"A Painting a Day" Special Preview

Week One

There's no better way to begin my "Painting a Day" project to benefit the David Adler Music & Arts Center than with a series of paintings celebrating music and highlighting the wonderful music instruction programs and concert series offered by the Center all year long!

I wanted to create a colorful series that expressed the joy we all feel from music and to celebrate the young students and dedicated instructors at the DAMAC. I gave these compositions a strong, graphic feel and chose to paint this series in youthful, primary watercolors. This series is titled, "Musical Palette."

"Musical Palette" by Stephanie Toral
Series of four 7" x 5" Watercolors on Paper

"A painter paints pictures on canvas. But musicians paint their pictures on silence." 

- Leopold Stokowski

Each painting in the series will be offered individually on my auction site on Monday, November 1, 2016. A perfect gift for the musician in your life!

Other Works Offered This Week

"Sepia Butterflies" by Stephanie Toral
11" x 14" Watercolor on handmade, block-printed paper

"Kind Heart" by Stephanie Toral
6" x 4" Watercolor on handmade paper
in a 7" x 5", antique zinc finished frame

I am very inspired by the nature that surrounds me. Everyday from my studio I can view my lovely garden and earlier this spring I caught a glimpse of a butterfly hovering over the fragrant allium in bloom. I have been holding this image in mind and finally put it down on paper! My love of vintage ephemora and 18th and 19th century botaincal illustration clearly influenced this piece from the series I created for Day 2 of this project which I titled, "Sepia Butterflies." The work is a watercolor that is painted on handmade paper, block printed with gold metallic script. I chose a warm autumn palette to give the piece a antique feel.

Day Three will offer a series of watercolors inspired by a feather and the piece shown here is one of a series of 3 paintings. It is titled, "Kind Heart."

I hope you have enjoyed this "sneak peek" of some of what's in store this week and all month long as I begin my "A Painting a Day" project! Check back often for more posts and previews. Feel free to send me your feedback by posting a comment below.

Flashback Friday

Milk & Cookies
7" x 5" Limited Edition Giclée Print
Contact me @ stephanietoral@comcast.net for details

This morning I decided to look back at work from my last "Painting a Day" project and I'm still obsessed with this piece! What is more comforting than an ice cold glass of milk and my favorite cookies. This brings back memories of my childhood and how every Friday afternoon I always had a plate of of freshly baked treats (along with the usual fruit tray) waiting to greet Marc, Keller and Cara as they returned home from school. Before I knew it, my kitchen was filled with more kids faster than you could say "cookie!"

Happy Sweetest Day!

Little something for that sweetheart in your life! These little 4 x 6 sentiments will be offered as part of the "A Painting a Day Project" to benefit the David Adler Music & Arts Center starting November 1, 2016. Be sure to save the date!

Orange Crush

Nothing screams October like the color orange. While pumpkins are the obvious orange crush, I am finding my inspiration from the delightful pops of this color around autumn accents in my home. Today, I began painting a pair of ranunculus, their delicate petals bursting with shades of my favorite fall color.

The completed "Persian Roses" will be featured during the month of November as part of my "A Painting a Day" project to benefit the David Adler Music & Arts Center

"Zinnia"
30" x 20" Image Size
Urban Bronze Frame
Contact me @ stephanietoral@comcast.net
for more information 

"Papillon et Papaver" Copper Intaglio Etching
4" x 6" Image Size
Madrid Black Frame
Contact me @ stephanietoral@comcast.net
for more information

More About "A Painting a Day"

Studio a mess. Creatively blocked. Stuck in a rut. Fixated on images that can't be let go. This describes my current state of mind. It MUST be time for "A Painting a Day!"

What a mess!
Something MUST be done.
Time to get organized for "A Painting a Day!"

This project begins as a bit of "creative housekeeping" for me. I have flat files full of completed and uncompleted works that have been accumulating in my studio. My sketchbooks are full of clippings and unrealized ideas. In order to explore new themes and subjects and start down a new path, I need to clear my mind and my studio of all that I have been holding onto for sooooo long. Sorting through my work, I discovered there are many pieces that I have shelved, that could be brought out and reevaluated. I am also excited to discover that concepts and compositions that I once abandoned, now rekindle my imagination!

Now that I had all of this work that is ready to be reintroduced, what better way to do that, then to benefit an organization that has been a significant part of my artistic life, the David Adler Music & Arts Center!

So, I am now in the process of organizing, planning, scanning, framing, writing and of course, painting to prepare for the project launch on November 1. Some of the works many of you may have seen before, others will touch on familiar themes and subjects that I have explored before, and others still will be entirely new. This is what I love about this project, The David Adler Music & Arts Center. My hope is that at the end of the 30 days, as happened in 2011, I will have exhausted my "creative cache" and be ready to start the new year with a fresh perspective!

I hope you enjoy sharing this experience with me and bidding on these works to bring a little joy to you and yours all in support of a wonderful arts, music and historical treasure, the David Adler Music & Arts Center.

Announcing "A Painting a Day" Project to Benefit the David Adler Music & Arts Center

I am pleased to announce the return of my "A Painting a Day" project. This year's online auction event will begin on November 1, 2016 and continue through November 30. Each day will feature a collection of one of a kind, original works that focus on a particular subject or theme to exclusively benefit the David Adler Music & Arts Center.

"The true mystery of the world is the visible, not the invisible." - Oscar Wilde

This blog will feature insight into the inspiration and artistic process behind each days unique collections. I am so excited to share this creative journey with all of you! I hope you will become inspired to participate in this event and spread the word in support of this cultural gem that is the David Adler Music & Arts Center.

The David Adler Music & Arts Center holds a very special place in my heart, as it was the site of my first solo exhibition back in 2011. Since that time, I have seen the Center grow and expand its vital role in bringing Art, Music and the history of renowned architect, David Adler to Libertyville and the surrounding communities. I am proud to offer my talents to support the mission of the DAMAC.

"With a commitment to community, 

David Adler Music and Arts Center serves to 

educate, promote, and preserve the arts."

- DAMAC Mission Statement

The David Adler Music & Arts Center
1700 N. Milwaukee Avenue, Libertyville, IL