Little Koi - A painting a day

SOLD

This little koi was painted in a dry direct approach. I like to paint Koi, there are so many ways to paint them.

I saw about 30 Monet's today and I really enjoyed his work. It was fascinating to me to see his progression thru the years from value painter to impressionist to loose almost garish work. I was also surprised to see so much grey was in his work. Most of his colors were greyed down quite a bit. A snow scene I really like had no pure white paint.

Storm over the Horizon - A Painting a day- Shanti Marie

This is my mat cutting and shipping area. First the paintings are weighed down over night and made totally flat, then the mats are cut, then they are backed and placed in a plastic envelopes. Next they are sandwiched between two pieces of cardboard and finally into the mail envelope. It a long process and is part of being an Artist. I wish I could turn this over to someone else, but there isn’t enought profit to hire this work out. It takes so long for me to get this done, sometimes I have to spend two days a week getting all the paintings ready to go. Some go to The Art league where I have an area to hang work and to show a series of paintings. Others are stored for possible sale on E bay Usually in the flat file. Then there are the few that are framed. These are special and they go into shows or into a gallery. You can see in the photo above, that I work in a series when painting the larger works. Usually two or three paintings from each idea becomes a series, but some ideas like the koi series may never end. I find them to be fasinating subjects and constantly evolving. Tomorrow, I have to rush back from Reliegh NC ( about 3 hours away)to get my daily painting in before the deadline. I’ll paint it tonight. I’m very excited. I’m going to see the Monet’s

A Sunflower Day - Shanti Marie- A painting A Day

See the Bidding!

This wonderful little painting measures 8 inches by 10 inches. Its actually a little bigger than most daily painting but I painted it to be a companion piece for Cornfowers which is the same size. If you would like to bid on this painting, it will go on eBay at 2:00pm eastern time. Check the link to my ebay store.

Nature's Star - a painting a day

SOLD
This small painting has a unique abstract feel to it. I like the use of 300 lb paper and wish I could aford it for all my paintings. It gives the paint a wonderful support and provides a solid feel to the finished product while allowing the fexibility for the paint to be either transparent or solid.

This will be on ebay as are all the small paintings. I have sold ten this week and I have to have a high volume of sales since the price is so low. Check out my store if you have a minute. The link is in the sidebar.

High Country - A painting A Day

This small post card size painting is matted and fits into an 8 by 10 frame. It would make a great gift for a man or a women and will be posted in my ebay store tonight. The starting bid will only be $6.50. If you wish to buy it without the bidding send me an email at shantmarie@aol.com

Little Trees a painting a day

SOLD

I painted this painting quickly and without thought or a drawing. It isn't too complicated, but I find it has a relaxing feel.

I will put this painting up on e bay later tonight. I will start the bidding at $10.00. Its a odd size painting and will need to be custom matted and framed. Approximate size:9 by 12 inches

Peach Lillies

This is a quarter sheet size watercolor which is 11 by 15 inches.
Some would say it looks more like an oil painting than a watercolor.
That's because sometimes I paint my watercolors in a soft wet natural watercolor style and other times I paint dry with multiple glazes. This was painted in glazes.

The Glazing method is simple and not difficult to learn but it takes a lot of patience. You must wait for every layer to dry before you put on the next layer. You usually have an under painting which is not obvious at the end but its like oils, it will radiate thru the painting and sometimes it is allowed to show. It tends to harmonized the piece.

Abstract landscape A Painting A day

See the Bidding

So many landscapes this week, & to break things up a bit, I decided to do a landscape in another style. Rather than impressionistic I decided to do an abstract.
We had a good Thanksgiving, drank a little wine, ate some turkey, drank some more wine, had some pie. you get the idea, Oh boy, I’m full. Its almost 9 pm and everyones gone home. The dishes are done and I think I’ll draw. I stopped by the video store today, and picked up the Davinci Code so maybe I’ll draw while I watch it. I hear its rather slow. I have always loved movies, all types but especially independent films. If this movie isn't very good at least they say there is a great shot of the mona lisa which is worth the three bucks for the DVD.

Hope your day went well and if your thinking of shoppping tomorrow your a braver soul than I.

Winter Grass A painting A day

I know today is a very busy day for most people but crazy as it may seem its pretty slow for me. I guess everyone is traveling or out buying food for thanksgiving. Anyway, its been raining non -stop here for 36 hours. The dogs are hunkered down and pretty much sleeping. I have two paintings going. Which makes me happy. I won’t paint tomorrow, so I’ll have one painting ready to post on Thanksgiving day.

