30 Paintings in 30 Days Challenge: Day 30

Illustration for an upcoming book!

And for the grand finally of my "30 Paintings in 30 Days Challenge" I'm here to share a teaser illustration for an upcoming book I've been illustrating!

The story is written by a woman whose ancestors immigrated to the United States from Ireland.  For this project I got to work from an amazing collection of family photographs and images of Ireland.

And that's all I'll say for now!  Stay tuned for the big release this summer: Sign up for my monthly art newsletter

Happy 30 in 30!

30 Paintings in 30 Days Challenge: Day 29 Your Roses

Your Roses
Copyright 2017 Hirschten
Oil on Canvas 12" x 24"

"I want to fall on you like rain
upon a wildflower
Opening new reason from you
Scaring all the old bees away..."

-Robert Rorabeck  

30 Paintings in 30 Days Challenge: Day 28 Sherando Lake

Sherando Lake Recreation Area Virginia
Copyright 2017 Hirschten
Oil on Canvas 16" x 20"

"What are men to rocks and mountains?"

-Jane Austen, Pride and Prejudice

30 Paintings in 30 Days Challenge: Day 27 Within My Flower

Within My Flower
Copyright 2017 Hirschten
Oil on Canvas 11" x 14"

I hide myself within my flower,

That fading from your Vase,

You, unsuspecting, feel for me—

Almost a loneliness.

-Emily Dickinson 

Alchemy of Art Podcast Episode 38: How to Become a Professional Artist

Also available on iTunes

Are you ready to take the next step and become a professional artist?  In this episode Hirschten answers this question covering the wide variety of ways artist make money today and what it takes to bring in business.  The story of the day is the ancient fable by Aesop, "The Silkworm Weaver."

On the Alchemy of Art podcast we interview artists from a wide variety of mediums about their creative process and art philosophy.  Each episode includes folktales and true stories about artists to inspire you and keep you going.  Hosted by Addie Hirschten, a contemporary impressionist painter, art teacher, author and public speaker.  Find out more at www.azhirfineart.com

30 Paintings in 30 Days Challenge: Day 26 The Climbing Tree

The Climbing Tree
Copyright 2017 Hirschten

This is another rework painting.  This one has been on the wall of my living room for a couple of years.  I finally realized that the greenery was too bright.  Better.  Onward!

Before

30 Paintings in 30 Days Challenge: Day 25 Contentment

Contentment
Copyright 2017 Hirschten
Oil on Canvas 18" x 24"

"I must learn to be content with being happier than I deserve."

-Jane Austen, Pride and Prejudice

30 Paintings in 30 Days Challenge: Day 24 Stage 3 of Song of the Flower

Song of the Flower
Copyright 2017 Hirschten
Oil on Canvas 24" x 36"

I drink dew for wine, and hearken to
The voices of the birds, and dance
To the rhythmic swaying of the grass.

I am the lover's gift; I am the wedding wreath;
I am the memory of a moment of happiness;
I am the last gift of the living to the dead;
I am a part of joy and a part of sorrow.

But I look up high to see only the light,
And never look down to see my shadow.
This is wisdom which man must learn.

-Gibran from Song of the Flower

30 Paintings in 30 Days Challenge: Day 23 Stage 2 of Song of the Flower

Stage 2 of Song of the Flower

At dawn I unite with the breeze
To announce the coming of light;
At eventide I join the birds
In bidding the light farewell.

The plains are decorated with
My beautiful colors, and the air
Is scented with my fragrance.

As I embrace Slumber the eyes of
Night watch over me, and as I
Awaken I stare at the sun, which is
The only eye of the day. 

-Gibran from Song of the Flower

30 Paintings in 30 Days Challenge: Day 22 Stage 1 of the Song of the Flower

Stage 1 of The Song of the Flower

I am a kind word uttered and repeated
By the voice of Nature;
I am a star fallen from the
Blue tent upon the green carpet.

