Ruth Reid Art

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7/18/2013 2:14:09 AM

30/100 - Nearly a third

Ruth Reid / 6 Comments


Ten more days have gone by and ten more paintings have been posted online.  I've had a great boost during this time with my sister Marlene flying down to Christchurch and painting with me for four of those days.  We painted and chatted all day, had some lovely extended family outings, went to the Town & Country art exhibition, drank wine and ate nibbles.  Marlene even managed to produce more paintings than I did!

I learnt that it wasn't a good idea to add linseed oil to the oil paints when painting on an acrylic background as the oil seemed to spread further than the paint as was evident in the Canterbury Flax painting.  I'll have to wait until it's drier before going back and fixing it up.  Next time I'll make sticky oil paints more spreadable by adding liquin.

Painting Lake Daniels in the Lewis Pass area of New Zealand (the image I've included here) reminded me of a great few days away tramping (hiking) with my daughter Mel.  This is the view from the front door of the hut that we stayed in a couple of years ago.  I spent some time at the hut painting, while she challenged herself by heading off for more strenuous exercise.

Although it's the middle of winter, I notice that the birds are getting busy chatting to each other; a sure sign that Spring will be here in a couple of months.  In the meantime, keep warm and enjoy the watery winter sun.

Ruth

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6 Responses to 30/100 - Nearly a third

Hi Ruth:

I just wanted to stop by and say hello. I saw your comment today on FASO regarding your 100 in 100. I've not yet made that commitment, but I really need to. I'd like to get more prolific, but I'm not. I paint 1-3 paintings a week and it's just not enough. I've been trying to do more, mostly for study and practice, partly to drive up inventory to create a portfolio of like works.

I just wanted to say how much I admire your dedication to your practice. Perhaps I'll start with a 30/30 and see if that could then go to a 100/100!

:)

God bless and keep up the good work!

Posted by Robert P. Britton Jr. · via ruthreidart.com · 159 months ago

Hi Robert

Thanks for taking the time to check out what I'm doing and especially for your encouragement. I guess from the fact that you read about my 100 in 100 on FASO that you are from USA, so it's particularly nice that you are writing to me here in New Zealand.

Your idea of a 30 day challenge is a good one because I'm now up to day 32 and although I'm tired, already I can see the benefits of the consistent practice. 100 days is a very long time to keep up this pace. It would certainly be unbalanced in the long term. I think that between now and day 75 will be the hardest slog. After that I hope the numbers will feel achievable.

At the end of it though, I hope I feel a lot more confident about what and how I paint, and have a reasonable body of works that I'm generally pleased with. Even now there's about a dozen I quite like.

I've checked out your website and particularly like your lobster boat painting. We call them crayfish here and they are plentiful off our coasts - delicious too. I also like the post where you recommend other artists to learn from. I'll go back and visit their websites when I need some inspiring encouragement over the next 68 days.

Thanks again
Ruth

Posted by Ruth Reid · via ruthreidart.com · 159 months ago

Yes, i'm from the USA. I saw that you were from New Zealand. I'd give anything to visit there!

I used to watch this show on PBS here in America. It was about this guy from NZ living and exploring the South Pacific on a Catamaran. It was episodes with him, his dog, and occasionally a girlfriend. It was a great show and I miss it. (I don't even remember the name of it!)

Then came Lord of the Rings filmed in NZ. Just amazing! What a diverse country you live in!

and some of the waterfronts just look amazing! What a gift you have there in your own back yard!

:)

Yes, I honestly don't know that I could sustain 100. It's like the daily painters I've been reading on. They get to the point where they are just cranking out something to meet the daily goal, not really creating a design or a composition.

So I think 30 days seems reasonable.

Crayfish are delicious! :) Especially from the cold north atlantic! Maine! Nova Scotia! I just love seafood and can't get enough!

:)

You should be proud of yourself for doing what you are doing. I know I'm amazed at your determination.

I need to paint more prolifically. I just don't paint enough. A part of it still is fear of failure, of not being good enough. But a part of it is will power, too. It takes discipline...you know...doing what you NEED to do even when you don't feel like it. BUt mostly, it's a fear of not being good enough.

So I paint, keep hoping that I'll push through this state of mind and get some successes that build my confidence. I don't think I'm bad, nor do I think I'm shaking and rocking the world. I'm just another hopeful. I don't expect to make millions, but it sure would be great to make more than eBay prices.

I think like you are doing it all comes down to how badly you want it and whether you are willing to put the practice in. No one will give you success. You have to fight for it and earn it.

You have the right thing going on and I need to have some of your persistence rub off onto me. I usually only do 1-3 paintings a week and really need to step it up!

:)

Thanks for stopping by my blog and your kind comments!

God bless you, Ruth!

I wish I could visit you down their in NZ and go painting with you!

:)

Posted by Robert P. Britton Jr. · via ruthreidart.com · 159 months ago

Hi again Robert

Yes there is a wealth of landscape and seascape beauty all around us here. Over 14,000 kms of coastline for this tiny country.

Don't doubt yourself; 1-3 paintings a week is a great number and one that is sustainable. If I can do that many once I've finished this 100 Day thingee I'll be happy with myself.

I understand your comments about doing a painting merely for the sake of counting a number, however, there's a plus side of that which I've never considered before. Even when you are tired and/or not feeling inspired HAVING to produce something/anything makes you do it and keeps the work ethic going. AND sometimes surprising results happen almost in spite of a lack-lustre beginning to the day. I am happy with several of my paintings that started that way even though there are a number that I'll happily delete at the end of the challenge.

Now I must get on with pic 32 or it'll be midnight before I finish today. We've got a visitor to dinner and a rugby game to watch tonight too.

Take care and keep that brush flowing
Ruth

Posted by Ruth Reid · via ruthreidart.com · 159 months ago

Well done you are certinally getting through them. I really like your last one number 34 cape kidnappers is it called. Mel

Posted by Mel · via ruthreidart.com · 159 months ago

Thanks Mel. It took me three days to complete that pic so I had to do some other paintings as well to put on website. I thought it deserved having more time put into it. Anyway, amazingly the painting sold before I even finished it. I put a HOLD on it because I insisted the neighbour (Nicola) check out the final result before she committed herself.

Love Mum

Posted by Ruth Reid · via ruthreidart.com · 159 months ago

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