What I'm Working on Wednesday

What have I been up to? 

Among my many other projects, I decided to join in on a challenge on Instagram.
You can find me on Instagram here: @BethMacre on Instagram
You can find me posting pictures almost daily on Instagram. Where I post peeks into my studio and the projects that I am working on.  Lately I have been posting daily pictures of my #100daysofpaintingwithbeth

What was I thinking when
I committed to a challenge called #the100dayproject ?
I do not know. Maybe the word 'challenge' had something to do with it. I have been wanting to paint more so I have been setting aside a little time each day, or every other day, to paint. Mostly in watercolor.

What is #the100DayProject ?
The 100 Day Project is a challenge for anyone to do something for 100 days and post a photo each day. This challenge was started by an artist that goes by @Elleluna on Instagram. Check out her page for the details. The challenge started April 19, 2016 and runs through July 27, 2016 (or whenever you finish).

Let me just say, 100 days is a long time to do anything, for me anyway!

44 days later, I am still at it...although I am a few days behind. But that is because I took a trip to Florida and I was away from my studio for 7 days.  Considering the time away during my trip, I am really ahead. That is the way I am looking at it. Because the Florida trip was necessary. Time with the girlfriends is always necessary, right?

This is my first year to take on this challenge. I really didn't know what I was going to do when I started it. I've changed my mind a few times, so far. If I do this again next year, I will plan a little better and use the same medium and same size for all the works, to create a unified collection of work.

I'm only 40 paintings into this, so I will post a collection of them when I get to 50! So check back to see my progress and hold me accountable! I will post a link here when I do.

Week 1 and Week 6
Normally I am much more detailed when I paint, draw, or do anything creative. But I wanted to keep this project simple. What started out as very simple paintings have progressed a little more paint and more of the paper covered.  Most of them are painted on 5 x 7" watercolor paper.

I plan to frame some of my favorites and possibly put some up for sale. Some of them need a little more work and I may add some other media to them to see what how I can push them a little farther.

We will see what 41-100 brings!

Challenge? What was I thinking?

Simplify

"Peacock Rescue"
#6 - Acrylic on Canvas
16 x 20

Word for the year...Simplify. So what was I thinking when I took on a 30 painting in 30 days Challenge? Well, I guess I thought that nothing unexpected would come up and that I painted everyday.  Of course, none of that is true so here it is the 27th day and I have 5 small paintings done, plus the large watercolor commission that took several days, not one...and another painting 'rescue' (shown here), and a few colored pencil illustrations that do not count, because they are not paintings. (at least in this challenge) Oh, and some clay projects along the way.

Problem #1 was that I started painting with oils, which I do not use much, I quickly realized that the drying time is not something that I am used to. I usually use acrylics, which dry quickly.  I need that learning curve to work more in oils.

Problem #2 was subject matter that interests me. I fight with myself over which direction to go...realism or abstract/surrealism/whimsical.  Although I enjoy some realism, I really enjoy the surreal to abstract. And I diagnosed myself with ADD (Attention Deficit Disorder) because I tend to get bored doing the same thing all the time.  I'm sure you could tell by looking at my variety of work!
See paintings for the challenge that I did accomplish:   #1 here   #2 here    # 3 & #4 here    # 5 coming soon  #6 See 'Peacock Rescue' above ^.

Problem #3 was that life happens and unexpected trips away from home occur.  Family illnesses, family emergencies all take priority over a self imposed challenge.  Period.  All of which has happened this year/month.

Problem #4 ...which is really not a problem, but a blessing! I have customers who commission me to create for them! So those projects take priority over my painting challenge pieces.  Commissions are Good. Commissions = buying art supplies and paying the bills!

Problem #5 is that I feel like a failure for not completing this challenge, BUT, I can change the rules. I will continue to paint, but the 30 in 30 days is not gonna happen.  But that is okay. I'm not going to beat myself up over it.  Maybe I will get 30 paintings in 300 days? or less. Or maybe one large painting can count as 4 small ones?   I can't guarantee that I will do 30 though, because I am going to stick to my word for the year...

 ...Simplify

Beth..Art with ♥