Give me a knife

"Apple, Deconstructed"

2 6x6 museum quality panels

$95 each

When I started my painting for the Daily Paintworks Challenge, little did I know that the painting would be the least of my issues.  This week was a Ten Minute Challenge.  Choosing one subject & setting the timer for 10 minutes for each 3" piece.  While I stuck within the one subject challenge, I decided to tweak it a bit by "deconstructing" my apple as I went.  Some of the paintings look a slight "askew" because I had the most dull knife at the studio.  Deconstructing took on the look of destroying about half way through.  By the last painting, I had hacked the apple to the point that I had to tape the bottom of the core (see photo below for my lovely knife work) & then use the roll of tape to keep it upright.  I really enjoyed this challenge and it's now going to be an exercise for my students.  Hope you will check out the other challenge paintings at Daily Paintworks Challenge . 

                       

At Month's End

"No White After Labor Day"

6x6    $95

Today's painting is for a monthly blog challenge to paint something that relates to September.  Not wearing white after Labor Day was a chant I always heard from my mom.  So painting white shoes was an obvious choice.  I didn't realize that I don't really wear white shoes until I went to find some to paint.  So while visiting a friend last week, I asked if she had any white shoes that I might photograph.  Despite my strange request, we went rummaging through she and her daughters' closets.  She also didn't have any white shoes either but I took pictures of some darling non-white sandals that I could possibly paint white.  Try as I might, it didn't work but I did manage to get a picture of her daughter's cute white sandal.  So Caroline, sorry your shoes didn't make the cut for this painting but no worries, I have plans for your non-white shoes. 

Challenge Complete, Artist Done

Sorry for the not great photo but here it is anyway.  Okay, I readily admit I'm not in Hopper's league.  It was hard to approach this painting with restraint in color, brushwork & not "prettying" it up.  I so wanted to add my brushstrokes and mix my colors.  But that's what challenges are for.  I want to "thank" Adelaide Simpson who challenged me to paint "Morning Light".  Your "reward" is coming.  Now it's time for Adelaide & anyone else to comment. 

The 1st Challenge

The painting challenge is on!  Hopefully every month or so, I will post a challenge asking for photos or request that represent the subject of each challenge.  Sometimes it will be a specific subject matter, a phrase or word or interpreting a famous painting.  The rules are simple, from the information that you respond with, I will choose one photo or request and paint it.  The painting will be featured on my blog with the winning person's response.  Good or bad, I'll post it, maybe.

Now for 1st Challenge.  Because I've only given you a short period of time, I won't ask for a photo.  Instead, choose a fairly well known artist.  It will need to be from a deceased artist & I will have to be able to obtain a good image of it.  It could be a Monet, a DaVinci, Sargent or any number of wonderful artists.  I will "interpret" the painting to the best of my ability.  If you are unsure of where to obtain a painting image, just google any artist name & there usually are a few sites that provide a number of paintings from a particular artist.  Then just email the name of the artist & painting or link the site for me. You will have until Friday, March 26th to email me your challenge.  Then I will have until the end of April to paint & post it.  I hope to post it before then but I have a couple of events that so it may take me until the end of April.  I'm not sure what I'm getting myself into but go to it!  Challenge me.

Email:  kelleyart@gmail.com