#15, 16,17, and more to post tomorrow.

5x7 fused glass

4x6 fused glass

8x10 fused glass

My scanner is acting up so these pics are hared to show the depth and detail, but you get the idea :)

I have about 5 more to post tomorrow so I may yet make the 30 day challenge.  If it gets close, I'll just get out the inks ;)

11, 12, 13, 14...only 7 paintings behind!

 5x7 fused glass and enamel click here to buy

     My studio is clean and organized and I am slowly moving all my "piles" of art supplies from all over the house back into the studio......just in time for -11 degree temps tomorrow....sigh.  I've been very slow at getting back into painting, mostly due to the cold, but also because all of the reference photos I had gathered for the January challenge are on my computer that has fried it's power supply twice this month. (I think due to the car that hit the light pole earlier this month that is now propped up and lashed with another light pole, waiting for spring to dig a hole.) It's now in the hands of the Geek Squad and I'll be up and running in no time, (with a back up of my hard drive),  but it just seems as if painting this month is not going to come willingly.   Thankfully, I still have glass to play with, and I've been obsessed with finding just the right technique in glass that actually looks like a painting.  After weeks of experiments with enamels, glass, and a combination of both, I think I may have found it.  There have been lots of failures, most are in fractured piles right now, but a few close successes.  I've been working from images of paintings I've already done so if these seem familiar, you know why ;)  

Here is another fused glass "painting" from one I've painted in oil before.  This is one for the pile of tears because of the huge air bubbles, or it would have been destined for one more firing to do the detail work,  but I think I've solved that problem for future works.

Here is an abstract with some bits and pieces of failed experiments

and here is an oil painting I did the other day to get back in the swing of things.  I painted this before at Dreama's workshop and it came easy for me then, but not so much now without practice.  I will keep plugging along though.  The weather is supposed to continue to be record cold so the kiln will likely be humming and if it gets warm enough, I will be painting again soon!

Catching up! Paintings 9 & 10

Finally starting to paint again in oils, so I'm starting simple.  Hope to get back on track so I can start my Navy series in the next couples days.  

Playing with Poppies and Cherry Blossoms

Still no sign of the big brown truck with my painting supplies, although the postal service delivered today so that's a good sign.  Here are my latest glass pieces for the challenge #6,7, &8 (the last one I did before the end of the year, Bonus!)  I will be listing them all for sale on my Daily Paintworks page.

I have been working on a larger piece that is ready for it's final firing once I decide what color glass to back it with.  This is enamel and fused glass

Happy Belated New Year and #1-5 in the 30 in 30

 Winter Birches 8x10 In Progress #5 of 30

Spring Forest 8x10 In Progress #4 of 30

 Fall Forest #3 of 30 SOLD

Spring Trees #2 of 30 5x7 available

Frozen Forest #1 of 30 4x6 Available

Well, I knew I would be a bit behind sharing my start to this year's 30 in 30 challenge, but I certainly didn't think I'd be almost a week into the New Year before my first post.  Good thing I planned ahead in creating some artwork in the last week or two before the end of the year, as past experience has shown that it's best to get a few paintings done before the challenge even begins! 

I've had lots of year end activities and visitors (still have kiddos home, and was very excited and surprised that my middle son Jared was able to come home from the Navy for a week after the New Year!) 

The weather has not cooperated much in terms of getting back going with oil painting yet, mostly due to the supplies I ordered in late December being delayed by the recent storms, and now the bitter cold.  Expected delivery date was moved up to Jan 6, but since the temperature is going to be -17 with piles of snow that is drifting into huge piles, I won't hold my breath.  Besides, since my studio is in the barn (even though heated), temps that low make it difficult to paint.  I am expecting to be painting by the end of the week though as I have many commissions and promises to keep!  If you are one of them, stay tuned!

In the meantime, my temporary studio has been in the basement, which is great for keeping up with the laundry ;) and I've been working on glass painting and experimenting with techniques I began playing with over 6 years ago.  I have used enamel with glass fusing since I first started fusing, but this past summer was introduced to some different techniques by a jeweler who uses enamel on her silver jewelery.  I haven't had any time since the crush of the summer shows and then the gallery that was opened through December, but I am excited to try to use my painting skills with my glass skills.  I'm sure my initial attempts will be "interesting" but what I love about the 30 in 30 challenge is the ability to just experiment and share and get feedback from others.  

I've been experimenting with my favorite subject matter, Birch Trees, using a combination of powdered glass as well as enamel, among other things.  When I went to Portland last May, I had the privelage of going to the Oregon coast and visiting a town that had lots of impressive galleries.  One of them had artwork by a regional glass artist whose work I admired and I am just now getting around to really exploring her work.  I hope to visit sometime soon for a workshop as her techniques are very fascinating and complex.  In the coming weeks I hope to explore some of these techniques in between oil painting.  The great thing about being both an oil painter and glass artist is that I have something to keep me occupied while impatiently waiting for the kiln to cool!  Stay tuned for day 6 and 7 as the glass is in the kiln as I type!