'30 in 30' Give-away!

I feel like celebrating the 30 in 30 challenge, so I have a treat for you.
To thank you for sharing this journey with me I will give away one of the paintings I painted in January. The winner of the give-away is free to chose from the (available) 30 in 30 paintings and I will send it to him or her.

The give-away starts now and will end on Wednesday, February 5, 2014. On Thursday I will announce the winner on my blog and my Facebook artist page.

And here's how to enter the give-away:

1. Follow my Facebook artist page Regula Scheifele Fine Art and let me know that you do by making a comment here or on FB. If you already are following my page, please also comment so I can record that entry (= one chance to win the giveaway)

2. Followers of my blog get an additional chance to win, too! So if you’ve not already signed up, do so and let me know by commenting here – and because I’m curious, please tell me how you are following (I’ve switched to feedly and quite like it so far). This gives you an additional chance to win.

3. Help spread the word!! If you share any of the January posts on Facebook, you get another chance to win (– and if you share the post about the give-way, your friends will know about it and get a chance to win as well!)

4. And finally: if you recommend my Facebook page or my blog to somebody, let me know so you get another chance to win.

And while this will not earn you an extra chance, I’d love to hear your feedback, thoughts and comments on the 30 in 30 paintings – do you have a favorite? Let me know!

Done - 30 Paintings in 30 Days!

Here they are - all 30 paintings done in January put together into one collage. It's fun to see them side by side like this.
I'm trying to pick favorits, but it isn't easy... which painting(s) do you like best? I'd love to get your feedback on them.

I did say that I would post a review on the great '30 in 30' experience, including my thoughts and highlights on it. Here they are - quite a long list!

1. I've known about the '30 in 30 challenges' for some time now, but always thought I would not find the time to paint. This time I just jumped in - so highlight Nr 1 is 'getting started and just doing it'
2. Although I absolutely agree with you that it doesn't matter whether you paint 3 or 30 paintings during this challenge, I realized that I would have to be strict with myself and not allow for 'days off'. I needed to get into the habit and just paint - if I allowed myself to think about whether I should paint today or not I would find an excuse. I'm very happy to say that I didn't miss one single day - highlight Nr 2: trick myself into sticking with it, day after day.
3. I did have quite a few 'yesss' moments where things just worked out great, with quite a few paintings that I'm really happy with - and I'm my worst critic, so that's quite an achievement. There have also been some frustrations as well, but less than I'd have expected. Highlight Nr 3: more happy results than frustrating ones!
4. I usually paint once a week, and often I need some time to get into 'the flow' - sometimes I spend as much time trying to decide on what to paint and setting up than on actually painting. Which is frustrating. During the challenge I got more and more into the habit of painting, so after the first week it never took me more than a few minutes to decide on the subject and start painting! Highlight Nr 4: almost zero procrastination!
5. I did get my paintings done faster, and still with better quality. Highlight Nr 5: efficiency!
6. I got to know some great artist, connected with some I already knew about but and some whose work I hadn't seen yet. AND I finally joined Daily Paintworks. Highlight Nr 6: networking & marketing.
7. I received great feedback and comments on my blog, Facebook, DPW (even made the FB pick of the day) and 'offline' - doesn't hurt either! Highlight Nr 7: feedback and motivation
8. As an artist having a full time 'day job' and also since I'm living in Switzerland (small country with a very different 'art scene' and possibilities), I always enjoy the possibilities that the virtual world offers - I would feel rather isolated if was not able to connect to my artist friends in the states and participate in the virtual art scene. Highlight Nr 8 - being connected.
9. And finally I'm allowed to say - 'I've made it'! I managed to post each day, to enjoy the challenge, to grow and to reach my personal goals. Highlight Nr 9: I did it!

So to sum it up: it's been a great journey. Thanks to Leslie Saeta for organizing it and motivating so many artists along the way, and thanks to everybody who viewed, liked and commented my posts here and on Facebook!

I have a special treat in store and will post about it later today here and on Facebook. Stay tuned!

