DAY 3 - Retroactive

I am DONE! Thirty pieces of art done in 30 days! I think I will take a few days off after this - no, wait - I have Art Club on Wednesday so I guess I will only take one day off.

I decided to finish with the style that I have spent so much time on lately, so here is another Oriental Style painting.

Flowering Peach

Flowering Peach is a 7 x 10 watercolor on crinkled Masa paper. Once again the water is the difficult part of this style and using the crinkled paper added to the challenge. This paper is a bit thicker than normal rice paper so more water can be used which is good as it works better with the texturing. But I had to be careful not to use too much water - it is all a balancing act!

I hope everyone has a great week! Think Spring!

DAY 30 - The End!

Today is the last (official) day of the "30 Paintings in 30 Days Challenge". I have a few days to catch up to make it to my 30 but for the organizers this is it! From what I gather, these things happen more than once a year but I think it will be a while before I sign up again.

I wanted to end with something to remind us that Spring is coming and we will soon see buds, blooms and birds.

Wisteria & Warbler

I found with this painting that it was almost impressionistic. The flowers and leaves are not detailed, but the plant is still identifiable. I practised the flowers quite a bit before I started the painting but I used different paper so it was hard to duplicate what I practised.

I hope you have enjoyed following along with my progress and that of the other artists. Take a last look at all the work at - http://lesliesaeta.blogspot.ca/ and then go over and cast your vote - remember you will still need to vote tomorrow for today's paintings - http://paintamasterpiece.blogspot.ca/

Don't forget to check in with this blog in the next few days to see my final 3 paintings of my 30 days. Better yet, add your email address and follow my blog all the time.

DAY 29 - Colorful Strokes

Today's painting is full of colorful strokes and every one is double or triple loaded!

Cock-a-doodle-do!

I drew the rooster on some practice paper because I didn't want to take the chance of damaging the rice paper with erasing, then I transferred it over. I decided to make some red transfer paper so I wouldn't have a dark outline showing through the yellow.

Once again the reference was in black and grey so I had to search my files for some pictures of these colorful birds. "Cock-a-doodle-do" is a 7 x 10 watercolor on Masa rice paper.

With only today and tomorrow left, if you haven't checked out the other art being posted I hope you will today at - http://lesliesaeta.blogspot.ca/ and then go and vote for your favorites  at -http://paintamasterpiece.blogspot.ca/. Remember that you can go back and vote on the days you missed!.

DAY 28 - On the Home Stretch

Well, the 30 Paintings in 30 Days Challenge is almost done! As I got started late I will finish 3 pieces on my own to make my numbers up to 30. I won't be able to post them on Leslie's blog or on Sea Dean's blog but I will still write about them here.

I painted another flower for today's piece, once again using the white paint to blend the colors.

Magnolia

This piece was awkward as I had trouble figuring out the way the petals turned. I had a look at some photos on-line and Magnolia petals appear to white on the inside and colored on the outside. The reference photo in the copy book was black and gray so there was some guessing going on.

"Magnolia" is a 7.5 x 7 watercolor on rice paper.

Don't forget to have a look at all of the art on Leslie's blog - http://lesliesaeta.blogspot.ca/ and then go and vote on Sea Dean's blog - http://paintamasterpiece.blogspot.ca/

If you are interested in buying any of my paintings from this challenge, (or any of my paintings) you can see them all - with prices - in the Challenge Album on my Facebook page - https://www.facebook.com/val.vanderpoel or in the Mellowood album on my Google+ page - https://plus.google.com/u/0/+ValvanderPoel/posts

DAY 27 - The East Side

Today I chose three elements that can be found on the east side of the Creston Valley.

The East Side

I decided to use color again to see if I could keep the composition limited to the three elements; the mountains, some orchards and the grain elevators. It turned out pretty subtle which the valley isn't. In the spring, the valley is blooming with flowering trees and in the summer it is vibrant with many shades of green.

"The East Side" is a 7 x 10 watercolor on Masa rice paper.

BTW - The elevators are not in use and may not last many more years: it is a shame that it is too expensive to preserve these signs of the past.

See more art at - http://lesliesaeta.blogspot.ca/ and then go and vote at - http://paintamasterpiece.blogspot.ca/ -

DAY 26 - Just the Elements

I think today's painting does a better job of depicting just a few elements of the scene I wanted to portray.

Mountains & Flats

The Creston Valley has a number of elements that are easily identifiable. To the east there are mountains, orchards and vineyards: to the west there are mountains, the wetlands and the Flats. And, almost everywhere you look there are trees; fir, larch, cedar, aspen and poplar to name a few.

