Camper a Day January 2016 Successful

Vintage Camper-a-Day January 2016

So, we've done it! Another successful 30 campers in 30 paintings we created this January! Yey!

Camper-a-Day

I have to admit, it was a lot of work and many late nights. My darling husband waiting on the couch for me, only to find out I'd have no time. But he is always happy for me to do what I love and painting certainly is one- and a love for vintage camper is another. So, it was a wonderful months for me painting a camper-a-day. Of course I couldn't have done it without the many, many stunning photos you sent it after my submission call- what an honour- thank you from the bottom of my heart!

Thank you

to the 1400 other artists globally that painted along this month and posted their awesome art on Leslie Saeta's website. It was a joy to watch every day the postings, it's such a motivator to get up and post and get inspired by all the others!

On another note:

For any newsletter subscribers, I have started to send out the welcome gift greeting cards. If you have not yet received yours yet, it might be that I don't have an address where to send it. If you could give me a mailing address, I will get those out to you after Valentine's;-)- and for any new sign-ups, just fill in at the sign-up screen. I don't use it for spam or selling or anything like this, but to send you the gift. I'm just a one-woman show here, no big company;-)

Anyhow, I'm off now for a few days and will get started on some bigger ideas soon, stay stuned;-)

All my very best to you!                            Simone

1964 Yellowstone

1964 Yellowstone

orig. watercolour 5x7in approx.

more info and purchase: click here

This 1964 Yellowstone was so much fun to paint, as my finishing camper for this challenge. The owner send me different photographs and here the pic was cropped on the right had side , so I took liberty to fill in what I thought might be there. I usually avoid this as I like to have all information important to the painting documented, but as it was the last day and I do not call it for no reason a 'painting challenge', I chose this 1964 Yellowstone anyway. I have painted another Yellowstone before, you can read about it by clicking here.

Today marks officially my last day of painting a camper a day for this January challenge. This, of course doesn't mean I'm done painting campers, but I have some commissions waiting patiently which I will attend to in the coming little while. I will blog about those here and keep you in the loop about my other art endeavours. Tomorrow, however I will post a collage featuring all campers painted. That should be fun!

I cannot say much more about it at this time, but I have some pretty exciting things lined up which I'm itching to get started with! They won't be camper themed, they won't be even watercolour, but they will be BIG! Stay tuned!

With this I wish you a blessed Sunday, which will be relaxing!      Thank you for journeying with me, your encouragement and feedback made this past month very special to me! Thank you again!                             Simone

Jayco Pink Welcome

Jayco Pink Welcome

orig. watercolour, 5x7in approx.

more info and purchase: click here

Today we have a 'newer' model camper, a Jayco, which I call Jayco Pink Welcome. A company who started in 1968 and are still producing today. I don't know any details of this camper model, but I liked the cute pink accents and that even a newer camper can be glamped up pretty easily.

Here is some info from the Jayco website:

"Jayco started with a dream. Lloyd, my late husband and I, had a dream that was based on our love of God and family and aimed at owning a business that would provide wholesome recreation for families to enjoy together. In 1968, in a barn on a country road, our dream became a reality."  (Bertha Bontrager-Rhodes, wife of late founder Lloyd)

Blending Old World Amish craftsmanship with innovative technology, Jayco is the nation’s largest family-owned and operated RV manufacturer today, developing a full lineup of recreation vehicles at our company headquarters in rural Middlebury, Ind. And while our product line has grown considerably, every unit we build is still guided by Lloyd’s vision and a humble desire to help make it easier for families to explore together and relax together.

1967 Scotsman

orig. watercolour, 5x7in approx.

more info and purchase: click here

Here I re-visited this painting I blogged about a couple of days ago, a 1967 Scotsman, who was travelling the 48 States in one summer! The perspective of the tow car was off but I couldn't figure out why, so I added a bit more pigment to the lower part and I think it is much better.

Tomorrow is the last day for this January challenge, I wonder what I will paint... I might have an idea, but not sure... the last days are always the hardest for me, pretty tired these last days, especially the daily blogging, picture editing and posting is something I'd like to streamline down the road. It was great to see what works, what didn't so much and what has to be updated and worked on- on the back-end and the front-end of the website and social platforms. I am still learning so much and have to learn so much more.

But first, I will take a few days off to catch up with something very important: my dear loved ones who have been waiting very patiently for me to paint every day.

What some of you might not know, I'm homeschooling, too, so my days are filled with answering math questions, teaching about 'short and long vowel sounds' and checking progress in literature and sciences. Hence, my painting time is mostly evenings and nights. No complaint, no complaint at all, we have to make time for what we love, right and I am so lucky to being able to have such a supportive crew behind me!

Until tomorrow again, nighty night and Happy Weekend!                Simone 

 

 

Claris Caravan- Another Date with This New Zealand Beauty

Claris Caravan

orig. watercolour 5x7

more info and purchase: click here

Who do we have today? May I introduce Claris Caravan, almost would I call her an 'old friend'. She is from New Zealand and quite busy socializing as event prop and business venture extraordinaire. She does get quite a bit of publicity, too. Her proud owner has a sensible touch in decorating her, just enough, not too much. I love the beach-ey feel, the hot sun shining through the set up. Just the right thing for the colder regions that are longing for spring- like me!!! I have painted her before, last year, and you can see the blogpost about that by clicking here

We here have a relatively mild winter so far... hm, I better not write that actually, it might turn on me!!!

