Daily Painting Sept 2017 :: No. 20 of 30

A third of the month is left! I still have a lot to experiment with. Today's painting is about thick paint. If asked if I liked thick or thin paint, I'd have to say that the jury is still out on that.

Daily Painting No. 17 of 30

3x3" original oil

Tired of marshes yet? I so love them....

Thanks for reading!~kmw

Daily Painting Sept 2017 :: No. 19 of 30

Today I've been updating my blog with the paintings I've been completing daily this month. Blogging about the work is a nice component to painting because I think about the work a little differently. Blogging isn't fun when you take eight days off and try to catch up ;) 

This painting is about the underpainting. It was orange and I left a lot of that showing. Then I added more to it. I love how it came out!

Daily Painting No. 19 of 30

3x3" original oil

Thanks for reading! ~kmw

Daily Painting Sept 2017 :: No. 18 of 30

It's been a struggle to get these daily paintings complete. They are small little works, and I thought they'd be easily integrated into my schedule, but September is a true challenge of time management. 

Mixing color is the name of the game. Painting with pastels is about selecting a stick of pigment and determining color harmonies. Oil painting adds mixing the paint on top of all of it. Fun and difficult as a challenge.

Daily Painting No. 18 of 30

3x3" original oil

 This marsh piece is starting to feel more like autumn. A little different palette for me, but I like it!

Thanks for reading! ~kmw

Daily Painting Sept 2017 :: No. 17 of 30

Back to some palette knife and some brush and trying to say a lot with fewest marks I can muster. It's tricky. 

Daily Painting No. 17 of 30

3x3" original oil

This ominous sky was inspiring. I took it in an abstract route and liked it in the end. The nuances in blue make are beautiful in person. In fact, the whole piece is some sort of blue.

Thanks for reading! ~kmw

Daily Painting Sept 2017 :: No. 16 of 30

Nocturnes make their way into my work every so often. In past #30in30 challenges, I see the nocturnes pop up. They are favorites of my patrons and I should do more. It's a difficult thing for me to paint because night isn't about color so much and you have to work from life and from memory. This can be done, but it takes more effort.

Daily Painting No. 16 of 30

3x3" original oil

And so here is a marsh I love and have visited and painted often. For today's painting I looked at paintings from the day and made the scene into night. Ha! What exhausting fun that was!!

Thanks for reading! ~kmw

Daily Painting Sept 2017 :: No. 14 of 30

Last post I discussed color and how fun it can be to see color in the landscape, especially when one color seems to predominate. Green is like this in summer. It's everywhere and in order to make interesting paintings, artists need to look beyond it while also looking deep inside it to make it interesting for the viewer.

Daily Painting No. 14 of 30

3x3" original oil

Here's a great example of seeing beyond the colors that are there. It isn't green here right now, but it doesn't look like this either. What fun to make a new color vocabulary for a spot! 

Small works this September are giving me space to stretch. I love this!

Thanks for reading! ~kmw

Daily Painting Sept 2017 :: No. 13 of 30

While I've always used my palette knife to get paint mixed well, this challenge of daily paintings on a small scale have me applying the paint with the knife. The thickness of the paint is fun and attractive on these small works. 

This sunflower piece is from Tangerini's Spring Street Farm in Millis, MA close to where we live. What a treasured spot with farmers who like artists so close by and a true source of inspiration for me!

Daily Painting No. 13 of 30

3x3" original oil

I always like finding assorted colors in the greens out there, too. Seeing color is such a fun part of being an artist. I'm blessed to keep working on it everyday. 

Thanks for reading! ~kmw

Daily Painting Sept 2017 :: No. 12 of 30

Simplicity in painting is difficult to figure out for me. I see all of the minutia and want to reference all of it. In my studio, the most frustrated I get is when I'm putting in too much and can't make it work.

Daily Painting No. 12 of 30

3x3" oil on 5x7" oil paper

This piece is about simplicity. What color is in the distance? What about the sky? These studies are teeny at 3x3" and I don't have a lot of wiggle room to convey everything. How can I made it work?

Oils, too, are tricky. Imaging painting with smooshes of colored butter. Lines aren't as easy to make. Hard edges get blended. Color ends up in color. It's a joyful medium when you let it do its thing. I love it hate it love it again numerous times in each painting.

Daily Painting No. 12 of 30

3x3" original oil

My struggle here ended in a nice spot. I love the color and light harmonies. Feels like September in my neighborhood field, just like I had wanted.

Thanks for reading! ~kmw

Daily Painting Sept 2017 :: No. 11 of 30

While painting my marsh the other day I had an idea for a glowing underpainting. Today's piece is all about that glow. Similar subject, new approach!

