NZ Art Guild Challenge #9 - old house

Taramea Bay Road, Southland, NZ
acrylic on 11" by 14" by 3/4" gallery wrapped canvas

Creative Mark "The Edge" painted on sides

available $179 plus $11 shipping

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The NZ Art Guild Challenge #9, this old house! I was very enchanted with this house when I first saw it. However, I had just finished a house on a lot for the London challenge with The Virtual Paintout. So, I turned the house around and visualized it as looking out the front door!

Then, I had to find something to look out onto. So, I went to Google Street View Maps and ventured around New Zealand. I started at the tip and ended at the middle where the country divides, near Nelson. I believe that is called the South Island. I loved everything I saw, but decided on the image I found at the bottom of the country in Southland. The house had a beach feel and look, so I thought it was important to have a beach or coastal look.

Then I got really, really interested in where I am, in Jacksonville Beach, Florida in relation to New Zealand. So, I went back to Google maps and finally to MSN encarta World Atlas.

This first globe represents about 1/3 of the globe. You can see in the bottom left corner, Southland, New Zealand and in the upper right corner, Jacksonville Beach, Florida.

The second globe represents the second third of the globe. It looks to me like Jacksonville Beach, Florida is about the same distance from South Africa. People go to Africa all the time and never think anything of it, but when you say you are going to New Zealand, everyone thinks you are going to the other side of the world!

This last globe just shows the last third of the globe. Now that is the other side of the world!

I've never had much interest in traveling outside North America. There is SO much in the United States to see, somethings I've seen and would love to see again and so much I've not seen. AND, Canada has a special place in my heart and interest.

However, now with the art challenges, meeting artists all over the world and Google Street View Maps, I am beginning to want to travel. South America, Africa, New Zealand and Australia to start with! Just think, with a computer, a bag of cloths and plenty of art supplies, you never have to go home again if you don't want too!

For your information, in case you're wondering, I DO still want to go home!

The Virtual Paintout - August Challenge - London

17 Soho Square, London

acrylic on 14" by 11" Pintura Hard Board

available $165 + $11 shipping

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The Virtual Paintout is such a fun challenge. Every time I go to the Google Maps City Streets, I learn something. Bill Guffey certainly hit on something with this one!

As usual, I barely made the deadline. In fact, I did miss this challenge once. Why, Delilah, Why do I procrastinate until the last minute? Guess I just work under pressure best!

As I say at this time every month, I can't wait to see where we will go next month!

Stay tuned, stay real ... and thanks for visiting me today!

The Virtual Paintout - July Challenge - Barcelona

116 Carretera d'Horta a Cerdanyola, Barcelona

acrylic on 12" by 16" canvas board

Available $175 including shipping

This is the 6th Challenge for The Virtual Paintout. The city is Barcelona and I have to say, of all the cities we've visited so far, I really liked this one best. It was clean, spacious and had beautiful countryside. If I ever happen to leave the country, I would certainly consider Barcelona!

I can't wait to see where we go next month!


Have a beautiful day!

Laughter, Caring Deeds, Wonderful Stories & Love

Thank You... For Building a Path
acrylic on 8" by 10" by .75" stretched canvas
SOLD to Dottie

This is a little house in Fort Worth, Texas. A Grandmother and Grandfather lived in this house and used to entertain their grandchildren on summer vacations. They have been gone for many years but the memory of the good times remains.

Nobody can do for little children what grandparents do. Grandparents sort of sprinkle stardust over the lives of little children.
~Alex Haley

I never felt so special or so happy as I did with my Grandparents. They were always happy and kind and generous and loving. They were always glad for my presence.

Grandparents always made you feel they had been waiting to see just you all day and now the day would be complete.
~Marcy DeMaree

They traveled every year to see us in the winter and we traveled every year to see them in the summer.

A garden of Love grows in a Grandparent's heart.
~Helen Thomson

Their homes were roomy and always the same. They had a fragrance of their own that made them special and comfy.

I loved their home. Everything smelled older, worn but safe; the food aroma had baked itself into the furniture.
~Susan Strasberg

I wonder, if I could go back, how would it feel? How would it smell? Would I cry? Would I leave with the awareness that they are always with me.

"...I want to stay here" I whispered.
"No, we want you to take us with you."
"How do I do that?" I mumbled.
"Put us in your heart. Know your connection"
~Judith Fraser, MA, MFT

NOTE: As I was researching this post, I ran across the most wonderful story. The above quote by Judith Fraser, is a tiny excerpt from the story. Please follow this link and read this beautiful story about returning to the home of her Grandparents. You won't be sorry!

Dottie, this is for you!
Good Night

BooHoo - I missed the June Challenge

Via Incontri, Florence, Italia

acrylic on 18" by 18" by 3/4" gallery wrapped canvas

available $75 plus $8 shipping

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If I had completed this on time, it would have been my entry for The Virtual Paintout June Challenge, Florence. I had selected my image from Google City Streets, selected my canvas, prepped & sanded it, acrylic base coat and sketched. Just didn't get around to adding the paint! Oh well, I still proud of myself for doing it anyway. As I've said previously, it is for the challenge to myself!

This is the largest canvas I've painted on since beginning my daily painting in February. It wasn't difficult at all.

In fact, I've noticed I'm gravitating to 9x12's, 11x14's and 12x16's.

I still like the SFA (small format art) that I started out with. I prefer 6x8, 7x9 & 8x10's when I do smaller pieces and 5x7 & 6x6 are OK. But I do not enjoy 4x6 and smaller.

I used to use mostly 16x20's & 20x30's and the largest piece I did was 30x30. I'll have to get around to posting some more of my older work soon.

This is my first nooner post!

Can't say Goodnight!

UPDATE: I couldn't resist reworking the foreground from the original post. On 7/3 I replaced the first posting with the updated painting. Thank you Karen for you kind comment! I hope you like this one even better!

beckielboo

The Virtual Paintout - May Challenge - Paris

3 Quai Voltaire, Paris

acrylic on 9" by 12" by 1.5" gallery wrapped canvas

SOLD, $60.00 including shipping

This is the most technical piece I've done. At one point I thought, I can't do it, I'll never have it ready for the challenge deadline! After giving up, I thought, one window at a time! Isn't that the way it is? If I had given up, I would not have been able to do it. By taking it one window at a time, I'm reminded of The Little Engine That Could by Watty Piper! Just never thought of myself as a Little Engine!

What makes you A Little Engine?
Good Morning

The Virtual Paintout - April Challenge - Amsterdam

119 Geldersekade, Amsterdam

acrylic on 8" by 10" canvas board

SOLD to Sheila $60.00 includes shipping

The Virtual Challenge is hosted by Bill Guffey. This is the April Challenge, Amsterdam. Below is some of the information Bill includes on the website.

The purpose...
To gather in one area of the world, virtually, once a month with other artists.To paint or draw a scene and composition of your choosing, within a predetermined area.

Participation...
This monthly project is open to all, no matter the experience or level. All drawing and painting mediums are acceptable, with the exclusion of computer created/digital art. A new city will be posted monthly.

How it's done...
To get to Google Street View, go to Google/Maps. Find the city, zoom in, and drag and drop the little yellow man (in the top left corner) onto a street. A pop-up window will appear with a 360 degree photographic view. You may then travel the streets, looking around, to find your composition.

Isn't this already fun?
Goodnight