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...

A Tribute to Casey Cat - A Painting a Day

A to Z Challenge

"In the Box" - acrylic painting ©Mary Montague Sikes

 

 

    

This is the third day of the A to Z Blog Challenge and my personal "A Painting a Day Challenge". My painting today is in tribute to Casey Cat, our daughter Amy's special kitty for almost 20 years. Casey crossed over the Rainbow Bridge in February. My painting cannot possibly do justice to this beautiful feline, so it is not of her but for her.

This is a 20" x 20" acrylic painting on stretched canvas. I probably will not do another canvas painting this large for the challenge because larger paintings take more time. This is nearly four times the size of the Bunny and Gator paintings which were each 11" x 14". I'll probably do some paintings soon using pastels on paper.

Thank all of you who are visiting my blog. I appreciate the founders of the Blog Challenge and am enjoying the opportunity to participate.

--Mary Montague Sikes

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