Cage Free -- 30-in-30, Day Thirty. I Made It and Lived To Tell About It!

Poe
Cage Free Series 037

We are nearly to October and nearly at the death date of Edgar Allen Poe.  I don't know many fine art lovers that are also Football lovers.  I am one.  Since I am in Maryland, and since they won this week, this is for the Baltimore Ravens.


30 Paintings in 30 Days.  It was definitely a struggle.  I mean, I really had a hard time with this challenge.  Like really REALLY.  I think it was just the beautiful weather. And maybe the fact that I overloaded myself with a bunch of other new things all at the same time  -- new gym membership, trying to do 10,000 steps daily, Taekwondo lessons, online classes, all this besides working full time.  Starting two new books probably didn't help either.

I thought I was good at the beginning of the month.  I had 13 paintings done before Sept. 1.  That may have given me a false sense of security.  Then again, by about Sept. 8 (when I still had plenty of paintings in the bag) I got bored with the challenge and I don't know that I recovered, even though I did a lot of good paintings after that.  My heart just wasn't fully in it.

Yes, I missed out on sleep here and there.  Yes my family and my housework got the short end of the stick.  My family has been supportive and encouraging.  The laundry and dishes?  Not so much.

So the big question is: Will I do it again?  Probably.  I'm just crazy like that.  January is a good month for painting in my basement studio.  I crank up the heater and put on some heavy metal music and throw a load of clothes in the washer then I'm good to go.  Besides, there are often snow days which let me catch up on painting and sleep.  The Farmer's Almanac says we're to have a very snowy winter.  So again, yes.  I probably will do another 30 in January.  Maybe I'll paint them all in November and nobody will be the wiser.


"Poe"
6" x 6" oil on gessobord, unframed.
This painting is available through Daily Paintworks Auction.
See the other participating artists at Leslie Saeta's blog.

30-in-30 Day Twenty Nine. Cage Free Series 036

Watching
Cage Free Series 036

Starling watches intently with shining eyes.

I am so thankful we are nearing the end of this challenge.  September in Maryland has been really beautiful and while I'm glad to have finished every painting, I really wanted to spend more time outside rather than in my basement studio.  Perhaps next September my challenge should be to paint Plein Air.


"Watching"
6" x 6" oil on gessobord, Framed with a black and gold Floater Frame.
This painting is available through Daily Paintworks Auction.
See the other participating artists at Leslie Saeta's blog.

Cage Free -- 30-in-30 Day Twenty Eight (Donated)

First Glimpse of Father
Cage Free Series 035

Woven paper to symbolize the nest of a Weaver Bird, with the viewer being the baby in the nest.
One thing you can't quite see in the photo is the paper weave is raised off the canvas to give the illusion of depth.

I am honored to be chosen for this show at Circle Gallery.


"First Glimpse of Father"
16" x 20" oil on canvas board with woven paper
This painting is currently in a show at Circle Gallery, Annapolis, MD.
See the other participating artists at Leslie Saeta's blog.

30-in-30 Day Twenty Seven. Cage Free Series 034

Mother Checks For Progress
Cage Free Series 034

Mother Robin checks for progress on her clutch of eggs.  Perhaps she felt something moving.  Perhaps she's simply impatient.  I know many mothers who have been in that spot!


"Mother Checks For Progress"
6" x 6" oil on gessobord, unframed
This painting is available through Daily Paintworks Auction.
See the other artists participating at Leslie Saeta's blog.

Cage Free -- 30-in-30 Day Twenty Six -- SOLD

Man of Mystery
Cage Free Series 033

Having never been much of a hiker, I know very little about birds of the forest.  The Cedar Waxwing with his striking mask and peachy/grey body coloring is absolutely beautiful to me.  He is a bird of the forest and it's unlikely we have met.

I would definitely like to spend time hiking however, my horrible sense of direction finds me lost even on simple trips I have made many times in the past.  Even following a GPS on roads that are marked with signs to let me know where I am going is not foolproof when this fool is behind the wheel.  So, I feel as though hiking is not something I should spend a lot of time doing.  Also, I have no desire to encounter a bear.


"Man of Mystery"
6" x 6" oil on gessobord, unframed.
This painting is available through Daily Paintworks Auction.
See the other artists participating at Leslie Saeta's blog.

30-in-30 Day Twenty Five. Cage Free Series 032

Feisty
Cage Free Series 032

Blue Jay watches for any opponent.
Blue Jays are kind of the bully of the backyard feeder.  They will not allow any other birds (or even any other creatures) around where they are feeding.

This painting makes number six this month that Daily Paintworks has chosen as a DPW Pick.  Get them while they're hot, folks!


"Feisty"
6" x 6" oil on gessobord, unframed.
This painting is available through Daily Paintworks Auction.
See the other artists participating at Leslie Saeta's blog.

Cage Free -- 30-in-30 Day Twenty Four

Crimson Wing
Cage Free Series 031

Puffing himself up to fend off an opponent.

This bird is one thing I miss about living in a more populated area.  I never see these where I live and their song is one of my favorite.  Hear the song here (there is an audio box along the left side of the page under Keys to Identification.)


"Crimson Wing"
6" x 6" oil on gessobord, unframed.
This painting is available through Daily Paintworks Auction.
See the other participating artists at Leslie Saeta's blog.