DECEMBER JOY

It's almost the end of what was a very creative year for me and I am so grateful! Not only did I complete 30 paintings in September, but then, I had three of them juried into a local show and one of them won an award. Do I feel different being an award winning artist? No, but it definitely made me smile and makes all the hard work feel even more worth it.

Submitting my first novel to a publisher and six songs to producers in Nashville felt like bonuses. So just after I decided last week to take it easy in January 2014, guess what happened? I attended a four day painting workshop in Ventura and Leslie Saeta mentioned she's doing the 30 in 30 day painting challenge again in January. I tried to ignore it, really I did, but it kept gnawing at me. All those artists were going to have all that fun and I didn't want to be thinking, why didn't I? Which led to…. so why don't I?!

Starting off January with fireworks is a spectacular idea. Only this time if I miss a day or two and go wine tasting for my 22nd anniversary on January 4th, I won't fret. I've already done this so I know I can complete it again, only this time I will enjoy the process more with much less pressure. Life is better lived with balance so this time I won't eat and breath only paint for 30 days. I'll paint for the love of it, eat for health and enjoy my family for the blessing they are and still figure out how to paint all those paintings! Best of all, I'll praise God for the choice I have to do all of the above! Merry Christmas and may your 2014 be creative and blessed!

Mid-October Already?

I'm not sure exactly where the month has gone but I am enjoying early morning, cool weather hikes. We celebrated on the 13th when my goddaughter/baby cousin Marin was baptized in Malibu in a precious gown my sister Kristen made 15 years ago for my daughter's baptism!

It's been a creative week!  After drying a bumper crop of cayenne peppers from a late summer's harvest, I ground them up and now have gorgeous red pepper in a pretty jar on my counter. I've already used it to flavor two delicious soups and a shrimp stir fry and it packs a punch.

I had wall and desk calendars made from the coastal themed paintings I did last month and they came out even better than I envisioned. I used the painting "Harbor Patrol" below as the cover and they are available at www.seashop.bigcartel.com. I also painted a flag on a discarded wood flooring sample and gave it as a gift. After I sanded the finish a bit, it looked vintage so now I plan on making one for our home too. I've always loved painting on one of a kind pieces of wood.

I made a double batch of chewy almond biscotti from a recipe my friend Christina shared years ago. However, I replaced the white sugar with organic coconut palm sugar and the white flour with a whole grain version and they are just as delicious. I may try adding a bit of pumpkin next time.

My husband and I went on a spectacular drive up to Los Olivos over the weekend and enjoyed lunch, exploring the town, and then biking around the Santa Ynez valley, ending up at a lovely winery called Kalyra. Sitting on their massive porch enjoying the view and a wine tasting just made me want to paint, so I took some terrific photos to use in my studio. Not ready to end the fun we stopped in Carpinteria for a sunset supper and a beach stroll. Getting out to see or do something new is just what we all need to recharge our batteries and get inspired!

CARPINTERIA SUNSET STCC (c) 2013

"HARBOR PATROL" STCC (c) 2013

SEPT 2013 30 in 30

Happy October and it's off to a great start! I completed my 30 paintings in 30 days challenge yesterday, there's a chill in the air and the oatmeal cookies we just made perfumed the whole house so it smells like cinnamon. Oh, and the fall decorations are going up today, so you know what that means? Christmas will be here before we know it, my favorite holiday! I've made a collage with most of the paintings I did and posted it on FB and below. Reasonably priced prints are available on www.Imagekind.com when you input my name and originals are available on www.seashop.bigcartel.com. The next few days I'll be resting Zzzzz!

DAY 30! September 30, 2013

YES!!! I just finished my 30th painting in 30 days with great joy and relief. Enjoy "TOWER 2" below and laugh with me that it started out being about the tower but ended up being more about the truck. The first painting that I started this morning just wasn't working so after an hour or so, I started over. One of my artist pals, who also did this challenge, paints cars all the time. She failed to mention how hard it is and she makes it look effortless.  This month several other friends asked me 'so...why? Why do something like this?' Well, besides it being a great excuse to get out of relentless laundry for the month (thanks for pitching in family!), I have always enjoyed challenging myself. But also, I find doing hard things fun. Today, I feel so encouraged that I plan on spending October finishing (really, this time I mean it!) my novel.