-Gibran from Song of the Flower

30 Paintings in 30 Days Challenge: Day 21 Flower of Beauty Rare

A Flower of Beauty Rare
Copyright 2017 Hirschten

I KNOW a flower of beauty rare,

Ah, how I hold it dear!
To seek it I would fain repair,

Were I not prison'd here.

-Goethe

30 Paintings in 30 Days Challenge: Day 20 Flower Salute

Flower Salute
Copyright 2017 Hirschten
Oil on Canvas 11" x 14"

Flower Salute

THIS nosegay,--'twas I dress'd it,--

Greets thee a thousand times!
Oft stoop'd I, and caress'd it,

Ah! full a thousand times,
And 'gainst my bosom press'd it

A hundred thousand times!

-Goethe 

30 Paintings in 30 Days Challenge Day 19: Stage 1, 2 and 3 of Flower Salute

Stage 1 of Flower Salute

Stage 2 of Flower Salute

Stage 3 of Flower Salute

Tomorrow I'll reveal the final painting!  

Oh and here is a photo of the flowers on my table...

30 Paintings in 30 Days Challenge: Day 18 Crystal Wandering Water

Crystal Wandering Water
Copyright 2017 Hirschten
Oil on Canvas 11' x 14"

Fair river! in thy bright, clear flow
Of crystal, wandering water,
Thou art an emblem of the glow
Of beauty- the unhidden heart-
The playful maziness of art

-Edgar Allen Poe from To the River 

30 Paintings in 30 Days Challenge: Day 17 Marsh on Carrot Island

Marsh on Carrot Island
Copyright 2017 Hirschten
Oil on Canvas 24" x 36"

This is a painting I created a few years ago...

It took me a few years of staring at it on my wall but I finally realized why this painting wasn't working for me.  It was that the sky was too dark in value.  I lightened it up and now we are done.

Onward!

30 Paintings in 30 Days Challenge: Day 16 Heart's Ease

Heart's Ease
Copyright 2017 Hirschten
Oil on Canvas 16" x 20"

Heart's ease or pansy, pleasure or thought,
Which would the picture give us of these?
Surely the heart that conceived it sought
Heart's Ease

-Algernon Charles Swinburne

30 Paintings in 30 Days Challenge: Day 15 Child from his Heart

Child from his Heart
Copyright 2017 Hirschten
Acrylic on Canvas 18" x 24"

"Spring comes with a bound, Spring the deliverer...

Here that child from his heart drinks of eternity."

-Robert Louis Stevenson

30 Paintings in 30 Days Challenge: Day 14 Heart and Hands

Heart and Hands
Copyright 2017 Hirschten
Acrylic on Canvas 18" x 24"
Buy Now

"You cannot shake hands with a clenched fist."

-Gandhi

30 Paintings in 30 Days Challenge: Day 13 Our Lady of Guadalupe

Our Lady of Guadalupe
Copyright 2017 Hirschten
Acrylic on Canvas 24" x 36"

A Flower Given to My Daughter

Frail the white rose and frail are
Her hands that gave
Whose soul is sere and paler
Than time's wan wave.

Rosefrail and fair -- yet frailest
A wonder wild
In gentle eyes thou veilest,
My blueveined child.

-James Joyce

30 Paintings in 30 Days Challenge: Day 12 Splendid is the Flower

Splendid is the Flower
Copyright 2017 Hirschten
Oil on Canvas 16" x 20"

The Flower

Once in a golden hour
I cast to earth a seed.
Up there came a flower,
The people said, a weed.

To and fro they went
Thro' my garden bower,
And muttering discontent
Cursed me and my flower.

Then it grew so tall
It wore a crown of light,
But thieves from o'er the wall
Stole the seed by night.

Sow'd it far and wide
By every town and tower,
Till all the people cried,
'Splendid is the flower! '

Read my little fable:
He that runs may read.
Most can raise the flowers now,
For all have got the seed.

And some are pretty enough,
And some are poor indeed;
And now again the people
Call it but a weed.

