30 in 30 Theme: Every and Anything

Hello everyone! Please take a look at these paintings . . .

"Close-up Cheetah" Pastel on Illustration Board, 8"x 10", Original Painting FOR SALE: $75.00 + $10.95 S&H

"Purple Flower with Shadow" Oil on Canvas, 12"x16", Original Painting FOR SALE: $95.00 + $10.95 S&H

"Two Pink Flowers in a White Vase" Oil on Canvas, 12"x16", Original Painting FOR SALE: $95.00 + $10.95 S&H

 

Today's painting's were painted sometime in September and November 2014, but have not been seen on this blog yet, so I thought I'd share them with you. They are all currently on display at the Creative Wellness Center in Rochester, NY, but are also still available for sale, if you're interested. Just clickon the "Buy Now" button(s),  follow the directions that follow,  and the painting(s) will be all yours!

Over the last few days, I've been trying to come up with a theme for the new 30 Paintings in 30 Days Painting Challenge (which will be in January) with no success. I just can't narrow it down! I love to paint everything from still lifes to animal portraits, from landscapes to people portraits!

Soooooo . . . I was thinking . . . Why even pick a theme? Or better yet . . . Why not choose an "Every and Anything" theme instead?

Yep, in January 2015 I will be painting a little of everything and anything for the painting challenge. So be sure to stop by this blog everyday in January, starting with tomorrow, to be surprised by what new paintings I unveil!: I may paint some landscapes, some florals, some portraits, some still lifes . . . Who knows?! I'm open to any and everything!

Enjoy and 'Til later fellow art lovers! Take care, and God bless!
-SamDoum

I'm gonna do it!

I'm gonna do it!!!!!!

Take a look at this photo . . .

Photo by Beth Brown

Okay! So . . . I guess I'll be doing another 30 in 30 in January! A fellow artist and art buddy, Joan Princing has convinced me!

Joan is a very talented artist (whose work can be seen here) and she will be doing the challenge in January too! Having the support from other fellow artist friends really helps when you are doing a painting challenge and it's always encouraging to get feedback from fellow artists, like Joan. I truly appreciate all of the support and kind words from my fellow artists, and the comments on this blog and Facebook. And despite the 30 in 30 challenges being . . . well, challenging, they are a lot of fun, and frankly, I just don't want to miss out on all the fun! So, Joan, I'll be joining you, in January, for another 30 paintings in 30 days painting challenge! Yaaaaaaay!

Joan is actually the one who suggested and encouraged me to use all of the paintings from two of the previous painting challenges as illustrations for childrens books, as discussed in my last post.

Also in my last post, I discussed how successful the 30 in 30 challenges have been for me, and I gave the two childrens books that I have written, and illustrated, as examples of that success. However, I also told you that I would tell you about the most recent success that I have had with the last 30 in 30 challenge. And here it is:

While in the process of painting for the most recent 30 in 30 Painting challenge that took place back in September 2014, I submitted two separate artworks to an art show at a local gallery here in Rochester NY. The art gallery's name is called "The Shoe Factory," and the two pieces that I submitted were apart of a show there titled "Sirens and Seahorses". Having submitted those two pieces, the director of the gallery became familiar with some of my other art works, (particularly the still life paintings that I had been doing for the 30 in 30 in September) via my blog and website, and requested to see them in person. I showed her all of the still lifes from the 30 in 30 and she then took about 18 of the paintings to hang in her gallery, and made me a new house artist at Shoe Factory! So now about 18 of my 8x10 30 in 30 paintings hang on a 4 by 8 panel in her gallery! And I'm super excited because it truly is a blessing! And if I had not participated in the last 30 in 30, it might not have happened.

Recently, Beth Brown, the director of The Shoe Factory Gallery posted several images on Facebook of my new 4 by 8 panel at The Shoe Factory. And hopefully she doesn't mind, but I've used one of those photos, right here in this blog post -- above, in order to show you my new panel.

So you see, doing another 30 in 30 is so worth it! It can be a bit challenging and overwhelming, and time consuming, but I'm ready to give it a try and do it again! So be sure to keep checking back on The Blog of SamDoum Art in January 2015, and before then, as well, as I will continue posting even up until then.

Well that's all for now! 'Til later fellow art lovers! Take care and God bless! 
-SamDoum

Should I do it?

