A new challenge...

I've spent the majority of the past

3-4 months sick, in bed...and I'm,

well, sick of it! Time to get creative!

I've had ideas for new projects/challenges for 2016, but so far they haven't been possible, or I keep getting sick, or something else happens. And then you know what happens? I'm bummed I'm not creating. A new idea popped into my head, and while there are still a few kinks to work out, it isn't as heavily reliant on technology, or other people, or having anything special for a working space...and I have most of the materials.

I was sorting through some of my belongings (I've been downsizing for quite a while now, and the process continues)... I stumbled across some watercolor pencils. Honestly, when I first tried them out, I really didn't like them-because if you recall, I hated watercolor and am no good with that medium. I then learned you can paint on faces with them! Up until now, that's what I've used them for most-whether for silliness or for self portraits.

My brain started connecting a few dots...

A week or two ago, I was randomly doodling. I've done a lot of this in my lifetime, it really isn't anything, I sort of let the hand make interesting shapes, then play around with values. Usually these doodles randomly pop up in assignment notebooks, calendars, notebooks, scrap paper, etc. and are nothing special. Well I thought these recent doodles were kind of neat, and reminded me a little bit of how that watercolor painting I did for a 2015 giveaway was done. These would be really neat to try in watercolor, I thought.

Random doodles

 

Right now, I don't have a good place to do regular watercolor (or much art actually!), but watercolor pencils can work in a variety of ways... perhaps I could do them even in bed! -I've been sick a lot this winter...

This is the plan I've come up with: instead of dealing with the shop or letting them pile up, I will post
these mini watercolor paintings to facebook, for $5 (via paypal) they can belong to whoever wants them - first come first serve basis. You guys get first dibs! After 24 hours if no one has claimed the painting, I will send it as a card to someone of my choice - whether a complete stranger, an old friend, a friend without facebook, my grandparents, a neighbor, etc. - I'll create these in a way where they can be used as cards, so whoever purchases has the choice of using as a card or print. 

My challenge is to do one every day for 30 days.



The watercolor painting from May 2015's Art Giveaway. The paintings for

this challenge will be smaller, so they fit in a standard envelop, but will also

be in a format that allows them to be used as a greeting card or a print. I also

plan to try watercolor pencils, rather than regular watercolor. Should be

interesting to see how different the results are!

I honestly don't know how they'll turn out since I am not a watercolor artist, and lack experience with watercolor pencils...admittedly I'm nervous! BUT these will be one of a kind! And I'm excited to experiment and see what I learn from this challenge.

So there it is...

To sum it up: I will do a mini watercolor painting, able to be used as a print or card, every day for 30 days. It will be posted to facebook, first person who wants it ($5 via paypal) gets it - and it will be sent out right away in a regular envelop, through regular mail. After 24 hours, if no one has purchased, I will get to use it to send a note to a loved one, a stranger, an old friend, etc. - basically after 24 hours, it will be gone one way or another.                                                            

NOTE: my challenge is to do a painting daily, but I may not post them daily as it is not always possible for me to have computer/internet access. They will all be posted though, as soon as possible, and the 24 hour countdown for availability begins upon the posting time.

To purchase, simply comment on the image that you want to do so. Then through PM we can coordinate paypal and mailing address.

If you want to get notified when I post (facebook) so you don't miss a painting, hover over the "Liked" button at the top of the page (by the cover image), and then you have two options... click "All On":

 

 

OR

 

Then select what you'd like to get notifications about:

(I would think selecting at least just "photos" will keep you covered for this challenge)

Now I don't want to be obnoxiously posting for the 24 hours a painting is available, so this really would be the best way to make sure you keep up with this project. Facebook limits the notifications to 5 per day, so if you do choose to receive notifications, you also won't have to worry about that getting obnoxious.

I don't think I am going to set limits on how many you can purchase. So if you buy one, and you end up seeing another you like, you won't be restricted. And you are welcome to give these to someone else-like I will be, send a note to a friend! Or just give the gift of art to someone who may enjoy it.

And since I plan to send these in a regular envelope, there shouldn't be any restrictions as far as location like there was with shipping giveaway items. This is open to all! Plus, I should be able to get these out MUCH faster than the art giveaways of 2015 (still trying to finish some of those babies up! I haven't forgotten about you!)

Alright. So. That's the new experiment! Let me know if you have any questions. Stay tuned for the beginning... ;)

PS- If you or someone you know would like one of these, but cannot afford it, please send me a PRIVATE MESSAGE through the NFG (artist) facebook page and I can use these names/addresses as an option for the paintings that do not get purchased when I get to choose who to send to - it would end up being totally random, and no guarantees this person will be selected, but thought it may be a fun idea in case I don't have someone in mind. :)