September 30, 2016 Day 30 Grandma's Farm

Acrylic on gesso board 6"x6".

I made it to day 30 of the 30/30 challenge! With how many you say?

I posted 29 out of 30 6"x6" paintings. That is my most successful challenge.

These were not the only paintings that I worked on this month. I finished a few but most will be worked on in the coming days. Stay tuned!

September 29, 2016 Day 29 Village on Lough Corrib

Acrylic on gesso board 6" X 6".

Aw, no clouds, but there is water! I love the traditional white lime washed cottages in the distance. Actually I love anything that creates contrast. They draw your eye right back to the lake area. Lough Corrib is a hugh lake, it goes on for miles. It is used for oyster culture. Hmmm, is it fresh or salt water?

September 28, 2016 Day 28 Connemara, Ireland

Acrylic on gesso board 6" X 6".

This is another subject/view that I have avoided. The terrain is unique and so I thought difficult to portray somewhat realistically. It is also expansive. The hills are dumpling round with horizontal striations. So, I've given it a shot. Now I'm hooked so you will see more!

September 27, 2016 Day 27 West Ireland

Acrylic on gesso board 6"x6".

I've got to get up earlier so I'm not so rushed! Scary cloud returned!

I toned the panel with Diarylide Yellow by Golden. It's my new favorite yellow. It's color is similar to Cadmium Yellow Deep without the cadmium. It's not as opaque but it's good enough!

Since switching from oil paint to acrylic paint Golden's colors are my preference for mixing.

September 26, 2016 Day 26 Rivers Converge, County Kerry

Acrylic on gesso board 6" X 6".

I toned this panel with Quinacridone Magenta. I'm wondering if that influenced me to go so dark or if the rainy day did that? It's gotten rainy and cool here all of a sudden. It's also allergy season for me, ugh. 

Four more days of Leslie's 30 paintings in 30 days challenge. I will probably continue with my larger format work. I'm working on a two person Ireland themed show with my friend Barb.

Sept 25, 2016 Day 25 On the Way To Lunch

Acrylic on gesso board 6" X 6".

I hesitated to tackle this view because in the photo there wasn't much contrast. I liked the composition so i decided to play with the digital photo editor and see what I could come up with. I exaggerated the settings which gave me some ideas and then I was able to see which way to go. What do you think? Did I make a successful painting?

September 24, 2016 Day 24 Lady's View Two

Acrylic on gesso board 6" X 6".

I've painted this view from a slightly different angle, on Day 3,, I think.it is a very famous view because it is drop dead gorgeous and easy to get to! You can't help finding it attractive. It's got it all, mountains,meandering river leading to a lake, pretty colors, nice proportions, what's not to love?

September 23, 2016 Day 23 County Mayo, Ireland

Acrylic on gesso board 6" X 6".

Work in progress. Had to rush off this morning. Will finish later..

This is a view from Ashford Castle just after an afternoon storm.

September 22, 2016 Day 22 Islands off the Coast of the Kerry Penninsula

Acrylic on gesso board 6" X 6".

OK so I over did it with the color! My view looks more like the tropics than Ireland but I wanted to kick it up a notch today!

Hard to believe bot I toned the board with a rather bright yellow. I covered that up pretty well.

September 21, 2016 Day 21 Muckross Garden, Killarney, Ireland

Acrylic on gesso board 6" X 6".

Look at this as a thumbnail sketch for a 36" X 36" painting.

I've avoided painting this view because I was afraid that. Would not be able to convey the scale of the  garden.the pink lumps are  15-20 foot tall rhododendrons. This garden is well over 100 years old. For me it was jaw dropping acre after jaw dropping acre. The thought of capturing it with my little paint brush is a little overwhelming.

September 20, 2016 Day 20 River Estuary, County Kerry, Ireland

Acrylic on gesso board 6" X 6".

I've been toning my little boards before painting. Sometimes I use leftover paint before it dries and sometimes I tone just before I paint. Today I chose 

September 19, 2016 Day 19 County Kerry, Ireland

Acrylic on gesso board 6" X 6".

I overslept today, yikes!

My colors are brighter, or are they?i love this view. I've painted variations of it several times. Maybe I need to return foe new material, ha ha.

September 18, 2016 Day 18 Lough Caragh in the Distance

Acrylic on gesso board 6" X 6".

In the foreground you can see the River Caragh wending its way to Lough Caragh  in the distance.

