30 Day Painting Bonus Painting - Day 31 - Sunset Over the Cove

The "30 Paintings in 30 Days" challenge is officially over, but I did one more bonus painting for the 31st of January. My plan was to paint this on masa paper which I have rarely used. I followed the instructions but I must have done something wrong because I didn't get any of the "batik-like" effect I should have. I think I may have let the paper soak for too long and lost the hard folds that absorb the paint. The paper did give me a soft sort of textured look to the painting, but not the result I was after. I am hoping to do work more on masa next month as well as on yupo. If I am saying it here in print, maybe that will force me to actually do it instead of procrastinating about it.

This was done from a photo I took in Maine at sunset. It is 8 x 10.

Even though the challenge is over you can still look back at the work posted on Leslie Saeta's blog.

http://lesliesaeta.blogspot.com And I think you can still vote on Sea Dean's blog. http://paintamasterpiece.blogspot.com

Today is WorldWide Sketchcrawl #46 and I will be heading out in our frigid temperatures today to sketch at an indoor location.

30 Paintings in 30 Days - Day 30 - Venice Sunrise

Today is the final day of the "30 Paintings" challenge spearheaded by Leslie Saeta.

You can see all the work by the other artists here. http://lesliesaeta.blogspot.com

Voting takes place on Sea Dean's blog. http://paintamasterpiece.blogspot.com

I had to finish up the challenge with a painting of one of my favorite places, Venice.
This was painted from a sketch I had done while I was there on one of my trips.

Venice Sunrise by Joan Tavolott

I went out to paint today and found a nice snowy scene across a small pond in Brightwaters.

Brightwaters View by Joan Tavolott

30 Paintings in 30 Days - Day 29 - Greek Sunrise

The month is almost over but there is still time to see the artwork done for the "30 Paintings in 30 Days" challenge on Leslie Saeta's blog. http://lesliesaeta.blogspot.com

And you can still vote on Sea Dean's blog. http://paintamasterpiece.blogspot.com

Day 29 was done from one of my photos taken on our cruise in September as we pulled into port in Volos, Greece. The sun was just coming up and the sky and the water was beautiful.

Greek Sunrise by Joan Tavolott

Today I took a drive to find something snowy to sketch. My first stop was down at the park along Broadway in Sayville. There were lots of kids sledding. I was able to sit in the car and sketch this.

Sledding in Sayville by Joan Tavolott

Then I drove along Montauk Highway and stopped by Lower Pond in Oakdale. It always looks good over there.

Snowy View at Lower Pond by Joan Tavolott

30 Pantings in 30 Days - Day 28 - Canyon Sky

The 30 day challenge is continuing. If you want to see the work of the other artists you can check Leslie Saeta's blog here: http://lesliesaeta.blogspot.com

Voting takes place on Sea Dean's blog: http://paintamasterpiece.blogspot.com

"Canyon Sky" is my day 28th painting for the challenge. It was painted from a photo I took at the north rim of the Grand Canyon. This is 5 x 7.

Canyon Sky by Joan Tavolott

With all the snow we had in the last two days I was snowbound at home yesterday. I put some of my time to good use in the morning by doing a sketch of the snowy view outside my bedroom window.

Later in the day I wanted to sketch some of the action outside. My windows all face the same view of the trees. So I donned several layers of clothes, put on my warm hat, gloves, and scarf as well as my boots and headed outside. I walked around our development looking for an indoor spot where I could have a view of the parking lot. There were snowplows and people digging out their cars everywhere. The community building was open but only the foyer had a view of the parking lot. I stood inside by the door and sketched a view of one of the tenants clearing out their car. (My car was safely inside my garage but hadn't yet been plowed out by the snowplows.) I guess it was a productive day!

30 Paintings in 30 Days - Day 27 - Clouds Over the Beach Grasses

I am close to the end of Leslie's challenge. Check out the other artwork here:

http://lesliesaeta.blogspot.com You can vote for your favorites on Sea Dean's blog here:

http://paintamasterpiece.blogspot.com

This was done en plein air yesterday before I painted the waves that I posted yesterday. The location was Smith Point State Park and this is 5 x 7.

Clouds Over the Beach Grasses by Joan Tavolott

Today NY is at the end of our blizzard which has so far dumped somewhere around 15 inches of snow in my area.  It is hard to tell exactly how deep it is from my doorway since it is too deep for me to walk out without putting on my boots. I measured ouside my garage door and the deepest drift I could reach was 19 inches and light snow is still falling. Here are a few photos. I will go out later and take some more.

30 Paintings in 30 Days - Day 26 - Yellow Irish Sky

Today is day 26 of the "30 Paintings" challenge. You can see more of the artwork on Leslie Saeta's blog here: http://lesliesaeta.blogspot.com And vote if you want at Sea Dean's blog here:http://paintamasterpiece.blogspot.com

Today's painting "Irish Yellow Sky" was painted from a reference photo I took in Kilmore Quay, Ireland.

Yellow Irish Sky by Joan Tavolott

I needed an ocean fix so I headed down to Smith Point Beach to visit the water. It was a windy day so the waves looked pretty good. Even though the temperature was probably warm enough to sit out and paint if I bundled up, the wind made it too difficult, so I painted this from my car. It was done in my sketchbook with oil pastels as a resist and watercolors.