Daily Painting No. 11 of 30

3x3" oil on 5x7" oil paper

In class I caution my students about "noodling" the work. When you want the underpainting to show, noodling (or overworking) can't happen. Efficiency and confident mark-making are important. Too much smoosh and the underpainting is covered.

Daily Painting No. 11 of 30

3x3" original oil

The horizon glows with this method. I'm happy!

Thanks for reading!~kmw

Daily Painting Sept 2017 :: No. 9 of 30

Before I get into my painting, FYI: my local art classes are going to start up again the week of September 19th. Zullo Gallery is a fantastic spot and I'd love to have you join us! Thanks! 

Little makes me feel like an artist as much as painting nocturnes. In past 30in30 series, I've painted nocturnes and written about how I find them one of the last things artists have over photographers. 

Daily Painting No. 9 of 30

3x3" oil on 5x7" oil paper

Sure, artists can take photos at night, but it's the artist who can really describe the scene vividly. Again, this is inspired by my neighborhood, but with some dramatic liberties because it's fun to take liberties. 

Daily Painting No. 9 of 30

3x3" original oil

Thanks for reading! ~kmw

Daily Painting Sept 2017 :: No. 8 of 30

It took eight days for me to get back to the marsh. It's one of my favorite favorite places to be.

Daily Painting No. 8 of 30

3x3" oil on 5x7" oil paper

The more I paint, the more I enjoy taking risks and chances with my paintings, especially when the works are small. They aren't as precious and decisions stand out. 

Daily Painting No. 8 of 30

3x3" oil on 5x7" oil paper

I need to do more of this on a larger scale!

Thanks for reading! ~kmw

Daily Painting Sept 2017 :: No. 7 of 30

My brother married a wonderful woman 15 years ago this month. With a last name like MacIntosh, there is little doubt of her heritage.

My brother composts his grass clippings and other compostables in a big pile hidden by some strategically placed shrubs. During a recent visit, my nephew asked me to see the volunteer pumpkins that have grown from the compost (my favorite part of composting is the bevvy of volunteer plantings). The pumpkins and gourds are great, of course. What caught my eye were the thistles!

Daily Painting No. 7 of 30

3x3" oil on 5x7" oil paper

How appropriate in a house with Scottish heritage that beautiful thistles bloom in their compost!

Daily Painting No. 7 of 30

3x3" original oil

It caught my eye and I had to paint it, all loose and fun with the sky behind. Something is fun about smooshing around paint. This one was particularly smooshy!

Thanks for reading! ~kmw

Daily Painting Sept 2017 :: No. 5 of 30

I have five paintings lined up in my studio like a small parade and I love seeing them! We started in the imagined English countryside and have moved to New England.

Daily Painting No. 5 of 30

3x3" oil on 5x7" oil paper

After years of painting and critiquing I've learned I love small moments. It's a sort of mindfulness in life to notice intimacies around us all. These small paintings feel like snippets of the larger world. It's the world I love to notice. 

Daily Painting No. 5 of 30

3x3" original oil

Thanks for reading. Hope to see you tomorrow! ~kmw

Daily Painting Sept 2017 :: No. 4 of 30

When people ask where my paintings are from I am sometimes specific and sometimes vague. Many times the work can be from anywhere. The prior paintings of the #30in30 were of a typical imagined English countryside. Now where is today's painting from?

Daily Painting No. 4 of 30

3x3" oil on 5x7" oil paper

It'd be nice to say it's from my imagination, and while it sort of is, it is inspired by my glorious neighborhood. Living with nearly 200 acres of conservation land is an inspiring gift, and one that I count my blessings for every day. 

Daily Painting No. 4 of 30

3x3" original oil

 Queen Anne's Lace is in bloom now. It's the tail end of a long season of the wildflower. This year was magnificent. I'll need to buy a giant canvas and really do some of my photos and memories justice.

If you're on Instagram follow me @kimweineck and scroll back to see. I'm sure you'll find a lot of the neighborhood field. It's a sacred spot for me.

Thanks for reading! ~kmw

Daily Painting Sept 2017 :: No. 3 of 30

With each painting I learn new things - it's the best way to paint. The space in a painting is different than photographs, and it's fun to be the one manipulating the space by playing with color, line, and composition.

Daily Painting No. 3 of 30

3x3" original oil

This is the third in the imagined landscape of the English countryside. I love this palette! I'm having fun.

