I'VE BEEN IN THE STUDIO EVERYDAY!

BUT . . . I'm definitely not going to make anywhere near the '30 in 30'.  If I cheated, and included new Jewelry pieces I've done, then I'd probably be real close but this is a 2-dimensional challenge so that won't work!   :)  I have been in the studio though, and actually painting everyday, but several of the pieces I've done are fairly large so there is no way I could finish them in a day.  I needed to get large pieces done for my upcoming show (this Friday) so I had to abandon the smaller work for now.  (Just in case you didn't see the last Blog, Artist Leslie Saeta  is hosting a '30 paintings in 30 days' challenge.  I think she said over 400 Artists are taking part in it.)  To see some of the Artists work you can Click Here

 So . . .  here are a few of the things I've accomplished since I last blogged on the 7th.

Sometime Shy needs a Friend

12 x 16 Mixed Media Collage

Evening on the Prairie

12 x 12 Acrylic on wood panel

For more information on this please Click Here

(still trying to decide where I want to be  ~ or maybe I should say where I'm comfortable, with my Painting)

A Time Past

5 x 7 Acrylic on wood panel

For more information on this piece please Click Here

Triple on the Black

Coral, Blackstone,TigerEye, Black Matte Glass and Brass Heishi.  Fastens with an easy open/close Toggle Clasp.

Not all of these are on my Website yet and since I'm leaving early in the morning for Idaho, they may not make it there for a few days.  If you have any questions please don't hesitate to let me know.  Thanks for peeking in  . . . Have a wonderful weekend!

30 in 30!

I decided to sign up for Leslie Saeta's '30 in 30' Painting Challenge for the month of September.  The idea is to get you in the studio painting everyday, have fun with it, and just do what you can even if you can't get a painting done everyday.  Since the 'rules' were fairly easy I decided to sign up even though I will be gone for at least a week during this month.  (It should have been 2 weeks but our week of vacation was cancelled. That is actually, another whole Blog in and of itself!)  I have an upcoming Show in Idaho next week so I will be gone for that.

Anyway . . . I decided I would only Blog about the Challenge every few days or so rather than each day I do a new piece.  Easier on me and one less email you have to deal with!  I started a few days late into this too because I thought I was going to be away . . . on that vacation :( 

This is the first piece that I did.  As you can see from the different styles I am still 'exploring' which road I want to travel with my painting as versus my Collages.  Right now I'm enjoying the different 'moods' (and my husband would so agree with the 'mood' part!) so I guess that's what counts the most.

This is the first piece I did called "Sunsets are Free'

Sunsets are Free

12" x 12" Acrylic on Canvas

For more information on this piece please Click Here

Colorwise, this is probably closer to my Collages than the next two.  I enjoyed painting this one and have another, larger piece in this style started.

Next comes  'Abandoned to the Night'

Abandoned to the Night

5" x 7" Acrylic on Wood panel

For more information on this piece please Click Here

And lastly  'Night Watch'

Night Watch

6" x 6" Acrylic on wood panel

For more information on this piece please Click Here

I did this background like I do on a lot of my Collages ~ with a brayer.  Then I just let it tell me which direction to go.  I saw a forest and then decided to add this tree sitting on these rocks (from a photo I'd taken last winter actually ~ the tree was in hibernation and the rocks covered with snow?!! : / 

If you remember, last week I did the Palette knife painting (before the challenge started).  If you have a moment, I would love comments, or thoughts, on what you like best (or don't like).  Thank you.

In the meantime, have a great weekend!

A FIRST FOR ME . . .

I think I mentioned in a previous Blog that I've been doing some experimenting lately.  Instead of just my Collages, I've gone back and have been doing some actual 'painting'.  Much easier to take a set of paints along on a trip than numerous piles of hand-painted, found papers, mediums and paints to do a Collage while away!

