Tuesday, June 16, 2009

A Painting A Day

Lately I've been feeling like I'm more of a factory than an artist. Selling hand-painted glassware is my bread and butter, and while it's crafty, painted glasses are hardly "fine art." So to combat my insecurities as a lazy artist I've taken on a challenge. I'm going to paint an oil painting a day. That's right. From start to finish, a painting a day. They are obviously going to have to be small, but I think small might be better anyway. The giant 5 feet canvases sure are a lot of fun but honestly, who has the wall space for a 5 foot painting?! These paintings will all be small enough to fit on any wall, and they'll be ready to frame when finished (and dried of course). I'm not alone in tackling this challenge. I've seen a few other artists doing the same thing. They mostly sell their works on ebay for anywhere from $100 to $500. The work is impressive and I was shocked to learned that each painting was done in one day. Well, I'm now two days into my challenge and I can't believe how much fun I'm already having. It's so rewarding to start with a blank canvas and then just a few hours later have a finished piece. Even just two days in I can already feel myself becoming more atune to art in everyday things. A ripe green lime and a few garlic cloves look more like a still-life than guacomole ingredients. I'm excitied and nervous. Please try and keep me on track. If you notice I've missed a day or two--say something! I would love the encouragement and any comments you'd care to share about the daily work. Each painting will be available for sale on Etsy. I also won't be creating prints of any of the paintings. So once it's purchased, that's it. This is going to be fun...

001: Blue Hydrangeas
size 11x14 inches
oil on stretched canvas
Sold



002: Beer and Peanuts
size 11x14 inches
oil on stretched canvas
SOLD

Sold

2 comments:

  1. I applaud you for taking on a challenge, we need to do that every now and then. And I DOUBLY applaud you for not making more 'cheap' art that just lowers the value for everything else. Small is good but that doesn't mean its for peanuts. last clappage of hands...your works aren't at least to me, an 'easy way out', I can see you are doing intricate detailed work. so bravo!

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  2. Raising her hand high she calls out, "I object! I object!" The silence, deprived of the belly filling sound of thunderous applause, waits to be filled.

    She continues with less volume, "Have you thought of us? The addicts. We who gasp at blue hydrangea's laughingly flaunting themselves against yellow walls that joyfully join in the joke..." She pauses to shake of the unintended alliteration, and pleads,

    "Do you have no feeling? No sense of common decency? Or... Do you not know? The very thought of a, 'Mary Elizabeth' original that will be gone forever, into the void. No scrap of a card to hold on to. The dream of beauty, forever in the den of a stranger." The loud new-comer pauses mid rant. "Oh my, I forgot to say hello".

    Oh yeah, err... Hello.

    P.S. I love the Hydrangea! The cards and prints arrived safely, and are brightening up my kitchen.

    P.P.S. I have no idea how you ever let go of a single piece!

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Thanks so much for your comment.