"I Painted and They Came"
Well, it has been a peach of a year. The #paint52 Challenge has come to an end. Not counting one Twitter Art Exhibit painting and a commission shown above, I realized that I not only completed 52 paintings but 53.
What have I learned from this challenge?
Honor your word; it’s not just for you but for others as well.
Challenges can invigorate you.
Reward yourself often.
Set manageable goals and ones that can be measured.
Goals are not an end it iself, enjoy the process or it isn't worth it.
Telling your goals out loud makes you accountable.
You may have more talent than you realize.
Others are watching you, even though it may not be apparent.
The more you paint the easier it becomes.
One challenge leads to another.
Completing a challenge gives you credibility.
A great sense of accomplishment can come from succeeding in a challenge.
You can’t do it alone.
It takes a village.
I want to thank you all for your support, without you it wouldn’t have been the same. I especially appreciate everyone who has left a comment, a suggestion, or observation. I learned from what you had to say.
*Giclees can be purchased of above painting "Underneath II", please contact me for prices.
*All art from Janet Vanderhoof’s Fine Art Gallery, maybe seen in Janet’s studio at Morgan Hill, CA. You may purchase through contacting my email jvander51@msn.com or phone (408) 460-7237. Thank you!
My Tale of the South Pacific
“When all you care about is here, this is a good place to be”. Emile de Becque
Can you remember the first time you cried at a movie? The movie was South Pacific derived from a plot by James A Michener’s Pulitzer Prize winning 1947 book, Tales of the South Pacific, and from the musical by Roger and Hammerstein. It touched my heart and my soul. I was seven-year-old, sobbing, as I watched the scene, when Lt. Cable's fatal plane crash was shot down by the Japanese, unable to return home to his love. South Pacific was a reminder of the times, not only did I relate to being a military brat, and the separation I often felt, when my father had to be stationed away from us, but was mesmerized and in love with the beautiful scenery, in which this movie took place. I also believe I had a deep knowing and premonition of a future with this island and the loss of my father to soon come after his mission in Vietnam.
Unknowingly, at 25 years old I revisited the scenes of South Pacific, in the North Shore, and Hanalei Bay of Kauai? I soon discovered that Bali Ha’i the volcanic island, within sight of the island on which most of the action takes place, really wasn’t an island in real life, but Mt. Makana cut off from a chain of mountains, found at the end of the road. Auntie Louise, owner of Tahiti Nui Restaurant, may have been the recreation of Bloody Mary’s character. The beach on either side of the Hanalei pier was the principal filming location for most of the beach scenes involving the sailors led by Luther Billis played by Ray Walston. It was here that Juanita Hall as Bloody Mary sang the song about the mysterious island Bali Hai.
Hanalei, Kauai, has captured my heart, fortunate to be able to have visited over 25 times, it has become a deep part of me where I have found much respite, enchantment and healing in my life. Once you have visited Hanalei, you will never be the same. It will be calling you as the song “Hanalei Moon” says, and as it has called me even before I had arrived.
When you see Hanalei by moonlight
You will be in Heaven by the sea
Every breeze, every wave will whisper
You are mine don't ever go away.
*Crescent Bay is my 46th painting of my #paint52 Challenge, measures approx. 8" x 11", Atelier Acrylic on 400 lb vellum, price $220.00 Sold
*Old Kauai is my 47th painting of my #paint52 Challenge, measures 12" x 16", Atelier Acrylic on Artist Canvas Panel, price $350.00. SOLD
*All art from Janet Vanderhoof’s Fine Art Gallery, maybe seen in Janet’s studio at Morgan Hill, CA. You may purchase through contacting my email jvander51@msn.com or phone (408) 460-7237. Thank you!
What I Don't Know For Sure #paint52
"What do you know for sure?” Oprah asks Deepak Chopra. Deepak’s answer was quick no need for thought. “What I know for sure is, I know nothing”.
