Today I tried a painting challenge from a group that I belong to AMO Painting Challenge...Each month they suggest a new challenge and you can upload your paintings to the site.  Mostly it's just for fun, but also as an opportunity to stretch your skills.
This month's challenge is Painting with no more than 100 Strokes......pretty touch to do, although it would be easier with a smaller canvas and a simpler subject matter.  I might try another one with that in mind.

100 Strokes, painting challenge

I decided to keep moving on this painting to see where it would go without the restriction of the number of strokes used.  About 1000 strokes later this is what I came up with.....at least now you can tell what it is!

The Bird's Nest     8x8  oil

Christmas Cactus    20x16 o/c

Yesterday I struggled with this piece.  I started it in the morning but I hadn't slept well the night before and I just could not concentrate.  Nothing was going right and I was really impatient.  After a few hours I gave it up and  took a seista.....:)   I came back a couple hours later, picked up the brushes and completed the painting.  It is just amazing to me to see how important your frame of mind is to your painting.  It is "fun" to paint, in a matter of speaking, but it is hard work too.  Hard work that requires a lot of focus.  A bit like golf, maybe.  Not many artists are born with a "silver brush", (to coin a phrase) in their mouth.  It takes hard work and real dedication to become good at it.  I'm still working at it.

Thanks for viewing my art!  I appreciate you!

Sailboat Platter     24x20   o/c  $1200

The Cotoneaster berries were still hanging on!  I removed the wilted ferns from the last set up and used the berries to create a nice sweeping design element.  This painting took a couple of days to complete but I really like the way the soft colors just draw you in.  Hope you like it too!

The Randy Higbee 6x6 show is online and ready for presales!  Check out the incredible art!  There are 620 6x6 paintings and everyone of them is beautiful!

Randy Higbees 6x6 Show 2012

Fall Cotoneaster       o/c 24x24

I love winter berries....they are so bright next to the subdued tones of the late fall foliage.  I had to scrounge around pretty good to find anything left alive in my gardens but there were a few berries and some late season ferns that when put together made a beautiful arrangement!  I love the intensity of color in this one...I hope you like it too.

I feel so privileged to have been accepted in the Randy Higbee 6x6 Show in Costa Mesa! It is a great show with some truly amazing artists. I am very excited about being a part of it!

Creamer and Saucer o/c 6x6

Asters in a Cup o/c 6x6

Randy Higbee 6x6 Show 2012

Eastend Gallery, Plein Air Event Marshall, Mi.

My painting "Viburnum Berries" found a home!  Thank you!

plein air in Waukenau Nature Center

Viburnum Berries  o/c  20x16

I had an incredible weekend with the American Impressionist Society. They had a four day symposium in Indianapolis with some of the best contemporary artists around! It was a thrill!.... and a great learning experience. Watch for future paintings...maybe you'll be able to tell the influences.;)
I was so impressed by the generosity of spirit of these superb artists. They amaze me at how much they are willing to give, and how much they HAVE to give! They are truly genius in their craft. It is wonderful to listen to the level of their knowledge and the maturity in their philosophies. There is a reason why they are the best at what they do...they have worked hard to earn it.

I met so many artists and made many new friends! Thanks to all those that made it possible!

My painting, "Roses on a Tin Cup" is up for auction to benefit Hurricane Sandy victims. Please, go to the auction site and place a bid now! All proceeds go directly to the benefit! Thank you so much!

The flowers in my gardens are almost done for this season.  There are a few Mums left, but even those are getting pretty straggly looking.  I Found enough to put together this set up and added the fruit for some color.

The Bunny Bowl       16x20 o/c

Yesterday was a beautiful day to go plein air painting!  PAAWM had their regular scheduled paint out and this time I was able to go and the weather was perfect!  The location was at the home of one of the plein air artists.....24 acres of woods and water!  There was no limit to the painting options.  I haven't painted a landscape in a while.  I've been focusing on the still lifes...but it was fun to get out and do a landscape again!  The owner of the property is Joy, so I named the painting, "Place of Joy".  Seemed appropriate.

Place of Joy      20x16  o/c

Mums and Little Green Tomatoes     20x16

Another painting based on the minimal colors used in the set up.  This time shades of white and tones of green.  It was hard to create the "daisy like" mum flowers so that they were accurately explained without being too defined.  More experience with this will help me work a little more confidently with it.  Thank you for taking time to view my painting!