"Bald Eagle in Profile" Oil on Canvas, 8"x 10", Original Painting FOR SALE: $75.00 + $10.95 S&H

Hello everyone!

Guess what? Leslie Saeta is hosting another 30 in 30 Painting challenge in January! Will I participate? I really don't know, but I'm seriously thinking about it! It's a lot of hard work: 30 paintings in 30 days, but the effort is so worth it! I've had nothing but success stories from doing the 30 in 30 challenges!

During one challenge, my theme had been "animals" and as a result of painting all those animal paintings (30 of 'em to be exact), I was able to create my 2015 Animal Calender and create my gorgeous children's picture book "Grab My Hand", as I used many animal illustrations from that particular 30 in 30 challenge, in both projects.

Also, I used the paintings from another 30 in 30 challenge, as illustrations in another picture book titled "Snowflakes." Both of my children's picture books are now for sale on Amazon.com and can be found here and here.

In my next post, I will tell you about the successes that I've had with the most recent 30 in 30 challenge.

For now, I hope that you enjoy todays painting of a beautiful bald eagle in profile. He has such a serious look on his face, doesn't he? Well, I guess all bald eagles do!

Anyway, I wish you all a wonderful Friday!

Take care fellow art lovers and God bless!
-SamDoum

Squirrel Climbing Tree

"Squirrel Climbing Tree" Pastel on Illustration Board, 8"x 10",
Original Painting FOR SALE: $75.00 + $10.95 S&H

Hello everyone!

Today's painting is of a cute, little squirrel climbing a tree, and this little painting was done in pastels, as opposed to all the oil paint I've been using lately.

My husband says that he loves my oil paintings more than my pastel work, but I kind of like them both. Pastels are my favorite medium to work in. I just love forming lines, shapes, and colors with them, blending and smudging. I love pastels because this media allows you to be hands on, if you will, with the painting. With painting there's usually a tool (your paint brush or palette knife) between you and the painting. But pastels allow you to kind of dive in and become one with you art work. Though it can be kind of messy and though it's kind of hard to get your nails clean after you've been using them, I still just loooove pastels, and I love the way they feel in my hands. Hard to explain but its a good feeling.

Sometimes I feel like I have more control over my pastels then I do with a paint brush, when it comes to how my painting comes out. I guess that's because with pastels, there's no tool between me and the painting I'm working on, as I've already mentioned.

Anyway, I do hope you enjoy this brown, little, furry, friendly squirrel of mine. She's definitely a cutie! What d'you think?

Take care fellow art lovers and God bless!
-SamDoum

A Lioness in Africa

"A Lioness in Africa" Oil on Canvas, 8"x 10", Original Painting FOR SALE: $75.00 + $10.95 S&H

Roooooooar!

This pretty little lady lioness seems pretty calm and is just chillaxing in the grasslands of Africa. Pretty isn't she. Looks so harmless, like you could walk up to her and give her a hug!

Or . . . not! Well at least not in this life! But you know the Bible says that "the wolf and the lamb will live together; the leopard will lie down with the baby goat. The calf and the yearling will be safe with the lion, and a little child will lead them all."

So maybe one day I'll get to hug a lion! Or an elephant!

Elephants are my favorite animals in the whole wide world!

My husbands laughs at me and thinks it's funny when I tell him that I want to hug an elephant.

He's from a country by the name of Chad which is located in Africa; So, he's seen a lot of the exotic animals that we don't normally get a chance to see in the States. As a boy he had several exotic animals, as pets, like monkeys and gorillas.  Lucky him! I want an elephant!

Anyway, I hope that you enjoy today's painting. I sure had a lot of fun painting her!

Thanks so much for visiting my blog today! Take care and God bless! 'Til later fellow art lovers!
-SamDoum

An Evening At The Garden of Eden

"An Evening At The Garden of Eden" Oil on Canvas, 12"x 16",
Original Painting FOR SALE: $95.00 + $10.95 S&H

Hello everyone! Hope you are having a happy Monday!

Yesterday I said that I would show you some of the paintings I've been working on over the past few months.

The painting above is perhaps my favorite one out of the bunch, so far.

Landscapes used to be my favorite type of paintings to do for a long time but I had taken a break from them, for a while, to do pet portraits and still lifes. I'm thinking, however, that I'll try doing more landscapes in the future, as I had so much fun painting this one!

