Choices for My Palette

I have been painting about 4 to 5 years and one of my biggest struggles is:   what paint colors to use.  What is MY palette?  Every time I go to a workshop, a supply list is included and recommended by the teacher.  It seems their list always has paint colors that I have never used. So I order them and add them to my growing collection.  I have so many paints now that I will never use them all up!  I have 4-5 brands of ultramarine blue and lemon yellow and so many reds that it looks like I robbed a paint store! And the expense of having all these different brands is unbelievable!
But I feel like I should have what the teacher recommends.
Can I get an AMEN??

I love learning and going to workshops. What is the answer?

I have decided to do the Color Charts in Richard Schmid's Alla Prima book.  My teacher JoAnn Walker Williams recommended this to me and her other students about 4 years ago!  But I never got around to doing them.  It probably would have saved my lots of money!!
I looked at Richard Schmid's color choices and again he had some colors that I have never used.  I did not want to buy any new paints!  I need to learn to love and live with what I have. So I got out all my brands of the primaries and tinted them and decided which ones I liked the best.  I tested them for their ability to spread, their tinting strength, and their chroma.  I tried to select a warm and cool of each primary, three secondary colors, and a few convenience colors and one gray.  I tried my best to limit my palette to eleven colors like Richard Schmid did, but was unable to do so at this stage in my art growth. Maybe later. I am not going to stress over this now. I am just going to 'do the charts' with my selection, which just so happens to be 22 colors. I know, many of you will find this ridiculous, but to me it is better than the 40 or 50 colors that I have bought to accommodate the workshop requirements.  My goal is to see how these colors interact with each other and what I can create from these mixes and then later try to eliminate  a few at a time. Color mixing does not come easy to me, but I am willing to work at it and hopefully with time I will have selected my very own 'limited palette'! But for now I will have a full color spectrum palette like Ovanes Berberian and Serge Bongart.  I do not plan on using all these colors on every painting, but I do want to see how each of these colors mix with each other for a full array of color options for each painting.

I have included some photos to show you my progress so far.

I will have to do 46 charts, two for the tinting of the 22 colors and two charts for mixing each of the 22 colors.  This is a huge project!  It is going to take a lot of time, so I have decided to do this for my 30 paintings in 30 day challenge that starts in January. I have started some of the preliminary work so I will be ready.  Wish me luck. I should learn a lot!  Maybe you will learn from this exercise as well.

If any of you want to share 'YOUR'  palette, please do so, I would love to see them!!

I added the compliments to these colors on the third piles.

I added green to these grays on the fourth piles.

I'm Back!!

We have had more health difficulties since my last post. In September, my husband had several TIA's and was hospitalized twice, but no etiology was found causing them.  Thank God his speech returned to normal and they have not reoccurred since.  His cardiologist asked that he return in a month for a stress test to check out his heart.  He reluctantly went in for the stress test.  He failed the test and was admitted for a heart cath the next morning.  The heart cath showed three 90% blockages and one 70% blockage.  And he was having NO symptoms!! This is actually common in diabetics.  (And at that moment, he did not know he was a diabetic.  He had been told to watch his diet in the past.)
He then went for bypass surgery and had 4 bypasses.  He was not a candidate for stents as he had too many critical blockages.  Then the diabetes flared up and he was put on insulin.  Then he developed atrial fibrillation and was put on beta blockers which knocked his blood pressure to the floor.  Instead of getting up out of his hospital bed every day and walking down the hall in his gown holding on to his heart-shaped pillow, he was confined to his bed. He almost fainted everytime he stood up.  He became depressed. Finally it was decided that 'shocking his heart' would be in his best interest. So with a fresh chest incision he put back under anesthesia and a long tube was placed down his esophagus to visualize his heart to make sure there were not clots that would break off.  When they got the all clear,  the paddles were placed and he was shocked. He bounced off the bed just like you see in the TV shows.
It was an awful sight, but at least he was back in a normal rhythm.
Then his beta blockers were decreased and he was able to get out of bed and out of the hospital after 7 days!
His recovery at home was slow. His sugar had to be checked 5 times a day as well as his blood pressure and pulse and rhythm.  Thank goodness I am a cardiac nurse practitioner as he required quite a bit of home care.  The insulin was stopped.
He missed Thanksgiving Dinner with the family, as he just could not handle being around people just yet. He had started walking and making little progress then the fainting spells returned and he was back 'out of rhythm'.  He was found to be in atrial fib-flutter and he was readmitted and had to be shocked again.
Now Christmas is just over  week away and we are hoping he feels like participating with our family. He is feeling better, walking more, and the depression is gone! He starts cardiac rehab on Monday and his surgeon is going to let him drive himself as long as he puts his heart-shaped pillow on his chest under the seatbelt.
He can't play golf or go fishing and his hunting season is shot this year, but he is so thankful his severe heart disease was found before a heart attack occurred.  He is patient and knows this was all in God's plan and he will be back to his hobbies soon enough!!
I will share some pictures of his ordeal.

