My September Paintings Collage

I painted 26 painted in September 2013!

Today is the last day of Leslie Saeta's 30 in 30 Challenge.  I didn't get to finish yesterday's painting, so there you go, no new painting to share today.  No matter.  I am still proud of myself because I created 26 beautiful paintings, one of which I had to drop for the above collage.  One painting a day really adds up!

Today is also the day of the September drawing.  I would like to thank 23 fans who have sent me photos of their pets and other things for the past seven weeks since I started painting from fans' photos.  It has been a great fun and learning experience.  In particular, my pet portrait painting ability grew tremendously, all thanks to your support and participation.

The lucky winner is Desiree Moeller.  Congratulations!

"Teddy" (oil on canvas; 5" x 7") sold

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"Teddy" is for my dear friend and neighbor, Bruna.  Bruna commissioned me to paint Teddy for her friend, Gerry, as her birthday present.  It was not just a commission, but a mission on my part, because of the challenge of having to work from a stamp-sized print picture.  Instead of saying "No, I can't do it," I said "Sure, I will try".  Why?  Gerry fell recently and hurt herself badly.  She was hurrying to greet a postman who returned to work after a severe injury caused by dog bites during delivery.  She can certainly use a cheerful present.

Teddy, a Maltese/poodle mix, came to live with his grandparents after his dad passed away in a car accident.  He took a very good care of them.  Everyday he took a walk with his grandpa in a wheel chair.  The picture Bruna gave me for the painting has Gerry, her husband, and Teddy on a sidewalk during one of their walks.  Teddy passed away three months after Gerry's husband's death three years ago.

If you think there is a lot of sadness in today's post, I beg to differ.  I believe it is all about love and friendship.  Bruna is one of the most generous people I know.  She has helped countless friends in their illnesses, bereavements, and moving-aways.  For decades, she has been sending packages of the Washington Post newspapers to a friend who had moved away to Hawaii!  I painted "Teddy" out of love and friendship.  Please send prayers to Gerry for her speedy recovery!

If you send your pet's pictures to kimstenbergart@gmail.com, I will make beautiful pet portraits out of them.  How fun is that!  You can buy the painting anytime, but there is no obligation. Thanks!

Today is Day Twenty Eight of Leslie Saeta's 30 in 30 Challenge.  Two more days!

"Dugout" (oil on linen; 6" x 8") sold

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"Dugout" is for my Facebook fan, Rebecca.  There is a story behind her curious name.  Eight years ago, Rebecca's husband and son found her at their high school baseball field when she had accidentally gotten herself locked inside the facility.  That is why they named her Dugout. She is a great dog and very much loved.  Their vet believes she is a Jack Russell/Australian Shepherd mix.

If you send your pet's pictures to kimstenbergart@gmail.com, I will make beautiful pet portraits out of them.  How fun is that!  At the end of September, I will do a drawing and one lucky person wins a free painting.  You can buy the painting anytime, but there is no obligation. Thanks!

Today is Day Twenty Seven of Leslie Saeta's 30 in 30 Challenge.  Three more days!

"Trixie" (oil on linen; 8" x 6") sold

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"Trixie" is for my Facebook fan, Sue.  Trixie is a Pug/Yorkie mix.  She is built more like a pug, but her face isn't squashed in like a pug.  She is more a yorkie and her hair grows like a yorkie too.  She is a ten-year-old "puppy", because she doesn't act old at all.  She still loves her toys and games, playing fetch in particular.  Sue and Trixie take two walks everyday: a mile in the morning and a 1/2 mile in late afternoon.  Between you and me, Sue is not a puppy either! There is much to say for walking.  I told Sue to keep walking!

If you send your pet's pictures to kimstenbergart@gmail.com, I will make beautiful pet portraits out of them.  How fun is that!  At the end of September, I will do a drawing and one lucky person wins a free painting.  You can buy the painting anytime, but there is no obligation. Thanks!