Thanksgiving is always a good day for eating, Oh yeah, that reminds me, I gotta run to the store for some tagamet. We're having Cajhun deep fried turkey and all the trimmings. I’m no cook so we’re buying the turkey this year. The last time I tried to fry a turkey, it was black on the outside, burnt to a crisp! We still ate it. Everyone said it was great. Don’t you love friends? They’ll eat a burn’t turkey and still give you kudos. This year, I am just making the side dishes of mash potatoes, peas and ambrosia. I think I am safe making those dishes.My friend Karen is bringing gingered yams and pumpkin pie oh and of course, a bottle of wine. A little bread maybe some stuffing and we pretty much have a meal.

About my painting for today. Its rather gray outside, and I thought I would paint a gray kinda painting. But I always like to put some warmth into most of my paintings so I made the grass a warm raw sienna.
Once again I have no title but I’ll call it “winter grass” for now.

Names for paintings

I’ve always struggled to name my paintings and don’t know what to call the many paintings I create. It may be a problem with being prolific. Or it could be I’m no word smith.
Some of you may be interested to know I was given a list of possible names for my paintings by my readers, below are some of them…
Most of these suggestions are for the painting of trees I did a few days a go.
1. Pine Needles
2. Lightning in the forest
3. Fall fascination
4. Positive Beauty in a negative space
5. Uncertainty
6. Misguided
7. Fallsmosis
8. Nature’s palette
9. Fall mystery

Maybe we should vote...

Roads - A painting a day

SOLD

I wanted to work on this a bit more to deepen the contrast and up the values in the dark areas. But since this is a daily painting I decided to leave it alone. I may deepen them later, but I'll let it sit for awhile to see if I still think it needs to go darker in the shadows after a few days.

I have taken some photos of roads around hereI may do a series.

The set up or painting table - A painting a day Project

This little library table is my set up for painting small post card paintings. This size is NOT my favorite size. I'd much rather paint larger, but for ebay, this size is profitable. I thought some of you might like to see the way I work on several pieces at a time.

A Little Bit of Wine A Painting a day

This small 5 by 6 inch painting is the result of a little bit of wine that was left sitting near my painting table. I decided to put it into a painting.

Abstract landscape A painting a day

I love the way the strokes are placed so confidently on the paper. I wish this was in focus a little better I rushed getting the picture. If you would like to see a better photo let me know I'll be glad to re-shoot it for you. The size is postcard size and fits in a 8 by 10 mat.

If your getting tired of landscapes, don't worry, I have a glass of wine on my still life pedestal to paint. Let's just hope it doesn't disappear before I finish the painting. Hehehe...

no name - a painting a day

This painting was inspired by my walks in the woods. I have painted so many of these little gems, I can't think of a new name for this one. So, send in your suggestions. I will pick the best one. If interested in adopting this little painting email me at shantmarie@aol.com. Adoption fee is $25.00 + shipping.

By the way this is a negative painting. Meaning (in case you didn't know) you don't paint the shapes but the space around the shapes.
I love this type of painting even thought it takes a lot of concentration. Maybe that's why I can't think of a name. I can only think so much in a day, and I think I used my quota.

Winter pond - A painting a day

This little pond is almost just a depression in the ground in the summer months. But during the winter it comes alive with activity. It's a mini eco system which is very interesting and alive.

Farwell to Fall - A painting a day

This painting is a small 5.5 by 7 inch painting. It suppose to rain tonight and as I was walking thru the woods I noticed the trees still have some leaves. I guess after this rain most of them will blow down.

This painting is for sale for $25.00 if interested, email me at shantmarie@aol.com

South Carolina Hummer - A painting a day

I think I like the South Carolina Hummer over the kind that one you see thundering down the street. Our humming birds have all left for warmer climates and I hear they travel all the way to South America. It amazes me that they can fly so far.

This is not a daily painting, It took me two days but then adain, it is slightly larger at 11 by 15.

If you would like to see the bidding on ebay:
http://stores.ebay.com/A-Painting-A-Day-Shanti-Marie_W0QQsspagenameZL2222QQtZkm

Fall Floral - A Painting A Day

Its been a long day! If you look at this piece you will see a big gray shape which looks like a leaf hanging down from the top of the piece. That is a shadow. I didn't notice it till I had already uploaded the painting. I'll try to take another photo tomorrow and hopefully, it will be better.