Below is my first painting that I completely painted with a Palette Knife.  I really enjoyed the process.  Sort of the same element of surprise in a way that I get when I do my Collages on a multi-colored background.  When I put my little squares down and the color shows through the 'cracks' the effect can be different on the paper from piece to piece.  Not sure that makes a lot of sense so you may have to take my word for it!  :)

Memories 

for more information on this piece please Click Here

Below is a piece you may have seen already if you receive my Newsletter.  It's a new 

'Little Sisters' piece that I've recently done for an upcoming show in Coeur d'Alene.  It's actually 12 x 12" square but the color is much better (and truer) in this cropped piece.

"What about me . . . ?"

for more information on this piece please Click Here

Back in to the Studio.  I have a lot of work to get done yet before my Show opens in 2 weeks.  : /  I also have some other things happening so if you don't get my Newsletter and would like to catch up, here is the link to the latest one.

http://charleenmartinfineart.com/nl/?nid=42729&type=html

(you can sign up above to get on my email list)

Have a great day!

A DAY IN THE LIFE OF AN ARTIST . . .

WELCOME TO A DAY IN MY LIFE . . .

and the lives of 10 other Artists from around the world.    When done here you can just click on one of the Artists links below and spend a day with them too.  I hope you enjoy your visits!

Up, showered and shaved (shaved??)  This is my 'To go' cup and Dodger and I are off for a morning walk.

This is Dodger.  He's my walking companion and studio buddy.  He's 12 pounds of  pure personality from a 'who knows what lineage'.  Whatever it is, it's given him the cutest Fu Man Chu mustache.  (You can barely see it in this photo).  And how can you resist those ears!

 We're off on our Walk . . .

 

This is some of what I see on my walks.  Unfortunately, it's not very exciting.  Our little neighborhood where we live is surrounded by Orchards (actually, everything in Wenatchee, Washington is surrounded by Orchards . . .) So, that's what I see when I walk.  Pears courtesy of the closest orchard ~ Sunflower courtesy of the local weed patch.  The other photo is of my neighbors yard which I walk past.  I know, you're wondering what's so special about this, right?  Well, as you can see, this is a very well cared for and manicured yard.  And this whole yard is COMPLETELY taken care of by my 86 year old Widowed neighbor.  She does the mowing, the trimming, the planting, the aerating (that thing you step on and it puts holes in your grass so it can breathe)  She does it all . . . alone.  My husband talked her into letting him mow once, recently, because the temperature was at the 3 digit mark.  She relented.  But, I know she won't make that mistake again because he cut it too short (for her).  She thanked him but he could tell she wasn't happy. . .

Home again . . . time to change cups and get a refill.  This is my favorite cup.  It was made by a potter friend of mine many years ago. (Hi Mel!)   It's one of those that fits your hand perfectly and has great balance with the bottom being just a little wider.  :)

Made myself a spinach omelet for breakfast.  Other mornings it might be just yogurt.  I'm not normally a big yogurt fan but I found this brand I really like called Chobani.  

Omelet and my Tablet both go to the Dining room table and while I eat I do a quick check of my emails.  I always tell myself I will get back to them later and answer the ones I need to.  Unfortunately, as more come in during the day, I forget to go back to the original ones and more often than not they do not get answered in a timely matter.  These are my personal ones . . . Business I am more prone to stay on top of.  Don't know why I feel like I can't take the time for myself to take care of personal business . . .  : /  Oh yes, caught up on my Facebook likes.  Well, as caught up as you can be when you haven't been on it in 5 days.  :(

Some days I get to eat breakfast with my husband.  He works nights and some mornings he's in early and some not.  Today is a Not.

more coffee . . .

Into the studio to work.  I have about 5 paintings in progress.  I usually have at least 2  because of the process on my collages so 5 is a lot even for me.  I'm on an Abstract journey right now and above is one of the pieces I'm working on.  At the moment I'm stuck and don't know where I want to go from here but so far I love the colors!