Today is Day Twenty Six of Leslie Saeta's 30 in 30 Challenge.  Four more days!  After the month is over, I can sleep in if I want to.  You wouldn't believe that this challenge has become a competitive sport.  Sometimes Leslie, who lives in California, posts the blog early in the morning like 7:00 am.  (She had probably scheduled publication.)  I check in only to learn that twenty artists have already entered their entries!  I'll be darned.

"Beamer" (oil on linen; 8" x 6") sold

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"Beamer" is another painting for my Facebook fan, Tracey.  Beamer is a Beagle/Brittany Spaniel mix, named after the Virginia Tech football coach, Frank Beamer.  He is probably the most perfect dog on the planet, says Tracey: super cute, super affectionate with just the right amount of craziness with so much personality.

Normally, I would smile politely at such a statement.  But, with Beamer, I am going to take Tracey at her word.  Look at him in his signature pose of crossing his paws when lying down.  Have you ever seen a dog doing that?

If you send your pet's pictures to kimstenbergart@gmail.com, I will make beautiful pet portraits out of them.  How fun is that!  At the end of September, I will do a drawing and one lucky person wins a free painting.  You can buy the painting anytime, but there is no obligation. Thanks!

Today is Day Twenty Five of Leslie Saeta's 30 in 30 Challenge.  Five more days!  I am really seeing the light at the end of the tunnel!

"Nevaeh" (oil on linen; 7" x 7") sold

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"Nevaeh" is for my Facebook fan, Tracey.  The reference photo was taken during Snowmageddon 2010.  Snowmageddon was the big blizzard that hit the East Coast.  I am sure, if you live there, you would remember it vividly!  Tracey got over 3 feet of snow; we got 2 feet.

Nevaeh (Heaven backwards) is a Husky/Shepherd mix.  According to Tracey, she is pretty crazy with aggression issues.  That may be so.  To me, she looks like a royalty!  She is a unique-looking dog with piercing blue eyes and big pointy ears.  She is indeed used to attention and gets offended if people walk by her without looking at her.  I used one photo, which didn't show her ears, as the main source of the painting.  Then I "borrowed" her ears from another photo taken in a different angle.  I hope I pulled it off.

If you send your pet's pictures to kimstenbergart@gmail.com, I will make beautiful pet portraits out of them.  How fun is that!  At the end of September, I will do a drawing and one lucky person wins a free painting.  You can buy the painting anytime, but there is no obligation. Thanks!

Today is Day Twenty Four of Leslie Saeta's 30 in 30 Challenge.  "Nevaeh" is my 21th painting of the month.  I might have skipped painting/blogging a few times, but I will be breaking my own record by the end of the month!

"I Love My Puppy Lab" (oil on linen; 8" x 6") sold

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Bailey is a Yellow Labrador Retriever.  She was two months old when the picture was taken. Look at her, with the furrowed forehead, trying to figure out what this strange thingamajig is.  I bet she put it right into her mouth soon after.  Ah, I love puppy labs!

"Chestnut Beauty" (oil on linen; 7" x 7") sold

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This chestnut beauty is part a draft horse, which is a bigger breed.  She is a gentle giant and easy keeper.  The next year is the Year of the Horse.  My horse painting will bring you a joyous, prosperous year!

"Happy Birthday Dog" (oil on linen; 8" x 6") sold

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A cute dog brings you a "Happy Birthday" card around her neck.  Which dog lover's heart will not melt at such an offering!

"Guilty Look" (oil on linen; 8" x 6") sold

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The guilty look of this cute dog melted my heart.  I knew I had to paint him.

(The painting was juried into the prestigious Small Works Show at the Art League Gallery in Alexandria, VA in November 2013.)

"Dupont Circle Fountain" (oil on linen; 8" x 10") sold

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I have a good friend, a fellow artist who happens to be a purist.  She only paints from life, whether she is painting a landscape, figure, or still life.  She went to the famous Iwo Jima Memorial in Arlington, VA to work on a 16" x 20" painting seven times!  It is indeed a marvelous painting.  I joined her only once and whipped out a painting in one session.  Both paintings got juried into the same show at the Art League Gallery in Alexandria, VA.  How about that!

