Thirty Paintings in 30 Days

Day 30

It has been a very long challenge, and so very rewarding.  I cannot thank all of you enough for the kind words and support as I grew through this process.  2015 is off to a great start and I look forward to this challenge again next year.

Most sincerely,

Christine

Thirty Paintings in 30 Days

Day 29

This is my last painting in the deep value series, and tomorrow I will be finished with the challenge. It will be bittersweet, but until then, enjoy.
Christine

Composition 29 of 30 by C.M.Hannon 2015
9x8 Mixed Media

 

Thirty Paintings in 30 Days

Day 28

It was a close one tonight as we did not get in from a job site until 9pm. I could have gone another hour on this piece but I would have missed my midnight deadline. Better luck tomorrow.
Christine

Composition 28 of 30 by C.M.Hannon 2015
8x9 Mixed Media

Thirty Paintings in 30 Days

Day 27

A bit bolder line work was on my agenda for this piece. We received about 24 inches of snow in our neck of the woods and it is still coming down in big flakes. I was happy to snug in my studio today!

Christine

Composition 27 of 30 by C.M.Hannon 2015
8x9 Mixed Media

Thirty Paintings in 30 Days

Day 26

Some of you may remember the 1970's movie version of Dr Doolittle.  In it was the "PushMe PullYou" which was really a llama with two front ends that connected in the middle. That best describes what it is like for me to paint in abstract. I push colors and shapes to make them important and then pull others back to tone them down...alot. I am averaging about two and a half hours per painting, but it is an enjoyable struggle the whole time, kind of like play wrestling with a little kid. It isn't really hard, it usually makes you happy, and you are exhausted at the end if you were really into it.

Christine

Composition 26 of 30 by C.M.Hannon 2015
8x9 Mixed Media

Thirty Paintings in 30 Days

Day 25

I cut it close tonight, with just a 1/2 hour to spare before my midnight deadline. With the impending storm, I am feeling a bit anxious and I think it shows in this piece.  Please stay warm and safe this week.
Christine

Composition 25 of 30 by C.M.Hannon 2015
8x9 Mixed Media

Thirty Paintings in 30 Days

Day 24

I started a new series of six today, focusing on deeper values and more of an earth toned palette.

Composition 24 of 30 by C.M.Hannon 2015
8x9 Mixed Media

Thirty Paintings in 30 Days

Day 23

I loved yesterday's color palette but I wanted to tone down the color saturation. Here is the result, which is inspired by my love of all things Art Nouveau, the late 19th/early 20th century arts movement. I hope you have a lovely weekend.

Christine

Composition 23 of 30 by C.M.Hannon 2015
6x8 Mixed Media

Thirty Paintings in 30 Days

Day 22

An enjoyable evening painting this in my kitchen since I did not run the wood stove in the studio today.  I hope you get as taken away with it as I did while painting.

Christine

Composition 22 of 30 by C.M.Hannon 2015
6x8 Mixed Media

Thirty Paintings in 30 Days

Day 21

I was about to stop an hour ago in complete disgust with my lack of focus and resulting clump of wet paper and paint BUT THEN it hit me...tear out the focal point and start that section over.  Within the hour I was back on track and I finished a piece I really, really like.  For those of you who know me, I am pretty critical of my work and am rarely satisfied, but this is a piece I can live with, and I think I will :-)

Never give up.
Christine

Composition 21 of 30 by C.M.Hannon
6x8 Mixed Media

Thirty Paintings in 30 Days

Day 20

I am cutting it close today, as it is 11:25 and I am just posting my finished image now.  If yesterday's abstract was an ode to 80's punk, today's painting is a cross between Dave Matthews Band and Phish. I had a difficult time with this piece, with too much pushing and pulling of focal points and color, but I was able to get it to a point where it can be considered complete and move on. Have a nice evening, what is left to it.
Christine

Composition 20 of 30 by C.M.Hannon 2015
8x6 Mixed Media

Thirty Paintings in 30 Days

Day 19

All I can say about today's abstract is that we were listening to my husband's choice of music (80's new wave & punk) and I usually listen to classical or indie folk in the studio. It was different, and so is this piece.

Christine

Composition 19 of 30 by C.M.Hannon 2015
8x6 Mixed Media

Thirty Paintings in 30 Days

Day 18

Continued playing with triadic color harmony.  Maybe it was the amazing chili the hubby made tonight, or the Pats winning, or just being warm and cozy in the studio, but this is how I paint when I am relaxed... no direction, no expectations and no concern if it will be "sale-able."  With abstract painting, I am learning to put my effort and joy into the process, which is a luxury I do not have with my realistic work.

Wishing you an enjoyable upcoming week.
Christine

Composition 18 of 30 by C.M.Hannon 2015
6x8 Mixed Media

Thirty Paintings in 30 Days

Day 17

Fibonacci had a wild dream and this is what it looked like.  I must apologize for the low quality image.  Since I used silver wire to "sew" seed pearls and crystals, the piece could not be scanned evenly.  I think I will stick with scannable work for the rest of the challenge.  I was never very good at sewing anyway.  Enjoy your Saturday night.
Christine

Composition 17 of 30 by C.M.Hannon 2015
6x8 Mixed Media

Thirty Paintings in 30 Days

Day 16

Triadic color harmony is using colors the fall in a triangle on the color wheel. Simply put, it would be blue, red and yellow OR violet, orange and green. So, as I began this painting, it was predominately blue with silver leaf flecks. As I attempted to add my acrylic gouache washes of red and yellow, violet and greens appeared due to the translucence of the paints. I liked it, so I ran with it, and this is where I ended...