Life Shouldn't be lived in a Box

12 x 16 Mixed Media on canvas

Just put the finishing touches on this Abstract.  Sometimes we let life put us in a Box.  I think we do it to ourselves even though we don't like to take the blame.  

more coffee . . .

and . . . .hubby's up.  Time for lunch (which is really our dinner) because this is his main meal.  He'll stay up for a 'brief' time and then head back to bed.  I do not recommend this schedule to anyone  :(

Lunch . . .

I made the meatloaf yesterday so today it is Salad, leftover meatloaf and corn.  Corn is 3/$1.00 here.  I can remember when it used to be 10/$1.00  :(

Finished lunch.  Visited with hubby for a bit and then back to the Studio, but first . . . 

Working now on another Abstract.  It may not look like it but this one I do know where I'm going!  :)   Need to let this dry . . .

I have a Gallery Show coming up in 3 weeks in Coeur d'Alene, ID.   They like/want my 'Sisters'   pieces.  That's what I SHOULD be working on!

                                              But instead . . .

I did this small 6 x 6" Collage just so I could feel like I accomplished something. 

Definitely need . . .

It's now normal people dinnertime.  Hubby is up and we usually have . . .

  and  more     

and visit for an hour before he leaves for work.  He doesn't eat before he leaves for work because it makes him sleepy.

Kinda cute (for an old guy!) in his shorts don'tcha think :)  (you'll have to take my word on it since he's got his face covered!)  Believe it or not, that's an actual work uniform.  (No, not the helmet silly!)

I go back in and re-check emails, Blog, Etsy and Website activity and whatever else I might need to do on the computer for about an hour.  By now, Dodger is waiting patiently to go on another walk (He does get to go out in the yard during the day, just so you know . . .)

So, off we go.  And no . . .

this time.

This evening we walked past the Apple Orchard.   Sorry, I wish I could make this part more interesting  :/

 But, by the time we finished our walk the sky looked like this . . . Beautiful!

Came home and decided to do one 

more project which was to turn this . . .

  

           into this . . .

                                                             Green with Envy

Added it to my website and now . . .

I'm done for the day!  

Today was a fairly quiet day but I hope you enjoyed spending  some time with me.  If you've gotten this far I Thank you very much for the company.  

Now it's time for me to sit and relax and have one of these . . .

Sl`ainte !

Please enjoy your time 

with these Special Artists...

Sally Binard

http://sallyartdotcom.blogspot.com/2013/08/a-day-in-life-blog-carnival.html

Sharon Graves:
http://finenatureartbyslgraves.blogspot.com/2013/08/a-day-in-life.html

Joanne Grant
http://www.joannegrantart.com/?p=1749

Karen Johnston
http://karenjohnstonart.blogspot.com/2013/08/a-day-in-life-of-artist-blog-carnival.html

Kevin Larson
http://www.kevinlarsonart.com/2013/08/one-morning-painting.html

Marla Laubisch
http://marlalaubisch.blogspot.com/2013/08/a-day-in-life-blog-carnival.html

Jo MacKenzie
http://jomackenzie.blogspot.com/2013/08/a-day-in-life.html

Cindy Michaud
http://cindymichaudart.blogspot.com/2013/08/a-day-in-lifecontinuing-ed.html

Christine Parker
http://www.christineparkerart.com/blog/content/general/18/artist-s-blog-carnival.html#.UgwsFRathF8

Cindy Williams
http://wp.me/p12Q2N-mp

'SOMETIMES WE ALL JUST WANT TO BE PART OF THE CONVERSATION'

For those of you that don't receive my Newsletter, I introduced this big Guy on my latest one 2 days ago. I thought I would re-post him here so you could see him too.  The 'very beginning of his being' was on my Easel when we did the Studio Tour last month.  

