Day 30!!! (30 in 30 for 30)

"Margarita"  8x10  acrylic on canvas

available here

After a month of finished paintings every day, I need a drink!  Just kidding... for today's painting I am toasting all of my fellow AEDM creatives (and all of the people who have supported and encouraged us) as we celebrate day 30!  Congratulations - this one's for you!

Since I am going to "savour" this feeling of accomplishment, this painting also serves as my entry for this week's Illustration Friday challenge.

A lot of people have been asking me if I will continue in December.  Well as the expression goes, "No rest for the wicked."  I will be taking tomorrow to recover from my painting hangover, then it's right back to creating for me...

December will be my Sketchbook Project month (since it is still in pieces from changing the paper I have my work cut out for me).  It's okay though - as much as I love to paint, I really miss drawing.  Not quick, put your ideas to paper sketches (I've been doing that all along), but take your time, finish, shade, and possibly even color drawings.

Stay tuned...  December is going to be busy!

Day 29 (30 in 30 for 30)

"Snow Owl"  8x10  mixed media on canvas

available here

Last week my friend Nelly had an interesting post about a workshop she took with Flora Bowley.  Her post reminded me of this very cool video of Jesse Reno painting.

Today's painting is inspired by (and very loosely based on) their techniques.  I played with paint to create a background, then started covering up sections of it leaving my owl image behind.  I continued to work with more paint, prismacolor pencils, and a white gel pen.

It's hard to believe, but there is only one day left of AEDM... be sure to stop by the Creative Every Day blog to see what else was created for day 29!

Day 28 (30 in 30 for 30) and Sunday Sketches

"Cubed Owl"  8x10  acrylic on canvas

Today's painting was inspired by a couple of my fellow "Sunday Sketchers".  Last week Katerina created a cubist inspired painting and ever since then I've been itching to cut up one of my sketches and randomly rearrange the pieces...

The progression:  From sketch to finished painting

I was also inspired by Eva who has been creating a series of variations of a tree (she also draws a series of "girls with funny hats" that I absolutely adore).  Since Eva has done so well with her variations on a theme, I thought it might be fun to create another owl painting...  I am lovin' me some owls!

Be sure to stop by Sophia's blog to see more Sunday Sketches...

And check out the Creative Every Day blog to see more day 29 art!

Day 27 (30 in 30 for 30)

"Colorful Sisters"  8x10  acrylic on canvas

Today's painting was inspired by my sisters.  I have previously mentioned my very artistic sister Stevie... Today I would like to 'introduce' the youngest in my family, my sister Casey.  Casey is in high school - since I am the oldest and she is the youngest (of five) there is a big age difference!  When Casey sings it is like listening to an angel (and she also has the heart of an angel)!   I am truly blessed with two very unique, talented, fun, and silly sisters...

Three Silly Sisters  2000  (We've gotten bigger, but haven't necessarily "grown up"!)

One thing the three of us like to do together is go thrift store shopping - we love funky finds!  On our very first trip to the thrift store together we discovered three different owl necklaces sitting together in the jewelry case... One for each of us!  Now it has sort of become "our thing" and it is why owls have such a special meaning to me.

There are only a few days left of AEDM, so don't miss day 27 at the Creative Every Day blog!

Day 26 (30 in 30 for 30)

"Macrame Memories"  8x10  Mixed Media on Wood

Today's painting was inspired by... yesterday's painting!  I couldn't get the owl image that I "found" in yesterday's painting out of my head, so I decided to do a wood burning using it.

 

While creating today's painting, distant memories of macrame, latch hook kits, and avocado colored appliances came flooding back... Those memories had a definite influence on my color choices!

As I write this post there are currently 57,975 owl listings on etsy.  They are in paintings and prints, jewelry, clothing, journals, pillows, toys and more - I seem to be seeing owls everywhere!  The other day I saw the following button on my friend Jenny Blair's fabulous blog:

My Owl Barn is the go-to place for owl lovers and they are sharing the owl love by offering a free customizable and downloadable calendar filled with fantastic owl art created by some seriously talented artists!

I can see why owls are so popular right now... there is something very comforting about their familiar wide-eyed expressions.  I have a feeling today's owl isn't my last...

(Don't forget to stop by the Creative Every Day blog to see more day 26 art!)

Happy Thanksgiving!

"Thankful Owl"  8x10  mixed media on canvas

I have to be honest, for today's painting I had no plan...  I knew I wanted to use (what I consider to be) Thanksgiving colors, but other than that I decided to just let the art take me where it wanted to go.  I started by creating a warm layered background and eventually an owl emerged.  I decided to keep the owl fairly translucent because I liked how it was all blending together.

Tonight as I write this I feel full... Not just because I indulged in pumpkin and pecan pie, but because I feel so blessed.  I am filled with gratitude for my friends and family here at home and also for the new community of friends I have found online that feel like an extended family.

For my friends that are celebrating today, I hope you and yours are enjoying a wonderful holiday filled with lots of reasons to be thankful!

xo

Kristin

p.s.  Make sure to stop by the Creative Every Day blog between bites!

Day 24 (30 in 30 for 30)

"Sneaky"  8x10  acrylic on canvas

Today's painting was inspired by Illustration Friday's "Sneaky" theme.  It is also my contribution to this week's Whimsical Wednesday.

It has been quite a day!  Early this morning I went into my studio to prime my canvas for today's painting.  The lid was stuck so I did what I always do - I started banging it against the side of my art table.  Unfortunately, the lid wasn't as stuck as I originally thought... it went flying and my jug of gesso spilled and sprayed all over my art table and the surrounding area.  I should also explain that since I do a lot of painting I don't buy the small bottles of gesso, I buy economy sized jugs!  Oh what a mess!

As I cleaned it up I remembered the children's book by James Stevenson - "Could be Worse!".   It's all over the wood floor I lovingly refinished 2 years ago ("could be worse" - it could be carpet).  It's all over my pajama pants and in between my toes ("could be worse" - I could have been wearing a favorite pair of pants or my sock monkey slippers).  It's on my shelves and my blank sketchbook project pages ("could be worse" - it could have gotten on the cover that I already finished)... I'm sure you get the idea.  Even though it was reminiscent of a crime scene, remembering that it "could be worse" helped me get through the hour of clean-up!

Be sure to stop by the Creative Every Day blog to see more day 24 art!