'Mountains & Flats' shows the west view without the detail that one of my regular paintings would show. I think it more in keeping with the Oriental style. I just used black and gray as a reminder to keep my focus. The painting is a 7 x 8 watercolor on rice paper.

The Flats are the flood plain for the Kootenay River as it goes into Kootenay Lake. Many years ago, before the dykes and dams were built, the valley floor would be flooded every spring and people would have to come to town by boat. The Flats are now rich farm land except for the parts reserved for the Creston Valley Wildlife Management Area.

Here are the links again for you to check out the other art and to vote for your favorites - http://lesliesaeta.blogspot.ca/  and http://paintamasterpiece.blogspot.ca/

DAY 24 - On My Own

Today I decided to take what I have learned about Oriental style painting and see if I could apply it to a local scene.

Kootenay Lake

This scene is based on one of my photos of Kootenay Lake: a place that used to be called Cummings Resort but now has a strange name that I don't remember.

I am not very happy with this painting as the style is a bit too much like my regular pieces. It doesn't have that vignette quality that I see in the Oriental style. My analysis of the landscapes in my copy books suggests that only a few elements of a scene are painted and they are not usually connected.

I have a few other photos that I will work from in the next few days but this piece will be going in the NFS file!

Remember to stop by -http://lesliesaeta.blogspot.ca/ to see the work from the other artists in the challenge and then go to Sea Dean's blog to vote on your favourites - http://paintamasterpiece.blogspot.ca/

If you would like to see more of my art check out my Facebook Art page at - https://www.facebook.com/pages/Mellowood-Studio-and-Art-Gallery/120412094734638?ref=hl

Join me on Google+ at - https://plus.google.com/u/0/+ValvanderPoel/posts

and I have finally opened an account on Pinterest although there is not much to see yet  - http://www.pinterest.com/val1057/boards/

DAY 23 - Using White

Most watercolor artists don't use white paint - they use the white of the paper and blend their color into the white with water. This is difficult with rice paper because the paint doesn't blend and more water just makes blooms. I was lucky to find an old tube of white paint in my drawer so I could do some of these paintings. The tube was all dried up but I just cut off the end and peeled away the casing and the paint was ready to use!

Poppy & Butterfly

Loading the brush with white then dipping the tip in Alizarin and making your stroke with a bit of a swirl reminds me of tole painting. Most of the elements in this painting used white so the colors are a bit muted and possibly less vibrant.

"Poppy & Butterfly is a 5.5 x 6 watercolor on rice paper, priced at $25.00. If you are interested in any of the challenge paintings contact me through the website at - http://www.mellowood.ca/art/index.html or comment here.

Don't forget to check out all of the art at http://lesliesaeta.blogspot.ca/ and then go to http://paintamasterpiece.blogspot.ca/ to vote on the paintings posted there.

I wish everyone a great weekend and hope you will check tomorrow for the next painting in the 30 paintings in 30 days challenge.

DAY 22 - Daily Lessons

I learn something new everyday as I continue following the copy books for Oriental style painting. The illustration for this painting was in black & grey so I used one of my flower books to get a sense of the true color of the flower. Then I followed the instructions for applying color from that book instead of using the Oriental style I am supposed to be learning. Lesson? - one book at a time!

Chrysanthemums

The double and triple loading of the brush is coming much easier as is the amount of water to use when mixing the paints. I am learning to control my hand for those fine stokes and for the touch, press and swirl technique that is used to make the leaves. "Chrysanthemums" is a 7 x 7 watercolor on rice paper.

Yesterday, a friend told me that she talked to someone at the library who is following my progress on Facebook and he commented along the lines that he could see the improvement in my Oriental paintings. It was nice to hear but I wish he would comment where I could see it!

I have been enjoying checking out the art by the other artists in this challenge and I hope you are too. Here is the link again - http://lesliesaeta.blogspot.ca/. And, although only a fraction of the artists are entering their paintings in the voting contest, that is fun too. I hope you will go and vote (for my paintings too please) at -http://paintamasterpiece.blogspot.ca/.

Day 21 - Working with Interruptions

I painted today's piece while I was at the Creston Art Club's weekly painting session. This presented a couple of challenges. First, the tables are old and when someone welds a brush or eraser vigorously the whole table shakes. I was interrupted by this twice and finally had to move because I was trying to paint some very fine lines. Second, I am the treasurer of the group and was interrupted by members coming to pay their dues.