 Before the TIA's. Out Golfing.

 In the cardiac cath lab.

 In the cath lab seeing all the blockages.

First day after bypass surgery.

 Having the cardioversion (shock to heart).

 After the cardioversion, able to sit up, without fainting!

 Being discharged after 7 days in hospital.

 First attempt at walking outside, using a walker just in case!

Made it back home!!!

I have not painted hardly at all since September, as I have been taking care of my husband.  Now that he is on his road to recovery,  I have decided to once again try the 30 paintings in 30 days in January, but this time work on my palette. My mind is just not yet into creating. God willing I hope to finish the 30 days.  This will be my third attempt. Painting is my passion and I am looking forward to getting back to it. Hope you join me!

Day Twenty Two 09/22/16 Thirty Paintings in 30 Days

I missed a few days painting during this challenge.  My husband had a mini-stroke Saturday night and was admitted for observation and treatment.  He developed garbled speech for about 80 minutes. This cleared up at the hospital. I had given him 2 aspirins before we went to the hospital and that sure helped. He was discharged on Aspirin and Plavix.  His symptoms occurred again two days later.  He was admitted again.  This time the garbled speech lasted about 8 hours, on and off.  No new treatment was given.  So far all his head scans and MRI's have been ok.  We see a neurologist in the morning for whatever comes next.

We spent a quiet day at home today.  Kind of waiting for something to happen, but thankfully nothing did.  I was able to paint some. It was therapeutic for me to go up to my studio and think about something else, or just not think at all.  Thoughts can be scary at times like this.

Hope you like my sunflowers.  They cheered me up some.

Day Nineteen, 09/19/16 Thirty Paintings in 30 Days

Day Eighteen 09/18/16 Thirty Paintings in 30 Days

Today I did not have much time to paint, so I worked on another abandoned painting.  My husband Lanier had a TIA last night at 8:30pm.  His speech was garbled. He knew what he wanted to say but could not correctly verbalize himself. This is known as 'expressive aphasia'.  Since I have spent the last 35 years in Cardiology assessing and treating patients, I knew exactly what to do.  I first noticed the exact time, then checked his blood pressure,  pulse and noticed the rhythm of his pulse.  Then I did a neuro exam which included:  asking him to stick out his tongue and move it side to side; blow up your cheeks, make a smile, frown, blink your eyes, follow my moving finger with your eyes, hold your arms out straight in front of you with your eyes closed (they should both stay up), shrug your shoulders, squeeze my finger with each hand, lift both legs, lift your feet, push down on your feet, stand up, walk heel-toe heel-toe, say your alphabet, who is the President, what day is today, how old are you?  He still could not speak correctly after this quick 5 minute exam.  I gave him two 325mg aspirin (non coated) and got him in the car and took him to the ER.  On the way there, I called the ER and told them I was bringing in my husband who was having his first stroke. I told them to start the "Stoke Protocol at 8:30pm".  I gave them his name and a very brief medical history. I then held my husband's hand while I carefully hauled ass to the ER. We got there safe and sound, and there was absolutely no wait as I told them at check-in that I called in a "Stroke Protocol at 8:30pm".  He was immediately taken to triage and was in a CT scanner within 5 minutes of arrival. His symptoms resolved within 80 minutes.  He was not given the "clot buster" since his speech returned to normal. At the two hour window, he was fine.  You only have a two hour window!  Time is brain. If his speech difficulty had not resolved, he would have been given the TPA.  If you wait at home trying to decide if you have an emergency or not, and the two hour window is up, the damage to the brain will extend and a full blown stroke occurs.  The brain is not very forgiving.  He was admitted,  had more tests and we were home the next day by 2pm.  He was put on Plavix to take in addition to his lipid lowering drugs and his baby aspirin.  I will watch him closely for a week, as the first week after the first TIA is a high risk time to have a full blown stroke.
God is good and was merciful to us!

