Lake View - my first oil landscape

This week, during the 20 hour challenge, I worked on Lake View as one of my projects.

For a very long time now, I have wanted to conquer painting water, but I really wanted to try it in oils. However, I have avoided oils because of the toxicity issues I kept hearing about with this medium. However, I have finally caved in, purchased the least toxic brand of oils, and begun to experiment with them. 

My first oil painting I did on a 6" x 6" birch panel which was fun - but kind of felt a bit like tole painting... I am sure it was painting on wood that made it feel that way. Mexican Lemons was the result of that first attempt.

Then I did the painting of the pears which was my post for Wednesday of this week. Pears was on a 6" x 6" canvas, and I love how bright and pure the colors are with the oils.

And now, a landscape with water... this was fun, and came together surprisingly well. I am excited with my first attempt at water - at least I haven't wiped it down yet!  I know that as I explore and become accustomed to the way oils behave, I will only get better, and that is what I am looking for!

My contact info: jogiesbrecht@gmail.com

THE 20 HOUR CHALLENGE

Rhino is a watercolor painting that I began a while ago and put away for a couple of weeks while I thought about the direction I wanted to take him. He is big, and he is complex in the same way that African Elephant was. Rhino is also one of San Diego Zoo's creatures - and I took the photo of him the same day as African Elephant. (This is just a section of the painting.)

I've been a bit conflicted the last couple of weeks - with the garden needing planting, flower beds needing weeding, the greenhouse needing to be built, the housework never ending, my oven not working, snow still happening (although it seems to be gone for good as of this week!), and so on. And all of this gets in the way of my painting, of course! 

I was thinking that I need to make a schedule and perhaps dust on Mondays, laundry on Tuesdays, and so on, listing everything that has to get done and on what day so that it all gets done - as well as my painting. But you know what? I would rebel against my own list! I would ignore it, or procrastinate, or do it all in one day just to get it out of the way....

Then, along came an opportunity that is made for me, and I seized it! Lori Woodward Simons

put out a challenge on Twitter which she called the "20 Hour Work Week Challenge". Those of us who chose to participate were to work a minimum of 20 hours this week on our painting, writing, or whatever art form we were involved in. Each artist who made their declaration to join the challenge is to report in on Friday afternoon so that we are encouraging one another with the struggles and successes we each experienced. As well, we will share what we have worked on by linking to our websites or blogs. As far as I know, there are close to 20 of us so far who are "in". Not all of us will have achieved the 20 hours, and others will have been able to work more. The thing is, we are now accountable to one another, and for me, that makes a big difference!

So, this is my "show and tell" - I am working on Rhino. As well, I began the painting which was my post for Wednesday... my cat, Catch. (scroll down to see that painting). And I began a 3rd painting, but did not get very far in that because of Catch and Rhino. So, all in all, a very productive week! Thank you, Lori - you have given me the "10,000 foot view" - a perspective adjustment I badly needed. Hope you all did super in your week, and if not, next week is coming!