Around My World in 80 Days

#76

Elaine Johnson — Fri, 15 Oct 2010 19:06:12 +0000

I used up just about all the paint I had…including some craft paint. I wasn’t too excited about having to use the craft paint because it’s so thin. But it worked! And better than I had anticipated. I had so much fun just “going for it” without a set plan. I basically threw the color on there and well, here you go:

My FINAL FIVE beginning with #76:

#77

Elaine Johnson — Fri, 15 Oct 2010 19:05:30 +0000

This one just came together too. It wasn’t happenin’ at first. Stuck with it and here it is, #77.

#78

Elaine Johnson — Fri, 15 Oct 2010 19:05:10 +0000

I’m pretty pleased how this one turned out considering I had no clue what I was doing to begin. I knew I wanted to use this light blue and red and went from there. What do you see?

#79

Elaine Johnson — Fri, 15 Oct 2010 19:04:52 +0000

This one is highly textured which is what I love about it. Not wild about the colors but I didn’t have much left at this point. It is what it is!

#80

Elaine Johnson — Fri, 15 Oct 2010 19:04:33 +0000

I enjoyed this one a lot…used everything I had left and again, made color my subject. It was flying and squirting and dripping….what do you think? My daughter said of this one, “Is this your last one? It looks like you went out with a bang (hand motions included!).”

DONE!

Elaine Johnson — Fri, 15 Oct 2010 02:56:28 +0000

79 days down. 80 paintings done.

Count ‘em.

80.

Done.

Can you believe it? I feel so exhilirated! No exhaustion. No relief like, “Whew, glad I’m done!” It has been a roller coaster for sure and sometimes it was very, very difficult. Nothing like setting a goal and completing it though. I feel so good. Kinda like when someone runs a marathon. Not to win but to finish. That’s how I’m feeling tonight.

In a way though I feel like I have just begun. One of my kids the other day told me that I should keep going. Thought about it for a second but nah! Mallory told me tonight after I finished, “Good! Now you won’t be distracted.” Ha ha! Leave it to her to throw everything into proper perspective!

So, now I have 80 paintings laying around. What to do? Well, there has been some talk about a show or exhibition. I would love that but I don’t want to push it. We’ll see. People say I have improved. I don’t know if I necessarily see that but if others think so, then that’s enough proof for me. I’ll trust what they say I suppose.

I want to say to everyone who encouraged me with words or did so by looking at my paintings or following along, thank you. I am really grateful for your help to keep me moving in the right direction. I wasn’t going to give up but I gained strength for the journey by your participating with me.

So tomorrow is day 80. You may remember why I picked 80 days and why I began in the first place. Here’s my post on WHY.

The why is the most important. To paint just to paint wouldn’t be enough for me. The purpose has been clear–to fight fear as I discover more of my artistic self.

It’s been worth it. Thanks for coming along.

2 days to go and still 5 to paint

Elaine Johnson — Thu, 14 Oct 2010 11:53:00 +0000

Hey there…haven’t been feeling well and so I have done NOTHING this week to reach my goal. Feeling better now so I expect to paint tonight. No pressure. I wll do it. How can I not?

#74 and #75

Elaine Johnson — Tue, 12 Oct 2010 04:06:21 +0000

#74

#75

#71-73

Elaine Johnson — Mon, 11 Oct 2010 23:07:21 +0000

This one was done having been inspired by a beautiful photograph a friend shared with me. Don’t like the hut but oh well…

By the way, the rocks, flowers and greenery are actually made out of paper and then painted over.

#72

#73

Another take on Psalm 23

#66-70

Elaine Johnson — Sun, 10 Oct 2010 13:33:01 +0000

I did these all in one evening. I was not happy with them at all. It was about 11pm when I was almost “done.” My daughter came out to the garage (where my husband made me a little “studio”–thank you, honey!) and started to comment on them. I stopped her at, “Oh, I liiiiiike….” I think I said something like, “Stoppppppp…” and stuck out my lip like a disappointed child. The worst thing is hearing someone say they like what you’ve done when you are absolutely disgusted with it. I don’t know why but….

The next morning I invited my husband to come out to the garage and take a look. Maybe it was bad lighting the night before but now the paintings didn’t appear to be have bad. Huh. What’d'ya know! So, here they are:

#66

#67

I need to do something with my color palette. I’m getting in a rut in that sense.

#68

#69 This one is my favorite of the bunch. It’s about texture with this one and how I layered newspaper and paint. You’d have to see it up close to appreciate it.

#70

This one I ESPECIALLY didn’t like at night and then it really stood out to me in the morning. The light value is kind of cool with this one.