All paintings are also posted on my Facebook Artist Page Regula Scheifele Fine Art - I'd love to have you follow me on Facebook or subscribe to my blog!

(I) Love to Play

No, I do not believe it yet. January 30th. End of January.

And the end of the '30 in 30' challenge. A wonderful, exciting, demanding, rewarding and fun painting journey, organized by Leslie Saeta.
And I did it, I painted 30 paintings in 30 days!

This last painting I did tonight is a Lego one. I did love all three subjects I chose - Daisy, Toy Cars and Lego blocks - but Lego is definitely something I will continue to explore in the future, so: more Lego paintings ahead.
Because they are fun. And you can build anything you like with it. Anything you love...

"Love to Play"

Oil on panel, 6" by 6"
USD 65 (shipping included)

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So... what will I post tomorrow? - a review on the great '30 in 30' experience, both the actuall paintings and my thoughts and highlights on it! Stay tuned!

This is painting Nr 30 in the "30 in 30" challenge, the paintings are also posted on my Facebook Artist Page Regula Scheifele Fine Art - I'd love to have you follow me on Facebook or subscribe to my blog!

Daisy Beckett

If you've been following my '30 in 30' journey this month (and I hope you have!) you know that Daisy is one of my three subjects. Painting her has had it's ups and downs but has definitely been a great learning experience.
The last painting I did of her - 'Miss Daisy' - is my favorite so far, so I was apprehensive to paint her again today. But keeping with the spirit of the 30 in 30 challenge I went ahead.
Now the story would have a great ending if this one turned out even better... it did not. But that's ok. I will surely try again. And again.

And this is how the title of the painting came about - I was reminded of a quote by Samuel Beckett:

"Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better."

"Daisy Beckett"

Oil on panel, 6" by 6"
USD 65 (shipping included)

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This is painting Nr 29 in the "30 in 30" challenge, the paintings are also posted on my Facebook Artist Page Regula Scheifele Fine Art - I'd love to have you follow me on Facebook or subscribe to my blog!

Green and the Gang

Time off for Green, and he's hanging out with his friends. Doesn't he seem awfully grown up to you, too?
Or then it's just the slightly bigger painting - 6" by 6" instead of the 5" by 5" I used for the other January paintings... 

"Green and the Gang"

Oil on panel, 6" by 6"
- sold -

This is painting Nr 28 in the "30 in 30" challenge - I can't believe that January (and the challenge) is almost throug...!

The paintings are also posted on my Facebook Artist Page Regula Scheifele Fine Art - I'd love to have you follow me on Facebook or sign up to follow my blog!

Good Night, Cars!

Finishing this piece tonight I realized that this is probably the last painting of these toy cars I'll be doing - at least as part of the '30 in 30' challenge. So I do wish them 'Good Night'.

But the title of this piece is also fitting for the situation the reference photos was taken in. My little nephew L-o-v-e-s his toy cars, he could play with them for days on end. One thing he does is collecting all of them and putting them away - and as you can see, very neatly, too.

The one thing he still has to learn though, is that he should do the 'tidying up' part at the end of his playing session, not in the midst of it. To him, tidying up is just part of the play, and there's no reason not to continue playing with them. And NOT  tidying up afterwards. ;-)

"Good Night, Cars!"

Oil on panel, 5" by 5"
USD 65 (shipping included)

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This is painting Nr 27 in the "30 in 30" challenge, the paintings are also posted on my Facebook Artist Page Regula Scheifele Fine Art - I'd love to have you follow me on Facebook or subscribe to my blog!

Miss Daisy

As you know, I've painted Daisy a few times now, but this painting - almost a portrait - shows an aspect of her I haven't been able to capture yet. It's not the fun, happy, young and energetic dog, but the moment when she's at ease, watching (over) her family.

I feel like this painting is showing the 'true' Daisy. I'm really happy with it.

"Miss Daisy"

Oil on panel, 5" by 5"
USD 65 (shipping included)

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This is painting Nr 26 in the "30 in 30" challenge, the paintings are also posted on my Facebook Artist Page Regula Scheifele Fine Art - I'd love to have you follow me on Facebook or subscribe to my blog!