A Painting A Day - More Cards...

These are kind of fun, and I've got a supply of notecards so...... that's what I'll be doing for a bit. They are  prints of signed originals, suitable for framing, 5 inch cards, that come with the matching envelope and packaged in a cellophane sleeve.  $4.50 + .50 for shipping.

Inside you could write... "Hi."

A Painting A Day - Poppies 2 - Note Card

Poppies, Note Card

Original print of my watercolor on 4x5 note card, signed, suitable for framing.

Packaged with envelope, in a protective cellophane sleeve. $3

Poppies, Card One

Poppies, Note Card

Original print of one of my watercolors on 4x5 note card, signed, suitable for framing.

Packaged with envelope, in a protective cellophane sleeve. $3.

Round Vase with Flowers

Round Vase with Flowers, Note Card

A print of one of my original watercolors on 4x5 note card, signed, suitable for framing. Packaged with envelope, in a protective cellophane sleeve. $3.

A Painting A Day - Original Note Cards

Vase of Flowers, Note Card

A print of my original watercolor on 4x5 note card, signed, suitable for framing.
Packaged with envelope, in a protective cellophane sleeve. $3.

Floral in Oil
4.5 x 5.75 inches
Unmatted, unframed; $25.







This was really a test to see if I liked working with these water soluable oil paints that I have evidently had for years and never read the instructions to.......they take almost as long to dry as regular oil paints do but I LOVE the vibrancy of the colors and AND the coolest part is that they stay wet so you can go back and 'just fix one more thing' even days after you've done the initial painting. AND you can get all those interesting brush strokes that add texture and light.
Anyway.....I really liked this little piece.

K

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A Painting A Day, That's All I Ask - Day 18

A Painting A Day - That's All I Ask
By Kate Pethoud

Well, it’s not like I invented it. I didn’t even think of it first but when I happened on a few similar painting-a-day websites I decided that these other like-minded artists were on to something. One painting a day. It shouldn't be too hard, but some days it is.

From the time I was really small I’ve always drawn, sketched or doodled something. My most favorite, wonderful gift in the world was a watercolor set that some neighbors gave to me when I was nine. I think it had 100 colors in it and I was so taken with it I didn’t know if I could even bring myself to use it, it was so beautiful. And then when Crayola made crayons of copper, gold and silver, I think I almost cried. I wanted so badly to use them but I wanted to keep them pristene almost as much. I liked model cars not because of the cars, although I do love cars, but I loved, loved, loved the tiny bottles of metallic paints.

With each art class I've taken there was an instructor who urged practice. I have taken a few drawing classes over the years and one from Georgia Herrick several years past and she too urged practice. I think I took her to heart the most and did my homework. I took a sketchpad with me everywhere and drew the trees in the parking lot, the car in front of me… I can now draw a VW without even looking at one… the perspective of the street or the buildings, the details in flowers, and while certainly I am far from perfect, practice does at least get you in line for being better. I probably draw four hours a day now, but things come a little easier, there's not so much erasing.

That said – I decided that if I want to be serious about my art practice would be everything so I set up a blog where I’d talk, minimally, and post daily, a piece or two of art that I’ve done that day. The purpose is to discipline myself to produce a piece of work every single day, and learn to not dawdle over something but take the first impression and get it down on paper – kind of like writing actually – but don’t fuss it up with what my brain is thinking about it because most things are over thought anyway. Just do it. Get my first gut impression and get it on the paper. It’s always the second guessing, adding that last line to a drawing, the last sentence in a written piece – the badda bing, badda bang – that screws it up.

To see how I’m doing on my daily quest to become better go to: http://katepethoud.blogspot.com and give me your comments, or tips, or buy a piece because they’re listed for sale too, but really I just want to paint or draw every day so that I get better.

So much for the minimal talking, huh?

Geraniums, 4.5 x 6 inches. Not for sale yet.
Spring Promise, 6 x 2.25, $$20 unmatted, unframed; $25 in a glass clip frame that measures 4 x 10 inches.




