Day 30 January 30 in 30

Finally the last day!  Day 30.

This is a really tough challenge for me this time.  I started out with a new medium- acrylic, new substrates- cardboard and styrofoam and new technique- palette knife painting.  That part was so fun because of new experiences, new everything!  Then I hit a slump, I don't know what to paint next.  So I stopped for a few days (ok they're not few) and re-grouped, re-think that's when the "Guides" series was formed.  I have so much painting that series that I almost don't want to stop but at some point I have to end it.  Maybe I'll get back to the theme at some point.  Then a lull again, re-think and I thought about my theme for 2014- "Life is Art, Paint It!".  With that I started painting scenes from my travels that speak to me.  I hope they speak to you too.

Rome

This scene is from a trip in Rome.  After a lot of walking we found the place that we were looking for- Pizzeria da Baffetto but it's still closed.  A long line of customers has already formed and this couple were at the front of the line waiting patiently for the restaurant to open.

Here's my Day 30.  Finally made it through the challenge!  I may be crazy but I'll do this again!

We're Waiting

12" x 9"

Watercolor on Paper

Click here to Purchase

Day 28 January 30 in 30

I started this painting last night and was hoping I'll finish so I can work on Day 29 tonight.  Unfortunately it took me longer time to get to halfway done, so I decided to stop last night before I ruin it.

Just finished and in a few minutes will try to start Day 29.  We're almost at the end of the challenge!


Brussels

While on our way to find the Manneken Pis,

we came by this square where three friends were taking turns posing and taking their pictures.  After each take, they came together and checked out the resulting photos.  They were having so much fun!  I took a photo in one of their "check-out" times.


Here's Day 28, my impression of that scene

"Let me See"

9" x 12

Watercolor on Paper

Click here to Purchase

Day 27 January 30 in 30

Just finished this painting for Day 27.

Rome

I'm planning to do a "Bikes" series and while looking for reference photos, I found this one I took while visiting the ruins in Rome.

One biker stopped to look at the ruins and I just love how his helmet shone against the ruins.

Here's my impression of that scene.

My Day 27 painting

Biker #1

9" x 12"

Watercolor on Paper

Click here to Purchase

Day 26 January 30 in 30

While thinking and deciding what my next series will be,  I decided to paint this photo that my dear friend Leila has been asking me to paint for a long time.  She took the photo and emailed it to me, I think three times already and has been asking for the painting ever since.  Finally I got the chance to paint it for her.

Painting while watching (actually just listening) to 2 movies - "Sum of all Fears" and "The Peacemaker" I was able to finish the painting.  Wow! What a night.  Now my back is aching again.

Here's Day 26 (I know I skipped 5 days).  I'll give Leila the honor of giving this painting a title.  For now it's Untitled.

Singaporean Bouquet

9" x 12"

Watercolor on Paper

NFS

Day 20 January 30 in 30

It took me longer to finish this painting compared to my other Guide paintings.  I was thinking of taking it to a different direction and that slowed me down.  I was seriously considering starting over but I persevered and I think it captured how I'm envisioning the scene.  This is the last painting for my "Guides" series

This is a scene from our island hopping tour.  We are on our way back to our home for the week and our guides were busy getting our boat to "take off".

Here's Day 20

Palawan Guide #4

12" x 9"

Watercolor on Paper

Click here to purchase

Day 19 January 30 in 30

I just completed this painting.  The picture is not too good.  I have to get a better set-up to photograph my paintings at night.  I'll upload a better picture tomorrow.

This is another scene from our island hopping tour.  I think we're on our way home from a full day of fun hiking, swimming, snorkeling and eating.  I love the way our guides keep our life vests secured so they won't get off the boat on their own.

Here's Day 19 (oh my I'm way behind!).

Palawan Guide #3

12" x 9"

Watercolor on Paper

Click here to purchase

Day 18 of January 30 in 30

During our island hopping tour we stopped at this island where we stayed for some hiking, swimming  and also a good lunch.

While swimming our guide was patiently waiting for us and making sure we're safe.

Here's my impression of that scene.

My Day 18 painting.

Palawan Guide #2

9" x 12"

Watercolor on Paper
Click here to purchase

Day 17 of January 30 in 30

These are images of the place waiting for us at the end of our boat trip to Club Paradise.  Clear blue water, white sand beach, and a welcoming party ready with song and cold drinks.