A Mouse in the house - A painting a day

The day started out at sunrise with a great cup of coffee and a walk with the dogs. Headed off for up town (that’s what they call down town in Charlotte) for my life drawing session which I host every Saturday morning at 8:30. It was a surprisingly warm day and the streets were deserted. I thought no one was going to show up, when the model finally wondered in at 8:30. No one else had arrived. Hmmn, thinking it was just one of those fall days when no one could get out of bed, I figured I’d send the model home. Of course a few stragglers showed up at the last minute, and we finally get into drawing at about 9 am. When I got home I realized I had left my Camera, Oh great. I had to call over to the gallery to make sure someone could put it away for me till tomorrow morning when I’ll be back in Charlotte (NC). Still, things were’t going too bad. I figure I ‘ll have plenty of time to paint, and do my usual sat. chores. This painting a day thing can get to you cause you always feel a little pressure to create a masterpiece, yet you have to have it on-line and posted by 12:00 midnight. It’s like your blog turns into a pumpkin if you miss the deadline.
I had painted some vegetables yesterday and wasn’t in the mood for more, and after looking thru the paintings on the daily painter’s blog, I decided I would paint some fruit. I figured, I didn’t need to buy grapes, I could paint them from memory. (geese I’m lazy) I did spend many hours in a vineyard around grapes. So, I paint this little stem. It looks a bit lonely then I paint three grapes. This will never do, I need to figure out a composition. Why do I always have to have a plan..I guess I work this way because I’m used to planning my compositions when painting in the direct manner and its difficult for me to change.

I let the three grapes sit there on the stark white paper, right there on my table. I have stuff to do. More dog walks, phone calls and errands. You know, pretty much what we all spend half our lives doing and the things that make up most of our day. People ask “what’d you do today?” How do you say “nothing” when you were busy all day, but none of it is interesting enough to discuss in a conversation. You like to talk books, cinema, heck, even current events, but your day is filled with picking up clothes at the cleaners, getting manure at the hardware store, and buying cheweeze for the dogs.
Later I come back to the drawing table and there are the three grapes and for whatever reason, I decide to let the painting tell me what to draw. I look at the stark white paper and the three tiny grapes. I start to envision this little mouse. I can see him clear as anything, like he’s right there. I have to paint him, he’s insistent. Sometimes he stands up like you see in the painting and other times he just sitting there looking up at the grapes. Sort of animated and yet life like. Maybe I was just tired. Whatever, I thank my muse for giving me a little help. So here he is folks. The picture is a litle dark, the background should be white. I had to use my #2 camera.

Its about six o'clock and its time for dinner so I'm just happy I have posted my mouse and hope all of you have a great Sunday. I think I'll sleep in.

BID NOW

Baby Pumpkins - A painting a day

I was at the plant nursery and I was looking for something to paint, when I hear this small girl squeal out "BABY PUMPKINS"
I knew they would be on part of my next painting. They are rather cute. So small yet a perfect little pumpkin. This ornamental squash I chose because it seemed to fit.
You can buy this painting by emailing me or by going to my eBay store. The actual size is 11 by 7.5 inches. I cropped it a bit for the photo since the background is white paper you could crop it the way you need to fit into your frame. BID NOW

Funny thing about words... some just don't go together like they should.

Top 10 Worst Domain Names (these links don’t actually work)

1. A site called ‘Who Represents‘ where you can find the name of the agent that represents a celebrity. Their domain name… wait for it… is
www.whorepresents.com

2. Experts Exchange, a knowledge base where programmers can exchange advice and views at
www.expertsexchange.com

3. Looking for a pen? Look no further than Pen Island at
www.penisland.net

4. Need a therapist? Try Therapist Finder at
www.therapistfinder.com

5. Then of course, there’s the Italian Power Generator company…
www.powergenitalia.com

6. And now, we have the Mole Station Native Nursery, based in New South Wales:
www.molestationnursery.com

7. If you’re looking for computer software, there’s always
www.ipanywhere.com

8. Welcome to the First Cumming Methodist Church. Their website is
www.cummingfirst.com

9. Then, of course, there’s these brainless art designers, and their whacky website:
www.speedofart.com

10. Want to holiday in Lake Tahoe? Try their brochure website at
www.gotahoe.com

Words that sound good SEPARATED dont always sound good together.

Check out my ebay store -A painting a day

Visit My eBay Store: A Painting A Day Shanti Marie

I only have six paintings on ebay but I will put more in my store. I plan to list each daily painting I haven't sold from my blog. My blog will usually have a discount since I won't have the listing fees.

Thanks for checking in with me, I noticed many of you are repeat viewers. You don't know how much it means to me to have so many viewers each day. Thank you.