There was a gentleman nearby with his donkey. I purchased a St. Bridget's cross he made from reed. It is a treasured piece which I brought home.

September 17, 2016 Day 17 Valley Fog

Acrylic on gesso board 6" X 6".

I've been avoiding doing scene because of the fog. This should be my new challenge. I don't think I was entirely sucessful in conveying the impression of fog. What do you think?

September 16, 2016 Day 16 Skellig Island in the Distance

Acrylic on gesso board 6" X 6".

I've made a 20" X 24" painting of this scene and I prefer this version. I guess I I'll be taking another look at the large one.i have simplified the foreground shapes here and I think I prefer these.Simplifing is always better right?

September 15, 2016 Day 15 Village in the Valley

Acrylic on gesso board 6" X 6".

I've been focusing on sky in my paintings, particularly clouds. It seems there is almost an infinite variety of cloud patterns. They sure are a challenge for me.

September 14, 2016 Day 14 - Cloud over Kilkenny Castle

 Acrylic on gesso board 6" X 6".

 Last night we watched an instructional video which featured light and shadow. The presenter used a large cloud for his example.l found a photo from our visit to Kilkenny.

September 13, 2016 Day 13 - Turf Fields

Acrylic on gesso board 6" X 6".

Field where turf ha 

September 12, 2016 Day 12 Shannon River Mud Flats

Acrylic 6" X 6".

We were crossing the Shannon River heading north towards Galway.

I love the skies in Ireland. I could just paint sky. Maybe tomorrow.

September 11, 2016 Day 11 Sheep Farm on the Coast

Acrylic on gesso board 6" X 6".

Going out painting plein air today. I have to run.

September 10 - Day 10 The Yellow House in Kerry

Acrylic on gesso board 6" X 6".

I painted over the background hills three times before I got them light enough! I guess my brain wanted them darker. I think I still have too much contrast but maybe it's the foreground that is troubling? What do you think?

September 9 - Day 9 Galway Road

Acrylic on gesso board 6" X 6".

These pieces all look better from a distance. My new goal is to make them look just as good close up. I'm not sure that I can do that. 

September 7, 2016 - Day 7 Kerry Along the Way

Acrylic on gesso board 6" X 6".

I was a bit rushed this morning I'm getting ready for a trip with my painting buddies. I'm preoccupied with thoughts of what to pack.

September 6, 2016 Day 6 - On the Ring of Kerry

Acrylic on gesso board 6" X 6".

I wonder what the view looks like from these mountains? I imagine in one direction you can see Killarney Provincial Park and from the other you see the ocean. I wonder how long it would take me to walk there? Maybe on my nex visit.

September 5, 2016 - Day 5 County Kerry View

Acrylic on gesso board, 6" X 6".

I didn't have a chance to paint en plein air in Ireland but I did take many photos. This piece is a detail of a photo. I put the house on the right in the 'sweet spot' and built the composition around it. It reflects my impression of the scene rather than the original scene. Of course the color is also only inspired by the view, tee hee.

September 4, 2016 Day 4. Lough Corrib, Galway, Ireland

Acrylic on gessoed 6"X 6" panel.

Today I wanted to concentrate on fluid brush strokes. Not the action of my hand but the finished look on the panel. I've been upset with how my brush strokes look on this blog. They appear to be magnified. I'm not used to looking at my work from only 18" on an iPad. Yikes!

I see some improvement, do you?

September 3, 2016 On the Road Home

Clog hog, Ireland

Why is it that as soon as I hit post I can see so many things that need improvement in my painting?

This is a 6" X 6" acrylic on gesso board piece. It is a thumbnail for a larger painting.

I also see it as a sketch for a woolen appliqué piece. It could be a pillow or a wall hanging. What do you think?

September 2, 2016 Day 2 Ladies View Two - 6x6

Ladies View Two

This I a a 6" X 6" version of a 30" X 40"  acrylic on canvas version of this same view.

September 1, 2016 - Day 1 of 30 Paintings in 30 Days

Surf's Up at Inch Bay

Here I go. No, not surfing! Maybe rowing but definitely not surfing!

It's day one of another 30/30 challenge. A challenge to get me painting every day. Although these days that is pretty automatic. But the challenge is to get'her done and posted each day. I can dabble a little each day but to make the complete effort is another thing. I do think it is worthwhile. I always learn something.

Today's effort is a study for a larger work. It is inspired by a photo which has a rectangular format. As you can see I made it a square. I'm not sure if the final piece will be square or not. What do you think?