Visiting the National Parks--Where We've Been and Where I Long to Go "A to Z"

"Rocks at Tahoe" ©Mary Montague Sikes

After last year when I did a painting a day to create an animal alphabet, I was undecided about participating in the A to Z Blog Challenge 2014. Although I loved the 2013 work I produced which has already been in several art exhibitions, painting a new piece of art each day was time-consuming and difficult to keep up during a week-long art workshop I decided to take.

What to do this year?

Since I don't have enough small canvases stockpiled, I am unprepared to undertake another painting a day challenge. However, I may do a painting here and there throughout A to Z. For this year's theme, I've decided to go with National Parks, focusing on those we've visited and places where I long to go.

Many of the most beautiful parks that have attracted me seem to be located in the West. I love those places that offer photo opportunities in every direction like Tahoe in California which is a National Forest, not a Park. I started to wonder about the difference between National Parks and National Forests and found there is a big difference. National Parks are developed to protect the "natural and historic resources." They are operated under the Department of the Interior. The National Forests focus on preservation of many resources including a variety of commodities and services. They are under the Department of Agriculture. Hunting is allowed in the National Forests but not in the Parks.

I'm looking forward to the A to Z 2014 Blogging Challenge. Please stop by and take a look each day, starting on Tuesday.

Self-publishing Strategies for the Artist -- What's This

Well, folks, if you thought plans and strategies in the world of self-publishing were just for writers, think again. "Self-publishing Strategies" is the lead headline on the cover of the latest Professional Artist Magazine. The headline right below that one is: "Get Your Art into Local Media". So you see artists and writers face similar issues in promoting and selling their works.

In her article in the magazine, "Self-publishing and Technology," E. Brady Robinson urges artists to "clarify your goals, study your market, and develop a strategy." Sound familiar, writers?

Robinson points out the practical need for every artist to have a website. We know every writer needs one.

The next section of her article is about building an audience using social media. She focuses on the use by one artist of an iPhone camera to capture the images of people going about their daily activities. As a travel writer, I've always had a camera at the ready to document the stories I write. The digital camera is magic for both writer and artist.

Robinson also goes on to point out the value of Print on Demand as a device to aid artists in promotion of their work and making some of it visible to the public. Of course, POD has changed the world of writing. No more huge stacks of books in the garage or under the beds of self-published authors. It's a good thing for both artist and writer.

It's inspiring to read my copy of Professional Artist Magazine and see how artists and writers share similar challenges. It's exciting to be both artist and writer in today's digital age.

Enjoying the World of Art

In April, I had the exciting experience of actually creating a Painting a Day for the A to Z Blog Challenge. It was exhilarating to have a new and fun realistic painting at the end of each day. 

Now I'm back to the world of experimental water media art, creating paintings that viewers can see and determine their own meanings as they look at the work. My painting in the Members Show currently on view at This Century Art Gallery in Williamsburg VA is one of those creations.  I have many new paintings on canvas, Arches watercolor paper, and Yupo and will feature some of these new works on my blog from time to time. The Members Show at TCAG will be open to the public through July 19.

"Will There Be Peace Anywhere?" at Art Opening

Using Animal Paintings to Create a Card

©Mary Montague Sikes

Since I very much enjoyed creating the animal paintings for the A to Z Challenge, I decided to design an oversize card with some of creatures to use as a handout in my studio and for art shows. Here is the first one I planned and ordered Monday from Vista Print.

My husband bought a Groupon promotion offer from Vista for me that I needed to use by this week in order to get the full value. The card on the left is one of two projects I created. I'm looking forward to receiving the actual products to see how they turned out.

©Mary Montague Sikes

This was so much fun that I designed another card (on the right) that I might order later. What do you think? Which card design do you prefer? Did any of you have favorites from the 26 creatures?

The Painting a Day exercise brought out some colorful results. Now back to the studio...

T is for Tasmania Devil - A Painting a Day

"Tasmanian Devil" acrylic painting Mary Montague Sikes

Challenge A to Z

Today's painting is a Tasmanian Devil created from photos taken by my daughter, Amy, on a trip to Tasmania. This is 14 x 11 acrylic on stretched canvas.

Hope everyone is enjoying the Blog Challenge. I'm painting this at the end of an art workshop day.

S is for Seal - A Painting a Day

A to Z Challenge

"Seal Howling" - acrylic painting ©Mary Montague Sikes

For today, "S" is for Seal. I don't know much about seals. We saw a lot of them one day on a beach near La Jolla, California. They make a lot of noise. I guess you call it barking, but it seems more like howling to me.

I used photos taken by my daughter, Amy, on a trip to Tasmania for my reference material. This painting is 14" x11" acrylic on stretched canvas.

Hope everyone is enjoying the A to Z Blog Challenge. I'm learning a lot creating a Painting a Day for the Challenge.