There's something mysterious about the mood created here in this piece, and I love the way it glows. In fact, while I was painting it my mom said the same thing about its glowing effect. She was actually painting with me when I painted it and said that its her favorite piece.

What did my mom paint? Well, my mom painted a beautiful painting of an iris, but she's not finished with it yet. It was her first time ever painting but she says she had a lot of fun! Joining us, in painting, were my three little ones: Miriam, Faith, and Sephora, and they created their own little masterpieces too! I will show you my moms painting when she finishes it. It's coming out really great, but I already knew that it would since my mom is an awesome artist! I remember watching her draw and also remember asking her to draw for me when I was a kid. So I knew she'd be an awesome painter too!

Anyway, in my next post, I'll show you another painting I've been working on.

'Til later fellow art lovers! Take care and God bless!
-SamDoum

My Visit to Main Street Arts in Clifton Springs

Take a look at these photos . . .

Pretty cool, eh?

Yesterday afternoon, my husband, our three little girls, and I traveled to Clifton Springs in order to take a look at all of the artwork on display at a gallery, there, called Main Street Arts. I have a painting on display there titled, "Lemons in a Copper Bowl", as well, which is apart of the "Small Works" exhibit.

Not only did we take a look downstairs at the small works exhibit, but we also took a look upstairs at the many other works of art and photography. We had a lot of fun and the girls really got a kick out of the ice sculptures outside the gallery.

The director of the gallery is Bradley Butler, and I was happy to meet him, as well. He was nothing like I expected though. I had been exchanging emails with him ever since I had expressed interest in wanting to be apart of his small works show, and I had imagined him being at least in his fifty's or sixties, grey haired, and older. But to my surprise Bradley Butler is a very young man, probably younger than me, and it's so cool to see someone so young, be successful in art. I'm really impressed!

I was fortunate to have Bradley accept my "Lemons in Copper Bowl" painting into the show, as an accident happened with the original painting that had gotten accepted, as I mistakenly tore a hole in the canvas of the painting while trying to prep the piece for hanging. I then sent an email to Bradley, explaining the accident and attached, to the email, images of a few more of my other paintings and he, fortunately, decided that he would still take another painting which turned out to be "Lemons in a Copper Bowl."

I was told yesterday, by another young woman who works at the gallery that Bradley really loves the Lemon painting so things worked out! Yay!

Anyway, here is the original painting that had gotten accepted before the tear:

And here is the Lemon painting again which now hangs at Main Street Arts  . . .

Well, this kind of turned out to be somewhat of a long post! I had intended to share with you some of my new paintings that I have been working on. But, I'll have to show you them tomorrow, instead, as I like to keep my posts short and sweet, and I fear this one may be a little too long.

Anyway, til tomorrow! Take care and God bless! Later fellow art lovers!
-SamDoum

Guess Where I'm Going Today?

"Lemons in Copper Bowl" Oil on Canvas, 8"x 10", Original Painting is AVAILABLE FOR SALE @ Main Street Arts in Clifton Springs during the Small Works Show (Click HERE for more information)

    

Hello everyone!

 

I know . . . Long time no post, huh?

Yep, things have been busy. Very busy -- But I've been blessed!

Can you guess where I'm going today? 

 

(Your Response)
 

Nope! That's not it.
 

(Your response)
 

Nope! That's not it either.
 

Where you say . . ? Well, I'll be traveling to Clifton Spring today in order to view the "Small Works" show where a piece of my art is on display! Pretty exciting 'eh?

I'll be going with my family and I can't wait to see all of the fantastic artwork. It was an honor to have been accepted in the show because, I've seen some of my fellow artists work, who have participated in this show and let me just say, "Pretty fantastic, amazing stuff."

The painting above, one that I painted during the last 30 in 30, is the one which got accepted.

I'm really excited and can't wait for us to leave to go see all of the art!

Pictures to come soon! I'll keep you posted. 'Til then take care and God bless! 'Til later fellow art lovers!

-SamDoum

Oh- and P.S. I know that I haven't posted in a while, but I've still been painting! And I can't wait to reveal some of those paintings right here on the Blog of SamDoum Art in the next few days ahead, so you can see them. As always, stay tuned . . .