My Day 17 painting.  Our guide looking forward to a fun week for us at the beach.

Palawan Guide #1

9 1/2" x 12"

Watercolor on Paper

Click here to purchase

Day 16 of January 30 in 30

One week in September, I get to visit Coron, Palawan with two good friends where we enjoyed the beach, went snorkeling and did an island tour.

From the Busuanga airport we were picked up by our tour bus and drove us to the pier.  There we took a boat ride to Club Paradise Resort.

One of our boat crew sat at the front of the boat and looks like he's guiding our path to our island.

Here's my impression of that scene.   My Day 16 painting.  This is a better pic from last night.

Palawan Boat Crew

Watercolor on Paper

9" x 12"

Click here to purchase

Day 15 of January 30 in 30

I'd like to skip to Day 15 so I can move on.  I'll just create additional paintings as time permits.

I haven't been following my theme of repurpose since I painted the Eiffel Tower.  I find it very challenging as well as going over my failed paintings (I have lots!) to revisit and revive them.  So I've decided to move on to my last theme "Renew" and it's about renewing my love for watercolor.

For the remaining weeks, I'd like to do a series I'd like to name "Guides".

I don't know how to swim but somehow I've always wanted to be near water - the smell of the water, fresh air,  lovely scenes of land and native houses.

I'm so afraid of water that I really have to find the courage to go on boat rides.  At one time I was persuaded to go snorkeling even if my heart was pounding and was thinking what am I doing?  I did go on these adventures and I survived.  But I wouldn't have done those without our guides.  I've trusted them with my life.

This series is about our "Guides" who showed their dedication to their job and the safety of people who were entrusted to them- me and my family and friends and you.

Here's my Day 15 painting

Boracay Guide #1

Watercolor on Paper

9" x 12"

Click here to purchase

Day 11 of January 30 in 30

I know it's Day 14 but it's just Day 11 for me.  I'm so way behind that I almost want to quit.  Added to that is my frustration of having failed paintings when I started painting in watercolor again.  I'm just so out of it.  I tried painting two pieces last night until past my bed time, my back ached and got nowhere.

Ok, enough with my soap box, I'll get over it and will move on.  In my next paintings, I'll follow  Karen's goal- "make it fun and really easy". 

Here's my Day 11 - my attempt at a watercolor painting, after having fun with acrylics.

Niagara Falls

Mixed Media on Paper

11" x 11"

Floral Painting from January 30 in 30 got SOLD!

My 4 floral paintings from January 30 in 30 will have a new home in sunny Florida!

Thanks Grace and Bong!!

Day 10 of January 30 in 30

I thought I'm done with this cold but somehow it came back last night.  So I slept for 2 hours to recover and then painted my day 10 piece.

Pauline and I went on a tour of Paris and I had so much fun taking pictures, selfies and enjoying the view.  For a first timer, it's a sensory overload- lots of things to see and admire.  My favorite the Eiffel Tower- a massive structure of steel and iron.  Great to take pics in daylight and nightlight

and was  almost ran over by a carriage! What?? Where did that come from?  Thanks Pauline, you saved me!

Ok, here's my Day 10.  Sorry not a good pic, I'll update tomorrow.

The Tower

Acrylic on Styrofoam

9" x 7 1/2"

Day 9 of January 30 in 30

It took me a long time to think about my first painting for the theme "Repurpose".  Now I'm afraid I may not be able to sustain this theme.  Well at least I'm trying.

In my watercolor class I always shout "Sign it" whenever I think a classmate artist's painting is done.  With that reputation I was challenged to do a painting of my signature.  Now for this theme I think that's a good idea!  I'll repurpose my name to an artwork (I hope).

Here's my Day 9 painting.  Of course it's NFS (not for sale) because I'm the only one (aside from my mom) who would ever love this name.

Carolina

Acrylic on Styrofoam

7 1/2" x 9"

Enjoy!

Day 8 of January 30 in 30 ...Well almost ...

Yesterday was the end of our first week of January 30 in 30 and today is a new week and theme for me - "Repurpose".  Now that's a tall order that I put on myself.  I haven't re-purposed anything to make art nor have any idea what it is I want to do. So let me think about this theme a little, well a lot.

