

This must be painting number 23, I may have to go back and count to make sure, maybe.

Painted this one using an even bigger brush yet, I'm up to a one inch wide brush. Usually this size canvas I use a half inch wide brush. No, I didn't really finish in half the time... or did I?

Hope to check in again tomorrow!

Good night!
-JanettMarie

"January Rose 3". -Sold

"January Rose 3"  15"x11"  oil on paper  Sold*

ahhh rose three

Two more roses... -both Sold

"January Rose 1"  14.5 in x 11 in  Oil on paper  -Sold*

The first of three rose paintings I started today. After seeing the photo of this, I may go back into it again tomorrow, we'll see. I didn't really use a live model for this, I used my larger brush and a no pressure attitude. Loose baby, loose.

Here is "January Rose 2" not quite finished, but it will be tomorrow!

"January Rose 2"   14.5 in. by 11 in.  Mixed media on paper

Hmmm, this doesn't look too bad maybe I'll leave it as it is....
I didn't leave it here it is finished...

"January Rose 2"  oil on paper

I discovered today that PV19 for Gamblin Oil paint and PV19 for Winsor Newton are different colors, I was taught that they should be the same. Someone has some explaining to do. And then, I go to the Gamblin website and they have PV19 for Quinacridone Red and Quinacridone Violet, goodness, guess I can't rely on the PV numbers anymore.

Winsor Newton PV19 and Gamblin PV19 with white added

Enough of that boring stuff, I'm going to sleep so I can finish painting these roses tomorrow!

Good Night!

-JanettMarie

PS:  I opened an Etsy Shop today, gonna give it a go with my small paintings.

"Warm Up" and "Top Hat Panda". -Sold

"Warm Up"  10"x8" acrylic on canvas   -Sold*

Two paintings for you tonight, "Warm Up" which is a practice or warm up painting for a commission piece I'm working on. I have a few more elements that need to come together for this one.

And.....

"Top Hat Panda" C&C  14"x11" acrylic on canvas  -nfs

"Top Hat Panda" is a painting for the painters at Cookies & Canvas. Hope they like it!

Okay, where am I?  These are paintings 18 and 19, still on track with my 30 paintings in 30 days...

Oh my goodness, tomorrow is Monday!

Good night....

-JanettMarie

"As I was Saying"

"As I was Saying"   6"x6"  oil on masonite panel

It's that one little leaf hand on the right that makes this rose seem like she's trying to explain something to us. This girl is a tough one to photograph, those reds and pinks are on fire!

I went to sleep at like 1 or 1:30 AM last night (morning) so when 5 o'clock then 6:30 AM came around, I think I opened one eye then closed it back up until 9 AM. Yes, I got my 8 hours, I seem to need that much sleep, so that means I didn't make it to the early morning paint with Lisa Daria (in spirit, Lisa lives in Massachusetts). Regardless, I did commence painting once I woke up and this is what I painted! I painted over that "wiper" from yesterday. I put oil on top of that acrylic I was using yesterday morning. 

This is painting number... I'm going to say 16! Yes, on track. Where is 15? Aahh... remember I told you that I painted W&C last night? Well, I taught again tonight and I was able to photograph my painting from last night, "Life is Good" and my painting from tonight, "Two Palms". Jackpot!! I'm ahead one painting of the 30 paintings in 30 days!! Oh man, I should really sleep in tomorrow, or not. Hey, I'll get back to you and let you know.

Good Night for now...  : )

-JanettMarie

PS:  Here is "Life is Good"... 

"Life is Good"  16"x20" acrylic on canvas -Sold

And... "Two Palms"...

"Two Palms"  20"x16" acrylic on canvas -Sold

The kitchen's a mess!

"Lady in Red"   10"x8" mixed media on canvas

Last night, while painting the Spring rose, I listened to a podcast from last January when Leslie Saeta interviewed Lisa Daria. As a result I was inspired to try to wake up early (5 AM-ish) and paint a flower/rose. So last night before going to bed, I thought I'll get the coffee pot ready and have it automatically come on at 5 AM, the smell will help me wake up. This morning I woke up about 5:10, shuffled around and found my way to the kitchen. The coffee pot didn't come on, I didn't hit the "on" button after I set the preset. Oops, oh well, I hit the on button and away I go. Light, I needed a light for the rose... found one. Long story short, I struggle with that little rose painting and I wiped it off. I decided to work on this little girl instead. I started this in November sometime, well she is a lot closer. After seeing it as a photo, I may need to do just a little more. She also gave me a few more ideas for future paintings... time.

I may try this routine again tomorrow, maybe get a flower painted this time.

I taught a W&C painting with a great group tonight and I was going to use my painting as one of the 30 paintings in 30 days but I forgot to take a photo of it! Oops again!

Good Night...

-JanettMarie

PS:  The kitchen is a mess with painting supplies!

Thinking Spring

"Thinking Spring"   6"x6" oil on masonite panel

What day is it? Oh, January 14th, that means this is painting number 13, because I am still one day behind with my 30 paintings in 30 days. All good.  : )

This painting has three different or new elements that I introduced to my process/painting:

1)  Today I bought a tube of Winsor Newton permanent rose oil paint, sweet color. 

2)  I was inspired by Patti Mollica to use a larger brush, so I used a #10 (3/4"), yesterday I used a 1/2" brush, Patti used a 2" brush in her example but her canvas was a tiny bit larger too (8"x8" really a tiny bit).

3)  The panel I used is a smooth surface as opposed to a texture of canvas. The surface was actually quite slick. I have three more of the smooth panels, I'm going to try using acrylic on one tomorrow.

