30 Sunrises in 30 Days

 

 

This has been a great week of sunrise paintings & life.  I have been incredibly overwhelmed by the support and gratitude that I have received from making these little guys.  I feel like I have been learning so much in many areas from doing these paintings.

 

 I really cannot believe how the time is flying....although I am not perfect and have had some mornings when it was really tough to get up and out there.  I've tried to not think of the end of the 30 days, that just seemed like a do-able commitment for me.  Enough to push me, give me a consistent practice but not overwhelm me and make me feel like a failure.  However, I do plan to celebrate on day 30 with a mimosa!!! 

 

 I don't think I will ever live the same way again after doing this. It has really opened me up and I have found renewed interest and beauty in all things and people.  I have found myself becoming more and more inquisitive, experimental and accepting.  I think the death of us artists is when we think we've got it all figured out....or when we get comfortable. 

 

 

 



Sunrise #14

Here is a short video of the painting of Sunrise #14: https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=10152447855167458&set=vb.507132457&type=2&theater


 

 



Sunrise #15
 



Sunrise #16

Sunrise #17

Sunrise #18

Sunrise #19

Sunrise #20

 

 

Frequently Asked Questions: 

• What time do you have to get up?  Sunrise is about 6:25 a.m. so between 5:30 - 6 a.m.
• Where do you paint?  I live in an apartment on the edge of OKC so I drive about 10-20 minutes outside of the city to find some rural farm/ranch lands to paint. Usually the sunrise is much prettier out there too.
• How long does it take you to do these?  The 5x7's  take me about 30-45 minutes. The 8x10's or double 5x7 like above about an hour or 1hr15min.
• Do you touch them up once you get home?  Noooo
• What materials do you use?  I use Speedball Gessoboards (cheap), Windsor & Newton oils, Maroger, Synthetic Flats & palette knife
• Do you paint in your car?  Why yes, yes I do. Sometimes not.  My Sienna Pochade allows me to paint anywhere. I have had police officers and garbage men stop to ask me if I am broke down. They just look confused when I tell them I'm painting.
• What colors do you use?  Right now I'm playing with Windsor lemon, quinacridone magenta, ultramarine, brown oxide and payne's grey.  Generally 3 primaries, a warm earth and a grayish color.
• What are you planning to do with all of these? Well there was really no plan in the beginning....maybe that's bad business on my side.  Some of these have found homes already.  I may try painting a few of my favorites larger to see if I can expand on the initial sketch. Some have suggested I make a little book with all of them and the rumi poetry....so that's an idea.

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=10152447855167458&set=vb.507132457&type=2&theater