In the meantime, let me offer one page of my digital travel sketchbook which I've done in Paper by 53 and a Pencil.  Enjoy! and hopefully I'll have a painting tomorrow.

  

Day 7 of January 30 in 30 - SOLD

I was planning to move back to watercolor for my next theme "Repurpose" but I found one more 8" x 8" cardboard that I haven't painted on.  So I went back to acrylic happily.

I gathered all remaining dried out paints and sprinkled them on the "canvas" and then just slapped flowers, leaves, stems, table, vase a little bit of every color on my palette and everything I can throw on it.  I even sprinkled alcohol but not sure if that showed.

Ok, I'm having too much fun.  Here's Day 7.  Not good lighting but it will do for now.. I'll upload a better picture tomorrow when the sun is out (I hope).

Recycle #4

Acrylic on Cardboard

8" x 8"

  If you're into recycling, you can purchase this painting here

Day 6 of January 30 in 30

I took a little break for Day 6, didn't paint but created something which is still on theme - "Recycle" and "Repurpose".

Painting in acrylics I found has another benefit- all the dried out paints that looks colorfully delicious and just waiting to be peeled and made into something new

which I did.  Even forgot to sign it!

Here's my Day 6 "painting"

Day 5 of January 30 in 30 - SOLD

Still on recycled cardboard.  Another floral arrangement for Day 5.

Recycle #3

Acrylic on Cardboard

8" x 8"

  If you're into recycling, you can purchase this painting here

Day 4 of January 30 in 30

It's still my "Recycle" theme.

For Day 4, I'd like to paint my impression of foliage over a chain-link fence that I passed by one Autumn afternoon.  I have been trying to paint this scene but just didn't have the courage to do so.  Well this time I tried.

Here's my Day 4 painting

Fenced In

Acrylic on Cardboard

8" x 8"
  If you're into recycling, you can purchase this painting here

Day 3 of January 30 in 30

I took my reference photo for this painting while on an exercise walk with my brother.  We were walking along the canal by Marikina's World of Butterflies. The butterfly museum is one of the places to visit in Marikina which also houses a huge collection of Imelda Marcos' shoes.

This time I did a palette knife painting again. I love the freedom it gave me in applying and mixing the paint on my canvas, yes still a cardboard canvas.

Here's Day 3 painting.
 

Reflection

Acrylic on Canvas

8" x 8"
  If you're into recycling, you can purchase this painting here

Day 2 of January 30 in 30 - SOLD

Day 2 of "Recycle" - January 30 in 30

I paint mainly with watercolor but I was so intrigued by acrylic that I took an acrylic painting workshop with Pat Weaver.  It was frustrating at times for me but I had a lot of fun experimenting with the medium.

So off I go with my minimal knowledge of acrylic and decided to do part of the challenge using this medium. I'm not so sure if what I'm doing is right but what I know is that I'm having lots of fun recycling cardboard boxes and spending time dabbing paint and prepping my "canvas"!  

For materials, I have my bunch of cardboard (of course) which I cut 8"x8", synthetic brushes, palette knives, box cutter and acrylic paints- heavy body from Blick and Apple Barrel acrylic paints I bought from Walmart which I use to prep the canvas and prevent it from warping.  Well they still warp.

 

My "Recycle" materials

For Day 2, I tried painting with my palette knives.  I did this once at Pat Weaver's workshop and I thought I'll do palette knife painting again. So much fun but find it hard to control.  Well practice makes perfect.

Here's my Day 2 painting

Recycle #2

Acrylic on Cardboard

8" x  8"

If you're into recycling, you can purchase this painting here 

Theme for the Week and Day 1 of January 30 in 30 - SOLD

Mt theme for the week is "Recycle".

My holiday shopping has brought in not only cheers from families and friends but also trash from all the packaging boxes and materials used during shipping. I'm sure all of us have the same experience and have dumped much of these materials in the trash. I know I did. 

That brought me to the theme "Recycle".   For this week's challenge I'll use these cardboard boxes as my canvas. I have no specific subject in mind to paint. I think I'll just go with the flow. Whatever comes to mind as I mix paint and prep my "canvas". 

Here's my first painting for the challenge.

Recycle #1

Acrylic on Cardboard

8" x 8"

If you're into recycling, you can purchase this painting here