<![CDATA[SARA GRAY

<![CDATA[SARA GRAY - Blog]]>Sat, 04 Apr 2026 04:01:04 -0700Weebly<![CDATA[February Challenge Recap]]>Fri, 22 Mar 2019 14:06:46 GMThttps://www.saragrayart.com/blog/february-challenge-recap

Not sure what happened to my posting but here is a quick recap. The challenge had been to paint or draw everyday for 30 days. It could be anything, working on a painting for multiple sessions, drawing a 5 minute sketch, starting and completing a small painting.... I chose to paint from life as much as I could to keep up the momentum from January's challenge. Two paintings were done from photos and some were worked on two sessions. There is one repeat image to complete the grid. I was happy for the most part with what I accomplished. Any day of painting is a good day and even if I feel it is unsuccessful just putting the painting miles in, looking and trying to translate a 3 dimensional scene into a two dimensional painting is a learning experience. Since this challenge has ended Lori has given us another of painting from life at least one time/week. I have been trying to do more than that but I feel in a bit of a slump. I haven't been able to complete any painting in one sitting and I haven't been as happy with what I have been painting. I will try to finish some of the above paintings that I never quite finished and start posting them on the Daily Paintworks site. Thank You to those of you who have already purchased some of February's paintings!!

]]><![CDATA[Day 19]]>Sun, 24 Feb 2019 15:00:32 GMThttps://www.saragrayart.com/blog/day-192261273

WIP
Smuggler's Notch
Stowe, VT
8" x 8" Oil on Panel

]]><![CDATA[Day 18]]>Fri, 22 Feb 2019 01:12:38 GMThttps://www.saragrayart.com/blog/day-181068378

Rocks & Surf
Two Lights State Park
Cape Elizabeth, ME
6" x 6" Oil on Panel

]]><![CDATA[Day 17]]>Fri, 22 Feb 2019 01:10:52 GMThttps://www.saragrayart.com/blog/day-175742831

Little River
Freeport, ME
6" x 6" Oil on Panel

]]><![CDATA[Day 16]]>Wed, 20 Feb 2019 00:42:33 GMThttps://www.saragrayart.com/blog/day-164193340

Apple Trees
Cumberland, ME
6" x 6" Oil on Panel

Another WIP I feel like I have spent a lot of time chasing the sun, snow, or just the clock with this challenge. More to work on, but got out and painted. Everyday I paint I call it a success.

]]><![CDATA[Day 15]]>Tue, 19 Feb 2019 14:21:23 GMThttps://www.saragrayart.com/blog/day-158426444

Ranunculi and Hyacinths #2
6" x 6" Oil on Panel

I painted this arrangement again because I was wanting to convey a sense of the spidery stems. The arrangement got a little larger than anticipated in day 14's painting so the stems were shortened. I also thinned out the flowers and didn't use the palette knife as much. The two paintings have very different feels with those changes.

]]><![CDATA[Day 14]]>Mon, 18 Feb 2019 14:27:56 GMThttps://www.saragrayart.com/blog/day-148596540

Ranunculi and Hyacinths
6" x 6" Oil on Panel

Somedays I just want to use a palette knife and lay down a lot of paint. It can be very satisfying. I had fun with the glass vase. It really takes so few brushstrokes to convey the feeling of glass. I did grow my subject in the frame and really need to slow it down and make sure I get the composition I want before proceeding to the paint. Might give this one another go.

]]><![CDATA[Day 13]]>Sun, 17 Feb 2019 13:46:24 GMThttps://www.saragrayart.com/blog/day-131343483

Barn
Windham, ME
6" x 6" Oil on Panel

I've always loved this barn and as my time to paint was quickly running thought I would drive to Wyndham and give this a try. i had one hour before sunset when I arrived, I just quickly began painting got 30 mins into it and realized my barn had grown and it really was not the painting I had envisioned, I wiped it off and began again. The colors and shadows had changed so quickly. I really just worked at getting the barn in and the light and shadows. I need to revisit and finish. Deciding if I want to leave the road in or take it out altogether. And also if I want to put in the architectural details on the barn, windows, doors...

]]><![CDATA[Day 12]]>Sun, 17 Feb 2019 13:44:20 GMThttps://www.saragrayart.com/blog/day-129762675

Farmhouse
Scarborough, ME
6" x 6" Oil on Panel

I actually painted this painting the same day as the Two Lights painting. I knew I wasn't going to have time the next day and it was such a gorgeous day I had two panels prepped for the afternoon. After leaving Two Lights I had a few ideas of where I might paint, but car painting really does limit your possibilities. Where there is available parking is not always where the best vantage for a painting is. Drove around for an hour and 30 mins before the sun set I gave it one last shot at Scarborough Marsh. Unfortunately the same issue of parking and something to paint. I had pretty much thrown in the towel for the day and as I was pulling out of parking lot right in front of me was this farmhouse with the days last light on it surrounded by areas in shadow. Got my things out and worked really quickly. I do love the general feel of this painting. Thinking I may want to darken some of the shaded areas to make the house pop more, that is what drew me to the scene.

]]><![CDATA[Day 11]]>Sat, 16 Feb 2019 13:13:21 GMThttps://www.saragrayart.com/blog/day-112671763

Winter Sun
Two Lights State park
Cape Elizabeth, ME
6" x 6" Oil on Panel

This was an incredible day. I was able to find a spot out of the wind and although it was only in the 30's the sun is starting to have some warmth to it, sitting on a bench facing the suit was perfect. I very rarely paint into the sun. Backlit scenes are a challenge, I never seem to get enough contrast. And this was more difficult with the suns glare on the water. I do feel this was successful in portraying the day's light.

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