50 Paintings in 50 days

It's 12:30 a.m. and I just finished three, I started at about 4:30 and at 9:30 I took a break and started number three. Number's 33, 34 and 35 are done and I have one about half way and one is already ready to be started. Thank God! I should have finished number 37 tonight to be on time, but I don't really want to work the graveyard shift. Off to bed.

50 Paintings in 50 days

The above is the corrected piece, although the color looks different for some reason, perhaps because it was taken during a different time. I'm not sure I'm happy with the shadow I might have to work on it and also I gashed the upper right side.

Bravo! # 32

FOR A PERSON WITH A DISCIPLINE PROBLEM IT IS A MIRACLE THAT I HAVE GOTTEN THIS FAR, EVEN BIGGER IS THAT I'M STILL HANGING IN...BY THE SKIN OF MY TEETH.
I finished this yesterday after much needed work on the face. On the back of the board it's number is 25. This is the only painting in the set where there is a full figure with shoes and it will land in the center of the exhibit. It still needs work, because I see I gashed it on the right and the reflection on the floor reads like a mound instead of reflection. She's on a stage dancing although it looks like the sea, whao! how mystical Flamenco dancing on the beach? We are not going to be able to hear her dancing. Any suggestions on changes? 18 more to go, I should be on #37 by tonight, how did I get so behind, it's as though I didn't paint at all this week, but I did. Seems I'm getting slower, I will have to catch up or at least four today, good thing I have three ready to go. Thank you to my figure painting teachers Peggi Kroll-Roberts (I love you) and Donald Puttman (deceased) I took his class about four years ago, I never forgot what he taught me in that week and I walked away with two of his paintings to the tune of 4,200.00 (not including the workshop, which took place in Yosemite) I made payments for six months. He was a master, just like Peggi.

50 Paintings in 50 days

Rose Petal #31
The painting is actually a lot prettier in color. I had problems with the photograph, bad light and it was too early in the morning when I took it. Mia Lamore wore these shoes and the price she paid was worth it $27,500. It probably took me longer to paint it, three hours. These paintings will be on sale at the 20Th Street Gallery, Sacramento, April 11 is the opening date and the exhibition will be open for a full month. The sale price will be between 70.00-75.00 the size is 6x6 unframed

50 Paintings in 50 days

Alejandra & Grant's baby shoes #30
I tried painting this pair before and it didn't work, for some reason I got off track and it turned into a sloppy mess of paint. I had to change the way I attacked the problem of the background and the shadows inside the shoe. I'm really happy with the way everything worked it turned out "painterly". This is the way I really want to paint. This is me!
Alejandra my niece, the one in the purple striped stockings and Grant my nephew both wore these shoes when they were toddlers. Yes, Grant is a boy, but remember John Kennedy when he was a toddler in one of the pictures he wore a pair just like these. I love them, both the shoes and Alejandra and Grant.
I might modify the left shoe in terms of the brightness (darken the red, it's too bright in it's intensity) of the tip.

Now, I'm really at 60%.

50 Paintings in 50 days

Orange Sorbet #29
This is one that was supposed to be simple, instead it was a rough start and a rough end. To me it looks overworked and perhaps I need to work it over. Maybe the shadows should be darker or the background needs to be another color or value. I thought in my jumbled mind, this was number 30 this is why in the post below I had mentioned that I was at 60%, but it's 29.

50 Paintings in 50 days

Send in the Clown #28
As I look at the pile of fresh boards I begin to see the light at the end of the tunnel and I laugh at what I thought was going to be an impossible task. I feel like a clown trying to walk a tightrope, but really now I've crossed 60% of the way and it's just a short way to the end. If I fall there is no safety net and everyone will laugh except me.

50 Paintings in 50 days

The models: Athena & Alejandra
My nieces modeled for the this shoe painting. Aren't they beautiful and guess what? They love shoes, especially Athena. She is following in my footsteps, she's drawing 50 shoes in one day. They both love to draw and paint.

I need to do some corrections, it isn't until I take a picture that for some reason I am able to see the errors and realize it needs more work. Where is that Dammit! doll? I'm really loosing it, I thought this was painting #26 and when I checked it is #27. I have skipped painting for a couple of days, I didn't paint yesterday, just did the drawings for three now I realize I'm not so behind. Still it's Sunday and now I gotta pound out three, better keep that doll handy.

50 Paintings in 50 days

Dammit!
No, this is not a shoe painting. "When you want to throw the phone or kick the desk and shout, here's a little dammit doll you can not do without. Just grab it firmly by the legs and find a place to slam it, and as you whack the stuffing out yell Dammit, Dammit, Dammit". Actually in my case it should be when you want to smash the painting or break your brushes in half out of frustration. Cathy, my sister's' Mother-in-Law has been watching my blog and she made this beautiful little doll for me at my sister's request, they both agreed I need one in a hurry because she sent it priority mail. It's so cute who wants to slam it? Thank you Cathy, I love it.

50 Piantings in 50 days

Pink Paradise #26
This shoe is very stylish and has some type of jewelry on the top, looks like an earring. Today being the 27Th of February, I should have 29 paintings by tonight. I have two in progress one is not working out, some orange ugly shoe that I thought would be easy to do, but is not, it seems solid colored shoes are more difficult than the ones that have design or more than one color. I realized that I had left a message at the gallery when I picked up my panels because I was missing one. They must have forgotten to call me back and I forgot to follow up. Now I can only make one mistake, yikes! I emailed to see if they would send me a panel. I think I already made a mistake with Orange Smoothie. Aha! No more mistakes for you Missy. I'm getting burnt out and tired, hopefully I will recover this weekend.

