my 30 paintings in 30 days…

if you’ve read my previous posts, you know I took part in a ’30 paintings in 30 days’ challenge in the artists’ group HeARTspace on Facebook (created by artist Jeanne Bessette). the challenge ended yesterday and I’m proud to say I completed the whole challenge!

I won’t lie – sometimes I didn’t post one photo each day. with both my mom feeling under the weather (again), then my mother in law being hospitalized (again), my mind was often occupied with other things and I couldn’t get myself to finish artwork in front of me. but I played catch up, staying up late when needed. one day I posted four (or five?) paintings all in the same day in order to catch up!

here are all 30 pieces. I still consider a couple of them to be unfinished, but the purpose of this challenge was (I think) to dig deep into our creative selves, paint consistently and purposefully, and see what we learn about ourselves in the process.

I’m still marinading over what I learned about myself, my work, and where I want to go with it. (another blog post for sure!)…in the meantime, here are group shots of all the pieces. Look for much better individual photos to come, as well as most of these new pieces being available for purchase! 😉

’til next time…

paintings 1-15 of 30 paintings in 30 days challenge...

paintings 1-15 of 30 paintings in 30 days challenge…

 

paintings 16-30 of 30 paintings in 30 days challenge

paintings 16-30 of 30 paintings in 30 days challenge

black friday sale in my Etsy shop – all weekend!

why deal with crazy crowds and crazy people – shop online!

get 25% off my Etsy art shop THIS WEEKEND!!! use coupon code BLKFRIDAY25 at checkout to save. my way of saying “thank you!!!” to all of you for being here.
and please – feel free to share – i’d appreciate it! ♥
https://www.etsy.com/shop/susiecarranzastudio

BLKFRIDAYsale25%off2013

peek into my sketchbook…

happy october everyone – my favorite month! LOVE the cooling temperatures, the changing leaves, Halloween – everything!

so, i’ve always doodled. when i worked a ‘regular’ job i doodled during staff meetings, i doodled on napkins at meal times (and still do!), i doodled while on the phone…but i never really kept a sketchbook. you know, one book where i sketched out ideas. i doodled everywhere anyway, and i never sketch out a painting before i paint it, so i guess i never saw the need.

well, this past june my husband took me to Dick Blick Art Store in Pasadena for some birthday shopping. i went to just buy a Gelli plate but came home with more. you know how that happens, right? (you can check out some photos from my first time using the Gelli plate here – playing with my Gelli Plate.)

so, along with my new Gelli plate, i got some Jacquard Textile paints (which i was very excited about but haven’t used yet), a roll-up pouch for brushes & drawing supplies, and a sketchbook. and i’m enjoying it. i haven’t done alot in it yet, but i really love drawing/painting in it late at night, when everyone’s asleep and it’s quiet.

here’s a peek at a few things i’ve been doing. please forgive the not-so-good pictures; the lighting here hasn’t been great for photo taking…

blue and orange brush strokes

colored pencil heart

autumn paint colors

turquoise black circles on gold

snakes making a heart

so tell me – do you use a sketchbook?

from black and white to color…

i LOVE drawing in black and white.  give me a Sharpie and some white paper (preferably cardstock) and i’m happy!

i posted back in April how a visit to Huntington Library with my husband and my sister inspired me to draw.  and i did draw – a big sun, with shooting rays, some stars, over a cluster of flowers.

then i took it from black and white to vibrant and bold COLOR…

suncolormarkerdrawingprocessWM

…and i like it!  what do you think?

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if you like my work, please follow me on Facebook at Susie Carranza Studio.  i post there regularly.

Huntington Library visit…

my sister, lulu, invited lawrence and me to the huntington library in san marino last month. if you live in california and get a chance to go, do it – you will not regret it!

huntingtonlibrarylulu,larry,me,trellisWM

from the huntington’s “About” section on its website at http://www.huntington.org/

A private, nonprofit institution, The Huntington was founded in 1919 by Henry E. Huntington, an exceptional businessman who built a financial empire that included railroad companies, utilities, and real estate holdings in Southern California.

Huntington was also a man of vision – with a special interest in books, art, and gardens. During his lifetime, he amassed the core of one of the finest research libraries in the world, established a splendid art collection, and created an array of botanical gardens with plants from a geographic range spanning the globe.

These three distinct facets of The Huntington are linked by a devotion to research, education, and beauty.”

It was a beautiful day to visit the botanical gardens, with so many flowers, shrubs, and trees blooming, but the best part of the day was spending time with lulu.

when lawrence’s father became ill, lulu texted me daily to check on his condition and see how we were doing.  she went to see my father-in-law in the hospital on valentine’s day, the day before he died, providing lawrence with support and advice in making some difficult decisions.  so it was nice to spend some time together, surrounded by nature and so much beauty after all the ugliness…

plus – my niece, marisa, has been volunteering at the huntington every saturday for the past 4 years, so lulu (her mother and chauffeur) is now an expert tour guide on the place!

beautiful sculptural pieces (middle is from Shakespeare's garden)...

beautiful sculptural pieces (middle is from Shakespeare’s garden)…

there’s no way to see everything in one visit: there are libraries, and art collections on display, and various botanical gardens. one of my favorites is the japanese gardens…

huntingtonlibraryjapanesegardenWM

japanese garden…

huntingtonlibrarylarrywater

lawrence, by the pond in the japanese garden…

it’s a great place for inspiring your creative muse!  the three of us took so many photos – everywhere you look is a photo opportunity.  you’re surrounded by all the colors, textures, and patterns nature has to offer.  i can’t wait to go back!

it inspired me to draw again, the way i used to.  just my black Sharpie and white cardstock.  i feel my muse coming back…♥

black&whiteflowerdrawingWM