120 Paintings Challenge Update

Here are a few of my paintings I've done for this Challenge I've undertaken.

I've been finding that the hardest part of this is finding the time to get in my studio and paint. So that hasn't changed:-) I have managed to paint 33 6" x 8" though. Time has always been an issue for me, with "life" often taking up more than painting. Another difficulty for me is not allowing myself to continue working on a piece for more than a couple hours. So many times I stop, thinking how much better the final piece could be if I continued to work on it. But, I take it off my easel anyway, and put up another blank panel--starting the process all over again. I've been posting every completed painting as I finish them on my website.















http://www.barbarasryan.com
https://www.facebook.com/bsryanart

120 Paintings Challenge Taken

Artist/Painter, Larry Seiler, from Wisconsin, whose work and advice I admire once said, "It takes 120 bad paintings to know something about painting," and he challenges artists to try it and see how much they grow. Since I believe this is true, and have seen other artists confirm it, I've decided to take on the challenge.

It consists of painting small, approximately 6" x 8", either landscape scenes or just small objects from life. The goal is to learn more about composition, color, and especially light, from direct observation and the simple act of putting down the paint on a consistent basis. These are not finished paintings, working on each for approximately 1-2 hours, but quick studies.

I've been working on this challenge for four weeks now, and below are a few of the studies I've done.











I"ll continue posting these Challenge paintings from time to time on this blog, and all are on the designated Page on my website.



http://www.barbarasryan.com
https://www.facebook.com/bsryanart

Sunflowers and Black Eyed Susan's

8" x 10"
Oil on Panel


Fall flowers have taken over my gardens, so of course I have to paint them.





http://www.barbarasryan.com
https://www.facebook.com/bsryanart

Plein Air--"Chasing Dolphins"

Painting here with the glaring sun was just about impossible without sunglasses! I had to peer above them constantly to get the colors/values like I wanted them, but that was OK. It's so gorgeous, with the constantly changing turquoise colors on the water, I felt compelled to try and capture some of it.

My husband and daughter had gone out kayaking in front of me, and I had already put that in before they had come back in. But when my daughter saw what I had painted, she told me about the dolphins they had seen and said "Oh Mom, you have to put the dolphins in--they were so cool". So, with her guiding me, I painted them in:-)



Chasing Dolphins
8" x 10"
Oil on linen board



http://www.barbarasryan.com
https://www.facebook.com/bsryanart

Plein Air from the Beach House

From the porch from our beach house on Atlantic Beach, NC.




8" x 10"
Oil on linen board




http://www.barbarasryan.com
https://www.facebook.com/bsryanart

Calla Lilies

Out in my garden again today--this time concentrating on my red calla lilies!




Calla Lilies
8" x 10"
Oil on Canvas



http://www.barbarasryan.com
https://www.facebook.com/bsryanart

Lakeside Garden

Finally--painting weather! Beautiful actually-couldn't have picked a more beautiful day to sit out on the dock and paint this. Someone's yard with lakeside azaleas and rhododendrons blooming--couldn't resist the flowers, even when I'm by the water:-)



"Lakeside Garden"
8" x 10"
Oil on Canvas

http://www.barbarasryan.com
https://www.facebook.com/bsryanart

Phlox Garden

Phlox Garden
5" x 5"
Oil on Panel

Another beautiful day out in my garden. Since I've painted this particular phlox garden several times, I thought I'd change it a bit by putting a little garden bunny statue that I had in another garden in it. Cute touch!





http://www.barbarasryan.com
https://www.facebook.com/bsryanart

First "Plein Air" of the Spring

Plein Air Study 4/22/13
8" x 10"
Oil on Panel


I haven't had it in me, up to this point, to get out there and paint in the open. Even today was a bit chilly, but I couldn't resist any longer. So I set up my easel right outside from my studio, and this is what I captured. I am looking forward to a productive plein air season, seeing and painting some new places, and growing with my painting skills.



http://www.barbarasryan.com
https://www.facebook.com/bsryanart