30 Paintings in 30 Days Challenge

Bird Nest, Day 9

6x6

oil on canvas panel

Daily Paintworks

As you can imagine, I think about bird nests and related objects quite a bit of the time--making 

thumbnail sketches and trying to come up with another way to present the

same subject.  

One of my ideas was to paint a gold (as in the real metal) nest, but I am not sure I could do it.

Afterall, I don't have a gold nest to observe.  

So---I decided to try a gold egg first.  No, I also don't have a gold egg, but it seemed less daunting 

to try to make one up.  Since I know it's supposed to be gold, it looks like gold to me,

I'm not sure it will look like gold to others.

Bird Nest, Day 7

Bird Nest, Day 7

8x10

oil on canvas panel

Daily Paintworks 

Sorry about the poor photography.  I haven't mastered the skill of taking

photos of wet paintings.  The light color is white although it looks slightly 

cream,

I enjoyed adding the yellow-green.  I think it shows well on the black background.

For those of you from Leslie Saeta's challenge, I have enjoyed seeing all the paintings 

that have been produced.  Hooray for doing this.  It's not easy, is it?

30 Paintings in 30 Days Challenge

Bird Nest, Day 6

6x6

oil on canvas panel


http://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/connie-snipes/bird-nest-day-6/438005

I finished this one at around 10:30 last night....trying to get a jump on things!  I continue to experiment, which is what this challenge is all about.  I added one more color, lavender and one more object, the feather.

Bird Nest, Day 5 --30 Paintings in 30 Days Challenge

Bird Nest, Day 5

6x6

oil on canvas panel, gamvar

http://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/connie-snipes/bird-nest-day-5-30-paintings-in-30-days-challenge/437795

I opted for a smaller canvas today because I needed to work on some other painting that are way overdue.  I do love small painting with a wide frame.  I usually use a gold plein air frame from Graphic Dimensions here in North Carolina.  

30 Paintings in 30 Days

Bird Nest, Day 4

12x16

oil on canvas panel, gamvar varnish

Here's a photo of the still life set up.  My son-in-law found the bird nest woven into the branch.  I keep it in a large pot in my living room.

Day 3

Bird Nest, Day 3

"Bird Nest, Day 3"
oil on canvas panel, gamvar - 12x12 in

http://www.dailypaintworks.com/…/con…/bird-nest-day-3/437130

I have joined Leslie Saeta's annual 30 Paintings in 30 Days Challenge.Leslie a California painter, started this several years ago and there are over 1000 painters participating this year.

Bird Nest, Day 2

Bird Nest, Day 2"
oil on canvas panel, gamvar varnish - 16x12 in

http://www.dailypaintworks.com/…/con…/bird-nest-day-2/436830

I took the nest and rock from my door step.In the studio I put it higher than eye level, balanced on a coke can (what we artists won't do!), so I could paint it as if it were floating above the viewer.The top part did not photograph well because of all the black.You can click on my blog to see a close up of it.

The Big Reveal of yesterday's post

Birdnest, Number 1

12x12

Daily Paintworks

​This is my first painting for the 30 Paintings in 30 Day Challenge started by California painter Leslie Saeta. I have chosen a common subject-bird nests-since I am a collector of abandoned nests and have quite a few.  When I taught AP Studio Art a third of the portfolio was called the Concentration. Students would select a theme, subject, philosophy, etc. to present in art.  The first attempts, however well done, were generally somewhat pedestrian.  As the days went by and the journey continued, students began to experiment more and the work became more original and expressive. So I am once again a student, working on my own self imposed Concentration--I am hoping I will follow the same journey for the next 30 days.  Thank you, Leslie, for the challenge.

What's going on?

I'm beginning a new series tomorrow.  Check back tomorrow to see what's going on. I am also on Facebook and would like to be friends.  Connie Gatlin Snipes is how I am listed.

Across the Tracks

Across the Tracks

16x20

oil on canvas panel, gamvar varnish

http://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/connie-snipes/across-the-tracks/435797



A deserted small town train depot is always a scene that begs to be painted.Add in a water tower for a vertical accent and the composition is complete. Painted from a photo I took on a trip through southeastern states, especially small towns.

http://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/connie-snipes/across-the-tracks/435797

Two Smalls

Aspens and Mountains

8x10

oil on canvas panel, gamvar varnish

This is a studio painting from a photo I took on a

painting trip to Jackson Hole.