Anyhow, this friend suggested that we should paint the Dupont Circle Fountain in Washington, DC on location.  This well-known local landmark happens to be at the intersection of Massachusetts Avenue, Connecticut Avenue, New Hampshire Avenue, P Street, and 19th Street.  Imagine the noise, not alone the crowd and possibly heat and wind as well!  I ain't a purist.  I said no, took some pictures, and painted "Dupont Circle Fountain" in the comforts of my studio.  Am I bad?

"Rockefeller Center Spring" (oil on linen; 10" x 8") sold

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Yesterday I shared an autumnal painting based on a photo I took in spring a few years ago. Some trickery, ha!  I painted "Rockefeller Center Spring" from another photo from the same trip.  You can see tulips abloom in raised beds in a courtyard with beautiful bronze water fountains at Rockefeller Center.  It is spring!

"Autumn Central Park" (oil on linen; 8" x 10") sold

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I love New York City.  It is big, noisy, and a little scary for a suburbanite such as myself.  But, for culture--both highbrow and the rest, there is no other place like New York in the United States. My pet peeve is that I don't get to visit it often.  I have only three or four paintable pictures of this exciting city from my few visits.

The photo I used for "Autumn Central Park" wasn't taken on an autumn day at all.  It was on an overcast day in May during my family's mini vacation that I took the shot.  No matter.  I Photoshopped the picture, intensifying hue/saturation.  You just can't believe what you see these days, ha!

If you send me your pictures to kimstenbergart@gmail.com, I may make paintings out of them.  How fun is that!  At the end of September, I will do a drawing and one lucky person wins a free painting.  You can buy the painting anytime, but there is no obligation.  Thanks!

Today is Day Sixteen of Leslie Saeta's 30 in 30 Challenge.  I am halfway through!

"Winter Sunset" (oil on linen; 10" x 12") sold

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Sometimes I don't have to go far to find something to paint.  All I have to do is to step outside and look up.  One winter day, there was a light snowfall, then freezing rain.  It was altogether a dangerous driving condition in my hilly neighborhood.  I went outside to put the trash can to the curb for the following day's garbage removal.  That's when I saw the above scene.  I had to take a picture.  When I came back out with my camera, a car went by slowly.  Frozen snow reflected the sunset sky. There was a hush all around.

"Spring Sky" (oil, 24" x 30")

I have painted my neighborhood before, as you can in the above painting.  You can recognize the same tall tree, same houses, and same curvy street.  I love my neighborhood and this is how I watch it, not with a gun, but with a camera and paint brushes!

If you send me your pictures to kimstenbergart@gmail.com, I may make paintings out of them.  How fun is that!  At the end of September, I will do a drawing and one lucky person wins a free painting.  You can buy the painting anytime, but there is no obligation.  Thanks!

Today is Day Fourteen of Leslie Saeta's 30 in 30 Challenge.  Thirteen paintings done.  I may take tomorrow off.  Have a great weekend!

"Figaro" (oil on linen; 7" x 7") sold

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Figaro, who is all eyes and ears, is a short hair domestic.  He is a black (except tiny white spots on his belly), spunky, lovable, and talkative cat.  He started off as the runt of the litter, a bottle baby brought to the shelter without a mother, but he is now larger than his litter mates.  He is raised with two small dogs and he thinks he is Number One.

I don't usually paint a footwear in a pet portrait, but made an exception in "Figaro."  He was sitting on Christina's foot, not wanting her to move.  Initially I was going to edit out the blue jeans and sneaker.  As I was composing the painting, I realized that without the vertical plane of the leg, the dark shadow with a pointy ear on the left wouldn't make sense.  The blue of the jeans also matches the otherworldly, beautiful blues of Figaro's eyes.  Besides, the cat on the foot has such a narrative power that it makes me giggle.  I remember carrying my daughter hanging onto my leg when she was little.  You can tell Figaro is very much loved!