I'm inching myself up towards the end of this month's camper a day challenge and I hope it brought you some smiles and joy- it certainly was a fun start for this new year for me, kind of a celebration! My first camper a day I did last January, exclusively with Canadian campers. Here is the collage I did featuring all of them:

I am planning to do a collage again featuring all campers from this month, including Claris Caravan and all the other darlings. Special thanks to artist Leslie Saeta for hosting this January painting challenge again! It is always fun and so great to see hundreds of artists worldwide participate!

It is getting late (again), so I better hang up until tomorrow, nighty night all.                Simone

1959 Winnebago and 1967 Scotsman- 2 Campers Today!

Today we have a darling 1959 Winnebago called 'Miss Kitty' set up under trees and below a 1967 Scotsman Cab-Over called 'Molly Mae' travelling through 48 US states last summer- wow, what a vacation that would be!!!!

1959 Winnebago 'Miss Kitty'

orig. watercolour, 5x7

more info and purchase: click here

As I was busy painting yesterday's featured airstream over two days, I painted two campie portraits today. My time painting a-camper-a-day for January is coming to a close, so I try and stick to my goal. What a fun month it was!

I have been thinking about travelling for longer periods, kind of exploring our beautiful world for some time- and what better way to do it than bringing a little house-on-wheels along? The trend of 'tiny home' comes to mind. I'd so love to pack up and go! My dear husband would have a hard time as our inn is a big, 100 year old house that cannot be left alone for long periods (especially in the winter, where it is so cold here and pipes freeze up and burst and in the summer we are so busy with the rooms and restaurant)... maybe later... something to put in the bucket list I guess!

1967 Scotsman 'Molly Mae'

orig. watercolour 5x7in approx.

Now, can you see where the travelling Scotsman impression was taken? If you look closely you can see the huge rock formation with the Mount Rushmore iconic chisseled bust of George Washington peeking out. What a great memory! I so much like this shot, but had such a hard time with the perspective, especially of the car. I might re-visit this tomorrow, we'll see. Sometimes the eyes see better after sleeping over it for night.

Thank you for stopping by, we'll see you tomorrow again with another vintage camper, have a blessed day everyone (or in my case: a good night).                    Simone

1962 Overlander Airstream

1962 Overlander Airstream

orig. watercolour, 8x10in approx.

commission painting

Today's camper is actually a 'today- and yesterday's camper', this 1962 Overlander Airstream painting is bigger and took me much longer to create, so, no chance to do it in one day.

It is a commission painting and the owner wants to surprise her husband at their upcoming anniversary. They camp near a beach and she created a sign with fun sayings that touch the heart and state their mottos. They do have beautiful daylilies growing by their campsite and of course the iconic flamingos had to be included I thought! Her husband got a fancy beach bike as a gift last year as well , so I included it of course in the painting! One other personal touch was the inclusion of the American Flag mirrored on the aluminium skin, they have it at their campsite and the beautiful oak trees in the background...

Can you see, how it took me a bit of wrapping my head around a possible lay-out?! I was zipping back-and forth from about 5 photographs to pick- here- pick- there to include all in this artwork.

I wanted to include as much as possible to make this painting the personal gift the owner is hoping for. Hubby, bless his heart, did an amazing job polishing many hours. Anyone knowing something about that kind of polishing, knows it is a major job of many, many devoted hours.... yaaahn! ZIIPPP! Poooooolllishssssss!

My dream is such a beautiful airstream. I hope some day! In the meantime, I feel lucky and honoured if I'm allowed to paint them! Thank you!

If you are looking for a commission painting as a special gift to yourself or someone you love, please do contact me with photos.

Tomorrow is another day, another camper- and almost the end stretch of this 'camper-a-day' challenge for January 2016. I hope you enjoyed the journey with me. Thank you for stopping by!                                           Simone

Toronto Maple Leafs Aer-Flo Camper

Toronto Maple Leafs Aer-Flo Camper

orig. watercolour 5x7in approx.

more info and purchase: click here

I hope you had a good Sunday today, some might have been somewhat 'under the weather' with the snow blizzard in the Eastern USA. I hope you all are safe and sound!

Fitting with the hockey season and being the national sport of Canada, today's camper is this ultra rare Aer-flo fibreglass camper wearing the Toronto Maple Leafs 'outfit'. The owner is a woman, stemming against the tide of the mostly super girlie glamped up campers. I like the simple and clear design, ready to go camping with her favourite team!

My daughter has a very good friend who is very involved in hockey, and oh man, is she ever good on the ice... she's taking courses and classes in the neighbouring provinces with top notch coaches. What dedication from her loving parents. I'm amazed at the time and enthusiasm that is not only expected from the players but from the whole family, because it takes a family to raise a hockey player! So, go hockey, go- much better than sitting in front of any screen or being bored all day!

For me personally, the ice rinks are a tad too cold, so I'm glad non of my kids have been bitten by the 'bug' (yet). Our eldest however just signed up for figure skating, so here we go... ask me again in a year! Ha Ha!

Blessings to you all! Stay safe and warm, and hope to see you tomorrow with a new campie again!               Simone