Ok I finally caught up but now I have to get my paintbrushes ready to begin again in the morning…
This has been a very fun challenge so far. Although I love the dog challenge and I still have one more dog portrait commission to finish up… painting still lifes has been a breath of fresh air… I had been working so much from photographs lately that I forgot how much fun I have setting up little kitchen vignettes .., Dean has been very cooperative and doesn't seem to mind all that much that my easel is smack dab in the middle of the kitchen or my paints and canvas share the dining room table when we eat. 

I still have to work on a few new pieces to put in the upcoming show at Maple and Main Gallery that opens on January 25th…. I'm no where near ready…. looking forward to my nice comfy bed now, it's been a very long painting day today...

I love painting lemons! I just love the shape and all the different colors that reflect off the lemon peel. After I painted these lemons Dean came down to my studio and carried them off to use in our dinner tonight. 

He made pork chops with a lemon, garlic and parsley marinade. It was so delicious! 

I will definitely share the recipe when I get him to write it down. He's been working all evening on two other blog posts so I couldn't press him to write one more. 

I have to fill you in on a little secret. 

My husband Dean is not a writer and in fact he doesn't like to write at all. 

When he has to compose a letter or send emails he likes to use his iPad and use the dictation app. Although I have to say, when he does write a letter… I'm always very impressed by the way he so elegantly expresses himself. I'm really surprised he agreed to working on a blog together but so far I think he's done a really good job. 

But between the two of us we still can't spell so you'll just had to put up with the typos… sorry. 

Thanks for viewing my art 
Linda

Update: Here's the link to Pork Chops with Lemon, Garlic and Parsley Recipe… how you enjoy it!

Dean made a delicious pear pie to bring to my brother and sister-in-law's house yesterday. The recipe is really simple, very similar to apple but with added vanilla extract … it's has a taste of it's own.

Of course we were running late, nothing unusual for me, but this time it "wasn't my fault" :) 

I parked on the street outside of Maple and Main Gallery in Chester and  while I was inside for a marketing meeting, someone hit the back of my car, well, technically my dad's truck who's letting me borrow for a few months while he's in Florida. 

I came outside, there was a note on a small piece of paper under the wiper blade. 
That said, "I hit your car, here's my info!"  What a way to start the new years! 

So needless to say I had to made that dreadful call to my dad… 

"Uh… Hi Dad… How's it going? How's Florida? Is it warm?… I have something to tell you.." 

and as I spoke those words I was transported back to 1985 when I had to make that dreaded call to my dad after I insisted on taking our classic mustang "out for a spin" around town 

and the brakes gave out… 

it was a miracle that I coasted down a long busy main road in Fairfield without getting hit or running into anyone… 

through a super busy intersection and stopped inches from the front window of a gas station. 

The owner came running out of the garage, yelling at me… 

only to find out I lost the brakes on the car and he so kindly said… 

"do you want to call your dad?" oh the memories…

Well, back to the pear pie story, so after the phone call to my dad, Dean and I got in our car and headed to Fairfield to see my brother and sister-in-law. 

Halfway there we realized we forgot the pie! 
And to make matters worse… Pear pie is one of my sister-in-law Gail's new favorites…

If you would like the pear pie recipe… it's on our new blog Full Plate Colorful Palette… click here.

Day 3 was sweet, literally and figuratively speaking… I enjoyed painting this still life and then enjoyed the smoothie afterwards. Do you remember the York Peppermint Patty commercials when the actress bit into the cool minty chocolate candy they closed their eyes and were transported to top of Mount Everest?
Well this was the same but just the opposite. What do I mean? Well, here in the Northeast the temperatures have dropped to the teens today and with snow blanketing the ground…. baby it's cold outside! I'm inside with my cube heater blowing nice warm, dry air I lean back in my kitchen chair, take a sip of my smoothie, closes my eyes  and magically I'm transported to a beach chair on Key West, Florida… 
How did that happen? I'm glad you asked… it's our secret ingredient that made the tropical daydream come true….
What is the secret ingredient? I'm so glad you asked….
I'd tell you but that would ruin the surprise…

just click here to go to our new blog… Full Plate Colorful Palette to find out for yourself…. 

Let me tell you a little story...
So, last night, well afternoon, 4pm - 10:30 I worked on a landscape painting, 16 x 20 in size, but after six hours ( took a little break around 8:30pm) I stepped back from my easel and... ugh... it was just a huge flop! 
I could hear my inner voice saying "it's not that bad" and "it's not your best work". 

