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Are you getting yourself ready for June?  There are now at least 15 people who have said they're definitely joining us; six from Christchurch, five from Dunedin, three from other places in NZ and one NZer who is travelling around Europe.  We are growing every day now via our 'Join Us in June for 30:30' Facebook page, this blog, my website and from creative people I've spoken with personally, so it's getting rather exciting to imagine what might be created! The comments that people have left make me feel as though we really are in this together even though we are spread out around the country.

We'd better be on with the business of getting ready. There are 13 more days till June, so there's still time to get your supplies sorted; paints, brushes, canvases, craft materials etc.

What about sorting out your subject matter? I've put a folder on my computer (or it could be a physical folder) with about 50 relatively simple photos that I might want to paint.  That's not to say that those are definitely the paintings that I'll do (because I might think up new things as I go) but it's much easier for me if I've got inspirational ideas handy so I don't stumble over a creative block in the 30 days. 

  Have you got old paintings that you were never quite happy with?  I've got a pile of en plein air oil sketches that I've started in the past (which I was never happy with) that have now become buried behind other paintings in my studio. Here's one of them that I began behind Glenorchy; it's even got sandflies embedded in the paint!  I thought it might be a good idea if I got some of those paintings out and started them from scratch again using the ideas that made me want to paint them in the first place (and my photos) as reference materials, instead of trying to make them OK when I feel there are compositional issues etc with them. It'll be a nice trip down memory-lane thinking of the days I spent painting the originals outdoors, while I'm ensconced in my cosy studio in the middle of winter. It'll also be an interesting experiment for me to see the originals beside the (hopefully!) improved and completed paintings.

Finally (for this blog anyway) I'm trying to ensure that my calendar is as clear as possible for June so that I can give myself the best possible chance of succeeding and enjoying the journey.

Cheerio for now

Ruth