Accumulations, Hunter Farm, Charlotte, NC

8x10

oil on canvas panel, gamvar varnish

I belong to a group called the Plein Air Buds.  We meet at a different location

each Tuesday morning to paint.  Painting can be such an isolated

activity--so having friends to paint with and then go to

lunch and talk about art is the BEST!

I named it Accumalations because of the yard filled with, guess what?  Accumulations!

I may or may not have painted everything in the yard.

Angel painting

Watching Over

20x17

Daily Paintworks

       This painting began as a figure painting that I never got around to finishing. When I got it out again, she seemed to want to become as angel so I gave her some wings. After that I was a bit stumped so looked for an angel photo similar to my painting. You may notice that the wings do not match--that's the way the stone angel looked and I painted it that way since I liked that. 20x17

     

      

New Paintings

     These 8x10 were all painted last week-my effort to get my Daily Paintworks site going again and

an effort to start posting more on my blog.  It seems that blogs are not quite important as they once were.  I do post on Facebook, but hesitate to let my blog go completely.  If you are reading this and are not friends with me on Facebook, I would love to be your Facebook friend.  Just look me up

at Connie Gatlin Snipes.

Paint Out at Southport, North Carolina

     Southport is the most charming little coastal town--just full of wonderful places to paint everywhere I looked.  Four of my Plein Air Buds and I went this past weekend to get our toes

wet in the water of a real paint out.  I painted 3 paintings on Saturday between 8 and 2 (yes, I

was surprised I could do that many!) and sold two at the afternoon sale.  It was great fun, stressful

when windy, and we all agreed we learned a lot of things to do for our next paint out.

The table for the Charlotte Five, as we called ourselves, at the sale.

These two were sold.

Showing sold one in frame.  Pardon poor format, but the photo was taken while painting
was on the table.  The corner pads were left on to protect the frame.

This is the one I brought home.  It is for sale on Daily Paintworks, frame and all!

Dinner at the Fishy Fish Restaurant
8x10
190.00
http://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/connie-snipes/dinner-at-the-fishy-fish-restaurant-southport-nc/412504

Another landscape

 

 

 

The Little Pond, Pearson Farm

6x6

oil on canvas panel

65.00

Daily Paintworks

http://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/connie-snipes/the-little-pond-pearson-farm/336326

 

 

 

 

Another landscape--I'm on a roll! I have painted this little pond several times.  It is just in the perfect place as relation to light.  There're always a good reflection no matter what time of day and usually a nice glow on the tree.

 

I plan to paint landscapes for a week or two and then switch to a new series.  Hope you will come back, or better yet, follow me.

 

Connie

Painting Landscapes

Afternoon Pasture

8x8

80.00

Daily Paintworks
http://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/connie-snipes/afternoon-pasture/335607
sold
 

Well, that's a pretty small photo.  I did click on large but I

suppose the camera ignored me.

About painting landscapes--I do love to paint landscapes, expecially

ones with water of some sort.  I also read one time that landscapes

are the most popular sellers.  I'm not sure I entirely aggree with

that.  I think the best selling paintings are the

best paintings regardless of the genre.

Painting in the country, plein air

 

 

 

Hay Bales in the Field

8x10

Daily Paintworks

 

http://www.dailypaintworks.com/buy/auction/330759

 

 

 

 

This was painted roadside and en plein air.  It was a lovely day and I enjoyed every minute of it.

The air was fragrant and the temperature was neither cold nor hot.  I am a terrible wuss about

painting in uncomfortable weather.  I do admire those plein air painters who walk 5 miles up a mountain, with all their painting gear, to find that perfect place regardless of the elements.  Not me!

 

 

 

 

 



Small and Collectable

 

 

 

Serenity at the Lake

6x8

70.00

email me or check it out on Facebook

and/or Daily Paintworks

http://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/connie-snipes/serenity-at-the-lake/332586

 

 

 

I have been reading Carol Marine's book which tells, among other things,

her life as a painting a day artist.  She suggests that people like to

collect small painting and display them in a group which would

take the same space as a large painting.

