Jolie Guillebeau

Sunday Series: 13

The other day, I was on the bus. It was late afternoon, I was tired, there were grumpy people all around me. Oh, and it was raining.

People were on their phones, everyone was busy and focused on their own business, as was I. But when I got off the bus, the sun had just come out and there was the most amazing rainbow. It was incredible. I just stopped in the middle of the sidewalk and stared.

But you know what was even more incredible? No one else even noticed. At first, I thought they just didn’t see it, so I said– “Look, a rainbow!” But then I realized they just didn’t care. They were too busy texting or talking to someone else.

But I stopped everything and watched until it faded. I was so grateful for that moment. That I was in just the right place, and had time to stay and enjoy something so lovely. I hope that doesn’t change, no matter how busy I am.

(You might want to click through to see more detail.)

My heart leaps up when I behold A rainbow in the sky:
So it was when my life began;
So it is now I am a man;
So be it when I shall grow old,
Or let me die!
The child is the father of the man;
And I could wish my days to be
Bound to each by natural piety.
– William Wordsworth

4×6 Watercolor on Cotton Fiber Paper on bamboo board. $91

Special rules apply to today’s painting. Everyone wins! On Sundays only, instead of one buyer, I’ll paint a version of this for everyone that requests one, because I think if the quote speaks to you then you should have it.

Each painting will be an original and slightly different from the others I send out, but based on the painting you see above. The only rule is that in order to paint one just for you, I must receive your email by 8pm Pacific time today.

NEW!! Your painting will arrive ready to hang, because I’ll mount it on carbonized bamboo using archival adhesive. Here’s an example.

There will be a nice little keyhole like this, so all you have to do it find a nail and hang it right on your wall! No framing required! Yay!

Want it? Email me here.

A Productive Week.

I got so much done this week. Several things that I’d been putting off for awhile got done, plus I went to Stitch group, had some good visits with friends, and completed 7 paintings (one is a commission).

Oh! And I solved a Rubik’s cube. Of course, I used YouTube tutorials, so I can’t take full credit, but I solved it!

It’s funny how I thought the little pedestal that came in the package was silly, until I solved the puzzle and wanted to show the whole neighborhood.

5×7 Oil on masonite block. Ready to hang– no framing required! $90

Bouncy.

This week has been all about the toys, hasn’t it? I’m ok with that if you are. Here’s one more for you.

A bouncy ball. They’re such fun.

5×7 Oil on masonite block. Ready to hang– no framing required! $89

Recipe Series: Ingredients

I could put sprinkles on just about anything, I think.

Even a painting.

5×7 Oil on masonite block. Ready to hang– no framing required! $88

87 is my lucky number.

If I had such a thing, 87 would be it. We lived on a ship in cabin 87 for the best three years of my life (so far), and I can’t look at that number without smiling a little. It makes me happy.

You know what else makes me happy? Bubbles.

I spent a good bit of yesterday morning solving a Rubik’s cube (painting forthcoming!) with the help of a YouTube tutorial. Of course, YouTube automatically leads to silly cat videos, and that got me wondering– what does Libby the cat think of bubbles?

It turns out that she hates them, and runs away to hide in the closet. But they’re fun to paint.

8×10 Oil on masonite block. Ready to hang– no framing required! $87 Sold. Join the newsletter list here.

Remember: Tomorrow is the Artist-A-Day Auction!

Whoa.

First. We’re down to two weeks here, folks. Two weeks from today is day 100. I’m thinking about what’s going to happen after this, and ideas are starting to form, but mostly I’m going to focus on finishing well. And on giving you fabulous paintings from now until day 100. Then we’ll talk.

But, speaking of that– I wanted to mention one important thing.

I’ve gotten a bit of flak for starting with such a low price with this project, but I wouldn’t do it any other way. It’s been incredible and I can’t wait to do it again sometime. That said, it’s pretty impossible under normal circumstances to have prices below $100. So at the end of day 100, anything that’s still for sale, will go up to $100. I’m telling you now, so you can get first dibs on anything you want. Go look around here,  here, or even here.

Meanwhile, back on day 86…

I love puzzle games. And a couple of weeks ago, when Karen accomplished number 59 on her life list, I immediately resolved to get myself a Rubik’s cube. So I picked one up yesterday and got to work.

As you can see, I still need a little work.

Hopefully, I’ll be able to paint the solved version soon!

6×6 Oil on masonite block. Ready to hang– no framing required! $86

Favorite Places +
Survey Lesson

My vacation last week got me thinking about favorite places. San Francisco is one of my favorite places, but I have a few closer to home–such as Powell’s, Laurelhurst Park, and the Waffle Window.

This is another of my favorite places. This is a view of the Pacific from Neahkanie Mountain on the Oregon Coast. If you’re ever driving along Highway 101 between Cannon Beach and Nehalem, you must stop here. It’s marvelous, no matter the weather.