Blue Heron in Fall

I also found the composition challenging. I am right handed and find it easier to paint a line from left to right and some of the lines in this piece needed to go from right to left. Of course, I just turned the paper up-side-down instead of trying something so awkward for me.

A word about rice paper - you CAN do a wash but the paper takes forever to dry which is strange because it is so thin!

Don't forget to check out the other art and artists in this challenge - just click on the picture and it will take you to their blog or website. This challenge is hosted by - http://lesliesaeta.blogspot.ca/. After you have finished looking at all of the art, go to Sea Dean's blog and vote for your favorite painting of those posted - http://paintamasterpiece.blogspot.ca/

DAY 20 - Rush, Rush, Rush!

I spent most of the day helping my husband, Bob, replace the florescent lights in my studio with some LEDs. The new lights are wonderful but the chore kept me from painting until late in the day. So, with the thought in my mind that I had to get the painting done so I could write this blog before dinner I felt a little rushed.

Chickadee & Ivy

Fortunately, the subject I chose to paint was, except for the bird, pretty loose and rushing doesn't appear to have been detrimental. Chickadee & Ivy is a 6 x 7 watercolor on Masa rice paper.

Don't forget to check out the art at - http://lesliesaeta.blogspot.ca/ and then go and vote at - http://paintamasterpiece.blogspot.ca/

Day 19 - Good Feng Shui

Today I painted some Gold Fish, a very popular subject to paint apparently. The color represents prosperity and wealth and it is also a good feng shui subject and will bring good fortune to the home.

Fat Little Fish

This is another subject I will have to practise more! The challenge is to get the right amount of water in the brush to achieve wet at the start of the stroke and dry at the end.  In this painting each fish has a different look to the tail fin and they should have been similar. Oh well, maybe good fortune will come to me even though the fish aren't perfect.

Get more of an art fix on Leslie's blog at - http://lesliesaeta.blogspot.ca/ and then go to Sea Dean's blog to vote for your favorite pieces (mine included I hope) http://paintamasterpiece.blogspot.ca/

DAY 18 - Squeezing it in!

My granddaughter has been visiting since yesterday so I have had to squeeze today's painting in where time allowed. I have gone back to the Oriental style  today and admit that a few days off makes a difference in the ease of using the techniques - it was harder - lol!

Weeping Willow

This copy is just a small part of the instruction piece but I felt I really didn't have time for a larger piece. 'Weeping Willow' is a 4.5 x 8 watercolor on rice paper.

All of the paintings I have done for this challenge are for sale and you can find the prices in the Challenge 2015 album on my personal Facebook page - https://www.facebook.com/val.vanderpoel. Contact me here or message me on FB.

For those who are following along don't forget http://lesliesaeta.blogspot.ca/ and http://paintamasterpiece.blogspot.ca/ for more of the art in the challenge.

This is why my time was limited today!

When my granddaughter visits we often come up with something to create together and this weekend was no exception. We tie-dyed some clothing and fabric and here is a photo of some of the results - Jasmine is very happy with our efforts!


I think they look a bit like PJ's but then I am not 12 years old. There is another t-shirt and some fabric that will be turned into pillows next time  she visits.





There is almost always something happening when you are an artist so one is never bored and life is full of color and creativity!

Day 15 - Half-way there!

It is so strange! Yesterday I really enjoyed painting and was very happy with the finished product. I had a good night's sleep and should have been raring to go today. BUT, I had to force myself to sit down and paint. I chose my subject, got the paper and paints ready, and then just sat there. I got up and went into the kitchen looking for something that had to be done, cursed, went back to the studio and started painting.

Waterfall & Pine Trees

I tried to use the various strokes suggested in "Chinese Landscape Painting for Beginners" - bent-ribbon veins, axe-cut veins, moss dots, bone strokes to name a few. In some cases using the proper stroke was very difficult because my hand wanted to paint in my normal style and I had to keep correcting myself. I used color again instead of black and gray and am reasonably happy with today's painting but it was an effort.

Check out the art submitted to the challenge at - http://lesliesaeta.blogspot.ca/ and then go and vote at http://paintamasterpiece.blogspot.ca/. Remember, you can vote for 3 paintings and you can go back and vote on the days you might have missed too.

DAY 13 - Practise, Practise, Practise

One advantage to trying to learn Oriental Brush painting is that you are allowed - nay, expected - to copy. It saves having to think of what to paint but sets a very high bar to reach and that takes a lot of practising!