"Crossing the Mississippi, Minnesota" (oil on linen; 8" x 10") sold

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I love Minnesota so much that I married a Minnesotan!  He has many relatives there, so we try to visit it as often as we can, which is not often enough.  During the last visit two summers ago, we went to Itasca State Park, the headwaters of the Mississippi River, in north central Minnesota.  The kids of all ages can cross the mighty river and feel mighty themselves.  You can walk across the small wooden foot bridge, like the family with a dog in my painting.  Or, if you feel particularly brave, you can wade the river barefoot, like those in the picture below. What would you do, if you were there?

My daughter had a lot of fun crossing the Mississippi!

If you send me your pictures to kimstenbergart@gmail.com, I may make paintings out of them.  How fun is that!  At the end of September, I will do a drawing and one lucky person wins a free painting.  You can buy the painting anytime, but there is no obligation.  Thanks!

Today is Day Twelve of Leslie Saeta's 30 in 30 Challenge.  18 more paintings to go!

"Lincoln Memorial Sunset" (oil on linen; 9" x 12") sold

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I've noticed that some artists who are participating in Leslie Saeta's 30 in 30 Challenge actually have a theme for the month.  They are very wise and I admire them.  I, for one, have no such luxury.  Some days I wake up in the middle of night wondering what I am going to painting the next day!  That's is why I decided to paint my favorite scene one more time.

We Washingtonians don't go out of way to pay respect to these famous memorials but for the out-of-town relatives.  More than 10 years ago, before the digital age, a cousin of mine from Korea came to visit and we took her to The Mall.  It was a beautiful spring day.  As the sun started setting, the marble structure began to glow against the golden sky.  Green leaves burned orange.  It was a magical moment.  So pardon me for repeating myself and please tell me that the new painting is better than the old one!

"Lincoln Memorial at Sunset" (oil, 11" x 14"; sold)

"Winter Magic" (oil on linen; 8" x 10") sold

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It is never too soon to wish for a snowy winter.  As I was growing up in Seoul, Korea, we had snow every winter.  It was no big deal.  When I lived in Minnesota for graduate work, we had too much snow.  I was sick of snow.  They had a foot of snow in April this year!  Now I live in northern Virginia, I yearn for snow.

Yes, we sometimes get snow, as you can see in my new snow painting.  Last two years, however, have been very disappointing; we got a bit of dusting every now and then.  My daughter, who loves snow and cold weather in general, decided to go to college in Minnesota!

If you send me your pictures to kimstenbergart@gmail.com, I may make paintings out of them.  How fun is that!  At the end of September, I will do a drawing and one lucky person wins a free painting.  You can buy the painting anytime, but there is no obligation.  Thanks!

Today is Day Ten of Leslie Saeta's 30 in 30 Challenge.  20 more paintings to go!  What did I get myself into!

"Country Morning" (oil on linen; 10" x 8") sold

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One summer day last year, during a plein-air painting workshop in Fairfield, PA, I was up early to start painting.  I arrived at Willow Pond Farm, where the workshop took place.  It was going to be another hot day.  With morning dews in the grass, all was still fresh and filled with hope.  I looked up as I was walking by the 200-year-old stone farmhouse.  This scene filled my vision. I was momentarily transported to heaven.

If you send me your pictures to kimstenbergart@gmail.com, I may make paintings out of them.  How fun is that!  At the end of September, I will do a drawing and one lucky person wins a free painting.  You can buy the painting anytime, but there is no obligation.  Thanks!

Today is Day Nine of Leslie Saeta's 30 in 30 Challenge.  21 more paintings to go!

"Jackson" (oil on linen, 7" x 7") sold

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"Jackson" is for my new Facebook fan, Pat.  Jackson is a four-year-old, rescue dog from Virginia.  He is part Jack Russell.  Pat's daughter went to Liberty University and was doing volunteer work at the humane society, where Jackson, a scared little guy, warmed her heart. She pleaded for Pat to adopt him.  So, on Thanksgiving three years, Pat drove down and brought him home to New Jersey.  He is now the king of her family!

If you send me your pictures to kimstenbergart@gmail.com, I may make paintings out of them.  How fun is that!  At the end of September, I will do a drawing and one lucky person wins a free painting.  You can buy the painting anytime, but there is no obligation.  Thanks!