Composition 16 of 30 by C.M.Hannon 2015
6x8 Mixed Media

Thirty Paintings in 30 Days

Day 15

I know I shouldn't pick favorites...but so far, this is my favorite. The snow is falling outside and I am looking forward to an evening of prepping of my new series which will begin tomorrow. I hope to explore a triadic color palette (three colors that make a triangle on a color wheel) while restraining the color intensity. I hope the effort will create different moods.

Stay warm my friends.

Composition 15 of 30 by C.M.Hannon 2015
8x9 Mixed Media

Thirty Paintings in 30 Days

Day 14

Almost at the end of this color series, and I wanted to try some more deliberate brushwork.  A pond's edge started to evolve, so I added a touch of green to vary the composition while still keeping with an analogous palette.  It was really hard to stop, as a realist painter, and not overwork the suggestion of place.

Composition 14 of 30 by C.M.Hannon 2015
8x9 Mixed Media

Thirty Paintings in 30 Days

Day 13

The feeling of nets being cast into the shallows is what I see when I travel through this painting. I hope you enjoy it.
Christine

Composition 13 of 30 by C.M.Hannon 2015
8x9 Mixed Media

Thirty Paintings in 30 Days

Day 12

Droplets or bubbles were on the agenda for this painting.  Keeping with the initial color choices of this series, I worked on using deliberately drawn dots and circles to create the feeling of movement. Now, I must try to keep my head above water and buckle down for this week of work.

Composition 12 of 30 by C.M.Hannon 2015
8x9 Mixed Media

Thirty Paintings in 30 Days

Day 11

Knowing I wanted an aquatic feel for this series, I limited my color palette to a play between warm and cool blues and layered them with pearlescent glazes.  A lovely way to spend my Sunday evening.
Wishing you a safe and warmer week ahead.
Christine

Composition 11 of 30 by C.M.Hannon 2015
8x9 Mixed Media

Thirty Paintings in 30 Days

Day 10

New color, new technique and new composition.  All paint & mediums, no collage, but I did add some glass tile & glass beading.  Only the first in the series, but I'm happy with the start.

Composition 10 of 30 by C.M.Hannon 2015
8x8 Mixed Media

Thirty Paintings in 30 Days

Day 9

I struggled with this composition for a long time, but once I turned the corner by adding the silver circle impressions, it came together rather quickly.  This is the last of my series of 9.  Tomorrow I begin a series of 9 with a new color palette, new textures and new compositions.
Stay warm my friends & happy Friday!
Christine

Composition 9 of 30 by C.M.Hannon 2015
6x8 Mixed Media

Thirty Paintings in 30 Days

Day 8

I introduced a textured metallic paint on this piece and love the results.

Composition 8 of 30 by C.M.Hannon 2015
6x8 Mixed Media

Thirty Paintings in 30 Days

Day 7

Today's challenge was reining in the triangle shapes that kept clashing with the organic under layers. I got it to a point where I could consider it finished, but I can't say it is one of my favorites. I find in doing a large series that they can't all be loved the same :-)

Composition 7 of 30 by C.M.Hannon 2015
6x8 Mixed Media

Thirty Paintings in 30 Days

Day 6

I didn't play it safe today.  I worked with saturated color, aggressive movement and complimentary colors on top of analogous colors, and it was hard not to end up like a spin art creation from a carnival.  I must confess, to this day, my spin art painting from Our Lady of Grace Feast, when I was about 8 years old, is still one of my most favorite pieces of self created art.  I hope you do something "out of the box" today too.

Christine

Composition 6 of 30 by C.M.Hannon 2015
6x8 Mixed Media

Thirty Paintings in 30 Days

Day 5

Started to introduce straight lines and intentional, preplanned marks on today's painting. Pretty happy with the results.  Looking forward to bringing it to the next level tomorrow.
Christine

Composition 5 of 30 by C.M.Hannon 2015
6x8 Mixed Media

Thirty Paintings in 30 Days

Day Four

Warm colors and compositional movement came easy for this piece.  I did not need to keep reworking it for balance, so I am pretty happy with it.

Christine

Composition 4 of 30 by C.M.Hannon 2015
6x8 Mixed Media

Thirty Paintings in 30 Days

Day 3

Too much color, then too much black, then too much texture and when all failed, I added silver leaf and it seemed to save it to the point I felt I could say "done" and move on.

Composition 3 of 30 by C.M.Hannon 2015
6x8 Mixed Media

Thirty Paintings in 30 Days

Day Two

I played with applying paint, collage papers, colored pencil and metallic leaf and then pulling some of it off to relayer. Pulling the colors back into a harmonious combination without sacrificing the "life" in the painting was the most difficult part of today's exercise.  Good thing I have 28 more to practice on :-)
Christine

Composition 2 of 30 by C.M.Hannon 2015
6x8 Mixed Media

Thirty Paintings in 30 Days

Happy New Year!

To kick off the year I have chosen to once again participate in the 30 day panting challenge hosted by Leslie Byrd Saeta.  The skill I have chosen to explore is abstract painting so that I may work on color theory, composition and building a series.  My first attempt was humbling, but learning something new always is, so I will continue to be humbled and by the end of the month I hope you will have enjoyed my attempt to grow.

Wishing you peace and good health in the new year.
Most sincerely,
Christine

Composition 1 of 30 by C.M.Hannon
6x8 mixed media