Day 1 30-30 Motion

Today starts the 30 works of art in 30 days challenge. Just a reminder, I do not work that fast. The challenge for me is too keep working each day. While I am currently working on a few oil paintings I will share some of the works that were created during the road trip this summer. A kind of visual journal of, how I spent my summer.

The start of our trip way back in June took us down to Texas - New Mexico boarder. Our first night was in El Paso, TX the next morning we heading to Carlsbad Caverns, Eddy County, New Mexico. We hiked the caverns and came back for the evening event. The Bat Flight Program, Brazilian free-tailed bats come circling out of the cave, in a dance performance before they go hunting for the evening.

This is a National Park and they do not allow any photographs or videos. No cameras at all. Since, I could not take photos I had my sketch pad with me, as we waited for the bats to come out around sunset I sketched the opening area of the cave. As the bats came out swirling around, I attempted to capture the movement. They are small, I was close enough to watch the event but not to obtain any details. These few sketches are more about the motion, trying to catch the feeling of the bats flying up and out.

The full color sketch I added the bats from the two b&w studies while we were driving through Texas. These are watercolor pencils on Stonehenge paper  6X14.5".

30-30 Inspiration From The Road

It is that time of year again, the 30-30 challenge is upon us, September and January are the standard dates. I did not do the 30-30 in January as I was having cataract surgery in the left eye. Still need to do the right eye. Until than we will just move forward.

After all the inspiration from around the country. The thousands of photos that I am still sorting. Plus, the works of art I did on the road. Some started at the workshop I taught at Common Ground on the Hill in MD. Other works that literally were done in the car while on the road crossing from state to state.

I am currently back in Scottsdale, AZ working in the studio. I have a couple oil paintings I am working on for a show in Mesa next year. I have several shows coming up, so, I need some motivation. As always, I do not work fast, I will post something everyday as possible. I will not start and finish a painting each day. I may post a sketch for an idea, I will post progressive shots of a work. Most of the works will be for sale, I generally try to keep the pricing around $200 - $300 for small works. I will be posting a couple of things that are larger pieces that I have been working on for the last month, bigger works, higher prices. There are always deals to be made, just ask, I am sure we can make something work.

Starting tomorrow I will figure out what gets posted first. Right now it is as big a surprise to me as it will be for you. Wish me luck, lots going on and lots of ideas. Here is a collage from a previous 30-30 challenge.

Plus, any artists out there that would like to join in the challenge here is the link to join. http://www.saetastudio.com/30-in-30.html

30-30 September 2016

ART on the road III

Murals - paintings created on walls, or flat surfaces. Some not so flat, maybe flat-ish. My point being that while we were on the road trip all across the country were signs and murals. More on the signs later. I did not get near the pictures of murals we saw as we were flying down the road. Some you could see from the highways on barns and buildings but there was no place to pull over to take a photo.

It was inspirational to see color in so many places that you would not think of seeing murals. In Vancouver, B.C. they had a cement company, not only were the trucks colorful but the silos that stored materials were painted with great fun. Brew Pubs, warehouses, doughnut shops. In Anacortes, WA all over town they had a history of sorts, documenting people who were part of the making of the town, including Larry Kelly, the "King of Smugglers". In Idaho the mural is more of a relief sculpture done with glass.

Oregon had some of the most elaborate paintings, saw couple in Eugene and in Portland. Door County, WI had a unique work in progress. A old building that fisherman would write upon when they were there. It is now a art gallery but anyone that comes to visit is encouraged to make their mark. It has expanded out onto the rocks.

Here are a couple collages of some of the mural art seen from VA to WA, above, below and in-between.

Art On The Road - Part II

Part II - Photography at 70 MPH more or less...

Some days a road trip is just driving. If the roads are fairly smooth and straight I am lucky enough to be able to draw in the car.  Most of the times the roads are uneven, rough, bumpy and curvy. Our car has tinted windows, which most cars purchased in AZ come with as standard. All of these things add a challenge to taking pictures on the road. But, what else was I going to do while sitting in a car for hours on end.

I am planning to put together a collage of photos, trying to pick one from each day as a favorite or representation of the date and state. Some states we drove through without much stopping in rain storms. I think I have a picture from each state. Another collage will be the welcome signs to each state. Some states did not have one or much of one. Today's photos will be - interesting - some may be blurred, some will have color distortions and some may even boarder on abstract. I should be able to tell what state they were taken in, may not be able to tell much more then that. Hope you enjoy a few miscellaneous pictures from across the country.

This seem like a good one to start with, crossing into N.M. 

Hello Texas

Crossing over the Mississippi River from LA to MS. These pictures are straight from my camera
 or iphone no cropping, no editing and the colors are because of the window in the car, found it interesting.

Alabama just before a storm.

Atlanta, GA or anywhere in the U.S.

On The Road Again, going through Indiana. 

The greening of WI.

S.D. - there be bison, we did have to drive slow and found a place to pull over.
You are not allow to get out of your car to take photos. It was nice to see all the cars obey the signs. 

Somewhere on the road going towards Jackson, WY.

Art On The Road: Part I

Part I: Sculpture Along The Way

On our road trip crossing through some 24 states I was intrigued by all the sculpture I saw not only in cities, parks but along the highways. Most of these photos were taken from the car, more on car photography in another blog. If I had the opportunity I would get the title and name of the artist. Some I am lucky to remember the state we might have been traveling though that day.

I try to download photos both from camera and phone each day. That way I could label the folder with the states we either were in or driving through. Luckily you do not need wi-fi to download to photo files.

Here are some of the sculptural works and a little about them.

Day 2 Going into N.M. to go to Carlsbad Cavers we saw this very large road runner. He is made of recycled metal and other materials. Doing a google search he is 20X40 feet.

Just for fun, anyone that has driven along the east coast has seen the giant peace water tower in S.C.

 Roanoke, VA has many historic sculpture type displays.

 



These 3 pieces were seen at the Madison, WI Botanical Gardens.

Wausa, WI Are Balloons sculptures? There are 3-D, they are creative and represent an idea.

Heading to Badlands, S.D. These very large sculptures were along interstate 90. 

The bull is 60 feet high, it is part of Porter Sculpture Park. 

This seems like a good spot to end. These were just a few art works seen while driving. I did not include sculptures in or around galleries. I hope you enjoyed a start to Art on the Road. Stay tuned for Part II - Art at 70 MPH.