Day 22. When I was first starting to paint, I would look up tutorials on how to paint clouds, rocks, flowers, etc. I would watch these highly specific tutorials and do my best to follow them and struggle anyway. Eventually I figured out that learning to paint and learning to paint a flower are one and the same. It is helpful to follow step by step instructions in the beginning, but after a while, you can take that knowledge and apply it to painting anything.
I was so nervous about painting these landscapes. It had been a long time since I had painted anything other than still lifes and the odd animal. Back when I did paint landscapes, I really struggled with pretty much every aspect of the painting. I thought landscapes were hard, but it turns out that painting in general was hard and I simply hadn’t built up my technical skills yet. Painting is still hard, but in new and different ways. As my skills advance, so do the problems I solve. I don’t see painting as a skill I will ever truly master, but that won’t stop me from trying.
Day 23. I’ve been noticing a trend in my paintings in this challenge. I more often than not sign the painting in the left-hand corner rather than the standard right-hand corner. In fact, I’ve only signed 4 of the last 23 paintings in the right-hand corner. Typically, I switch things up based on the composition, but maybe I’ve just become more comfortable signing on the left. I know many artists sign the back instead. I’d love to hear of everyones preferences for signatures.
Day 24. Another trend I’ve been noticing that I do very frequently lately is blurring my vision while painting. If I wore glasses, I’m sure I’d take them off to paint. This has the effect of helping me see the bigger shapes and contrast without getting lost in the details, similar to if I take a physical step back from the painting. Plus, I think there is the added bonus of resting my eyes.
Day 25. This was a really hard painting to get to. I’m definitely running out of steam. It doesn’t help that I caught a cold. Luckily, there are only a few paintings left in this challenge.
Day 26. I’m still not sure how I feel about this painting. The atmospheric effect I was going for didn’t quite work out the way I wanted it to. I think this painting would have been better suited to a more layered approach.
Day 27. This is a view of the Henry Mountains instead of the usual La Sal range that has appeared in my other paintings so far. This was a grueling camping trip where we were holed up in our tents most of the time because of massive a wind/sand storm. We literally had 5 adults and 4 children crammed into a 4 man tent so we could play cards and eat. It was cramped to say the least.
Day 28. If you’ve never seen the desert in spring, you’re missing out. It is the best time to be here because it isn’t so hot that you can’t enjoy it and all of the wildflowers are blooming. My favorites are the red cactus flowers. They don’t last very long though. If you blink, you might miss them.
Day 29. This is one of the many great views from the Primitive Trail in Arches National Park. I was a little intimidated by this painting because I’m still unsure of myself when painting rocks, but I think this turned out pretty well.
Day 30. The last day! I made it! There was few times when I didn’t think I would complete this challenge, but I didn’t want to let myself down. This last week has been a hell of a week with being sick, throwing out my back, preparing for a kids birthday party, working, framing and dropping paintings off at a museum, and painting every day on top of that. I can’t express how glad I am that this month is finally over and how proud of myself for seeing it through to the bitter end. Thank you everyone for following along and supporting me. 🙂
Please check my store for available paintings. Buy any landscape in this series for $60 and get the second for $30 when you use the code BG319. Also, “Intimidation” and “Rev 22-20” are on display at the John Wesley Powell River History Museum in Green River, Utah from April 4 – April 22. Both paintings are framed and available for sale.