30 days of Watercolor

 30 Day Challenge

OK folks, this is the first day of my 30 day watercolor challenge.  Watercolor is truly a challenge for me.  Watercolor is temperamental.  The paper needs to be the correct dampness to create the mixing of colors on paper, slight fuzziness, or sharp edges when wanted.  Since a color laid is a color played, a great deal of planning is needed before you start.  

Years ago I took a three day watercolor workshop from Andy Evansen in Lanesboro, MN.  Andy is known internationally and happens to paint in the loose, relaxed way that, in my opinion, watercolors are meant to be used.  

Check back at the end of my 30 day self-challenge on November 25th to see what I've created.  Good or bad, I'm going to post at least one finished piece!  😎

I'm In The News!

 

Well, this is fun. I'm in the news! Thank you Srianthi Perera for featuring me in the Gilbert Sun Times and the Mesa Tribune as part of the GVAL Member Show coverage. Here is a link to the newspaper article. https://issuu.com/timespub/docs/gilbert_sun_news_1107/24 Visit the gval.org website to see the Annual Member Show

 

"My Lego Buddy"

11" x 14" Pencil

My sweet little Lego Buddy has the cutest dimples and the best kisses!  He was so proud of his accomplishment (with a little help from Grandma), that he wanted me to take a photo to send to Mom and Dad and I just couldn't resist drawing from that reference photo.  He makes me smile! 

I do portraits in Oil, Graphite, or Charcoal.  Click on Mary Opat Art above to visit my website.  Thank you for looking!  Visit me HERE

Cactus Flower Oil Painting "Desert Delight" by Arizona Artist Mary Opat

 

"Desert Delight"  Original Still Life Painting  
by Arizona Artist Mary Opat

14" x 18" Oil on Linen Panel $315

Thank you Lynn Morgan for the use of you reference photo!
This painting is available on my website HERE

"Tangerine Tango" Colorful Still Life Oil Painting by Arizona Artist Mary Opat

 

"Tangerine Tango" Still Life Oil Painting by

Arizona Artist Mary Opat

18"x14" Oil on Linen Panel

I enjoyed putting some texture on this colorful painting.
The rich contrasting colors were fun to work with.  This
original painting is available to purchase on my

website HERE.  Thanks for Looking, Mary

Beauty in the Desert Cactus Flowers by Arizona Artist Mary Opat

 

Beauty in the Desert by Arizona Artist Mary Opat

14" x 18" Oil Painting on oil primed linen panel.  The painting is
sold unframed and is available for sale on my website HERE 
Thank you for your interest!

Colorful Flower Painting, "Picked for You", by Contemporary Arizona Artist Mary Opat

 

14" x 11" oil on oil primed linen panel by Mary Opat, $195 Unframed

You can view and purchase my original painting HERE

Thank You for Looking!

Hello friends, Long Time!!

There have been so many changes in my art career and I haven't been keeping up with my posting.  Now that I'm an official "snowbird", I've joined two organizations in Saskatchewan.  The Regina Federation of Artists were nice enough to include me in the group.  The RFA Fall Art Show and Sale begins on Friday October 25th and runs through Sunday October 27th.  I am excited to have six pieces admitted into the show as well as a small painting donated to the silent auction. If you are in the area, be sure to attend for great art and a chance to win a fantastic door prize painting!

I've also been invited to join the Qu'Apelle Valley Artists.  We had a very successful show at the

Sacred Heart Church in Lebret, Sk.  I'm looking forward to our spring show!

I'm traveling back to San Tan Valley, AZ soon...home sweet home.  Check out my events page at

Mary Opat Art for more shows and events!

Lion Pride charcoal

Sunshine oil

"Cordovan Elephants" Oil Still Life by Arizona Artist Mary Opat

"Cordovan Elephants" Oil Still Life by

Arizona Artist Mary Opat

18" x 24" oil on stretched linen panel

I love the peaceful look that this painting has.  Blue pottery is my favorite.  There

is some mystery in the trinket box, and cordovan was the color of my favorite

penny loafers growing up.  Check out my WEBSITE HERE to find

out more information, or to purchase

Life is Art...Paint Your Dreams!

We're Confused!

We're Confused!

A couple of months ago I was invited to submit my work to a gallery show.  The Call for Art asked artists to submit only paintings in the “contemporary style”.  There seems to be a lot of confusion in the art world over the use of terms.  Actually, Contemporary is a period, not a style or movement.  The Contemporary period began around 1970 and continues. By definition, every artist painting today paints contemporary art. 

A contemporary painting can representational (represents actual objects or subjects from reality), abstract (takes subjects or objects from reality and presents them in a different way), or non-objective (takes nothing from reality).  With hundreds of words to describe art styles and dozens of words to describe art movements, it’s no wonder that people are confused.  Many times artists themselves aren’t sure what words to use to label their own art.  Below are examples of these three types of art.  Marian and Sharon are members of a group blog called EVA Gallery that I also belong to. You can follow our group, by visiting our blog. Click here HERE

"Reach for the Sky" Representational art by Mary Opat

Click on the link to go to my page

"Why Me II" Abstract Art by Sharon Sieben

Click on the link to visit Sharon's page

"Convergence" Non-Objective Art by Marian Sommers

Click on the link to visit Marian's page

I like to keep one thing in mind when purchasing original art for myself.  I buy art that appeals to me from artists that appeal to me.  The labels aren’t important.  Art comes from the heart and soul of the artist.  When you purchase original art, you are inviting a little piece of the artist into your home.  My hope is that with all of the disposable wall decoration available today, the resurgence of valuing hand made over mass produced will continue to grow.  We need to inspire and foster creativity in our world and what better way to do that then to surround ourselves with art? 

Life is Art…Paint Your Dreams!

"Rose Rising Explained"

Putting paint to canvas is easy for most painters.  Putting the thoughts that prompted the painting into words is sometimes not so easy!  While showing my recent painting, “Rose Rising”, I’ve been asked many questions, such as, “What was your inspiration”, and “What is the meaning behind the name”?  At the time, I had no words.  Since then, I’ve given it some thought.

The style for the painting is “Quantum Leap”.  Quantum Leap is the moment when reality forms from scattered protons, electrons, and neutrons to achieve clarity.  A snapshot in time, taken between what is known and what is imagined.

For this painting, I thought about the transition from body to spirit.  The return from spirit in body to pure spirit is represented by the swirl of material particles encircling the model.  The protecting angel wing speaks to her ascending soul, as does the peaceful look in her eyes.  Society has given a number of meanings to the red roses in her hair, so I leave that up to the viewer.

Not being a writer by nature, I apologize in advance for any unpolished blog posts I may write.  I credit my son, Phillip, who is a writer, for penning the explanation of my style “Quantum Leap”.  He took my rambling and condensed it to three sentences!  I have completed four paintings in this style and have a few more in the planning stages.  I was so pleased that "Rose Rising" took the Best of Show honors in the recent Gilbert Visual Art League Juried Show and Sale!  Please feel free to visit my website . I’d love to hear from you!