Day 31: Went Shopping!!

So I went to Walmart last night to get some art supplies and groceries.  You can't do that at Hobby Lobby.

So I bought about $15 of art stuff:  the canvases (smaller this time) were $10, some brushes ($5) and a palette (97 cents). 

Yup so I am thinking I will do another monthly project! 

And I even may blog about it too.

Here's an idea for my next painting:

This is a picture that I took of a close-up of one of my orchids.  They are all dead now :(

Its a little blurry but I think I want it to be a little like that.... or I will just make the lines sharper.  Now all I have to do is get a fair copy of this picture, sketch it on my canvas and START WITH MY BACKGROUND THIS TIME.  This project may be more technical but I think I will be okay.

Day 30: Final thoughts

I examined my picture and there could be some parts that I might touch up.... over-all though I am extremely satisfied to see it hanging on my bedroom wall.  I don't want to touch it.  I just want to leave it hanging there and expect to see it every time I settle down for my 5 hours of sleep.

I loved my experience.  The beginnings were tough with all my doubt seeping out of me and then hanging over me like a dark cloud.  In the end though, I had something to look forward to that meant the world to me: accomplishment.  What's even more important are some things that popped up along with that accomplishment.  Self-worth, satisfaction and a definite happiness.

I am excited.  I want to start on another painting ASAP!!!  I think this is an experience worth having again and it gives me a lot more to look forward to in my day to just sit down and do something creative.

 I have been a drawing role for about a week now.  I love it.  It's just been abstract designs and stuff I could imagine someone wearing as a tattoo.  Here is one that I am working on now:

I want to do another monthly project this time with an Easter theme.  I have some ideas and I think I will do something original this time.

I just have to find me a canvas.....

More later.

Day 29: I AM DONE!!! Woo-hoo!!!

I didn't think this was possible to accomplish in a month.

I might do more touch ups tomorrow, fill in the village a little more with some greenery- but I am pretty much done.

It just took about another half hour of my time to finish the houses (those were easy) and then I re-outlined the tree in some more brown paint (that was a little trickier).  I also added a little red dot to some of the stars.  Some I didn't like so much so I painted over the red with yellow.  Oh yeah, I also added a bit of yellow to some of the houses windows and the church to make it look like lights were on in the buildings.

I am very satisfied with my work and I look forward to doing some more painting.  The feeling of accomplishment is priceless.

Let's do a comparison.

Here is Vincent Van Gogh's:

And here is mine:

Sweet.  Well I have more things to do!

Day 28: I AM NEARLY DONE!!!!

I sat done this morning after breakfast and put in "Braveheart."  For nearly a whole hour I worked on the houses in my village.  Just a few more brushstrokes and I will be done!

The houses looks rougher and blacker than I imagined.  I like them anyways.  I figure they don't take the glory out of the cute church.  I just have those three houses there on the far right of the village hill to finish up.  After that?  I could research some more on Vincent Van Gogh and find some more things to find out on my subject.

It also wouldn't hurt to give the whole painting some touch-ups.

Especially that tree.

"Braveheart" didn't help me much besides distracting me and made me feel like starting a war with the neighbors next door.  Otherwise, I am having an awesome and some-what lazy Sunday =)

Day 27: Taking a Step Back

When your painting it's always good to step back and see how things are going for you.  Getting too focused?  Need more shading?  Does it lack perspective and seem 2D? 

Here are some pointers that I have picked up from experience and people have been kind enough to offer me:

1.)  Have a plan; a picture is the best way to go.
2.)  If you like something you should save it.  With paint- make more and store it.
3.)  If you plan to do something that might ruin good clothes then DON'T WHERE GOOD CLOTHES! (that's why I paint in my old pajamas)
4.)  When you don't have a variety or what you want either- work with what you have or go get what you need.

To get technical:  acrylic paint is A PAIN to remove from jeans and Ziploc containers are my best friend.  I also try not to use too many brushes in one session-I used only 3 this time (with the help of water and paper towel.) In about an hour I was able to improve the color of my trees and get some of the village done.

I am very happy the way things are turning out.  I think I might even have this done by April 1st!!

Part of the reason it may have taken me an hour is that I had "Donnie Brasco" playing with French subtitles.  I don't know how much my French cromprehension has improved but I think this movie may have made me get all perfectionist when I found a stopping point.

You see, I stopped and stepped back.  Then I noticed that the steeple looked kinda funny.  I went on to even hang the canvas on the two little thumbtacks on my bedroom wall and sit down to take a good look at the picture.  Having it elevated like that made it easier to make an improvement to my slightly wobbly steeple (Yup! I painted in my bed room!).  The change is so small I won't even bother providing the before and after.

It just goes to show that I'm critical.

But one last thing:

It's good to just step back and admire. 

More later!
  

Day 26: Well....

My day can go kind of like this:  I'm SUPER HAPPY in the morning then feeling LOW in the evening.  That's bound to change later this evening and I think it's just this headache that's putting me in a bad mood.  I was stressing a little over the painting and maybe I sprayed too much cologne on the car upholstery.

Anyways, after I dropped my brother off at his work I went to Hobby Lobby to look and see if they had teal.  They did have some and lots of other paints.  I bought what looked good ( some yellows, blues, greens, and brown) and a plastic box that comes with a lid that has a handle.  Super handy for my paints.  I spent $11 on stuff that I may or may not use.... oh well I have the reciept!

So I got home and sat down thinking I will get the village started but no... I have trees and more background to work on.  So I did that and I am disappointed by the results:

But it looks alright and I can tweeak it some as I go.  Also turns out the "teal" wasn't "teal"- some funky green instead.  I can always either return or use it later.  Hmmm....  I will have to experiment with mixing some paint to get what I REALLY want.

I created a play list that I hoped would cheer me up... that may have put me in a worse mood because of Nelly's "Just a Dream" and Christina Aguilera's soulful love song from Burlesque soundtrack.  Music does have it's ups and downs too....but I think I need to get some more music.  You can only listen to something so many times before it gets OLD!

It's whatever.  I am going back to my apartment and listen to something obnoxiously loud and fun.  Then I am going to see Tangled with friends later!!! YAY!

More tomorrow!!! (lots more)

Day 25: 6 more days?? Will I get the village done in time???

So I sat down for about a half hour this morning and the hills were really bugging me so I added more blue.  It looks a little better and now I just need to focus on finishing this project up!  Here's how it looks now:

It's getting there and the village will be kinda detailed so I need to get crackin'!

I added this lighter blue and mixed in more purple.  The only problem I have is that I don't have teal but I will make do with what I have for now.

It's almost done but I still have so much to do!