K

A Painting A Day - Day 17

You might think I've been slacking because it's been a few days, but I haven't. In fact I've been busier than usual. In case you live anywhere in my vicinity, there's an annual "Peddler's Faire" held in the charming tiny town of Knights Ferry and I'm getting ready for it. Though the weather looks somewhat daunting I'm ever hopeful that it will be sunshine bright and cheery on Sunday.
It's a great test of organization getting ready for these kinds of events and requires me to make lists, on paper, not just in my head, because there's just too many things to remember. Sadly, the easy part is the art!
But the other things - getting each piece of art just right, getting mats, matting, packaging, pricing (what's too little, what's too much?), getting printer ink, going back to the store because the cartridge that I was assured would work didn't and required yet another trip to return it and then find another store that had the correct cartridges, .........you get the idea. It's just a lot of stuff. A lot of stuff that seems to be necessary busy work. I need an assistant and I haven't even made any money yet!

In any case, I have (oh yes I have) been painting every day in spite of the distractions of business and I spent a good couple of late nights trying to figure out how to set up this website to sell my art. I'm not thoroughly positive that it's correct but I'm ever hopeful that I do understand directions once in a while and have the ability to follow them. We'll see.

And then here are a few of things I've been working on and will probably take with me to the Peddler's Faire this weekend. They are 11 x 15. Matted they would be about 16 x 20....a formidable size piece of art I would think.

K

Happy Flowers, 11 x 15. Unmatted, unframed, $55. Sold.

Orange/Red Poppies, 11 x 15.
Unmatted, unframed, $55.

Happy Poppies, 11x15
Unmatted, unframed, $55.

Happy Sunflowers, 11x15.
Unframed, unmatted, $55.

The Girls, 11 x 15.
Unmatted, unframed, $55.

RED POPPIES

4 X 6 inches; matted to fit a 5 x 7 frame.

$30    SOLD

RED AND BLUE TULIPS

4 x 6 inches; matted to fit a 5 x 7 frame.
$35

ORANGE POPPIES

4 x 6 inch; matted, fits a 5 x 7 frame.
$30

BLUE DAISIES

4 X 6, matted to fit a 5 x 7 frame.
$35

A Painting A Day - Day 9/10

                  Loving the BARNS !

     I know - they're not paintings... yet.

In the meantime, enjoy the tweaked

photos of these wonderful buildings. All of these barns are within a five minute drive from me. I feel especially blessed to live where there are still  beautiful country settings like this - and farmers are still hesitant to give it up.

Note cards and art may be purchased (in a day or two) through my Etsy shop here: My Etsy Shop.
Short and sweet today. It's actually tomorrow. I'm up way too late and probably won't post for the next day or two. The last two days I've spent more time with the business aspect of art - resale license, finding receipts, getting somewhat organized (we'll see how that goes) and fiddling with computer programs and a printer that doesn't always want to be cooperative. But that's not the big deal.....the big deal is - I loved the barns that I've shot so much that I sacraficed many hours today to get them scanned, tweaked, and printed and I cannot wait to go out and find more to shoot. Barns - they're wonderful studies in design, and a delight to find. So I thought I'd compile as many as I can find and print note cards! Yes - people still write! I LOVE that don't you? I hope it encourages me to write more. It's so nice to get a lovely little note in the mail rather than the usual  pitch mail and bills. I want something cheery. I've got many more barns but here are just a few.

K

Day 7/8 - A Painting A Day - Now it's Tuesday already

Art from today and yesterday first: 

Barn... not finished......still thinking.
9 x 12 inches

                                                          Iris and Ranunculus
                                                         9 x 12 inches

 The Pier House
 1 1/2 x 5 inches

Purple Mountain Church

4 x 2 1/2 inches

Buggy Flower

5 x 7 inches    

Red and Orange Tree
5 x 7 inches

I've been a bit lost in the shuffle of the business aspect of art. Getting a seller's permit requires me to go to Sacramento which doesn't sound like a big deal - but then I realized how much I don't drive anymore. Sure, I drive around town, and I may drive to Southern California, and not nearly enough of that - but all of a sudden I felt like ......well - old.  And not only did it make me feel old, it actually puts a crimp in my day.......it's maybe an hour, hour and a half up there, the same going back, an hour and a half there waiting for my application to be approved and then the worst part is that I have to actually find out where I'd be going (which requires directions and I don't like those). I'm not much for little complications - like driving in unchartered territory. OKAY, I know it's only Sacramento, but *groan* there's probably going to be some surprise one way street sprung on me. Really, the worst part is just the anticipation. And the other cars on the road. I like everyone to be home. Or at work. But not driving on the road with me.