Q is for Quail - A Painting a Day

A to Z Challenge

Q was an especially hard letter for me to make a painting. But then I remembered the quail we used to have. I would look out the sliding glass door in the living room and see a mother quail leading about a dozen little spotted babies. That was when our children were small, and I could point the birds out to them. Unfortunately, it's been years since I saw our last quail. They have gone the way of the cute little rabbits that used to gobble up vegetables and flowers. That was before so many deer graced the gardens and began to eat the most treasured plants.

"Quail on the Lookout" - acrylic ©Mary Montague Sikes

I think the many cats that cross through our woods have frightened away the rabbits and the quail. The cats just sit and look at the deer, and the deer don't seem to mind.

Today's painting, "Quail on the Lookout", is 8" x 8" acrylic on stretched canvas.

Thank you, folks, who are visiting from A to Z Challenge, and thanks, friends, who are following the progress of my painting trip through the alphabet.

P is for Possum - A Painting a Day

A to Z Challenge

"Possum" - acrylic painting ©Mary Montague Sikes

 

I planned to paint an opossum for "O" but discovered I wanted instead to paint the osprey because of its connection to our little town. That left me wondering what to do for "P". Why not paint a possum and pretend I'm in Australia where there are 70 species of marsupials that are native to that continent and its surrounding islands? We have more than 100 species of the opossum marsupials that live in our Western Hemisphere. Actually, when I speak of our Virginia opossums, I always refer to them as "possums".

Possums are nocturnal creatures. We have come home many a night to discover a possum hanging around literally. Several years ago, one died beneath our deck.

Do you have possums or opossums where you live?

Today's painting is 11" x 14" acrylic on stretched canvas. My studio has become an animal and bird hangout!

N is for Night Owl - A Painting a Day

A to Z Challenge

"Night Owl" - acrylic painting ©Mary Montague Sikes

 For the A to Z Challenge, I chose to create a painting each day for the 26 letters of the alphabet. Today my subject is "N" is for Night Owl. I was surprised to learn that "Night Owl" stands for a person who likes to stay up late at night more than for an actual owl. My mother used to complain that I was a night owl.

Owls are unusual creatures in that they are able to rotate their heads and their necks up to 270 degrees. Quite a feat, and one I don't want to accomplish.

This is my smallest image yet--6" x 6" acrylic on stretched canvas. I don't usually like to work this small, but I want to use as much of what I have in the studio as I can. I did order six more 14" x 11" stretched canvases, so I'll have more larger paintings later.

M is for Macaw, a South American Parrot - Painting a Day

A to Z Challenge

"Macaw Bright and Bold" acrylic painting ©Mary Montague Sikes

Since my love affair with the tropics began years ago, I've been compelled to photograph and paint parrots. The Macaw is a bright and very colorful parrot native to South America. A Florida resort that we visit annually has several of these birds scattered in cages throughout the pool side area. Besides being beautiful, they possess an awful squawk. The birds can be heard from far away. It is quite disconcerting to be next to a cage when the Macaw cries out.

This little acrylic painting is 8" x 8". It is the thirteenth work of art I've created in my Painting a Day challenge for A to Z.

Hope everyone is having fun and doing a lot of blog hopping. Unfortunately, the painting is claiming more time than I expected, so I haven't hopped a lot. However, I'm truly enjoying the new menagerie inside my studio!

J is for Jaguar - A Painting a Day

A to Z Challenge

Deciding an animal for the letter "J" was easy. Jaguar. In my last "Passenger to Paradise" novel, a jaguar suddenly appeared in my story. It was completely unplanned. Billy was a black jaguar and became a character in Jungle Jeopardy, an adventure story Indiana Jones-style! I loved this animal. My creation for today is not black, but he reminds me of Billy.

"On the Hunt" -acrylic painting ©Mary Montague Sikes

This painting is 11" x 14" acrylic on gallery-wrapped stretched canvas. This canvas is          1 1/2" deep, giving it more presence than the 3/4" normal depth.

Hope everyone is enjoying the A to Z Challenge.

I is for Iguana - Painting a Day

"Iguana Night" acylic painting ©Mary Montague Sikes

A to Z Challenge

For today, "I" is for iguana. I've never really wanted to run into these creatures that thrive in a different climate from where I live in Virginia. I considered doing an iris painting for this letter because I'm quite familiar with that subject. Instead I created a real challenge for myself.

This little painting is 8" x 10" acrylic on stretched canvas. I find I prefer to work on a larger canvas, but that takes more time and painting supplies. For now, I am using materials I already have in my studio. When I run out of canvases, I will go to my watercolor paper supply.

This is a fun challenge. Thanks to all of you who organized it!

H is for Horse - Painting a Day

A to Z Challenge

The Painting A to Z continues and is challenging for certain. Today, "H" is for Horse. I've always wanted to paint a horse of many colors. Today I discovered, that is easier said than done.