Over time that voice has softened. I can remember just a few years back I would get so frustrated and discouraged. But now, hopefully just a little bit wiser, "flops" are just part of the process.

So what happens after 6 hours spent on a painting that you don't even want to show the dog? Drink lots of wine? No, just kidding.

I have learned that the next step isn't to try to paint the same painting over again. In fact, I'm more likely to make the identical mistakes. Instead, I seek advice, inspiration and/or more knowledge. This time I did all three.

One of my all time favorite websites is Dailypaintworks.com for inspiration. I love to peruse the "what's new" listings. This time I went to the Art Bytes Store (very clever name by the way) Short in length but packed with information the Art Byte store offer tutorials on so many topics for artists. 

Today I downloaded for free the tutorial on "Collective Insights on Blocks' - eight pages of different artists talking about the dreaded "Artist Block" and what to do about it. It was great! One "take away" was to do something fun... just for yourself. So I went downstairs pulled out my "grown-up coloring book" and started coloring with markers. What's that you ask? They are books printed with line drawings of graphic elements, like mandalas, to color in.

 Here's the link to Art Byte store.

Then I downloaded a Tutorial called "Fracturing and how to do it" by Julie Ford Oliver. Each time I see Julie's work I would say to myself "I love how she paints but I couldn't but my finger on the technique". It's called Fracturing.. I just love learning something new! So I watched the videos (4 all together) all the way through and then went back and tried the technique myself. I would play a section. Hit the pause button. Run downstairs paint a little. Run back upstairs for the next set of directions ( Yes, you are right, I should have brought my computer downstairs... but I couldn't waste the time... I was too excited to try something new!)

So out of the darkness of that dreaded Artist's block came something new, something different and to my surprise something quite interesting.

Please tell me what you think? 

And.... if you're interested in bidding on this painting it will be up for auction on 6/2/13...  click here to bid.
with much gratitude,
Linda

Today is Day 17 of the 30 Paintings in 30 Days Challenge that I signed on to be apart of with Leslie Saeta and over 260 other artists.

My theme is: Connecticut Treasures. 
I set this still life up early this morning on the kitchen counter thinking I would have a relaxing morning painting after everyone leaves the house, so off I went for a cup of tea with my very dear friend Tracey at Panera. A little while later ready to paint I come home only to find the lighting wasn't right anymore so I set everything up on a small table on the other side of the kitchen and then the apples wouldn't cooperate. They would randomly roll around or lean over awkwardly. And to make matters worse, our cat Jac was desperate this morning for attention. First jumping up right on the chair that my painting palette was on and next onto the table with the still life. (see photo below). Who knew it would be so difficult to paint a "still life"? Now what's up with that?

Frisbie Pie Plate Takes Flight
We had this pie plate in our hutch and it comes from the Frisbie Pie Co. in Bridgeport, CT. Here's a few notes about Frisbie:

• Frisbee was inspired by the Frisbie Pie Company of Bridgeport, Connecticut, founded by William Russell Frisbie. 
• In the 1870s, William Russell Frisbie opened a bakery called the Frisbie Pie Company in Bridgeport, Connecticut. His lightweight pie tins were embossed with the family name. In the mid-1940s, students at Yale University tossed the empty pie tins as a game.
• on January 13, 1957, Wham-O Manufacturing Co. of San Gabriel, California, Americans were introduced to the Frisbee.

And that's how the plastic Frisbee disc came to be.

Join in the Journey
 Hope you join me on this 30 day painting challenge... you can sign-up for these blog posts to be delivered right in your inbox... just look for the email sign-up box in the right column. Feel free to comment below and share either your  favorite places and/or things to do in CT or... are you a Frisbee fan?I've tried playing a few times but it appears that I'm quite dangerous with my keen ability to hit the house window rather than the target when playing "Frisbee Golf" just ask my brother, Mickey! or perhaps you have a favorite frisbee story to tell, please share, I would love to hear your story.

Today is Day 16 of the 30 Paintings in 30 Days Challenge that I signed on to be apart of with Leslie Saeta and over 260 other artists.

My theme is: Connecticut Treasures. 
 Over the past year I've taken so many shots of places, events, people and things all around Connecticut and I'm looking forward to sharing these inspirations with you.