Winter Waves by Joan Tavolot

30 Paintings in 30 Days - Day 25 - Varenna Sunset

I used a reference photo I took on my trip to Lake Como for my day 25 painting for Leslie Saeta's "30 Paintings in 30 Days."

 Check out the artwork of the other artists taking part in the challenge here: http://lesliesaeta.blogspot.com

If you want to vote check Sea Dean's blog. http://paintamasterpiece.blogspot.com

Varenna Sunset by Joan Tavolott

30 Paintings in 30 Days - Day 24 - Sunken Meadow Sky

For day 24 of Leslie's challenge I drove to Sunken Meadow State Park which is about a 25 minute ride northwest of me, right on Long Island Sound. I really like this view and have painted it many times. This time I painted it from my car because it was so cold outside.

Sunken Meadow Sky by Joan Tavolott

If you would like to see the artwork by the other talented artists taking part in the challenge check here: http://lesliesaeta.blogspot.com

If you would like to vote check out Sea Dean's blog. http://paintamasterpiece.blogspot.com

30 Paintings in 30 Days - Day 23 - Tranquil Sky Over the Bay

We are almost at the last week of Leslie Saeta's "30 Paintings in 30 Days." Work of the other artists can be found here. http://lesliesaeta.blogspot.com

Voting is on Sea Dean's blog. http://lesliesaeta.blogspot.com

"Tranquil Sky Over the Bay" was painted from a photo I took in Cape Cod. I love that you can see out to a nearly bare island with just a few cottages.

Tranquil Sky Over the Bay by Joan Tavolott

Last night for an indoor location the Patchogue Sketch Club met at our local Michaels. Apparently they let their meeting/party room be used by local groups if it is not scheduled to be used for a store function. We reserved it and each member brought along something to be used in a still life. We had quite an assortment of objects so we set up a few spots. Sophia had brought a vase of silk flowers and that was what I sketched first with watercolors and watercolor pencils.

Then I focused on Pat's two objects. One was a tall wooden cat sculpture and the other was a kind of rag doll someone in the family had given her for Christmas. They were posed with a pomegranate.

30 Paintings in 30 Days - Day 22 - Red Sky at Dawn

Today is day 22 of the "30 Paintings in 30 Days" with Leslie Saeta.

http://lesliesaeta.blogspot.com

Voting takes place on Sea Dean's blog.

http://paintamasterpiece.blogspot.com

Today's painting was done from one of my own photos taken in Key West, Florida.

Yesterday was portrait day for one of my groups.

Barry posed for us.

30 Paintings in 30 Days - Day 21 - Hilltop Clouds

I am participating in Leslie Saeta's 30 Day Challenge and have really been enjoying painting and visiting her blog to find other participating artists who are new to me. Care to see some of the other artists? Click here: http://lesliesaeta.blogspot.com

If you'd like to visit Sea Dean's "Paint a Masterpiece" blog and vote please click here:

http://paintamasterpiece.blogspot.com

We have been having a very cold winter so there haven't been too many days this month that it was comfortable to sit in my car and have an interesting sky with clouds...but I had success yesterday. This was painted on the north fork of Long Island in Jamesport. I like this particular spot where the road goes up to the top of the hill. There is actually a house up there, but I left it out for today's painting.

Hilltop Clouds by Joan Tavolott

30 Paintings in 30 Days - Day 20 - City Sunset

I can't believe that January is 2/3 over already...how did that happen? My Christmas tree is still up!!!!

Here is the link to Leslie Saeta's blog where all the artwork for the "30 Paintings in 30 Days" is being displayed. It is definitely worth a look. http://lesliesaeta.blogspot.com

If you would like to vote on Sea Dean's "Paint a Masterpiece" blog here is the link:

http://paintamasterpiece.blogspot.com

Today's painting was done from a photo taken my my niece , Kathleen Szalay Hoffmann (the professional dancer living in Australia) a few days after Christmas when we were driving back from Maine. We were crossing the Whitestone Bridge in Queens with this breathtaking sunset over the city. She snapped a picture and gave me a copy of it, since I was driving and couldn't take one. Thanks Kathleen!

City Sunset by Joan Tavolott
from a photograph by Kathleen Szalay Hoffmann

30 Paintings in 30 Days - Day 16 - Standing Tall

Today is Day 16 of Leslie Saeta's "30 Paintings in 30 Days." If you want to see the rest of the paintings by the other artists you can find them here.

http://lesliesaeta.blogspot.com

Also if you would like to vote for your favorite on Sea Dean's blog you can find it here.

http://paintamasterpiece.blogspot.com

Today's painting was done from a photo I took on the beach one morning in Myrtle Beach, SC.

Standing Tall by Joan Tavolott

30 Paintings in 30 Days - Day 12 - Tropical Sunrise

This is day 12 in the "30 Paintings in 30 Days" challenge with Leslie Saeta.

http://lesliesaeta.blogspot.com

Vote if you want on Sea Dean's "Paint a Masterpiece" blog.

http://paintamasterpiece.blogspot.com

I used a reference photo I took in the Dominican Republic for this painting. We were there for my nephew's wedding. I went walking on the beach every morning and did mini sunrise paintings and took photos. With our cold NY weather this week I just had to do something tropical to warm things up.

Tropical Sunrise by Joan Tavolott