Elephant Garlic

We grow elephant garlic not only for it's great taste but for it's great looks.  It gets a blue flower the size of a softball that's about 4 feet tall in late spring.  This is painting 30 in the 30 day challenge.  To view paintings from other artist in the challenge follow this link http://lesliesaeta.blogspot.com/. 

Pom Harvest

I'll be chasing down neighbors with bags of pomegranates this year.  Our main tree had dozens of fruits and another tree has started producing.  They are fun to paint.  I found myself pulling out reds that I don't normally use on my palette.   

Limes and Shot Glass

Another little still-life for the 30 day challenge.  This is day 28.  To view work from the other artists hanging in there, follow this link http://lesliesaeta.blogspot.com/.

The Last Harvest

I stopping pulling weeds a couple of weeks ago.  All I'm doing in the garden these days is picking the last few tomatoes and the occasional surprise watermelon.  This watermelon is called a moon and star melon.  I've been wanting to paint one all summer.  

Pomegranate

It's the time of year to paint pomegranates.  I friend gave me a tree several years ago and it finally has started to produce nice fruit.  Mine aren't as deep red as the ones in the store, but they are still tasty and fun to paint. 

Pink Zinnias

There are still a few Zinnias left in our garden, so I thought I have fun with them.  I attempted to paint this in a more whimsical style. 

Pearl Earrings

I decided to give pearls a try today with the focus on their reflection in the lipstick mirror.   They were a challenge to paint.  I'd like to try them again against a dark background. 

Coffee and Egg

This is another little still life in a series of 30 day paintings.  The egg comes from my chickens that run around the yard by day.  Their eggs really are that color. 

Wine and Grapes

This is day 22 of the 30 day Leslie Saeta September challenge.  There seem to a little over 200 artist still posting.  To check out their paintings, follow this link http://lesliesaeta.blogspot.com/.

Wine and PB

I wanted to paint reflections today, so I grabbed the first couple of items I came across.  I thought the mason jar would fit the concept better than a real wine glass. 

This tea cup will be my main cup of choice this winter.  I went to the OCAF pottery festival with a good friend of mind last Saturday and purchased this prize.  After focusing on dogs all month, I realize that I need to focus on vision a bit more, so I'm shifting away from photos to life painting for the rest of the 30 day painting challenge... unless of course, I get a commission or request from a friend. 

Egret in backlight

I didn't have a lot of time today and wanted to do something fun and quick.  This was from a photo I took last time we were down in South Carolina.  There's always an egret hanging out in the marsh behind our house.  This one was late in the afternoon with plenty of backlight. 

Pretty Little Pit

This pretty little pit bull looks very similar to one we almost got to keep.  She found us years ago, but sadly her owner showed up to claim her.  These dogs have great fun loving personalities. 

Border Collie

I love the intensity of working dogs and wanted to capture that with my interpretation of this border collie.  I've never had one as a companion but plan to one day.  I'm still plugging at the 30 day September challenge, and I find I'm getting looser as it goes along... I tend to be too tight, so that's a good thing.   

Nancy in a Tub

This is little Nancy Annie in a Tub.  I painted her in a wet and loose style. 

Ben's in a Tree

How did you get up there Ben?  How are you going to get down. 

Oh no... a Cat

I've made a major departure today from dogs to a cat.  This is Wesley.  He has beautiful markings but a strange personality.  He was feral when he first joined our pack, so that may explain a lot.

Rusty

This little guy is named Rusty.  He's a good dog and was fun to paint. 

Cut Ben off... he's acting silly

This is my niece's pet rat, Ben.  He's not at all like his hollywood counterpart.  He does all sorts of tricks and shares bread (and wine) with the humans in the house.  I know... I've been painting dogs and he's not a dog.  Would somebody please tell that to my niece!!! 

Big Grin

This is one of my favorite things that dogs do, and this girl was the best at it ever.  Her grin always got bigger when I reached for the camera.  She knew she was stunningly beautiful. 

Shana

This little Pom is named Shana.  She was a pleasure to paint.  These are my favorite among little dogs.  They have a big dog attitude in a little package.  This is day 10 in the 30 day challenge.  

Little Rescue

This little girl was rescued by a very nice lady a couple of years ago.  I'd say they are both very lucky!  This is day 9 in the 30 day challenge. 

Pooh the Rottie

This gentle fellow was one of the best dogs ever.  He wasn't mine until he had already reached old age, but we had several good years together.   He wasn't much of a guard dog, but he did guard his food bowl with diligence.      

This week 2, day 8 of the 30 day challenge.  I'm extending the dog theme for another week as I have a few dog painting requests that I need to take care of.  

Little Terrier

This is day 7 and the end of week one in the 30 day challenge.  To view the other the postings of other artists in the challenge, follow this link http://lesliesaeta.blogspot.com/

Little Shitt.... zu

This little fellow is so bossy and hilarious.  I'm not a little dog person but could go there at some point... I could never go here.  My fondest memory of little Henry is a visit to my sister's house where he terrorized my big friendly doberman girl that never met a stranger.  She found a strange one in Henry that day. 

Little Al the Min Pin

This little man is named Little Al.  The big dobies are my favorite dogs, but I could get use to looking at Little Al's face.  I've never met him, but I wish I could.

Big Footed Pup

This was painted from a photo I took several years ago.  Jason had his behind kicked by his big sister all day long on the lake.  He was so tired that night, he couldn't move, but he didn't want to miss anything and kept an eye half open most of the evening.  He grew up to be the best dog ever.  This is day four in the 30 day challenge and dog week for me.  

Ben the Yorkie

This little Yorkie is named Ben.  He is very loved by his mama and I suspect somewhat spoiled.  This is day 3 in the 30 day challenge.  There are about 800 artists from 20 countries in the challenge.  Every day of this challenge, artists post their paintings to a website.  Here's the link... http://lesliesaeta.blogspot.com/

Dylan

Dylan is one of my dogs.  He is over the top with intensity.  He applies that to work, play, sweetness, but mostly to sillyness.   

Little Georgia Fan

This little girl is a big Georgia fan.  I'm told she's always seen wearing her red Georgia bandana.  Appropriate timing, as here in the US, college football started this weekend, and Georgia won it's first game.  Little Gretal is a happy girl.

This is day one in another 30 day challenge.  My theme this week is a dog a day.  I haven't done a lot of painting this summer, so I decide to jump back in full throttle.  I hope you enjoy getting to know Gretal.