Wednesday, October 30, 2013

the end of 30x30

Today I'll start the very last painting of my 30x30 project. Can I even call it that since it took about three times longer than I expected? About halfway through I realized that although I liked the challenge of starting and finishing a painting every day, I didn't want an arbitrary deadline making me feel rushed to make sloppy work or work I didn't like, so I'm happier that it took longer and left me with a stack of paintings I love. Not rushing and being a little more critical of my process and final product is something I've been trying to get better at for the last two years and this project was definitely a good way to regularly do that.

It is really fun to page through the stack and think about what particular events or thoughts inspired each collage or quote choice.


For this last painting, I'm asking what you'd like to see painted. You can comment here or head over to my Facebook page to tell me your favorite quote... if I choose it, I'll send you a print of Day 30.

Just for fun... here is Day 27 in the making on my desk:


Thanks for following along :)

15 comments:

  1. Hi Mae, I've really enjoyed this series. Thanks for sharing your work and process!
    One of my favorite quotes is a Chinese proverb - The journey is the reward.

    Grace

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  2. my favorite quote by Rachel Awes is a simple message I wake up to every day 'you are not meant to fit in, you were born to stand out, be stunning, shining and free' loved every single piece you've created on this creative experiment of yours and I love the little peek into your journal too.

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    1. I absolutely love this one. I wish I could use it! But since she's an artist as well it wouldn't be right to use her original quote (though perhaps I'll ask her sometime in the future?) I'm so happy to have found her work thanks to your comment though :)

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  3. I love that you 'changed the rules' of your challenge so you could fulfill the 'goal behind the goal'. I've loved seeing every one. So beautiful and all so different.

    My suggestion - something that represents exploring new shores, looking inward, having the courage to challenge yourself since that is what the challenge was about. Like an Ode To The 30 Day Challenge. What it was for, what you got out of it, how it felt to choose the challenge and then to finish it. Like a sign off to the challenge. A thank you for what it gave you. A final honoring goodbye. (Until next time???)

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  4. I have absolutely loved watching your progress and I'm glad you took your time with it all. Creativity shouldn't be rushed. I'm still hoping for prints! I know I would buy all 30! Picking one quote is beyond difficult, but I settled on this: "Now more than ever do I realize I will never be content with a sedentary life, that I will always be haunted by thoughts of a sun-drenched elsewhere." It's by Isabelle Eberhardt and I'd probably use just the ending ("...I will always be haunted by thoughts of a sun-drenched elsewhere")? Then again, I'm NOT an artist, just an art lover :) Like I said, picking ONE quote was so hard! Thanks for the inspiration and beauty, Mae!

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    1. Absolutely love that! I agree with you, the end of it is especially poignant. I will definitely be sketching that out for a painting soon! Thanks for the suggestion and for reading :)

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  5. Ok, I saw that others sent more than one quote, so I'm sending the one that lost my coin toss. "Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?" by Mary Oliver. It's a question I ask myself each day when I wake up. It's been a good quote for me to guide by.

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  6. Your work is so beautiful!
    A favorite quote: "Surrender to what is. Let go of what was, Have faith in what will be." ~Sonia Ricotti

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    1. Oooh, love this one! Such a good reminder to go with the flow. Thanks Mary :)

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  7. I love seeing the quotes you pick for your artwork. The Avett Brothers are one of my favorite bands and have amazing quotes in their songs so I had to pick two from them. "Decide what to be and go be it." "Be loud, let your colors show." -Kerri M.

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    1. I really like the Avett Brothers too... their new album is great. I like both of those ideas, especially "Decide what to be and go be it." Thanks Kerri!

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  8. Really enjoy your work and the behind-the-scenes info and pics you show on your blog! I've had something in my mind I've been trying to translate into a piece of jewelry for awhile, but no success yet. I'm thinking of text along the lines of "It's time to take the weight of the world off your shoulders." Maybe with the world and different clock faces in the background. I think it's a cool idea that you've asked what people would like to see! Happy Halloween :)

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    1. Love this one! And I'm so glad I found your blog... just added Simon Says Stamp to my reader :)

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  9. My suggestions are:
    "Not all who wander are lost"
    "Take the road less traveled"

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  10. I've enjoyed seeing each of your pieces, and the process behind them. I've been wanting to push myself to do more original pieces, (and seem to always be collecting poems and quotes), so perhaps I'll challenge myself to do a 30x30 of sorts. Thanks for the inspiration and for sharing your journey with us.

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