Well, The skyscraper didn't get painted today because I knew this little rose would not wait for me.

Let's see what tomorrow brings!

Good Night...

-JanettMarie

PS:  Thanks Myra, Hilda, Carolyn and Char.

Study O'Keeffe 1

"Study O'Keeffe 1"   10"x8" acrylic on canvas

Have you heard of an artist, Georgia O'Keeffe? She painted skyscrapers for a short time in her career.

I've always enjoyed her skyscraper paintings, so I thought I would try one with a little twist, JanettMarie style. I haven't quite gotten there yet, but this is a start. I'll do another to get the "mojo" going.

Here is an image of O'Keeffe's painting. I know, I know... do another.

Wow, I really need to do another... let's see wrong proportion, wrong color.... wait! This is my painting! Although from this exercise I see what I want to do differently next time. Gotta go...

Good Night.

-JanettMarie

"First Yellow Rose". -Sold

"First Yellow Rose"  8"x6" oil on canvas panel

The fun/frustration of painting something unfamiliar, what a challenge. Challenge is good. Painting along today, I was recalling when I first started painting the apples, they were not that familiar in the beginning either, so I'm reminding myself to be nice and be patient and to "do another".

Number 11 of the 30 in 30 days.... today is the twelfth day, still only one day behind!

-JanettMarie

Does this count... wait, they all Count! "BFF"

 "BFF"     11"x14" Acrylic on canvas

This is the painting I painted with the young painters today, BFF, you know "Best Friends Forever"
I started a rose painting but a football game got in the way of finishing that.
Here is a short movie of the painters finished paintings today.

Okay, still only one behind... woo hooo....

-JanettMarie

"Waiting for a Date"

"Waiting for a Date"   6.5" x 4.25" mixed media on book page

It is Friday after all.....  This is my ninth painting for the month and today of course is the 10th, so I'm one painting behind. I had big plans for today's double painting of a yellow rose, but I got side tracked with this little piece. I could hear in my mind Leigh saying "Stop JanettMarie, you've spent enough time on this one." I couldn't help it, I was experimenting with Derwent's Inktense pencils and I got carried away with the time.

So much to paint so little time!

-JanettMarie

Two is Okay...

"Above One"   6"x6" oil on canvas panel

"Above Two"   6"x6" oil on canvas panel

I think I have these mixed up as far as which one was on my left and which one was on my right. I painted these at the same time. I thought... "why not", I've painted several at a time before, remember the acrylic on paper with the apple and the coffee cup series. This was very, I want to say "freeing", is that a word?

Here is the rose I worked from, it was a bit unhappy because I had not taken care of it. I tried to make appear a bit more happy.

Unhappy model...

I couldn't help to not think about Georgia O'Keeffe while painting these close up flower images. She was all about that.

I missed the post yesterday, oh well, every once in a while may be better than every day any way, yes?

Maybe I'm crazy, 

-JanettMarie

Two Nutcrackers and a revision...

"Drummin' Up"   4"x2" acrylic on canvas

What better way to catch up then by painting two itty bitty paintings of nutcrackers! Yes, this guy is drummin' up all kinds of things to do. The Nutcrackers are fun to paint but yet take time because of all the intricate buttons and buckles and details nutcrackers have.

Here is painting number six, a nutcracker carrying a flag so I call him "Flag Man".

"Flag Man"   4"x2" acrylic on canvas

One more painting I have to share is a new version of yesterday's painting. I just couldn't leave it alone. I think I can now.

"January Four" v2   8"x6" mixed media on canvas panel

Well, I'm gonna take a break now and report again tomorrow.

Stay warm....

-JanettMarie

So much for two today...

"January Four"    8"x6" mixed media on canvas panel

I worked on several paintings at a time today and almost did't finish one! I'm not even sure if this one should be considered finished. Maybe tomorrow will be my day to finally get caught up, time will tell. And yes, I'm surprise with this painting, I had no idea... can you tell?

Oh, I thought I would show you how much snow is in our front yard.

When was the last time I trudged through snow that was almost up to me knees in Indiana? It's been a while and now it's 6ºF and windy like 30 mph, feels like -15ºF. Nope, I'm not going outside!

We will see what tomorrow brings.

Time for a change...

Rose Three  6"x6" on canvas

Wow, I think I need to start from the beginning again. This rose was so open there is so much going on I'm just overwhelmed!

This is three, today is day four, I bet I'll get two out tomorrow. We're supposed to get snowed in here late tonight, so what else will I have to do tomorrow but paint?

It is time for a change, don't be surprised if the next painting is other than a rose...   : )

Fun is good!

-JanettMarie

Do Another... ---Sold

Rose Two- 6"x6" oil on canvas panel

Another try at a rose painting. I have the underpainting to show you...

I'm not sure how I can go from here to up there, but I did.  I wanted to paint this rose simply like a Morandi, then I thought "How would Van Gogh paint a rose?", I ended up with this. Go figure, no, do another!

-JanettMarie

First little post of the year 2014 -Sold

6"x6" oil on canvas panel

This is the first painting of the year for me and the first painting of my 2014, thirty paintings in thirty days challenge with Leslie Saeta.

Believe it or not this painting took me a long time to do. I had to clean up my home studio first, then I had to figure out how to set up my studio for still lives again and on and on and on....

Now, I've been watching Qiang Huang paint roses for the last couple days and decided to give it a try. This is the first. I started this painting and got really picky. Then I remembered I usually have fun painting and I wasn't having fun, so I changed my attitude, finished this guy and I will try again tomorrow!

Do another, that's what I tell my students, that is what I tell myself today.  : )

Happy New Year!

-JanettMarie