-Alfred Lord Tennyson 

So what the heck was Tennyson saying? 

That whether something is splendid or a weed is all based on our perception... 

how we label things,

how we divide up our world into good vs. bad. 

If you only seed weeds around you... you are "poor indeed."

30 Paintings in 30 Days Challenge: Day 11 Everything is Coming Up Roses

Everything is Coming Up Roses
Copyright 2017 Hirschten
Oil on Canvas 11' x 14"

"You got nothing to do but relax
Blow a kiss, take a bow
Honey, everything's coming up roses."

-Stephen Sondheim

30 Paintings in 30 Days Challenge: Day 10 Crimson Flowers

Crimson Flowers
Copyright 2017 Hirschten
Oil on Canvas 18" x 24"

"For the crimson flower of our life is eaten by the cankerworm of truth,

And no hand can gather up the fallen withered petals of the rose of youth.

Yet I am not sorry that I loved you -ah! what else had I a boy to do? -

For the hungry teeth of time devour, and the silent-footed years pursue."

-Oscar Wilde, From "Flowers of Love" 

30 Paintings in 30 Days Challenge: Day 9 Italy Commission

Italy Commission
Copyright 2017 Hirschten
Oil on Canvas 11" x 14"

"Life is a walk to the edge of a cliff.  

Everyday we step nearer to what lies over the brink."

Deepak Chopra

30 Paintings in 30 Days Challenge: Day 8 Harvest Still Life

Harvest Still Life
Copyright 2017 Hirschten
Oil on Canvas 16" x 20"
Buy Now

(This is another painting that I reworked.  I unified the background.  Much better!)

"The thankful receiver bears a plentiful harvest."

-William Blake

30 Paintings in 30 Days Challenge: Day 7 Flowers at the Window

Flowers at the Window
Copyright 2017 Hirschten
Oil on Canvas 12" x 16"

(This is a painting from a few years ago that I reworked!  I'm glad I gave it a second chance.)

"If you want the people to understand you, 

invite them to your life 

and let them see the world from your window!” 

-Mehmet Murat ildan

30 Paintins in 30 Days Challenge: Day 6 Peonies in Glass

Peonies in Glass
Copyright 2017 Hirschten
Oil on Canvas 12" x 16"

"Painting is silent poetry, 

and poetry is painting that speaks.”

-Plutarch

30 Paintings in 30 Days Challenge: Day 5 The Egret

The Egret
Copyright 2017 Hirschten
Oil on Canvas 16" x 20"
Buy Now

"It is not only fine feathers that make fine birds."

-Aesop

30 Paintings in 30 Days Challenge: Day 4 Blue Moon of Kentucky

Blue Moon of Kentucky
Copyright 2017 Hirschten
Oil on Canvas 16" x 20"
Buy Now

"Blue Moon of Kentucky keep on shining

Shine on the one that's gone and proved untrue.

Blue Moon of Kentucky keep on shining

Shine on the one that's gone and left me blue."

-Bill Monroe

30 Paintings in 30 Days Challenge: Day 3 Waterfall in the Blue Ridge

Waterfall in the Blue Ridge
Copyright 2016 Hirschten
Oil on Canvas 11" x 14"

"Nature does not hurry and yet everything is accomplished."

-Lao Tzu

30 Paintings in 30 Days Challenge: Day 2 The Secret Tree

The Secret Tree
Copyright 2016 Hirschten
Acrylic on Canvas 18" x 24"

"And above all, watch with glittering eyes the whole world around you 

because the greatest secrets are always hidden in the most unlikely places."

-Roald Dahl

30 Paintings in 30 Days Challenge: Day 1 Roses Commission

Large Roses Commission
Copyright Hirschten 2016
Oil on Canvas 30" x 50"

My patron who commissioned this painting wanted such peaceful colors!  

Soft neutrals with french blue... it is calming.

 

"He is happiest, be he king or peasant, who finds peace in his home."

-Goethe

Happy New Year!