Two More TMC's

Two more Twenty Minute Challenge paintings:

"Candle" (you can tell a lot of thought went into that title ;-) was done last week and "Firs in the Snow" was done this morning.

Candle was simply more practice on the "get in, get it done, get out" philosophy.

Firs in the Snow was a little more specific. In this little exercise I was after accomplishing two goals:

1. Creating a soft, misty background using the wet in wet technique
2. Experimenting with a softer, more subdued palette than I normally use.

I like the softer palette and plan to work on that some more. Doing these TMC's is the perfect opportunity to try out new things, get in some uncomplicated practice... and just have fun painting!

2nd TMC (Twenty Minute Challenge)

I'm learning more in this little 20 minute challenge than I ever dreamed I would!

I wanted a simple subject so I could focus on keeping the colors clean.... and not overworking (the bane of my artistic life). I think I'm at least heading in the right direction.

Have a good weekend!

The Twenty Minute Challenge produces a rather "UnTeresalike" painting

I need to learn to simplify. To focus on the details only when I want to, and learn to see my subject as color and tones masses, rather than this particular object or that.

With that goal in mind I decided to participate in The Twenty Minute Challenge, administered by Teri of Teri's Painted Daisies.... click here for a link to Teri's blog where you can access the TMC (Twenty Minute Challenge) and Cactus Monday... I joined that too!

With the TMC, you get 20 minutes to draw and paint your picture. That's it. No fudging on the time! As my timer counted the minutes down to zero, mild panic set in and I began to sling paint faster and faster! That accounted for some of the sloppiness in this. It was a great exercise, and though slightly nerve wracking when you're getting close to running out of time, it was lots of fun. So nice to just paint and not keep second guessing my choices.

I'm beginning to understand the truth of the statement that "in art quantity equals quality." Read the books, watch the videos, take the workshops... all great tools. But in the end, it's the time at the painting table or easel that makes one an artist.

I've posted my first (and sloppy) TMC painting. Shucks, 20 mins is a minor miracle for me... I consider one day to be a challenge ;-)

A FABULOUS treat arrived in the mail!

Oh, gosh!! I was overwhelmed when I opened the package from Milly (visit her blog here to see more of her gorgeous art).

Milly held a drawing on her blog (http://drawingsfromnature-milly.blogspot.com/2010/08/festival-of-quilts-nec-my-butterfly.html) and invited readers to guess how many butterflies are on her quilt. I guessed 778 and the correct answer was 777! Can't believe I got that close! Pure luck! So Milly emailed me, asked me for my mailing address and told me to be on the lookout for a gift in the mail.

I was expecting something modest, something small. My mouth dropped opened when I removed the wrapper and saw what was inside. Wow! A tag which I shall use as a bookmark (especially since she wrote on the back... makes it that much more meaningful), the neatest little origami art book, a hand-bound sketch book, and a package of her beautiful, beautiful art cards... they're so pretty I don't want to use them! :-)

All of this was handmade and carried her own art designs. Thank you so very much, Milly! I will treasure this wonderful gift and the kind and generous spirit in which it was given. Lucky me!

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I'd also like to say "Thank you" for all the kind and caring comments. My arms/wrists are doing a lot better (brace is off...yay!!) so I'm going to ease back into spending some time on the computer. Thanks again... you guys are such a wonderful bunch of people- it's a privilege to be blog friends with you!

An enforced break...

If I haven't visited your blog lately... it's not because I didn't want to. I'm having a lot of pain in the wrists and elbows of both arms and having to limit my time on the computer since it makes it worse. I think 20 years of working on a computer is catching up with me (did I really say that? Am I that old? Yep... started working on a computer when it was still in MS DOS... anyone remember that? Yikes!) Elbow and wrist braces, along with Aleve or Ibuprofen, are helping some.

I'm still painting - short, limited sessions. Will post the results when I finish. I'm taking photos as I progress and will post the WIP's with the finished painting.

Have a great weekend.... I'll visit a few blogs at a time until I get around!