Two days and counting ...
There are so many artists that have joined this challenge that I am stunned. As of right now the count is 241 ... That's a total of 7,230 paintings that will be created in the next 30 days. Wow!
I have received many emailswith questions about signing up for the Challenge and I need to apologize to many of you right now. You have requested specific instructions as to how to join the challenge, upload a link or photo to my blog, delete a photo or sign up in general. I feel awful that I can't answer you all individually. I am using a widget called "inlinkz" on my blog that allows all of you to upload your photo to my blog every day. It's the same widget that you used to sign up for the Challenge on my blog. I found a link that shows you how to upload a photo on inlinkz so if you are having problems, follow the link. I really hope this helps.
With only a few days until the challenge, I thought I would put together a few tips to help you have a very successful 30 Days of Painting!
1. Organize your studio so you won't have any distractions when you need to paint. If I am struggling with a painting it's funny how I usually end up organizing something in my studio.
2. Make sure your studio is well stocked with paint, brushes, palette knives (yeah!), canvas, panels and anything else you need to paint 30 paintings in the next 30 days.
3. Think about where and how you are going to store 30 wet paintings in your studio. You might need to pick up some cheap dish racks or pizza boxes to store your paintings.
4. Pick a theme. Now, you don't need to do this. But it really helps if you need some direction in deciding what to paint. My theme for the January Challenge was "My Favorite Things". My theme this month is "My Favorite Places and Things". With one exception ... (see #5) ...
5. Consider painting 12 paintings that you will feature in a 2014 Calendar. I do this every year and love it. You can finish the paintings now and photograph them. Then wait until November when Vistaprint offers specials on all of their calendars. The really nice spiral bound wall calendars should be priced as low as $6.00 each. They make great gifts for family, friends, clients and teachers!
6. Decide today or tomorrow what you are going to paint for the first 7 days. This will really help you "jump in" and take the pressure off of you. Get your canvases or panels ready for these first 7 paintings.
7. Don't sweat it. Remember, if you miss a day, you will probably be the only person who knows. Get ahead if you can and paint more than one painting in a day. Getting ahead is NOT cheating. It's called "being organized" and a great way to allow you to meet other obligations in your life throughout the month. If you know you can't paint on a day, try to plan ahead and finish the painting early.
8. Paint small. Don't expect to finish a large painting every day.
9. Experiment. Paint "studies". Try something new one day. Don't expect you will have a painting every day that you can put up for sale. It's ok to post a painting of a "study"! This Challenge is all about learning. And painting.
10. Try not to neglect your family too much. My husband was very gracious in January and understood that I was under a lot of pressure to finish my paintings. It's a miracle he didn't starve to death. Homecooked dinners in my house were non-existent that month, along with a lot of other things. I am going to try this time to actually have dinner on the table. Laundry might be another story.
And finally, have fun. It's not worth it if you don't enjoy the Challenge. So relax and paint. It doesn't get much better than that!
To sign up for the 30 Paintings in 30 Days visit my blog post here. And you can join in anytime, even after we have started the Challenge!
Check out my upcoming palette knife painting workshops.
See what's new on my beach house remodel blog.
See what's new on my beach house remodel blog.
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