Daily Painting No. 3 of 30

3x3" oil on 5x7" oil paper

Happy Anniversary to me and Tim today, too. Happiness happiness! And keeping it short in the blog department. Stuff to do and fun to be had -- the benefits of anniversaries on holiday weekends :)

Thanks for reading! (Hope to see you again tomorrow) ~kmw

Daily Painting Sept 2017 :: No. 2 of 30

Today I am back on my imagined trip to the Lake District in England. This time I tried to get a little more about the light in my painting. I love it in person and the depth I was able to achieve. 

Daily Painting No. 2 of 30
3x3" oil on 5x7" oil paper

And I am having so much fun mixing paint and applying paint and smooshing it around on the oil paper! Fun!! 

Daily Painting No. 1 of 30
3x3" original oil

Happy Labor Day weekend! 

It's my 12th anniversary tomorrow. Goodness! I'd do it again in a heartbeat. The hardest thing about being married to Tim is finding a good anniversary card that isn't so dang sappy. I ended up with one with my favorite quote about relationships, written by Robert Browning "Grow old along with me; the best is yet to be!" Hard to believe it could get better but I do like that mindset :) 

Thanks for reading! ~kmw

Day 16 :: RED :: September Daily Paintings

RED
original pastel, 6x6"
©2016 Kim Morin Weineck
$50

This is a busy month which I deliberately chose to augment my stress by undertaking this challenge. It's wonderful to do the work and feel progress and I keep telling myself that doing the work is a better feeling than having more on my plate. Certainly this month laundry and cleaning and such can take a back seat! 

As I mentioned in yesterday's  post about the porch light painting, architecture is a challenge for me. Generally I want to tighten things up and make all the edges hard and ruler straight. Painting then becomes such a chore as opposed to being something to enjoy and free my inner artistic child. When I'm feeling life's pressures, of course I take on the challenge of something that I find difficult. Goodness. 

RED
original acrylic, 18x18"
©2016 Kim Morin Weineck

Today my studio time in Massachusetts brings me back to Vermont at the farm I am so inspired by. This square composition is wholly architectural with some intense cropping to really challenge all my perspective skills. My farmer friends have wonderful young children and so you can make out the scooter and the red tricycle in front of the barn door.

The acrylic came first and then the pastel above. Simplicity is my mantra and being able to say a lot with little marks and color changes. I think I did well with this. Pastel makes it easier to do: pick colors, make marks, move on!

This will be a fun one to compare and contrast. I have been putting both images next to each other on Facebook. It certainly does welcome comparison that way!

PRICING NOTE:  I am taking risks with this challenge. The work created is about learning and  my pieces are experiments and priced accordingly. Each piece is A BARGAIN at only $50 ($10 shipping if you're not local) rather than $125 for my usual gallery-worthy work. Only my pastels will be available at this time. Email kimweineck@gmail.com to purchase. Of course, thank you! 

Thank you for reading! ~ kmw

Day 15 :: CHICKEN FEED :: September Daily Paintings

CHICKEN FEED
original pastel, 6x6"
©2016 Kim Morin Weineck
$50

Pastels are gloriously direct. No brush handle to get in the way. You want a color - you find the color - you apply the color - done. HA! It does NOT really work like that, especially if you do a nuanced piece of every sort of gray out there. Challenge doesn't really begin to describe what this was, but it's September and I embrace challenge! 

Cutie little chicken was super smart and found the bag of birdseed. When I happened upon this scene, the chicken turned and looked at me! Such a fun moment at my friend's farm yet again. Some day I will have to see about a residency. I could be inspired and paint something new from this farm every day! 

CHICKEN FEED
original acrylic, 18x18"
©2016 Kim Morin Weineck

Again the acrylic is different but improving. Again I am wondering if I like it more than the pastel. It's funny to think that I'm struggling with a smaller pastel working surface. A 6x6" board was my thing for years whilst the kids were still napping and it was what I could tackle during that short time. Thankfully the school day is longer and so my working time has increased.

Yesterday was intense with an art association meeting and things the kids needed, so I dialed it in and posted my plein air piece from the coffeehouse. Today I did four paintings and need to go to bed. Ha! Who knew art is so tiring?

PRICING NOTE:  I am taking risks with this challenge. The work created is about learning and  my pieces are experiments and priced accordingly. Each piece is A BARGAIN at only $50 ($10 shipping if you're not local) rather than $125 for my usual gallery-worthy work. Only my pastels will be available at this time. Email kimweineck@gmail.com to purchase. Of course, thank you! 