Initially I wasn't sure I could fulfill this challenge but I knew I wanted to try and that no matter how many paintings I managed to complete, it would be more than I started with! So I picked the theme "Maritime Madness," which helped me focus on what to paint. I never, ever got bored with this subject matter and for the rest of the year I'm going to stick with it and keep putting up new work for sale on www.seashop.bigcartel.com. Also, inexpensive prints are for sale at www.shannonceli.imagekind.com

I found myself  praying hard on three particular days (today included) for the energy to complete what I started. Sometimes, I had to force myself to begin working but once I did, it worked out. A few times this month I read a great little sea-themed poetry book that my daughter-in-law gave me for my birthday and that inspired me too. Several times when I lost all perspective, my daughter came upstairs and offered up her opinion which is always right on target. Thanks Sam! This week, I felt particularly tired and now I'm looking forward to a little rest. Two days ago I thought, I just can't today. But I have an incredibly supportive husband and daughter who convinced me that I definitely could. They sent me back upstairs with hugs and threatened not to share the ice cream if I didn't come back down with something finished. Yesterday I spent hours working on a painting that I just did not like. So, argh, I started over. Not bad considering the other 27 days, I was absolutely delighted to be painting.

What next besides the book? Calendars made from the paintings that got the most positive comments as well as the ones I like the best and...a CONTEST! As of tomorrow, everyone who commented on one of my paintings will be entered into a little drawing and someone will win one of the calendars. They'll also be for sale on www.seashop.bigcartel. I will announce the winner on FB next week and tomorrow or Wed. I will post a collage of all of my paintings. THANK YOU for sharing this journey with me and for taking the time to "like" or comment on the work. It was very encouraging and I appreciate that very much! "TOWER 2" By Shannon Celia

As JS Bach used to sign his work, SOLI DEO GLORIA!!

ONE MORE DAY OF A 30 DAY CHALLENGE!

It's day 29 and I'm choosing between posting a little seahorse oil painting I just finished on a wooden box or finishing a more ambitious painting of a shell that would take me at least another hour or two to complete. This little one won because to me and my family on Sundays, it's important to rest. So here's "RESTING," and I hope you enjoy it.

BOATS, BOATS & BOATS

On day 27 of my 30 paintings in 30 days challenge, I find myself finishing yet another boat. When I went to the Ventura Harbor recently to photograph boats with my pal Shari, we went to see her fishing vessel, but unbeknownst to her it was out for repairs and not in the slip! So we walked around and saw many others, including this little fella. Hope you enjoy "HARBOR PATROL." I've also included three other boats I did this month entitled, "DOCKED," from yesterday, "BEACHED" and "SOLO."

It is so rewarding to see 27 new sea-inspired paintings in various stages of drying, lined up around my studio. My theme for the month was maritime madness. I've read doing hard things more often is fun. I agree, but I'm making sure to plan some restful beach hikes soon to recharge my batteries! Most of these and others are available at www.seashop.bigcartel.com except for two I've sold already. I'm excited about the subject matter of my next planned paintings for days 28 & 29 and may stick with this theme for the rest of the year!

 HARBOR PATROL

 DOCKED

 BEACHED & SOLO

DAY 22

Wow, only 8 more days of the 30 painting in 30 days challenge. Thankfully I DID wake up refreshed and glad that I was able to accomplish two little studies for today and tomorrow. It's been an incredible journey painting every single day for 22 days in a row! I also woke up to the Sunday paper, a great sermon, pumpkin muffins, bacon and eggs! Nothing like a little fall spice to inspire a gal. Here's "TOWER," a quick 6x6 study done in oil with a palette knife from a Malibu photo by Monique Jelley.

Off for a hike on the trails behind our house to recharge for the upcoming week!

Only 9 More Days!

I'm tired from painting for 20 days straight so it was tough to paint today. I've been satisfied with the work I've been posting all week but since I felt exhausted, it was difficult for me to feel creative or content with anything I did in my studio. I painted for over four hours and don't much care for the results. However, since the 30 in 30 challenge is all about painting and posting daily, I think it's important to put these two pieces up. I realize I can't always produce art I like, but at the end of the day, I still want to! What is useful, is showing up and doing the work anyway because completing this challenge in nine more days will feel terrific. I'm hoping after a good night sleep, I'll feel encouraged to attack this challenge with renewed inspiration again tomorrow. The best part of my day today? Watching my daughter and her volleyball team win two games. Go Crowns!

The first piece is oil on a 6x8 canvas panel and entitled "SEASIDE WHEELBARROW."

 The second piece, Day 21 is "SOLO" and is oil on gesso board and done with a palette knife.

30 Paintings in 30 Days Challenge, Day 17

For Day #17, here's "BUOY TRIO." What have I learned so far? That when I push myself outside of my comfort zone, amazing things can happen. When I first read about Leslie Saeta's 30 in 30 challenge this month, I was intrigued but barely considered it. With an already busy life, a husband with a heavy travel schedule and the third year of high school starting for my daughter, I thought it would be impossible to stick with painting 30 paintings in only a month.  It felt overwhelming, yet the closer I got to September 1st, the more I knew I had to do it. Learning better time management skills is always helpful but creating on demand has been empowering. I've debunked a myth that I had to be in the mood to create anything I liked. It really has a matter of just showing up, saying a prayer and getting to work. Some days I might make magic and other days, I just make it closer to my goal. That is enough for me!

