Hello all! I’m still alive.  Still painting like a mad person…
I finished the 30 day series and had a show.  Now I have to get ready for another show to be held this First Friday at the same location.  I’m trying to help them with promotions as well so there’s more stuff to get done… We’re still working on the house and a thousand other adventures as well… but things are going great…
A few images for those of you who don’t follow me on facebook…

This one’s me and Seren at the last gallery show.  It was an AMAZING night with a HUGE and AMAZING crowd!

Seren is happy and so am I!  Why?
I’m on day 17/30 of my project!!! I can’t believe it’s going so fast! 

A couple of recent ladies.  The belly dancer is today’s featured subject.
Tonight, Seren and I are going to a dinner/art event where I’m featured. It should be lovely, small, classy.  I’ve already finished today’s painting so I can relax a bit and just make sure I’m ready for this evening. I think a nap may be in order… yeah… right… I’m so not going to get around to that. I have a couple commissions I have to get done and today’s a good day to get in that. 
So life is good good good…
Onward and upward!

A couple of my favorite portraits so far – Follow Ocean Starr Cline on fb for all the daily updates

I’m still getting one done every single day.  I have to say this project has filled my days with so much love and light and challenge and joy… sigh… I’m filled to bursting!
Also got some tomatoes canned yesterday!  Life is beautiful! When you send love out in the world, it comes back in spades indeed!
Go forth and make something!
Onward and upward
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First – Days 6 and 7 of The Knoxville Project:

For more info on that, “like” Ocean Starr Cline on Facebook…
The more fun shots of the day are of my little helper.  She got all interested in the drawer of paints this morning so I got some shots of our morning… When she’s not watching me paint (or playing in the paint drawer, she hugs me up ans snuggles on my chest.

 
Playing in the drawer…

Reaching for the camera too now… Little ham

The typical snuggles …. She’s so sweet to me!

We’re waiting for some paint to dry right now.  Have to finish day 8′s portrait before 2:30 when we have to get ready to go meet some friends downtown… It’s coming along nicely. We’ll make it! I love what this self-assignment is doing for me!!!
What are you doing to fuel and push your own growth this month?
Onward and upward!!!
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As I near the completion of my first week of The Knoxvillians Project, I’ve learned a few things.
1:  It takes a whole lot more brain power and energy to do one a day than I anticipated.
2:  Giving up and letting it go on deadline is both a relief and a pressure.
3:  Fitting the rest of my life into the project (plus commissions) is a full time project in itself
 
Saul Young: Day 4

Badri Velamur: Day 5

I just finished Day 5′s painting… Now time to get dressed and ready to go to the KMA (Knoxville Museum of Art) for an evening of relaxation and networking in a lovely location.  If I’m lucky, I’ll get a little of tomorrow’s sketch done before we leave so I’ll have a tiny head start for Day 6.
WOO HOO painting marathon!!!
Onward and upward
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The Knoxvillian Project
30 days of portraits of the locals…
Why am I doing the project?  Well for one thing, I’ve always wanted to be a better portrait artist. Assigning myself 30 days of this kind of work makes sure I’ll get a bunch of practice. And since I only have 24 hours to get each one done, I can’t be fiddling about second guessing myself. I just have to do it and let it go.
Another reason is that there are so many people around here that I love and it’s fun to put the spotlight on them.
So day 2 – Marian Sing:  A local martial artist who I really admire and appreciate as a friend.

And day 3:  Evelyn Gill: a local Senator who many of my friends support

Now back to work for me!  This is a great if draining project. Have to think hard and quick to get it done in time!
And yes… I’ll eventually paint the baby… but probably not till day 25 or 30 lol… She’s mostly notable to me – not the town.
Onward and upward (in the pouring rain)
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So… I couldn’t sleep last night. Maybe it was the storm… maybe the heat… maybe just wheels spinning… but I woke up with an irresistible urge to do a portrait. This is a great guy I know from Knoxville, Steve Dupree.  I did this with acrylic and ink on watercolor paper – 5″x7″
I am ready and willing and eager to do some more of these. I already have my next subject in mind, but am hoping to do some commissions as well… I really want to refine my portrait skills. 

In other news… My dear husband may have a job interview coming up in OH. It’s a little exciting and scary to think of him working hundreds of miles away and leaving me alone with Tiny, but I’ll be really happy for him to have a job that he can enjoy etc… Life is a grand adventure.
Onward and upward
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I was googling myself earlier today for a totally unrelated reason and happened to find something interesting. Apparently, a random blogger on the interwebs used one of my paintings as inspiration for some writing or just found that it went nicely with his work.  I enjoyed reading what he put up so I’m putting his link all over. I wish I’d noticed in January of 2011 when it happened! lol… But there are more current posts as well that I think you might enjoy –
The link to the post with my painting beside it:
http://abhishekdebsikdar.wordpress.com/2011/01/26/first-impressions
And the painting:

A portrait of my husband done from an old photo of him
Last Drink – about 6″ square

So yesterday it got up to about 91 in the house before a nice rain came through and cooled us off.  It was a lovely day. I made some chicken chili and rice and just didn’t move real fast.
The project for today so far has been to make a flyer advertising for pet portraits which I really enjoy doing.  I’m almost done with it and am getting ready to disseminate.
After that’s done, I’ll mostly be hanging laundry and changing diapers, but I’d also like to crochet another necklace if I can find the cord I’d like… or I might make another light summer skirt to wear since it’s so blasted hot.  I should draw up the design I use and post that maybe? Anyone interested? 
I also have a painting I’m getting close to finishing. Maybe I can knock that out today… we’ll see…
All right… I’m back off to the work.
Stay cool.
Onward and upward
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So yeah… it got up to something like 106 here today with no a/c.  That was interesting…
I’ve always found that I feel worse in the summer when I go in and out of cool air… and I’m sick of paying high summer electric bills so we haven’t done anything about making cool air this summer.  We have a box fan in the window at night and close up the house during the day and that’s it.

Some of the best times in my life have been summers without air conditioning.

So during the heat of the day, we just don’t move around much. I made some good smoothies today with frozen fruit and we hung out on the couch doing computer work. I painted some. 

And my husband finished up an entry to NASA’s Tech Invention Competition. He’s been working on a solar boiler/generator.  It would be awesome if you’d pop in, see his video and give him a vote if you have the time. We’ve put a lot of energy (haha pun pun) into the project and I want everyone to see how brilliant he is.
The video:

So in spite of the heat, it’s been a good and productive day… Now if we can just get some rain on our glorious heirloom tomatoes it would be lovely. 
I’m gonna go do my rain dance now.

Onward and upward
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