Today is Day Eight of Leslie Saeta's 30 in 30 Challenge and "Jackson" is my seventh piece. Yesterday was the biggest fundraiser event of the year for my daughter's high school music department.  Many parents helped out.  I had to skip blogging, but managed to squeeze in a bit of painting in the late afternoon.  Aren't I good?

"Maxi" (oil on linen; 7" x 5") sold

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"Maxi" is for Elizabeth.  Poor Maxi died 3 years ago and she misses him very much.  He loved to be tickled in the belly.  He, however, didn't like to be photographed; seeing the camera, he would shut his eyes.  Elizabeth did a terrific job of taking his picture, don't you think?  I bet this is what most cats do when their parents are gone--look outside on the window sill, waiting for them to return.

If you send me your pictures to kimstenbergart@gmail.com, I may make paintings out of them.  How fun is that!  At the end of September, I will do a drawing and one lucky person wins a free painting.  You can buy the painting anytime, but there is no obligation.  Thanks!

It's Day Six of Leslie Saeta's 30 in 30 Challenge.  Only 24 more to go!

"Wolf on the Prowl" (oil on linen; 8" x 8") sold

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No, this is not a pet.  It is a wolf on the prowl.  I saw it at the International Wolf Center in Ely, MN several years ago.  As you may know, wolves are back in North America, which is thrilling to some and alarming to others.  The center is one of the world's leading organizations dedicated to educating the public about wolves.

We were safely behind the glass barrier; all the wolves out for the visitors to admire appeared pretty darn friendly.  I don't remember the name of this "ambassador wolf".  In another picture it looks like smiling!  I did my best to make the wolf look menacing, on the prowl in the moonlight.  I must say it was fun!

If you send me your pictures to kimstenbergart@gmail.com, I may make paintings out of them.  How fun is that!  At the end of September, I will do a drawing and one lucky person wins a free painting.  You can buy the painting anytime, but there is no obligation.  Thanks!

Oh, by the way, it's Day Five of Leslie Saeta's 30 in 30 Challenge.  Only 25 more to go!

"Carmel Mission" (oil on linen; 8" x 10") sold

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The Carmel Mission, from the late 18th century, is a Roman Catholic mission church in Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA.  I had the reference photo printed out six years ago and sat on it.  I have painted two other paintings of this beautiful place before, but the Mission's architecture with the two nonidentical bell towers was trickier.  Now it's Day Four of Leslie Saeta's 30 in 30 Challenge.  I decided to be brave.  What do you think of my efforts?

"Carmel Mission Garden Gate" (acrylic, 14" x 18"; sold) 

"Saintly Garden at Carmel Mission" (oil, 5" x 4"; sold)

If you send me your pictures to kimstenbergart@gmail.com, I may make paintings out of them.  How fun is that!  At the end of September, I will do a drawing and one lucky person wins a free painting.  You can buy the painting anytime, but there is no obligation.  Thanks!

"Merchant" (oil on linen; 5" x 7") sold

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"Merchant" is for my good friend and fan, Ruby.  She sent me many pictures of her three cats, among which I chose this classic pose of the beautiful cat.  He is a 13-years-old brown tabby, adopted from a shelter.  Merchant is a great companion and loves to sit in your lap when you sit down.  That's how he won Ruby's husband (a dog person) over by running to jump on his lap!

If you send me your pictures to kimstenbergart@gmail.com, I may make paintings out of them.  How fun is that!  At the end of September, I will do a drawing and one lucky person wins a free painting.  You can buy the painting anytime, but there is no obligation.  Thanks!

By the way, today is the Day 2 of Leslie Saeta's 30 in 30 Challenge.  Two down and 28 to go!

"Big Sur Widflowers" (oil on linen; 10" x 8") sold

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Some places are so beautiful that they beg to be painted over and over again.  Big Sur, California is one of those places.  I visited Big Sur just once several years ago, but am still haunted by the memory.

"Big Sur Moment" (oil, 11" x 14"; sold)

"Big Sur Blue" (oil, 5" x 4"; sold)

By the way, today is the first day of Leslie Saeta's September 30 Paintings in 30 Days Challenge.  I will try to keep up with the challenge!