'SOMETIMES WE ALL JUST WANT TO BE PART OF THE CONVERSATION'

18 X 18 Mixed Media Collage

For more information on him you can Click Here

In my June Newsletter I talked about a very "interesting' camping trip I took with my Granddaughter and her friend, and how 'what could go wrong, did go wrong.'  I included the a photo of the girls taken along Lake Wenatchee, a very beautiful spot north of where we live. A couple of weeks later my husband and I took 2 of our grandsons with us on a trip to the Coast.  Of course, since my husband was along there were no major mishaps to deal with.  (Like I said in the Newsletter, I knew it was a test all along!)

As I was going through the photos of the trip I realized that in almost all of the ones I took of the boys, they have a definite 'Do we have to do this' look.  (as you can see in the three above as versus the one of the girls).

The girls on the other hand, couldn't wait to pose and get in just the right position. You can't imagine how many times those Milk Shakes got moved around before I was allowed to snap this photo!  

I do know at some point it changes for the boys too ~ Nowadays you see too many Graduation photos with Boys posing out in the middle of Cornfields with their Guitars :) ~ a sure sign that lookin' good becomes important for them too. I just found it interesting that, as females, we catch on very early to the permanence and/or the importance of a camera!   :) 

By the way, if you are ever on Highway 2, just North of Leavenworth, Washington , be sure to stop in to the 59'er Diner.  That's where those Milkshakes came from. Good food, Great Milkshakes (they keep track of the thousands and thousands they sell each year and this is not a big place!) and the atmosphere is nothing but fun.  Strictly 50's ~  and all the Waitresses are named 'Flo'.  :)

Have a great day!

HOW DO THEY DO IT?!

'Sometimes you just want to be part of the Conversation . . .'

18 x 18  Mixed Media Collage

For more information on this piece, please click Here

I receive Blog updates on a daily basis from several Artists I know or whose work I like to follow.  Some are just postings of their latest work which is always great to see.  But some, not only have their latest work shown, but also have actual 'short stories' on their process, what they were thinking, where they may have learned the technique they used in that particular painting, what else is happening, etc. etc.  No matter which way the Blog arrives ~ naked or fully dressed ~ I learn something new from each and every one.  The only thing I'm not learning is how they (you) do it!!  I know life has to happen for all of you too . . . how do you manage to get even a small painting done everyday, never mind possibly blogging about it too? !

O.K. so maybe you are thinking I am spending too much time reading other peoples Blogs :) and that's my problem.  But , really, I'm not.  I only have 4 that come everyday.  But there are lots of daily painters out there ~ with or without Blogs ~ and I just wonder how you all do it.  I know the computer takes up a lot of our time these days with Websites, Blogs, Facebook, etc. but if you are reading this then we are all probably in the same boat.   I just want you to know ENVY is a big word here.  If you have any kind of magic formula for spending more time in the Studio and less with interruptions, please send some of that Pixie Dust my way.  I will be eternally grateful!

Above is the piece that I had on my Studio table during the 'Open Studio Tour'.  I had the background done and the chalk drawing but that was it.  As you can see, he is now finished.  (He isn't the only piece I did since then.  I did manage to get a few small pieces done along with a couple of new Jewelry Designs so I'm not quite that bad!)  

I actually introduced him officially today on my new Gallery Facebook page.  I've had a regular Facebook page which I have been very lax in participating in.  I hope to do better with this new page.  And yes, another reason not to have a paintbrush in my hand!  : /  But, if you are on Facebook, and you wouldn't mind, I would love it if you would like my new page.  It's under Charleen Martin Studio and I 'think' you will get there by clicking Here  .  When I test it it goes to my Admin panel but I think it's just because this is the home computer for my site.  Make sense?

Thank you for listening to me show my envy in public.  At my age you would think I would have that under control by now . . .

There's an ooops!

I have to apologize.  Linda Nickles is listed below as being on the Studio Tour and she is not.  (Maybe next time !  :)  Please enjoy her work but her actual studio is not on the tour.