Swallow & Plum Blossoms

Today's exercise was the Eurasian Tree Swallow and Plum Blossoms. I worked from "How to Draw and Paint Watercolors" in the section titled "Watercolor on Rice Paper by Lucy Wang". The basic strokes are demonstrated and I spent quite a while practising before I began my final attempt. It is interesting that the flowers don't look like much until the black is added.

Pop over to http://lesliesaeta.blogspot.ca/ to see the work of the other artists in this challenge and then go to http://paintamasterpiece.blogspot.ca/ to vote on the paintings on display there.

DAY 11 - Two for the Price of One!

Today I did two paintings of the same thing. It is sometimes difficult when you are copying to judge size correctly and something that looks good at the start may not look as good at the finish.

White Cherry Blossoms

I began this piece with the blossoms. They certainly looked large enough but when I went to paint in the stamens I didn't have any room. So, I painted the picture again!

Cherry Blossoms with Blue

Bigger and better, and for variety I added some blue in the background. I had fun playing with the trunk of the tree but I think the shape is a little strange. However, I have seen some pretty strange looking fruit trees here in the valley because of the way they prune so maybe it is okay.

There are a number of artists in this challenge and their daily paintings can be found  at http://lesliesaeta.blogspot.ca/ so I hope you will check them out - click on the photos to see larger photos of your favourites. Also, go to Sea Dean's blog at http://paintamasterpiece.blogspot.ca/ to vote and get the chance to win a prize!

DAY 10 - If at First You Don't Succeed...

Try, try again! That was one of my mother's favourite sayings and it certainly applies with this painting.

Heavy Snow

I find it extremely difficult to do washes on rice paper! Load up the brush with lots of pale bluey-gray, touch the paper and, suck, it is all absorbed before you can even move the brush. It doesn't move, won't blend and doesn't look at all like the reference photo. Grrr!

Using lots of wet paint also tends to make the paper warp so I thought I would give it a light touch with the iron. Everything that had been painted flattened but the whites all wrinkled. Another grrr!

This is definitely a scene that I will have to try again - and again and again probably - but that is all part of learning something new.

Don't forget to have a look at the other paintings submitted for this 30 day challenge -   http://lesliesaeta.blogspot.ca/ and go and vote for your favourites at - http://paintamasterpiece.blogspot.ca/

DAY 8 - Harder than it Looks

I believe one of the tenets of Oriental Brush Painting is that the student learns by copying a master's work. So, I looked through my books and found a subject that I thought I could copy with reasonable ease. Ha! The joke was on me.

Bird in the Grasses

 It took me over an hour to figure out which directions my strokes needed to go for this little bird. Then another hour or so just practising until I was happy with my technique.

Bird in the Grasses is an 8 x 11 watercolor on thin rice paper, floating mounted on an 11 x 14 mat.

Be sure to check out the paintings by other artists in the challenge at http://lesliesaeta.blogspot.ca/2015/01/thirty-paintings-in-30-days-day-eight.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed:+blogspot/PzFQn+%28Slices+of+Life%29 and also check out and vote for your 3 favourites at http://paintamasterpiece.blogspot.ca/

Day 5 but only my 2nd

I was painting first thing this morning but I had to go shovel snow before I was finished. It was the first major snow this year with about 12 inches and still coming down.

snow in the courtyard

The world is very monotone today so I should have painted color to brighten things up but I had another picture in mind. Here is my painting for day 5.

House Plant

I wanted to try Oriental style brush work with a regular subject. I find it really hard to paint without resting my hand or arm on the table but that is the way it is done! 'House Plant' is watercolor on 4.5 x 4.5 piece of very thin rice paper and is mounted on a 7 x 9 mat.

Check out all the paintings for day 5 at http://lesliesaeta.blogspot.ca/, then go to
http://paintamasterpiece.blogspot.ca/ to vote on the paintings posted there. Voters and artists have a chance to win a prize so vote as much as you can!

Day 4 of a 30 day Challenge

Oriental Tiger LIly

I decided to try a painting challenge this year. 30 paintings in 30 days! I am late getting started but I figure I need an excuse to get me going after the holiday season.

If you would like to see some of the many paintings submitted to this challenge check out - http://lesliesaeta.blogspot.ca/

Here is my painting for Day 4 - Oriental Tiger Lily  is a 5 x 7 watercolor on crinkled Masa Rice paper mounted on a 8 x 10 mat.

Now I have to figure out how to share it to Leslie's blog.