31 Keep It Up

still life, oil, 6x6, 'Keep It Up'

Thirty Paintings in Thirty Days

'Thirty Paintings in Thirty Days'

Starting on January 1st, I painted a 6" x 6" still life of fruit for every day in January and posted them on my social media sites. To be ready for the challenge I decided I needed: 1) thirty smaller sized boards, 2) a theme, 3) thirty catchy titles, and 4) a visit to the grocery store's produce section. (I look at fruit differently now!) Having these things in place I was able to paint, photograph, and post with more ease than trying to figure it out each day. In other words, I was PREPARED! My focus during this challenge was on form and shadows to create an interesting design. I am happy with the results of painting everyday. Not every piece is a winner but I grew from the daily practice. It has helped me to not only get into a daily habit, but I am now more familiar with my set ups and the possibilities are endless. This will flow into my plein air paintings as the winter eases and opportunities come my way. Who knows what the future holds? More challenges?

30 Round Trip

still life, oil, 6x6, 'Round Trip'

29 Rest Stop

still life, acrylic, 6x6, 'Rest Stop'

This is my first 6x6 attempt with acrylic paint. So different than oils. 

I think I need some daily practice to improve my image making! 

WaterWorks Art Museum (WAM)

plein air, oil, 16 x 20, 'Waiting for the Rain'

I have three paintings juried into "The Confluence" art exhibition at the WaterWorks Art Museum (WAM) where things flow together and meet! There are 63 pieces of artwork that will amaze you! Juror Jerry David Cornelia will award Best of Show, 2nd Place and 3rd Place Awards.

WaterWorks Art Museum - Miles City, MT

38th Annual Juried Exhibit

Sunday, January 29, 2017

Opening reception from 1 to 4 pm

28 Pie-to-go

still life, oil, 6x6, 'Pie-to-go'

Daily practice is an important path to improving creativity and image making!

WaterWorks Art Museum (WAM)

plein air, oil, 16 x 20, 'Early Sunrise'

I have three paintings juried into "The Confluence" art exhibition at the WaterWorks Art Museum (WAM) where things flow together and meet! There are 63 pieces of artwork that will amaze you! Juror Jerry David Cornelia will award Best of Show, 2nd Place and 3rd Place Awards.

WaterWorks Art Museum - Miles City, MT

38th Annual Juried Exhibit

Sunday, January 29, 2017

Opening reception from 1 to 4 pm

27 Never to Much

still life, oil, 6x6, 'Never too Much'

Daily practice is an important path to improving creativity and image making!

WaterWorks Art Museum (WAM)

plein air, oil, 12 x 16, 'Colorado River'

I have three paintings juried into "The Confluence" art exhibition at the WaterWorks Art Museum (WAM) where things flow together and meet! There are 63 pieces of artwork that will amaze you! Juror Jerry David Cornelia will award Best of Show, 2nd Place and 3rd Place Awards.

WaterWorks Art Museum - Miles City, MT

38th Annual Juried Exhibit

Sunday, January 29, 2017

Opening reception from 1 to 4 pm

26 Normal

still life, oil, 6x6, 'Normal'

25 Magic Circles

still life, oil, 6x6, 'Magic Circles'

24 Hush

still life, oil, 6x6, 'Hush'

23 Lane Shift Ahead

still life, oil, 6x6, 'Lane Shift Ahead'

22 Let's Go

still life, oil, 6x6, 'Let's Go'

21 Live Well

still life, oil, 6x6, 'Live Well'

20 Hijacked

still life, oil, 6x6, 'Hijacked'

19 La-di-da

still life, oil, 6x6, 'La-di-da'

18 More Doing

still life, oil, 6x6, 'More Doing'

17 Glamour Gaze

still life, oil, 6x6, 'Glamour Gaze'

Are onions a fruit? I know someone who eats them like apples!

16 Fruit Heaven

still life, oil, 6x6, 'Fruit Heaven'

So many fruity decisions of what to use fruitfully to improve fruititivity and image fruiting!
Daily practice is an important path to improving creativity and image making!