Wildflower - A painting a day & instruction too

This small painting is a reverse painting which means you use a fixative (mastic, tape, wax or film) is painted or placed in the areas you wish to remain white. Then you paint with total abandon the background. Wait for the painting to dry, take off the fixative/tape and now you can paint the foreground. This isn’t my favorite way to work but I do it sometimes to keep up my skills. I actually don’t like using fixative. It leaves a very hard line around everything you paint. Which is far from my style. To learn the technique is valuable and I recommend it to students. The problem with using mastic is you have to use it often because it goes bad quickly (say in six months) in the bottle and like drawing if you don’t use it often your skill for application will suffer. Those artists who use it regularly find they have no problem with it. It allows you to paint around small or tiny shapes without having to painstakingly maneuver wet paint around objects. It is good for highlights and of course you can scubb back the hard edge if you want it a little softer. I painted this in my sketch book Its 6 by 9 inches on 140 lb paper.

If you want to try it, I suggest the tiny(fingernail polish) bottle size at”cheap joe’s” He sells it for a couple of dollars. It can be fun and you can do lots of interesting things with it. Three things: always use a cheap brush, keep it wet with a little dish soap and water before you place it into the bottle. Always paint it on bone dry paper and don’t leave it on your paper for very long, a week or two is OK.

You can also use drafting tape but you have to use an exacto knife or tear the edges of the tape to get the tape to lay on your shape correctly. I like tape for perfectly stright edges, but haven’t really used it for organic shapes. I’ve used film and its good for trees and leaves. I think you should try them all.

Red Sunset - A painting a day-and a poem

I like this little painting, it would be great for someone who likes bright colors and moody skies .

Its a little larger than a daily painting but would fit nicely in a mat and 11 by 14 frame.

Shantmarie@aol.com for more infoBid on this item!

I was thinking about poetry last week and was reminded of this poem

"When Earth's Last Picture is Painted".

I'll post it here for all of you artists and art lovers.

When Earth's last picture is painted

and the tubes are twisted and dried,
When the oldest colours have faded,

and the youngest critic has died,
We shall rest, and, faith, we shall need it

lie down for an aeon or two,
Till the Master of All Good Workmen

shall put us to work anew.
And those that were good shall be happy;

they shall sit in a golden chair;
They shall splash at a ten-league canvas

with brushes of comets' hair.
They shall find real saints to draw from

Magdalene, Peter, and Paul;
They shall work for an age at a sitting

and never be tired at all!
And only The Master shall praise us,

and only The Master shall blame;
And no one shall work for money,

and no one shall work for fame,
But each for the joy of the working,

and each, in his separate star,
Shall draw the Thing as he sees It

for the God of Things as They are!

Rudyard Kipling- 1892

Day Dream - A Painting A Day

“Artists can mire and sink into the muck of mediocrity.”

I don’t know who wrote this, but when I read it this morning, I knew it was true. It’s one of my fears. But there isn’t a road map for artists. How do you step out of the muck?

Especially painting a painting a day.

Some people don’t get abstracts. they ask me why I paint them. I’ll tell you why; because when you’ve painted everything from salt shakers to out houses, you need a change. You need to handle the elements in their strictest from.
Without representing anything in particular, it becomes bigger then the item your representing it’s all about line, color, value, balance, and much much more. Its for the sheer fun of holding a brush in your hand and allowing your intuitive self a moment to paint.
Just allowing yourself to day dream. thats why this piece is called "Day dream."

This painting is 11.5 by 15 inches on 140 lb 100 % cotton watercolor paper and matted in a double white mat which will fit into a 16 by 20 frame. It sells for $100.00

e maill me at shantmarie@aol.com

Blue Sky - A painting a day

Postcard painting: 4 by 6 inches.

if you are intersted in buying, write to me at

shantmarie@aol.com

$25.00 matted to fit in a five by seven frame.

For those of you who read my daily writings, I wanted to let you know that my painting “Koileidescope” which I entered into a juried show last week, won third place. I’m very pleased. I tell myself this stuff isn’t important, “I enter to have my work on display with other artists of high regard”. This is true, but to be recognized by your peers for something you created is a wonderful experience. The show was really well done, all of the art was very good and I was happy just to get into the show(there were over 80 pieces of art selected) . My other painting, “Zoltan’s Palette” did not win an award but looked great and I was very proud.

She dreams of Dancing A painting a day

"She dreams of dancing"

is my interpretation of a young girl's dreams. You may remember I painted this ballerina earlier last week but felt it wasn't right. This is closer to the feeling I wanted.

By the way for those of you who actually read my blog, I did get my two pieces accepted into the Juried show. The opening is tonight but I have decided not to go. The pieces are Koielidescope and Zoltan's Palette.

Eight of Cups A painting a day

This is a small postcard painting. I don't really know what to say about this painting, except I was asked to paint a set of cards.

A fun Sketch - Just three minutes- It's Magic!

http://fcmx.net/vec/get.swf?i=003702
This is fun to watch! If you have three minutes… take a look it’s magic! the only problem is: this takes you away from my blog, sorry, about that, please come back.