Day Seventeen 09/17/16 Thirty Paintings in 30 Days

Today's painting is of my 3 year old granddaughter Sidney Kate wearing the cutest hat you have ever seen! She was at a pool and her picture was taken and it was adorable. I tried to paint this one quick and loose.  I hope I have captured her personality.

Day Sixteen 09/16/16 Thirty Paintings in 30 Days

I started this painting of my three year old granddaughter Sidney Kate during a recent online acrylic workshop.  I was unable to successfully move the acrylics around so I finished this one in oils.
I am so glad you can apply oils over acrylics as I worked really hard getting her shapes and landmarks right in the acrylic medium.
I am learning skin tones and little tips about portrait painting from Victoria Bush at my art class.  I am also watching some YouTube videos and DVD's.
One day I would like to go to a portrait workshop.  But I have lots to learn first.  I never in a million years thought I would like to paint portraits, but I do like the challenge!

I hope you like this one.

Day Fifteen 09/15/16 Thirty Paintings in 30 Days

I have been working on my granddaughter Gracie's portrait for awhile now.  I started it in acrylics while taking an online acrylic workshop. I just could not adjust to moving the acrylics around. So I abandoned my efforts and moved on.
I have since started the 30 day challenge.  I decided to get it back out and finish her up with my oils.  I am new to portraits and I know I have a lot to learn. I sure hope Gracie does not mind me practicing on her.  She is a beautiful eleven year old who is precious in every way.
Gracie, I promise I will get better and I will do another portrait of you!!!

Day Fourteen 09/14/16 Thirty Paintings in 30 Days

I have been wanting to learn portrait painting for awhile now.  I have been admiring portraits that I see on Social Media, watching some YouTube videos of artists posting a portion of their process, studying color mixing of different skin tones and have watched several instructional DVD's on portrait painting.
So I decided to take the plunge and I signed up for a portrait workshop online.  This one was in acrylics and I have never painted with acrylics.  And I have never done a portrait.  This was not the best combination for me.  For me to learn something new at my age and stage, I have to really watch, observe, see, then again watch, observe, see,  then have someone explain it to me step by step over and over again, then watch, observe, see!!! You get the picture!
Anyway I tried! The poor teacher tried! I started 4 portraits in acrylics.  I cheated on one and  just did the back view as I was so frustrated with acrylics.
Then they dried and I played around with my oil paints on them. That was little better, at least I knew the medium.
I learned a big lesson:  go in person to a workshop to try something new!!! My teacher agreed!!

All in all, I am glad I took the step.  It got me to paint some portraits.  Progress!!

Today's painting is from a Master Painter that I absolutely love, Nicolai Fechin.  He was trained in the Russian manner and painted sensitive and dramatic portraits of men, woman and children.  He represented humanity.
He was born in Kazan, Russia in 1881.  He trained under Ilya Repin and had a successful art career in St. Petersburg, Russia . He married his wife Alexandra in 1913 and had a daughter named Eya the next year.  In 1923, he emigrated to the US with his family to New York City.  He was very successful in NYC.  He sold over $30,000 worth of paintings in his first 4 months and this was in the 1920's. After developing tuberculosis his doctor advised he move to a dry climate.  He then moved to Taos, New Mexico in 1926 and later to California where he continued to paint and had an art school.  In Taos, he painted mostly Native and Spanish-Americans. Taos was a quiet, little known village at that time.  Now it is the world famous "Art Colony of the Southwest."  The adobe house he lived in is now used as the Taos Art Museum.

Fechin died in October of 1955,

at his home in Santa Monica with his dog Pepper at the age of 73,  after a very successful career.  His wife had divorced him in 20 years earlier and his daughter Eya was two months away from having her first baby, which would have been his only grandchild.   The Russian artist Sergei Bongart bought the Santa Monica canyon studio where Fechin had lived and painted there until his own death in 1985.

Some of Fechin's paintings and portraits along with his work table and easel are on display in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma at the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum.  The rest of his works are displayed in different countries with the largest collection back in his homeland of Kazan, Russia.

