Dianna Cates Dunn » Blog

It's a cloudy, but lovely Sunday, here in the Rockies. I just uploaded my Day 21 painting on to Leslie Saeta's site   http://lesliesaeta.blogspot.com/ and decided that, as three quarters of the thirty painting in thirty days challenge has been completed, it was time to reflect a bit as to what I have gained, learned, lost and observed by participating in this exercise. So, without self-editing too much, here goes!

1- I get distracted easily. (Did someone just say squirrel?) Part of this problem, as I have known for many years, comes from having a studio in my own home. I truly do better if I "go to work" away from the washer, dryer, dishwasher, vacuum, garden, etc., etc., etc. However, I am blessed to have what I have and better darn well learn to make great use of it!

2- I over think things. If a little is good, isn't a lot more better?? (NO!!) If it comes too easily, it must not be good. (What???) 

3- I have to have music on to paint.  Truth. Otherwise, the number 2 problem REALLY kicks in!  That, and the savage beast in me is soothed by it.

4- Abstracts call me. Realism, pointillism and other painting styles are wonderful, but I find that I am most creative, content and having the most fun when communicating through abstracts. (Of course, this is all the fault of artist, teacher and friend Gwen Fox, bless her gifted heart!)

5- I like having weekends off. Yup. I like having a couple of days to take care of life's details or to get away for a 'recharging of my mental batteries'. I'm with Eleanor Roosevelt in my belief of a 5 days work week as healthful and we all need to 'rest' from our labors.

6- The Challenge has made me focus. Getting my body (and brain!) into the studio 5 days a week is imperative for my continued growth as an artist and for my mental health! It is soooooo easy to get out of a good habit, you know?

I have no doubt that, as I continue to paint and think about this process, I will think of many more lessons that have been learned. However, the ones that I've listed are the most obvious ones...at least for me. AND THEY ARE ALL IMPORTANT FOR ME TO PAY ATTENTION TO! 

My thanks to Leslie Saeta for putting forth the challenge. It is a very good thing, indeed.

Day 21

It's day 9 of the "Thirty paintings in Thirty Days" challenge that Lisa Saeta has set forth. I have posted my ninth painting to her website, http://lesliesaeta.blogspot.com/ and I am about to head to the studio to start number 10.......and guess what?.........I am feeling the CHALLENGE today!  Yup, it would be sooooo easy to just let today slide as I have no idea what #10 painting should be like. Now, for numbers 8 and 9, I was inspired by the onset of fall in our beautiful -but high- mountain region....but today??? Well, lets just say after the evil necessity of grocery shopping and left to my own devices, I would probably pick up a book and amble out to my patio to enjoy the warmth of the day. (HEY! By Friday we're suppose to have a high of only 48 degrees! 'Nuff said?) However, I will persevere and take myself into the studio to see what magic might await me!  And it is magic.  You do know that, don't you? Art is always MAGIC!

Artist Leslie Saeta has issued a challenge to her fellow artists. The challenge is to paint one painting a day for the month of September. Sound easy?? Think again.  While this is not a totally original idea,  it is certainly an idea worth participating in at least once in an artistic life. So, dear Leslie, this is my opportunity to do so, and I am doing everything I can to keep myself geared to the goal. In fact, I am posting this blog just to make myself more accountable to seeing the thirty days through! (Yes, I know myself well enough to know that come day 15 or 16 I could just slip off for a day retail therapy and never return to paint on day 17!)

SO, here are the paintings I've done for September 1st an 2nd.  Oh, and my goal is to paint quickly and not let my brain overwork what my intuition lays out. Inspiration for my paintings will either come from out of my head or from photographs I have taken over the years.

Day one came out of a forest landscape photo where I derived values and the over all flow .......think I'll call it "Guenivere"

Day two came from my desire NOT TO OVERWORK a good, simple design.

Have you every participated in a challenge similar to this? If so, I would love to hear about your experience....in detail! (No punches pulled) If you haven't, stay tuned for updates on mine!  And, no, I won't pull any punches either.