 

The great thing about the collecting is that most painting are under 150.00

and can be collected over time rather than a big cash outlay

at one time.

 

 

Connie

 



Painting Figures is Hard

 

 

Skater Dude

9x11



http://www.dailypaintworks.com/artists/connie-snipes-1841/artwork

 

 

 

I was recently reminded that I have not posted on my

blog since April.  (You know who you are, Kathy!)

 

It's not that I have not been painting.  I paint everyday, but for

some unknown reason I grew weary of the blog and

just ignored it.  Anyway, I am back again and

totally resolve to do better.

 

 Skater Dude shows up much too blue on my screen.  I only

hope that it looks more balanced on yours.

 

It was a fun painting-painted from a photograph of

some young men on their boards having a blast.   I have

several more I can work from and intend to do a

series.

 

Painting figures is the hardest, in my opinion.  If you make a barn a little

too long or high, no one knows.  If you make an arm too long

or a head too big for a body, it sticks out like a sore

thumb.  (That expression courtesy of my mother.)

Just the smallest wrong proportion mistake

and it will be spotted immediately.

So...I try to work on a figure at least once a week

so that I'll get better, plus I love to paint people.

 

Hope you'll come back to look at my blog now that

I have reformed .

 

Connie

 



Size 8

 

 

oil on canvas panel

 

8x8

 

Daily Paintworks

 

 

These are my shoes. I wear them often and look quite stunning in them. hahahah--got you! A little levity for your morning.

 

 



Dining Alfresco

 

 

 

5x7

oil on canvas panel

http://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/connie-snipes/dining-alfresco/215240

sold

 

Today was a gloomy, cloudy, rainy, rather cool day for April here

in the South.  So first I dug out some older paintings that I

was dissatisfied with and "spiffed" them up.

 

I do love improvement!

 

 



Field of Color

 

 

6x6

oil on canvas panel

                             http://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/connie-snipes/field-of-color/212606

 sold

 

 

 

     Was having a hankering to use some really bright color!  As usual, could not get it quite exact on photo gallery--painting is more subtle than this.  Had a ball painting this one!

 



4 New 8x8's

           My friend, Jen Spaker and I took a workshop a few weeks ago from Patti Mollica.  It was a great workshop, just what I needed at the time.  She emphasized large brushes for all painting, and using the edge and corners of the large brush for smaller areas.  It works!  Here are a few I did in class with a little more work at home.  All are 8x8 and will be on Daily Paintworks.  (see icon to click on in right hand column)

 Rosy Tulips

oil on canvas panel 8x8

 

 

 

 

An Apple a Day Plus Some Strawberries

oil on canvas panel

8x8

 

 

 

 

Necessary Items

oil on canvas panel

8x8

 

 

 

 

 

Ready for Tea

oil on canvas panel

8x8 





Small Paintings, 6x6

         Stellar Atlanta artist Nancy Franke recommends painting a small to warm up before starting your painting day. Sounded like a great idea to me, so here are 3 of some of my smalls. All 6x6, all 60.00 each, and all on Daily Paintworks.

 

Yellow Tree Reflections

oil on canvas panel

sold

 

 

 

Shady Afternoon

oil on canvas panel

sold

 

 

 

I Went to a Garden Party

oil on canvas panel

(You may sing this title if you like!)

Pouring Water, CanCan Restaurant, Richmond, VA (sold)

12x12

 oil on canvas panel

http://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/connie-snipes/pouring-water-cancan-restaurant-richmond-va/205796

 

 

Contrary to how it looks on my blog, I have been painting.  Actually I've been painting in my kitchen--my studio is a glassed in, no heat porch, and it has been quite cold here in Charlotte.

 

I've done several medium sizes (9x12 and up) as well as quite a few 6x6.  I often use the 6x6 to warm up when I first begin painting for the day.  I think it makes me a little looser.

 

I have painted at least 3 paintings from photos at CanCan.  I have certainly gotten lots of mileage from only one visit there,  By the way, the food and service were awesome.  It was a great splurge night!