I decided to copy this Master with my first portrait in oil. I chose Fechin's Girl with Red Hair.

Day Thirteen 09/13/16 Thirty Paintings in 30 Days

Today's painting is of my front door.  I love my house and I should because I designed it!  We have made it our home and it is nice and cozy and very "lived in." My art studio is above the garage.
 I tried to paint more of my house but was having a hard time with fitting it on the canvas as it is tall and I could not get the perspective just right. I will keep trying.  I hope you like this one!

Day Twelve 09/12/16 Thirty Paintings in 30 Days

In today's painting I wanted to create some atmosphere of a storm and since I love marshes so well,  I decided to paint a storm on a marsh.

I hope you get the atmospheric

feeling of this one.

Day Eleven 09/11/16 Thirty Paintings in 30 Days

Today's painting was fun and again colorful.  I wanted to brighten the day as it is the Anniversary of the 9-11 tragedy.  I continue to keep those who perished and their families as well as all those who served to help them,  in my thoughts and prayers. Hope this will in some way brighten your day.

Day Ten 09/10/16 Thirty Paintings in 30 Days

Today's painting I actually started a while back, but never quite got it finished.  I thought this would be a good time to complete it. I love marsh scenes. Hope you like this one.

Day Nine 09/09/16 Thirty Paintings in 30 Days

Today's painting is cheerful for me. I love the use of complimentary colors. I sure hope you like it.

Day Eight 09/08/16 Thirty Paintings in 30 Days

Today's painting is from a picture I took at my husband's hunting camp.  It is so nice and peaceful up there.  He has put in lots of roads and paths and it is a great place to take long walks and of course, hunt.  Hope you like this one.

Day Seven 09/07/16 Thirty Paintings in 30 Days

Today's painting is from a set up I did for me and an artist friend.  She wanted to practice painting from  a set up.  I got some roses and found this vase at an antique store in St. Andrews.  This type of painting helps you to really see the light and shadow on your subject and to observe shapes.  Hope you like it!

Day Six 09/06/16 Thirty Paintings in 30 Days

A friend was driving to my house and saw this Blue Shack back off the road. She got out and took some pictures and brought them to me for us to paint.  We were studying perspective at that time.  From the picture she had taken, we had a hard time determining the placement of the horizon line.  So we went back to the shack and walked around and took lots more pictures and we determined our horizon.  We also had better light.   I just love learning new stuff!!

Hope you like this painting.

Day Five 09/05/16 Thirty Paintings in 30 Days

Today I painted fall aspens.  My husband went on a motorcycle trip out west with several of his buddies and took lots of beautiful pictures. We both especially liked the aspens.  Later I was able to go see some for myself.  But not on a motorcycle! Hope you like my painting!

Day Four 09/04/16 Thirty Paintings in 30 Days

I love to paint marsh scenes and landscapes. A friend of mine shared this photo with me and we both painted the same scene. We each have our own styles, which is nice.  We both were attracted by the bright blue water and I was also drawn to the diagonals in this scene.
Hope you like it!

Day Four 09/04/16 Thirty Paintings in 30 Days

I love to paint marsh scenes and landscapes. A friend of mine shared this photo with me and we both painted the same scene. We each have our own styles, which is nice.  We both were attracted by the bright blue water and I was also drawn to the diagonals in this scene.
Hope you like it!

Day 3 09/03/16 Thirty Paintings in 30 Days

I started this painting for an online acrylic portrait workshop with Chantel Barber.  I had a hard time with the new medium and with doing portraits, which is also new for me.  Chantel was very helpful, but I think I would have done better if I took her workshop in person for my first time using acrylics.
This is from a photo of my granddaughter Sidney Kate walking after a spring rain.

My painting buddy Sidney Kate

I keep my sweet granddaughter one day a week and she loves being in my Art Studio.  So I have been teaching her about painting, brushes, palette knives and canvases for over a year now. She is three now

and she tells my what brush she wants or if she wants to paint with a knife. She is very serious about it and we have lots of fun together! She uses acrylics, but says, "one day I am going to be able to use your oils Nana!"

Day Two 09/02/16 30 Paintings in 30 Days

Day Two of The 30 Day Challenge

I have lived on the water most all my life and I love to watch boats go by, especially sailboats. This one I captured while out near Shell Island. The moon was in the right place and the setting was mesmerizing. Hope you like it.