And it cuts my painting time. Much more than writing this.
Things that bug me. I'll make a list.
1. Having to go to Sacramento.
2. Not getting to paint for almost a day.

That's it. It's a short list today.

K

P.S. And I didn't go to Sacramento.  I stayed home to paint.

DAY 7 - A Painting A Day

It's Sunday. I'm involved with my church. I didn't really get to do too much, but I did get a lot of ideas during my quiet times. Here's what I started and will finish in the next couple of days. I'm so excited that so

many of you are snapping up my work! Thank you so much!  I love the idea that it brightens your days!

K

I started three

11 x 14 inch

paintings. I'm just laying the color on now so they're not finished at all, but hey, there's three of them, so I am working. I wonder if I'll ever stop loving flowers. Maybe not. I hope not. I hope that I am forever enthralled by their delicate shape, intense color, their movement. I think I'll love it forever.

K

Day 5/6 - A Painting A Day

Oooooo.....Orange is my new ALMOST Favorite Color..... I dont' know why I didn't like it before but it's almost like the new red. It's warm, it goes with lots of lovely other colors, and it just appears friendly. I do like to take it right up to red, but gosh, with yellow - it's wonderful.

I decided to combine Day 5 and 6 because I want to spend more time painting, less time talking.

Kate

The 8 x 10 watercolor/acrylic/pastel painting,

Green Pot, is on canvas and predominately

orange and green with red flowers; $38.

The small sunflower painting is acrylic and

pastel, on a tiny 2.5 x 2.5 inch canvas that comes

with an easel; $12.

Day Four - A Painting A Day

Some days get so splintered it's hard to keep a train of thought. I had a couple of errands to run this morning and I figured while I was at it, I'd drive a couple blocks past where we live and see some wide open space - because we still have that here in the Central Valley.  Some days I've got all kinds of inspiration before I am even alert, but today it was so gorgeous out that I wanted to see some barns and trees. Here are a few local sites that I snapped while I was driving around.

All this is within a couple of blocks of us. We live in among homes built in the 80s, but still it's so rural all around us, I love it.  The sheep are at the other end of our block. They're so cute!

So.......below is what I worked on today.

Thanks for coming.

K

8 x 10, Watercolor on Canvas, ready to frame or hang; $65.

Orange Poppies, 5 x 7 watercolor paper, matted; $30

A Painting for Day Three - April 7, 2010

 Some days I'm very prolific, some days I just get several things started and fiddle around with them for days or weeks.
These three I started a while ago and just couldn't get them finished. Last night I stayed up way too late adding the finishing touches.
The point is to keep going in a forward motion. Today, I'm working on sunflowers I started last night, and hoping to hear "Hurrahs!" from people who have purchased some of my work.

Love the "Hurrahs!"

'Flowers Along The Fence,' 5 x 7; 8 x 10 matted; $30.

'Village Church,' 2.25 x 7.25, $20 unframed; $27 in a glass clip frame, floated on handmade art paper.

'Knights Ferry Bridge,' 2.5 x 7; $25 unframed;
$27 in a glass clip frame, floated on handmade
art paper.

Day Two - What to Do, What to Do

I read this book a few years ago called "Our Wildest Dreams," by Joline Godfrey... well, okay, I didn't actually read the whole book, I read the parts that interested me as I was skimming through. What I got was basically what I've known all along - that you find something that you absolutely love; something that you're passionate about, and then give it your best effort, your complete 150% and absolutely do not sit back on your laurels and wait for it to come to you - go out and get it. That's always the hard part - going out and just "getting it." I also read that women relate to others by sharing, we build business relationships based on empathy, trust, on being 'engaged'. Very nurtury don't you think? I like that. It's a softer side of business. I want to encourage people to do the same thing. Find your talent, your 'gift', that thing (or in my case many things) that just take you to a place that is just YOU!  I've actually gotten a few emails from friends who are now painting or doing something else creative just because they thought I was brave enough to stand up and blurt out my own gig-of-the-day. I say "Hooray!"  Let's go for it!

K

The tiny landscape at the top is 2 inches x 5 inches. It comes in a glass clip frame, floating on a piece of handmade paper. Ready to hang. $25.  The 5 x 7 Beach flower painting comes matted, ready to frame. $25.