15 Harmony

still life, oil, 6x6, 'Harmony'

Daily practice is an important path to improving creativity and image making!
#stradaeasel #30paintingsin30days #oilpainting #6x6 #dailypainter #utahartist #dailypainting #fruitandform #caroljohansenart

14 Grit

still life, oil, 6x6, 'Grit'

Positive shapes connected together forming four negative unequal spaces.
Now that takes pure art grit!

First Grade Friday

Fabulous Firsties

The beginning of 2017 finds abundant talent with these fabulous firsties. #teachingfirstgrade #coloringisfun #utahartist #caroljohansenart #firstgradefriday 

13 Gold Rush

still life, oil, 6x6, 'Gold Rush'

Can you see the happy face? Apples make me smile! I've always loved to climb trees, especially, to climb my mother's favorite apple tree without her knowing. She is gone now. It is one of those memories to run back to. What a gold rush! 

12 Giddy Up

still life, oil, 6x6, 'Giddy Up'

I know this painting doesn't look much like a horse but where's your imagination?

11 Expect More

still life, oil, 6x6, 'Expect More'

This has been day 11 of my January challenge to paint a daily 6x6 still life of form and shadows using fruit, vegetables and various objects creating an interesting design. I am so happy I didn't try to paint the winter landscape this month as it has be buried in snow drifts! I expect to practice more as an important path to improving creativity and image making.

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10 Early Responder

still life, oil, 6x6, 'Early Responder'

I love the vintage cobalt blue bottle next to tangerine orange. It gives a visual punch to this painting. Daily practice is an important path to improving creativity and image making!

9 Dive

still life, oil, 6x6, 'Dive'

"Come on, you can do it!" High dive encouragement from the pear couple.
Daily practice is an important path to improving creativity and image making!

8 Dew Daw

still life, oil, 6x6, 'Dew Daw'

Two pears  =  a pair. Could this be a pearship or friendship? I'm thinking a possible marriage, after all I  found them in the crisper together! Daily practice is an important path to improving creativity and image making! 

7 Change in Motion

still life, oil, 6x6, 'Change in Motion'

I lOvE! these vibrate complementary colors. Festive don't you think? These little peppers are not only good to eat but so fun to paint. I'm keeping the motion going by painting every day! Daily practice is an important path to improving creativity and image making!

6 Cat Lookout

still life, oil, 6x6, 'Cat Lookout'

I didn't think fruit had a personality but the more I setup a still life to paint the more I see different characteristics of each piece. I'm implementing January's mantra to paint everyday to improve and I think it is working for me!

5 Cabin Pressure

still life, oil, 6x6, 'Cabin Pressure'

Three snow days in a row! Now I know why I went into teaching.

4 Answer the Call

still life, oil, 6x6, 'Answer the Call'

Today's painting I added a few objects to go with the pear. The design seems to work together harmoniously and I really like the combination of yellow and violet complementary color scheme. Answer the call of daily practice as an important path to improving creativity and image making! 

Fresh Snow

Notice all the tracks in the field? The farm has become a winter haven for 

the valley mule deer. They love to spend time in the barn eating my hay. 

plein air, oil, 6x6, 'Fresh Snow'

3 Bash is Over

still life, oil, 6x6, 'Bash is Over'

Today's painting is about value, form, shadow, and color hopefully, in the right places. This month's mantra: Daily practice is an important path to improving creativity and image making! 

2 Be Brave

still life, oil, 6x6, 'Be Brave'

Today's painting is about value, form, and shadow. I am so brave! I painted monochromatic using burnt umber and painting medium. Daily practice is an important path to improving creativity and image making.  

Extreme Snow

My first painting after our white Christmas! I waited until the afternoon 

sun warmed the temperatures up to venture out to plein air paint. 

plein air, oil, 6x6, 'Extreme Snow'

                               

1 All Aboard

still life, oil, 6x6, 'All Aboard'

During the month of January, I will concentrate my 6x6 still life paintings on form and shadows using various fruits or vegetables and other objects like plates, cups, vases, etc. to create an interesting design. This will be a challenge! Daily practice is an important path to improving creativity and image making.