Who's Fresher?
I'm not sure who's fresher my husband Dean, or the pineapple in his hand.... hmmm... Well, I finally caught up with the group on Day 16 and this place was one of the first on my list to paint and I'm not sure why it took so long. Probably because I have so much to say about this place that I couldn't possibly fit it all in one blog post. So I'll try my best to make it brief. 

Today is Day 9 of the 30 Paintings in 30 Days Challenge that I signed on to be apart of with Leslie Saeta and over 260 other artists.

My theme is: Connecticut Treasures. 
 Today's painting has more to do with a color theme than a specific location. Red, white and blue.
As one of the original 13 colonies, Connecticut is steeped in history and good-old fashion yankee ingenuity. 

Fun Facts about CT
Eli Whitney invented the cotton gin in New Haven, CT.
PEZ Candy Co, Headquarters is Orange, CT
George C. Blickensderfer invented the portable typewriter
ESPN sports channel was the brainchild of Bill Rasmussenin Bristol, CT.

Side note: Looking up these fun facts about Connecticut has ignited even more painting ideas... this challenge just might not end at 30 days... I'm really having too much fun...so stay tuned!

Join in the Journey
 Hope you join me on this 30 day painting challenge... you can sign-up for these blog posts to be delivered right in your inbox... just look for the email sign-up box in the right column. Feel free to comment below and share what you like best about living or visiting Connecticut, and if you've never been to our "Nutmeg State" I hope I've inspired you to come and visit sometime. 

P. S. Connecticut's state song is " Yankee Doodle....."

Today is Day 7 of the 30 Paintings in 30 Days Challenge that I signed on to be apart of with Leslie Saeta and over 260 other artists.

My theme is: Connecticut Treasures. 
 Over the past year I've taken so many shots of places, events, people and things all around Connecticut and I'm looking forward to sharing these inspirations with you.

Breath-Taking Vista
Last summer my husband Dean and I met two of our good friends Jim and Tracey one hot summer evening at a place I had no idea was a) so close to us, practically in our own backyard and b) so  divine. Gouviea Vineyards in Wallingford, CT boasts a 360 degree panoramic view of their vineyards, and rolling New England pastures. The Stony House winery offers outdoor patios and picnic tables and indoor tables with wine tasting bars. We brought our own food, enjoyed a taste of several of their popular wines and relaxed out on the patio. Times like this; shared with good friends, family, fabulous food and drink and knowing that by the hands of our Creator these precious moments are the gifts worth treasuring.

Join in the Journey
 Hope you join me on this 30 day painting challenge... you can sign-up for these blog posts to be delivered right in your inbox... just look for the email sign-up box in the right column. Feel free to comment below and share either your  favorite places and/or things to do in CT or... Have you ever been to Gouviea Vineyards i Wallingford, CT? or perhaps you've been to one of the other 24 CT wineries along the CT Wine Trail, please share, I would love to hear your story.

Today is Day 5 of the 30 Paintings in 30 Days Challenge that I signed on to be apart of with Leslie Saeta and over 260 other artists.

My theme is: Connecticut Treasures. 
Over the past year I've taken so many shots of places, events, people and things all around Connecticut and I'm looking forward to sharing these inspirations with you.

Capturing a Quiet Moment
It's Sunday evening, 5 days into the challenge and I'm starting to get a rhythm going. So far I've painted every painting in the late evening which is unusual for me because most days I'm in my studio real early sometimes before the sun is up. The evening seems be the quiet time, a time to reflect on the day and just unwind... with a cup of tea. If you're a tea drinker a must visit is The Green Tea House in Blue Back Square, West Hartford, CT. I've blogged about this place before. My daughter V and I just love stopping in for a hot Pink Cherry Cider Tea with a little honey. The service is wonderful there, everyone is so friendly and helpful. There are dozens of beautiful tea sets on display but what my daughter and I love to do is sniff each jar of sample teas. And for all my out of state friends, The Green Tea House has a great website for ordering teas online. (Link below). So don't forget to take a break today, capture a few of your own quiet moments for yourself today.... you're worth it. :)

Join in the Journey
Hope you join me on this 30 day painting challenge... you can sign-up for these blog posts to be delivered right in your inbox... just look for the email sign-up box in the right column. Feel free to comment below and share either your  favorite places and/or things to do in CT or... Have you ever been to The Green Tea House in West Hartford, CT? or perhaps you have a favorite flavor tea or coffee that you enjoy during quiet moments, please share, I would love to hear your story.