#30 Lone Oak, Manna from Heaven

#30 Lone Oak, Manna from Heaven, 6x6, oil on panel, (click here to bid)

Number 30! Whew, what fun. I have learned so much with this series. It's given me the freedom to try some things that I would never have tried if I had been working on one painting. There is a pressure to paint something that you know will become a finished painting — no matter if it is 6x6 inches or 6x6 feet. I've painted two night scenes in this series, which I have never painted before. I've tried some colors that I would never have thought of putting together. I usually tone my canvas with burnt sienna or raw umber. I've toned some of this series with bright yellow, bright cad. orange, bright blue, red, and pink to name just a few.

The most surprising thing for me was that on some of the paintings I would have a plan in my mind of the colors or mood I wanted to create. Then I would lay down the first stroke of color and everything would change direction and go to a place that I hadn't thought of painting. That was powerful! I guess I needed to learn to trust a bit more.

I don't know if I am finished with this series yet. I feel like there might be more down the road. So, I will leave it open to return to, not as a daily thing but when the Lone Oak calls, I will listen.

Stay tuned.

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#29 Lone Oak, End of Hazy Day

#29 Lone Oak, End of Hazy Day, 6x6, oil on panel, (click here to bid)

When I started this "30 paintings in 30 days" challenge I had only planned to do five—spring, summer, fall, winter and a sunset. That was so much fun that I thought I could do the first half of the challenge with the Lone Oak. I never dreamed that I would still be experimenting on day 29! It's been fun.

#28 Lone Oak, Sunset on Field of Flowers

#28 Lone Oak, Sunset on Field of Flowers, 6x6, oil on panel, Sold, (click here to view)

I love sunsets and flowers — how great is it to paint them together? This is number 28 of the "30 Paintings in 30 Days" challenge. Only 2 more to go!

#26 Lone Oak, Van Gogh Field

#26 Lone Oak, Van Gogh Field, 6x6, oil on panel, (click here to bid)

After a Hot Tamale Day, I've tried to tone it down a bit. When I was finished I decided that it needed Van Gogh's birds.

#27 Lone Oak, April Path,

 #27 Lone Oak, April Path, 6x6, oil on panel, (click here to bid)

After all that spice, here's a bit of cool spring weather.

#25 Lone Oak, Hot Tamale Day

#25 Lone Oak, Hot Tamale Day, 6x6, oil on panel, (click here to bid)

Just how hot can it get? It's fun to play with colors and see what they feel like.

#23 Lone Oak, Yellow Road

#23 Lone Oak, Yellow Road, 6x6, oil on panel, (click here to bid)

This "30 Paintings in 30 Days" challenge has been on opportunity to try out new processes and techniques. This panel was toned a bright yellow — which worked nicely for a yellow road.

#24 Lone Oak, Spring Meadow

#24 Lone Oak, Spring Meadow, 6x6 oil on panel, (click here to bid)

My new process for this painting was toning the panel black before painting on it. I left little bits of black showing through. I was surprised at how bright the painting turned out. I had the opinion that with all the black on the canvas it would make the painting dark. I proved to myself that I was wrong.

#21 Lone Oak, Nocturnal

#21 Lone Oak, Nocturnal, 6x6, landscape, oil on panel, (click here to bid)

Summer's blue velvet sky -- I've seen it a couple of times in my life. I toned this canvas a bright blue before I started painting. This "30 paintings in 30 days" challenge is a good way to try out different techniques and approaches. When I looked at the bright blue it made me think of the velvet blue skies you occasionally see in the summer. It also reminded me of Maxfield Parrish's paintings with the bright blue in the sky. He used the technique of toning the canvas also.

#22 Lone Oak, High Noon

#22 Lone Oak, High Noon, 6x6, oil on panel, (click here to bid)

A bright summer day.