5×7 Oil on masonite block. Ready to hang– no framing required! $85 Sold. Join the newsletter list here.

Believe it Or Not– Survey Update:
One of the things I learned from the survey is that many of you assume that if you see a painting late in the day, it has already sold. A few of you even mentioned that you felt like people on the East Coast had an unfair advantage, because I was sending emails out so early.

I was flabbergasted! During days 1-50, I was pretty careful to schedule emails to go out at different times, but since then, I didn’t feel like I needed to because I was getting fewer responses. In fact, several paintings haven’t sold. Go check them out here.

So the lesson is: if there’s a painting you like, send me an email no matter when you see it. Really. I mean it.

Sunday Series: 11

Another classic for you today– this one by Yeats. I remember one busy day teaching high school English, when everything went wrong that morning. Students were late, interruptions were constant and everyone was distracted.

We read this poem that day as part of the lesson, and I was astounded at the peace that filled the room. Later that year, one of the kids told me that it was his favorite moment of the whole year. He said, “Mrs. G– it was the first time I saw the point of poetry. It was kind of like a prayer– I got it. It made me want that peaceful feeling more.”

That kid is getting married this summer. (I’m old.) And he’s about to become a teacher himself, and hopefully he’ll have lots of those moments– the ones where a student makes all the hassle worth it.

Or at least a few moments of peace.

(You might want to click through to see more detail.)

I will arise and go now, and go to Innisfree,
And a small cabin build there, of clay and wattles made:
Nine bean-rows will I have there, a hive for the honeybee,
And live alone in the bee-loud glade.
And I shall have some peace there, for peace comes dropping slow,
Dropping from the veils of the mourning to where the cricket sings;
There midnight’s all a glimmer, and noon a purple glow,
And evening full of the linnet’s wings.
I will arise and go now, for always night and day
I hear lake water lapping with low sounds by the shore;
While I stand on the roadway, or on the pavements grey,
I hear it in the deep heart’s core.

4×6 Watercolor on Cotton Fiber Paper on bamboo board. $84

Special rules apply to today’s painting. Everyone wins! On Sundays only, instead of one buyer, I’ll paint a version of this for everyone that requests one, because I think if the quote speaks to you then you should have it.

Each painting will be an original and slightly different from the others I send out, but based on the painting you see above. The only rule is that in order to paint one just for you, I must receive your email by 8pm Pacific time today.

NEW!! Your painting will arrive ready to hang, because I’ll mount it on carbonized bamboo using archival adhesive. Here’s an example.

There will be a nice little keyhole like this, so all you have to do it find a nail and hang it right on your wall! No framing required! Yay!

Want it? Email me here.

Vacation Series: Final Version.

This is my favorite of the vacation series– I saved the best for last. Maybe it’s because of my love for red, or maybe it’s the icon that this bridge has become, but I love it.

6×6 Oil on masonite block. Ready to hang– no framing required! $83. Sold. Join the newsletter list here.

Happy Saturday!

Survey Says…

I got such terrific feedback from you guys with the survey– thank you! (See who won the print below.) I have tons of new ideas and ways to adapt this, so I wanted to share a bit of what I learned.

One of the things that is so interesting about this process is the contradiction– different people wanting different things. For example, a lot of you said, “More flowers! More flowers!” But a vocal minority also said, “Too many flowers! Stop with the flowers already!” A few other people said, “I like that these paintings are more loose and painterly than your larger works.” And some said, “I like what you’re doing, but these aren’t as tight and finished as your larger works.”

See my dilemma? So with things like that, I’m just going to keep trusting my own instincts. I like flowers, so I’ll keep painting them, but not everyday. And one of the goals with this was to banish my perfectionist tendencies a bit, so the balance between loose and tight paintings is one I’ll work out for several more years, I think.

I learned much more and realized I had forgotten to tell you some important things, but this is getting a bit long, so I’ll save them for the next few days to keep you from being overwhelmed.

After all, we still have a painting to look at today. Many of you have asked where we went for vacation– you might have a better clue by looking at today’s painting. This is the view near pier 33 looking west at the Golden Gate Bridge and Alcatraz.

5×7 Oil on masonite block. Ready to hang– no framing required! $82 Sold. Join the newsletter list here.

Survey winner:
More than 60 of you responded to the survey! Thanks!
Random.org selected Kristin (response #47) as the winner!

Kristin said,”I think this was a great idea!  I found your blog part way into the 100 days and didn’t realize right away that each day the price went up $1.  By the time I started to think about buying one, they had sorta slipped up out of my tiny little price range. Oh well.  I’ve sure enjoyed getting a picture in my inbox everyday instead of just reams of ad-mail!
How to make this more fun?  Hmm… Maybe make some of the more hotly-bidded-on paintings available later as prints or cards??  Or perhaps challenge others to submit their own versions of that particular theme??”

Oooh, good ideas here–thanks, Kristin! Let’s chat soon about your print choice– expect an email from me shortly!