"100 SLC Porches, No. 1" - The Beginning

I’ve decided to do an art project that was partially inspired by a fellow blogger.  For quite a while now I’ve been enjoying the “100 Faces” of artist Karin Jurick on her blog – A Painting Today.  Each new face she has painted has been unique and I am in awe of her talent. I thought it also might be a good way to challenge myself as a painter by doing “100 of” something. But I’m not talented enough yet to step up to "100 Faces" but maybe something else. But what? The idea has been simmering in the back of my mind for awhile.

SLC Porches, No.1-  8"x10" watercolor on cold press

So this last Thanksgiving holiday as I was walking/jogging, trying to burn some of those consumed calories, an idea struck! For some reason as I was going along I was noticing the porches on houses. There’s a great deal of variety of houses along my favorite route, and I will admit that is part of what has made it my favorite. Each house is unique and I was finding myself focusing particularly on the porches. Each porch is unique and I couldn’t help but feel I was being given a glimpse of the people who dwell in each house. The more and more I looked at all of these porches; I saw all of the variety and the possibilities. Boom! The light bulb went on, and I thought to myself. Why not? “100 Salt Lake City Porches”!

This last Saturday during my walk I took my camera and snapped photos of about 30 different porches. I’m not sure if all of them will translate to paint well, but it’s a start.  I'm playing with the "game plan" of doing 2 porches a week.  But I really don't want to focus so much on time restraints.  I want to feel that I'm doing proper justice to each unique porch.  I, also, want to allow room for artistic inspiration, and maybe for some that might be considered a "cop-out".  But any of you that know me, know that once my mind is set on something I can be darn tenacious.  I may from time to time need a "break" from porches and may feel inspired to paint something else from time to time.  Thus, I'm not really giving myself a dead line to finish these 100 SLC Porches.  Sunday I sat down and painted the first of many.

Oh, and if anyone sees a Salt Lake City porch, or perhaps, has a porch they would like to see painted.  Drop me an email its2allgood4u@yahoo.com with an address, or a request.  I also would love to hear any feedback you have on the “100 SLC Porches”.  A co-worker has already requested for her porch to be #52. I guess its her lucky number, or maybe she figures that by #52 I’ll be accomplished enough to make her porch look really good?  Hmmm...