Day 8 Water Challenge Purple Spotted Swallowtail

For day 8 of my water challenge I decided to paint the very beautiful Purple Spotted Swallowtail. This was a very difficult butterfly to paint. And my water didn't exactly become the focus, so I will try a different approach next time. I love this butterfly and so wished they lived here where we are. They only live in New Guinea. This painting is available in my Etsy store, which you can visit by clicking on the widget above. I might get away from butterflies over water for a bit, but not for too long, because I am going to be a vendor with my mom at the 3rd annual Monarch Butterfly Festival in Sept at the Greathouse Butterfly Farm. I am so excited.

Day 7 Water Challenge Red Butterfly Over Rippled Water Painting

Once a month my mom comes to paint with us. She is the one that got me painting to begin with. Yesterday, I did a Monarch butterfly on a purple flower over water. Today I did a beautiful red butterfly over rippled water. This is my first attempt at circular ripples in water. The butterfly just lightly lands on the water, causing soft ripples in the water. I am so loving the butterflies, that I am going to incorporate three of my favorites in future paintings, water, butterflies and flowers. Can't wait. I have 23 more days in my 30 day water challenge. That is a lot of painting. I did not get to finish my glass jar from yesterday, or start any new ones. Maybe tomorrow, especially if it keeps raining here. Our butterfly feeders, that we have put around the garden, have attracted some butterflies and moths that we don't normally see. We even had a blue butterfly last week, and some sort of a red butterfly or moth. We have three Milkweed plants, also, and got two caterpillars off of them so far. They are getting real big and hopefully we will get to see them make a chrysalis. Caitlin painted the rest of her butterfly stepping stone, then drew a baby lion and a lovely fish. DJ drew a sword from his Skyrim game. I tried to get him to design his own, but he is not ready for that yet. However, Caitlin and my Mom both designed their own girly swords, as they called them.

How to Paint Water

Day 4 Water Painting Challenge

This is my day four water painting challenge. This is from a photo that my son took while visiting Shired Island in 2012 at sunset. I got really close to the original picture, and this one is by far my favorite so far. I am still not happy with the small ripple waves, but I am still studying and hoping to get it down soon. It is so frustrating sometimes. I might attempt this one on canvas as well. Visit my Etsy store, using the widget above, to see all my paintings, crochet and jewelry items. These make wonderful gifts for someone you love.

30 Day Paint Challenge Water and Animals, Day 1

Caitlin and I decided we would challenge each other to a paint challenge, to improve our skills in one area. I picked water and she picked animals. Now I don't know for sure if we will do 30 days in a row, because some days we are way busier than others with outside activities. Today, for day one I did two paintings. Because it is Independence Day this week, and my son's 13th birthday I opted for fireworks over water with some patriotic wisdom. I have never done fireworks before and they are kind of difficult to make look realistic. Then, because I love waterfalls I made my little mountain escape house next to a beautiful waterfall. All this week I will be doing water with some patriotic US symbols. Caitlin is repainting the bathroom cupboard doors. Years ago I let both kids paint on them. She painted over that today, with purple paint, then started her first animal a dog. She asked me not to take pics until it was done. I am the opposite of her, I like to show progress in each step, she likes to wait until the project is complete.

New Painting: Bird Over Water

Monday, is my day to paint. Most weeks anyway. This week I painted more Easter jars with bunnies. I will share those in another post. They are so cute. They will be available in my Etsy store. The sable colored bunny has already been listed. If you just do small Easter baskets, I think they would be adorable with candy and trinkets, and then put a candle in them after. I got the inspiration for this painting in a book I bought a garage sale. It is photographs that someone changed into 3D art. I really liked the image, and while mine is not close to being like the 3D image it is quite lovely. It is also my first time painting a waterfall. I have to get watching some videos on how to paint waterfalls, and water in general. What do you think of it? I really like it. It too will be available in my Etsy store. I really am enjoying learning to paint animals and nature in general. I also did another abstract painting, again for another post. I have done two so far, and well lets just say my son thinks they are cool. Not sure if that is good or bad, lol!