Reflections on The A to Z Blog Challenge 2016 #atozchallenge

This year I decided to create a Heart a day for the A to Z Blog Challenge. This was a fun project, and I am very happy with the painting that I finished during April.

My "So Many Hearts Dancing in the Air" will soon be on display at Crossroads Art Center in Richmond, Virginia. This painting shows visually the significance of the words we use and upon which we reflect. My painting starts with an Aching Heart, continues on with Broken, Cheating, Dramatic, Fragile, Reckless, Shattered, and more all the way through the alphabet. Most of the hearts represent an emotion.

As a romance author, I wanted to choose words that reflected the emotions I might use when writing a story or a book. Some of the letters did not have a word that worked for a heart, so, in those cases, I sometimes chose a color, like "U" is for Ultramarine Blue and "Y" is for Yellow. Since yellow is a favorite color of mine and represents sunshine, I didn't think until later how Yellow could also represent the heart of a coward. In my painting, the Yellow Heart is that of a bright and cheerful person.

To the right, I show some of the pages from the sketchbook I used as I planned my painting. Each day I posted in my blog the new acrylic heart I created on the canvas. The quick drawings from the sketchbook are done with pencil and soft pastel sticks. They gave me an idea of what I wanted to paint on the canvas, but often the ideas changed when my brush touched down and started to spread the delicious wet paint. The color took over.

That's similar to what happens sometimes when I write a book.The characters take over and do something completely unplanned.

I believe my finished painting demonstrates the importance of the words we choose as we write and as we speak. Here is "So Many Hearts Dancing in the Air" as produced during the A to Z Blog Challenge in April.

"So Many Hearts Dancing in the Air" acrylic/mixed media on canvas ©Mary Montague Sikes

"F" is for Fragile Heart. #atozblogchallenge

"Fragile Heart" ©Mary Montague Sikes

"F" is for Fragile Heart, my post for today's A to Z Blog Challenge.

Whether we want to admit it, all of us from time to time have a fragile heart. We are hurt by something someone says or does. We are unhappy about a perceived lack, real or unreal. The list goes on.

I would love to show a heart of china, but that would take artistic abilities and patience beyond me. A pale blue-green acrylic paint represents fragility.

Do you have a fragile heart? Do you know someone who does?

"Z" is for Zenith - A to Z Challenge

"Stormy Skies" ©Mary Montague Sikes

Today is the last day of the A to Z Blog Challenge 2015, so I feel a little sad. It's been fun and productive for the heroine of my new book, Evening of the Dragonfly, to create an art show to go along with book signings. For Farrah Ferand, this exhibition will be the zenith of her young art career. She hopes there will be many more zeniths yet to come.

"Stormy Skies" is the last of 19 new paintings produced for Farrah's show, "The Awakening". It is a vibrant painting, full of life and new hope beneath a stormy sky, a symbol of her life in the past.

I hope the paintings created during the Challenge have inspired interest in Farrah Ferand and her story, Evening of the Dragonfly. During this month, I've learned a lot about Farrah that I didn't already know. I hope you've enjoyed following her art journey, but please note that the art on the book cover is mine, not Farrah's.

Today's painting, "Stormy Skies", is acrylic on stretched canvas, 36" x 18". It might be hung as part of a diptych.

Sedona diptych ©Mary Montague Sikes

    



                                                   

Z is for Zebra - A Painting a Day

A to Z Challenge

"Zebra, Stripes and All" - acrylic painting ©Mary Montague Sikes

This is the last day of the A to Z Challenge, and I feel a little sad. It's been fun and actually stimulating to finally attempt a Painting a Day.

Many thanks to A to Z Hosts: founder Arlee Bird at Tossing It Out, Damyanti Biswas at Amlokiblogs, Alex J. Cavanaugh, Tina Downey at Life is Good, DL Hammons at Cruising Altitude 2.0, Jeremy Hawkins at Retro-Zombie, Shannon Lawrence at The Warrior Muse, Matthew MacNish at The QQQE, Konstanz Silverbow at No Thought 2 Small, Stephen Tremp at Breakthrough Blogs, Livia Peterson at Leave it to Livia, L. Diane Wolfe at Spunk on a Stick, and Nicole at The Madlab Post. Having 1656 participants must have been a challenge all by itself!

Here is my last painting of the series. "Z" is for Zebra.

I now have a studio lined with new paintings, except for "C" is for Casey Cat which I gave to our daughter, Amy. Now, I'll have the challenge of painting another "C". I have an interesting bonus from this project. For several years, a fairly large painting sketched out on canvas has rested against a wall in the studio. It's been only a sketch. Until now. Because I hate to waste any of my very expensive paints, I started using the leftovers from the A to Z Challenge on that canvas. I now have a new painting well under way. Perhaps I'll share it here when it's finished!

Today's painting, "Zebra, Stripes and All" is 14" x 11" acrylic on stretched, deep gallery-wrapped canvas.

Goodbye to the Challenge.

Y is for Yellowstone Buffalo - A Painting a Day

A to Z Challenge

"Yellowstone Buffalo" - acrylic painting ©Mary Montague Sikes

Today's painting is "Y" is for Yellowstone Buffalo. Several years ago, we spent almost two weeks exploring Yellowstone National Park. Wild buffalo roamed everywhere. They often stopped traffic through the park as they lumbered across the roads--sometimes pausing for a while there. Although there were warnings to be cautious because of the danger of being gored by these animals, people still jumped from their cars to take photos. I took the reference photo for this painting through the car window of a buffalo lying by the side of the road.

