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