"Wild and Free" - acrylic painting ©Mary Montague Sikes

Last summer, when we were vacationing in Avon, Colorado, I fell in love with the horse sculpture that greets visitors to the town. A photograph I took of it inspired this painting, "Wild and Free" which is abstract and a just for fun image. The painting is 14" x 11" acrylic on stretched canvas.

I have always admired horses but never learned to ride one. My only previous experience with creating horse image art was using pastels.


Please check out my interview today at Terry Odell's blog.

G is for Giraffe - A Painting A Day

A to Z Challenge

"Looking High" acrylic painting ©Mary Montague Sikes

I've always wanted to paint a giraffe but never have. I've always wondered about creating a painting a day and never accomplished doing it. I don't know if I can keep it up, but I'm going to try.

"Looking High" is a 16" x 12" acrylic painting on stretched canvas.

Wonder how much longer wild animals like the giraffe will remain in their natural habitats? As people move deeper into the wilderness, the animals are pushed away. I complain about the white tail deer that eat our bushes and flowers throughout the year, but they were here long before I was.

Who really belongs?

Eagle Rising - Painting A Day

A to Z Challenge

Today the Blog Challenge is the letter "E". I chose an eagle for my Painting of the Day subject. Using photos I took in Sedona, Arizona while I was working on my novel Eagle Rising, I created my painting for today. The beauty and serenity of the Red Rock Country inspires me every time I see it. This painting is smaller than the last two, 14" x 11" and is acrylic on stretched canvas.

"Eagle Rising" acrylic painting ©Mary Montague Sikes

Since I was taking an all-day printmaking workshop on Thursday, I did not have time to catch up with my A to Z blogger friends. I promise to make up for it today. Thank you everyone who has visited my blog. A painting a day is a challenge, but it's fun as well!

Mary Montague Sikes

D is for Daffodils and Dragonfly - A Painting a Day

A to Z Challenge

For today's challenge I selected daffodils and dragonflies. I love daffodils and have used them many times in drawing demonstrations. While I was writing my novel, Night Watch, I discovered dragonflies and found out many good things connected to them, including that it is a symbol of change. I also learned that dragonfly colors come from reflected and refracted light, so the pretty little flying creatures might get associated with color magic and illusion.

"Daffodils and Dragonfly" - pastel painting ©Mary Montague Sikes

I decided to work in pastel on Canson paper for this piece. Although pastels are a favorite medium of mine, I discovered it was difficult to work fast with them for this project. The painting I created is 18" x 12" and unlike the acrylic pieces on gallery wrapped canvas, it must have a frame for proper display.

The painting a day project for this challenge is fun, but it's taking much more time than writing a blog. So far, I haven't gotten to visit many of the participants. I'm sorry and hope to do better. Maybe on Sunday...

B is for Bunny - Easter Bunny

A to Z Challenge

Well, I decided to do a painting a day for the A to Z Challenge. When life gets in the way, it becomes harder than I thought it might be. That happened today, but I created a painting anyway.

In keeping with the Easter season, I thought "B" for Bunny was most appropriate. I fished out some photos I took several years ago in Colonial Williamsburg. While watching re-en-actors make bricks out of clay like they did in the days of the first colonists, I noticed a small brown bunny nearby. Excited at the closeup potential, I pulled out my digital camera and took several shots before it shied away. I was happy to have these photos for reference material today.

The painting is 11" x 14" acrylic on stretched canvas.

"Williamsburg Bunny" acrylic on canvas ©Mary Montague Sikes

 

A is for Alligator - Painting a Day

A to Z Challenge

For my Blogging Challenge, I've decided to create a painting a day--something I've long wanted to try. My subjects for this challenge will be mostly animals and flowers. Flowers are a subject I like. Animals are not a subject I often tackle.

For "A" I've chosen alligator because it is an image associated with the Jefferson Hotel in Richmond, Virginia. The hotel gift shop is called Gator's because of the alligators that once lived inside the hotel lobby. My 11" x 14" acrylic painting on canvas was inspired by the bronze sculpture of "Old Pompey" that guards the hotel's entrance to the lobby. He was the last of the alligators and died in 1948.

"Old Pompey" Acrylic Painting ©Mary Montague Sikes

Blogging A to Z - What To Do

I've joined the A to Z Blog Challenge for the last couple of years and really enjoyed being a part of the amazing event. For this year, I've been wondering what to do and have decided on a real challenge for me!

Months ago, I started reading about artists who create a painting a day. It's inspiring. It improves their art. It makes the artist work. It helps with art sales. It's fun. Also, it's grueling and it's daunting! That's why I'm going to give making a painting a day a try. And I'm going to make it my A to Z challenge. Hopefully this will be the challenge I need to finally Just Do It!

"Just for Fun" acrylic © Mary Montague Sikes

Can I do it?

I don't know. But I'll try.

Here's a sample. I'm 322 on the challenge list. Please visit and let me know what you think about the art I post.