30 Paintings in 30 days?!

"Something Has Come Between Us"     24 x 24 Acrylic on canvas

Late last night after starting this blog, I went to bed and despite being exhausted lay awake for hours.  Partly my brain was racing, thinking about painting and New Years resolutions and upcoming farm projects, but also my shoulder hurt (my old manure shoveling injury) and I couldn't get comfortable, I was hot, I was cold, and I was claustrophobic.  When I came to bed, our rapidly-getting-big puppy, Zinnie, was sleeping next to Rog and they say you should let sleeping dogs lie... so I let her stay on the bed. Before long, our huge black cat Poet also came in and stretched across the top of our pillows, purring.  We need a bigger bed!

I considered whether I should commit to the 30-paintings-in-30-days challenge.  Ordinarily I would not hesitate but I have several overly-ambitious projects lined up for January. On the other hand, I always work better with a deadline, even better with multiple deadlines.

Ultimately, I decided I would do it, with several caveats:
a) only if I managed to create a painting this morning and get off to a strong start,
b) I will not stress about creating a daily masterpiece,
c) the goal will be painting for fun, and
d) it will be an opportunity to experiment with new paint mediums (watercolor or gouache?), substrates (paint a floorcloth? my boots?),  styles (abstract?) and  sizes (maybe I will paint miniature sometimes!)

This will be good for me because I intend to write a little about each daily piece, and usually I find it very difficult to speak about my art.  Also, the paintings will be for sale and maybe being connected to the 30 paintings  project will find me some new patrons.  This year is my opportunity to attempt to make a livable income from my art because  I won't have to milk a cow this summer and my daughter is taking over the CSA garden. I will have much more time to focus on making art and marketing it. I hope, hope, hope I can accomplish that or I will have to get an ordinary, real-world job to support my farming habit!

Finally, although I am telling myself I will not be ashamed if I do not succeed at completing 30 paintings, having this goal be so public will spur me on, and the other participating artists will inspire me.

Here is painting number one:  "Something Has Come Between Us," acrylic on gallery-deep canvas, 24 x 24.  Painting it this morning was a joy. Based on a true story.