Continuing on my journey to complete 52 paintings in one year, I realize that I may have the same answer. I currently have finished 43 paintings with only 9 more left to go on my challenge. Right now I have questions, more than answers?
Has doing this challenge been worth it? Why? What have I gained?
Will I do the challenge again?
Have I had a good ROI (Return on investment)? Does it matter?
What have been the negatives in doing this challenge?
Has doing prevented me from imagining?
Has the challenge prevented me from exploring other mediums?
What would be another way to challenge myself and still create an environment for action?
What if I had a challenge to do so many square inches? Would that challenge me to do larger paintings?
Have I given myself time to study and improve or do I improve by doing? (Maybe it is a little of both)
Has doing the challenge taken the romance out of painting or just made it another job?
Have I created more followers and do they look forward to my paintings?
Have "I" been an inspiration?
I would love your comments, especially if this challenge has influenced you in any way. I am so grateful for all you who have followed my challenge, supported me and left comments. I couldn’t have done it without you and if I did it would have been very lonely.
"Splendor in the Grass" is my 42nd painting of my #paint52 challenge, Atelier Interactive Acrylic on 400 lb. vellum, measures 16" x 22", price $880.00, plus Shipping and Handling.
"Strength in What Remains Behind" is my 43rd painting of my #paint52 challenge, Atelier Interactive Acrylic on 400 lb. vellum, measures 6" x 7", price $105.00 plus Shipping and Handling.
*All art from Janet Vanderhoof’s Fine Art Gallery, maybe seen in Janet’s studio at Morgan Hill, CA. You may purchase through contacting my email jvander51@msn.com or phone (408) 460-7237. Thank you!
Is Playing Just For Kids?
Did you know that play is as important as eating, sleeping and exercising? Play isn’t just important for children, but also for adults? Have we forgot how to play or have we put playing low on the priority list?
In order for it to be considered play, the activity can be for no other reason than enjoyment.
I heard that the opposite of play was depression. Suppressing daily play is not healthy for adults or children.
Do you get embarrassed to play? Do you feel that people may not take you seriously if you play? When hula-hoops were in fashion, adults as well as children loved them. One day, I found my father hula-hooping in the garage, change rattling in the pockets swaying back and forth. For a moment I saw him forget all his worries, until he found a couple of older woman pointing at him, smiling and laughing. He was furious, took the hula-hoop and threw it on the ground and ran in the house.
My inner child cries out often, finding a need to paint for no other reason than to play. This shows up in my use of mediums, tools or subject matter. I always end up discovering something new and enlightening when this happens.
Playing helps exploration, discover creative solutions, and problem solving. It can be transformative to self and situations.
Ideally, it would be great to incorporate play with your everyday life. How could you introduce play in your work environment and perhaps get a better job done?
This is my thirty-fifth and thirty-sixth painting of my #paint52 challenge, both paintings Atelier Interactive Acrylic on vellum. "Snowballs in Summer" measures 9-1/2" X 8", price $200.00 (SOLD) and "Garden at Beltane Ranch" measures 8" X 8", price $175.00. (SOLD)
*All art from Janet Vanderhoof’s Fine Art Gallery, maybe seen in Janet’s studio at Morgan Hill, CA. You may purchase through contacting my email jvander51@msn.com or phone (408) 460-7237. Thank you!
The Shift
These are questions that seem to come up for me as an artist, constantly. Artists do you have questions that come up for you regularly? What questions do you have? Would love to hear them.
Artists do you paint for yourself or paint for your audience?
If you paint something that sells, do you tend to repeat yourself and paint another version hoping it will sell again?
Do you bounce around painting a variety of styles or do you stick with one subject matter and pallet?
Do you take risks?
Do you experiment with different mediums?
Do you feel you are connected to your voice?
Is your artwork recognizable?
Do you have fun when you create?
When did you start acknowledging you were an artist?
*This is my 28th painting of my paint52 challenge. Painting measures 24" X 48", Oil on wrapped linen canvas. Price $2880.