50 Paintings in 50 days

OVER THE HUMP #25 Leopard Mary Jane's
Dear friends thank you for looking and for all your support and comments. As I write this I'm in a daze, we are officially over the hump (25 more to go), I can hardly believe I'm writing this. It has been no doubt a gruelling task, the hardest part; discipline to sit at the easel until the piece is finished. According to my calculations I should have 50 completed by March 20 and then deliver by Wednesday March 25Th. Now that I think about it I'm going to feel a little sad that some of these will be sold, among them and with hope that they won't sell will be the Japanese shoe, the red valentine day boots, the over the knee stiletto boots, red hot flames and some others that I consider took so much work. The only way to think is that someone paid to enjoy my work and that some of these little pieces found a home. It's time to celebrate and enjoy!

50 Paintings in 50 days

Tres Colores #24

Three colors and a very difficult background to pull off. The inside is supposed to look gold, but it is almost over the hump. After I take the picture I see what needs to be corrected and on this one some of the edges need to be softer, the background needs more paint. I found out that after I sand the top layer of gesso, the paint floats on top and the panel has lack of tooth, it doesn't grab the paint. More corrections later on this one.

50 Paintings in 50 days

I corrected this painting because the shadows on the shoe in the back bothered me, I made the area behind the shoes darker and also the blue on the shoe in front was glaring. I took this picture in better light.


Japanese Box Shoes #23
Seems like I've been painting torture shoes all day today. You can imagine bandaging your feet for yours so they can look small and fit into these boxy pair. Two more...today, Sunday, I should have 24. I will fix the picture tomorrow, I think it's a little blurry. If I complete two tomorrow I will be on time.

50 Paintings in 50 days

Blue Torture #22
Getting really close to the middle of the game. This one only took an hour and a half to complete and I discovered how to make a good gold color to add to my color recipe book. This picture does not do the painting justice, the colors are more beautiful than in the photograph. It is so late and I have to work out of town tomorrow and must get up early, nevertheless this is done and almost over the hump.

50 Paintings in 50 days

Ole! #21
It was so late last night when I was trying to finish this shoe and I chose it for it's simplicity, but didn't think I was going to pull it off, it actually looked pretty dull in the picture, surprise! I'm trying really hard not to fall so far behind so that I can't catch up this is #21, three more to go today and I will be even.

50 Paintings in 50 Days

Latin Viola #20
I loved painting this shoe, I would buy a pair of these, the color is so feminine and soft. It's a real Spring shoe. We are almost over the hump, just a few more or three to be exact. I should have 24 by the end of today. I will also be posting number 21 which was finished last night. Question is can I complete three today? If I do I will post them this evening, sad thing is I'm running out of simple shoes to paint.

50 Paintings in 50 days

Sports heel # 19
If you ever thought of running in your high heels this is the shoe for you. I'm getting faster at painting these little 6x6 inch paintings. I should have 22 completed by tonight, this weekend I will have to do two a day in order to be up to par. The artist progress reception is next Thursday and I'm almost over the hump. As soon as this is over a vacation is due, hopefully these little shoe paintings will have enough red dots to pay for the expense. They will be for sale at the 20th Street Gallery in Sacramento, CA.

50 Paintings in 50 days

Cafe Latte #18
The shoe is not very attractive and I couldn't figure out what color to use on the background, I might modify to tone it down or make it warmer. I'm trying not to get into a painting that has too much detail so I don't get behind, at the expense of aesthetics, perhaps with the right outfit it would be a knock out. On a scale of 1 to 10 in terms of difficulty, I consider this about 4. Today is day number 20 of the 50, if I complete one tonight or two, I will be at par, as it stands right now I'm one behind.

50 Painitngs in 50 days

Pretty in pink #17
Completed today, Monday, number 17 of 50, is it too late to quit? I posted five today that where completed since Saturday, scroll down to see the rest, comments are welcome. It is now 3:50p.m. I haven't had lunch, I went to bed late and I'm still in my pajamas. I had to finish this one, I'm so close to catching up, I just need to do today's and that will be 18. I have no Idea how I got so behind? For a beginner like me if I am one behind, it's too much, since it takes me about two to four hours for each painting. I don't know what this girl in the painting is doing, but I like it. I will work on the background as time allows, I found out if I have a dark background I have to tone the board with gray acrylic paint or Gesso otherwise it's hard to cover the board on the first shot. Thank you for visiting my blog, this has become my favorite part of this project and the best part is your comments, I love reading them.

50 Paintings in 50 days

Red Hot Flames #16
I started this one last week and spent days working on it a little bit at a time. The detail in the laces and reflections held me back. I had almost given up Sunday night, but being that I'm so behind, I decided to stay with it until I was done, finally at 12:30 a.m. I stopped.

50 Painitngs in 50 days

A Lighter Shade of Pale

The above is the same wedding shoe as White Wedding Day (Billy Idol) except it's pointing to the left. This was finished yesterday, Sunday. Remember the song by Procol Harum? "and so it was that later as the Miller told his tale that her face, at first ghostly, turned A Whiter Shade of Pale." Some make reference about this song to Chaucer's Canterbury tales; The miller's Tale ("the miller told his tale") both are about seduction and sex and so are wedding shoes, among other things.