Thank you for reading! ~ kmw

Day 13 :: SHADE TREES :: September Daily Painting Challenge

SHADE TREES
original pastel, 6x6"
©2016 Kim Morin Weineck
$50

It was bound to happen eventually. Today's acrylic took all my energy, and I love it. It feels like I'm illustrating a book about a farm in Vermont that I love. The pastel needs another 30 minutes but today I'm gassed.

This morning I enjoyed painting at a local cafe. Painting en plein air is fun but tiring. Adjusting to school has been tiring, too. September is a month of transition. Add soccer on top of it all, and I am impressed with myself for making my way down here tonight and working on these two pieces. 

SHADE TREES
original acrylic, 18x18"
©2016 Kim Morin Weineck

Again, "nothing feels as good as doing the work." Tonight as I headed down the stairs to my basement art studio I knew I'd feel as good going back up the stairs as after a tough workout. This month is about my own self-direct art workout, and it does feel good. 

The plein air painting from this morning came out nice, too. (You can see it on my Instagram account @kimweineck.) I enjoyed speaking with the most wonderful people who came specifically to support me and with others who stopped by to get coffee and noticed I was there working. The town we live in is full of wonderful folks, and I'm so happy we landed here. 

One more word to a friend who I know reads my blog posts: Thank you so much for bringing my dad to Cilla's Coffeehouse to see my work. It was such a treat to have him tell me he saw (and liked!!) my paintings hanging there. I really appreciate it. xxoo 

This farm is the same one as my painting from yesterday, in case you were wondering. Magical place, I tell you....

PRICING NOTE:  I am taking risks with this challenge. The work created is about learning and  my pieces are experiments and priced accordingly. Each piece is A BARGAIN at only $50 ($10 shipping if you're not local) rather than $125 for my usual gallery-worthy work. Only my pastels will be available at this time. Email kimweineck@gmail.com to purchase. Of course, thank you! 

Thank you for reading (and supporting!) ~ kmw

Day 12 :: FARM COMPANION :: September Daily Paintings

FARM COMPANION
original pastel, 6x6"
©2016 Kim Morin Weineck
sold

Yesterday's painting was freeing and I was a bit pumped to begin the week with that energy. I used brushes I've often disdained -- the fan brush in particular. Good artist materials seem precious. They are expensive and beautiful objects. If you've read my blog since the onset of this month of daily painting, you know I am trying to have fun with creativity and let my inner child silence my inner critic. Here on day 12 the two are fighting a whole lot! 

When I was studying painting in France 15 years ago (a time I love to reminisce about), one of our classes brought us to the beach where we had to select natural materials for brushes. My uptight younger self (although I'm still pretty uptight now) HATED this assignment, because so much of what was painted had to be given up to this awkward and yet freeing process. Yesterday was a bit about that. 

FARM COMPANION
original acrylic 18x18"
©2016 Kim Morin Weineck

Today's paintings have been made, and I sit here blogging about them and my process. When I see the results here on my screen I get a bit tingly. For a while now I've wanted to paint more of the figure, but geez is that ever an intimidating idea! Marshes you can totally fudge. "I'll put the water there and move that and make this like that" for a good painting. My inner critic flips out if I were to think any way like that when painting people. Painting people demands accuracy and practice.

I've mentioned this story before, but I do love it, and so here it comes again:

Our youngest daughter was trying to do something and was repeatedly getting it wrong. When Tim and I prodded her to try again because "Practice makes perfect" she immediately corrected us with her updated "Practice makes better" because "Mom, and Dad, you can't be perfect!" I love that change to the common platitude. We say it all the time.

For a while, I've been making 2-dimensional artwork in two distinct styles:  loose and slightly-abstracted fine art and tight, detailed illustrations. Sometimes I feel a little right-and-left-brain-at-war. When I get into big conversations about art, I'd say that a day was coming where there'd be some fusion of the two.

Today's paintings feel like that fusion is imminent if not finally at hand.

I love the acrylic more (!!) than the pastel, and that is a major change. The piece flowed out of me, and I enjoyed every moment. Ah, what fun!

The subject of today's painting is my friend and her puppy. Lucky me gets to visit her at their family farm in Vermont and vicariously live through her whole family. This moment was when we were off to harvest some mint while all around us was bursting into springtime bloom. This farm has been on my mind a lot lately, so I would expect that you may see it in future paintings.

PRICING NOTE:  I am taking risks with this challenge. The work created is about learning and  my pieces are experiments and priced accordingly. Each piece is A BARGAIN at only $50 ($10 shipping if you're not local) rather than $125 for my usual gallery-worthy work. Only my pastels will be available at this time. Email kimweineck@gmail.com to purchase. Of course, thank you! 

Thanks for reading! ~kmw