Another plus has been how inspired I am when I'm not painting. Sometimes I work at Hoot N' Anny Home in Westlake, CA and just being in Jen's incredibly beautiful environment ignites new ideas but at other times, being in the kitchen trying something new, watching our new kitten Opal frolic with our chihuahua Roxie, or being out in my garden does the trick. This month we made two batches of homemade gluten free granola (using a variation of the recipe on Heavenlyhomaker.com) and canned 18 quart sized jars of Roma tomatoes picked from nearby Underwood Farms. Honestly, it was my husband and daughter who picked the 70 lbs, but then we all enjoyed canning together. I've been walking on a cloud for days looking at all of these gorgeous jars on our shelves. I've also been picking the last remains of tomatoes and cayenne peppers in our garden and wishing the pumpkins decided to grow this year. Next year, I'll try for the 4th time in hopes they do, but I'm grateful the artichokes behaved by flourishing this year. For now, here's #17, BUOY TRIO, pictures of our canning day and I'm off to work on the last few chapters of my novel. To see my other 16 new paintings, please visit www.seashop.bigcartel.com. Thanks for visiting!

BUOY TRIO 8x8 Oil 

Puree the tomatoes!

Viola!

DAY 5- 30 Paintings in 30 Days

It's been exhilarating keeping up with this 30 day challenge so far and here are a few days of work below. Painting on demand for hours each day can get tiring but it is so satisfying to keep at it, even if I don't always like the results. My aim isn't to end up with 30 paintings to sell, although that would be terrific. I just don't think it's realistic. I did this challenge to have more fun in the studio, try new things (such as playing with texture and palette knives more often) and to develop more consistent work habits.

This week I've relearned it's easier to not get distracted when I have a focused goal for a specified time period. This has been my schedule since I began. I wake up, read a Bible devotion with a cup of tea and breakfast, go for a 45 minute hike on the gorgeous Conejo trails behind my house and then go right up to my studio to work for 4-5 hours. Typically I work on a novel I'm writing this year for an hour or two before my walk and then start painting but this week, I've saved that for the end of my day. I find it relaxing. Attending to emails, doing tons of dishes and laundry, making fancy meals, gardening daily, other housework and many other daily distractions have taken a backseat and I can relax in this, knowing the challenge will end in 25 more days. I've also asked my family to help out more which also helps, since I really prefer things neat!

I am already feeling like the typical daily distractions that I sometimes find a nuisance are more manageable because I am learning which ones to ignore because they don't matter to me in the long run. I'm attempting to avoid time busters and make better time management decisions. Happy creating!

DAY 1- 30 Paintings in 30 days!

On day 1 of my 30 day challenge, I decided my theme for the month is Maritime Madness.  However, I reserve the right to go off on a few tangents should inspiration strike!  My 1st painting entitled 'Catalina Buoy,' is a 5x7 oil on canvas board, available framed for $125. at www.seashop.bigcartel.com
The first of several I'll paint from photos I took on the island last spring, I love how from this angle, the buoy looks enormous compared to the boat. I was also inspired by it's eggplant color next to the turquoise on the boat.

I began a creative surge this week by making homemade granola, planting more lettuce and chard in a shady part of the garden, working on several chapters of the novel I'm writing and uploading a few new items to Seashop. I do my best work in weekly or monthly surges and then take time off to read, cook and reflect. But now it's time to focus on painting, so I prepared a few canvasses yesterday and planned my first five paintings so when I go up to my studio daily, I don't feel overwhelmed and wonder what to paint next. I'll post new work every few days!

WELCOME ABOARD A SEPTEMBER CHALLENGE!

In May 2013 I dove into a 30 day marketing challenge with fellow artists led by California artist Leslie Saeta that was so informative and inspiring. We learned so much about social media and marketing art work. But while I found it thrilling I also found it tough some days to wear that hat when all I wanted to do was paint. I found it works best to do a little at a time, consistently.

During the month of May I added new work to my Shannon Celia Art facebook page, to my website ShannonCelia.com and a month or so later I created a FB page for my nautically inspired company SEASHOP which can be viewed at Seashop.bigcartel.com. I also put artwork up on Imagekind, an online gallery that sells prints of original art. The most challenging thing was I didn’t know much about creating hyperlinks and URLs and Buy Now buttons and needed my teenager's help! 

September is a very busy month for most everyone but it's also a great time to push yourself. So,

today I am committing to joining Leslie Saeta and probably hundreds of other artists for her September 2013 challenge 30 Paintings in 30 Days! Wish me and the other brave artists joy as we  carve out daily paintings and painting goals. I typically make monthly goals so painting most every single day for 30 days instead of 3-4 days a week will be a huge challenge. I've asked my loved ones for encouragement and support and the occasional meal so I can paint longer. I'll be putting new work and works in progress here on my blog as well as on Leslie's, which is just a perk of joining the fun of this particular challenge! WELCOME ABOARD!