There are approximately 4200 wild buffalo in Yellowstone National Park. Compare that to the tens of millions that once roamed free across the plains of our country. Imagine people shooting these animals from trains long ago and decimating the buffalo population. Stampeding buffalo herds were a big danger to wagon trains in the mid-1800s.

"Yellowstone Buffalo" is 8" x 10" acrylic on stretched canvas. It is the next to last art work in my Painting a Day for the A to Z Challenge.

V is for Virginia Deer - A Painting a Day

A to Z Challenge

"Virginia Deer" - acrylic painting  Mary Montague Sikes

Today "V" is for Virginia Deer and the many we have seen in our woods over the years. The deer were there long before we came, and I enjoy watching them. They are a nuisance when they eat the vegetables and flowers from the garden. Still, I am glad they are there.

Today's painting is 14" x 11" acrylic on stretched canvas.

U is for Unicorn - A Painting a Day

"Unicorn" acrylic painting Mary Montague Sikes

A to Z Challenge

For today, "U" is for Unicorn in A Painting a Day for the A to Z Challenge. Unicorn isn't a real animal, I've been told. Still, it's a fascinating one, and one that fills the imagination.

I created this art using a photo I took in Colorado for my resource. This is 14" x 11" acrylic on stretched canvas.

Hope everyone is continuing to enjoy the Challenge.

R is for Raccoon - A Painting a Day

A to Z Challenge

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

Here we are at the end of the third week of the A to Z Challenge. For the letter "R", I've chosen raccoon.

Years ago, raccoon families would climb up our steps and peer through the glass of our living room sliding door. One time, I found three baby raccoons clawing at the door trying to get in. The mother was there as well. When I appeared, they all ran away.

I thought the family was cute until I realized the danger of rabies, and then I heard of a young boy being chased by one. Like anything in nature, we need to be respectful and cautious as well.

While doing this Painting a Day Challenge, I have discovered maybe it's a good thing not to keep going back into the work to make changes. Last night, we had a lot of storms come through, so I left my painting until this morning to post. I planned to work on it some more today. However, when I arrived in my studio, I decided not to make any changes. The Challenge is leading me to work faster.

Today's painting is 11" x 14" acrylic on stretched canvas.

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!

L Is For Lion - A Painting a Day

A to Z Challenge

"Lion King" - acrylic painting ©Mary Montague Sikes

"L" is for lion. My original plan was to create a painting of a lion sculpture at the Luxor Hotel in Las Vegas, using a photo I took there. As I started the project, I realized the image would not fit in with the rest of the series I've started for A to Z Challenge.

Today's painting is 14" x 11" acrylic on stretched canvas. For me, "Lion King" is the most intimidating of the creatures so far.

I am late posting it because yesterday I went to Petersburg to install a small art show in the Oak Antique Mall. For those interested in history, the store is located in the Old Town area where the Lincoln movie was filmed last summer. It's three blocks from the Petersburg Regional Art Center where I have two gallery spaces to display some of my artwork.

Monday's post in the A to Z Challenge will be the halfway point. Congratulations to everyone involved! Thanks to those who came up with the idea and followed through on it.

K is for Koala - A Painting a Day

"Koala Sleeping" - Acrylic Painting ©Mary Montague Sikes

A to Z Challenge

Here we are on the 11th day of the A to Z Challenge. I've chosen a koala for today's animal and am
using for reference a photograph that our daughter Amy took in Tasmania last November. I've never actually seen a koala and have been cautioned not to use the word bear with it because it is not a bear.

Someone asked how long it takes to paint one of these creations. I'm not sure because I prime several canvases with color a couple of days ahead of making a painting. For today's painting, I primed the canvas on Tuesday. Thursday morning I sketched in a basic drawing with my pencil on the canvas. That took just a few minutes. Thursday afternoon, I spent an hour working on the painting, then another hour that night. I am aiming to put each new painting and the post on schedule for midnight PDT. Since I live in Virginia, I have no idea why I'm on Pacific time with my blog, but I am.

Today's painting is acrylic on 11" x 14" gallery wrapped 1 and 1/2" deep canvas. I'm loving creating the paintings but am having a hard time going to the blogs of other Challenge participants. I hope to visit more this weekend.

Thanks to everyone who is following this project. It helps make it worthwhile!

Happy A to Z Challenge!

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!

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?

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

Art for Science Fiction

"Jupiter Rising" with Olen in reception room, Womancare

Science fiction images intrigue me. They always have.

Today, I had a chance to revisit a painting I created a few years ago. This acrylic painting on canvas, "Jupiter Rising," is owned by Womancare of Williamsburg. It is part of a series in which I painted planet images in unusual ways, sometimes with forceful waves crashing in front of the fantasy planet.

Because I enjoy this type of imagery so much I often wonder if I should write science fiction or fantasy.

Perhaps not. After all, it is the imagery I love, not the fantasy writing.

What kinds of images do you like? Do you enjoy science fiction or fantasy? Does the imagery you prefer influence your writing in any way?