My Very 1st CONTEST on the Blog Ever!!! Plus, "The Scenic Route" - A Landscape Painting

Happy Sunday Everyone! I can't believe I'm already on Day 5 of this 30 in 30 Challenge, and I'm loving every minute of it. I've been dying to get the chance to focus on my art more, and at nights it helps me feel less lazy to actually be doing something rather than just wasting away in front of the TV (though I do love to do that too, don't get me wrong!). Today's painting is also my first submission for the year for "The Virtual Paintout."January's location was The Isle of Man, a little known island nestled between The United Kingdom and Ireland. It's quite a beautiful destination, and I've absolutely loved "driving" down the old fashioned country roads, complete with moo-cows and flocks of sheep, as well as beautiful coastal scenery like what you see below. I think I am going to do more than one submission for this particular location this month, since we're allowed to do up to three and I really am intrigued by this beautiful island. Boy, Google maps sure has revolutionized how I'm going to start planning a vacation! It's pretty awesome when you can visit a place street by street to really get a true feel for it in every day life, not just the manufactured Hollywood feel that I feel Hollywood square has. It's just so different in real life, and Google maps seems to be so "real life" to me. Anyways, I'm having a blast and totally recommend trying this out even if you aren't a painter. If you are, it's a blast because it lies somewhere comfortably between plein air and studio painting, and it's just downright fabulous. And if you're not an artist, why not try traveling to a country you've always wanted to visit, but have never had the opportunity to do. Seriously, you could totally have a virtual "date" in Paris with yourself or a loved one, just by sitting on your couch with a cup of steaming cocoa or espresso or whatever floats your boat, and then taking a leisurely virtual stroll down the lane. Sounds amazing to me, even if it is a tad nerdy. Whatever, I'm just gonna have to embrace my nerd on this one and let it fly!!! Happy travels to you! =)

"The Scenic Route"     4" x 5"     Acrylic on Canvas Panel

AND NOW TO THE GOOD PART: The other day I won an AMAZING (and I mean REALLY amazing!) prize on Leslie Saeta's blog during what she calls "The Twelve Days of Christmas: Twelve days of giveaways for all of my friends." What I won was what is called a webinARTS class that teaches people how to better market their art and was valued at a whopping $179 (WHAT-WHAT!!!). I was so ridiculously excited at the time that I freaked out and refused to believe it until my husband could confirm that it really was MY name on her blog under winner. CRAZINESS! And it was then that I realized that I really wanted my blog to be one of those where people are excited to check back in every once in awhile, because you never know what you may find or even win! And so, in the spirit of giving, I have decided that rather than do a 12 day giveaway like Leslie, which just isn't possible for little ole' fibromyalgic me, that I will do a year long giveaway instead, where there is a new contest and a new prize every month, because man, how fun is that!?!  This month's will be my very first giveaway contest EVER on my blog, and I couldn't be more excited!!!

And you know what? It's super ridiculously easy to enter!!!  All you have to do to enter is simply sign up to follow my blog! HOW MUCH EASIER CAN IT GET!?! So cool! If you're already following, don't worry, you'll be automatically entered to win!

But first off... What, do you ask, will be given away this month? Well, the answer is... (drum-roll please...)

Your choice of ANY ONE of my available paintings from the 30 Paintings in 30 Days Challenge FRAMED or on a MINI EASEL and mailed directly to your doorstep, free of charge! How awesome is that!?!

So, what defines an available painting, you may be asking to yourself? Well, that's anything that I've painted during the 30 Paintings in 30 Days Challenge that has not previously been sold or given away as a gift. And like I said before, what makes it even better is that it will be framed for you and sent to you free of charge! How cool is that!?! Entry for this contest lasts from today up through Jan. 31, 2013, but you'll want to start following me as soon as possible so you can stay up on what new paintings may be available for you if you win when this month is over. Also, when the time comes at the end of this challenge when the 30 paintings are complete, I will create a post with all the available paintings in it to choose from and whom the winner is.

So go sign up now and GOOD LUCK to you - perhaps a genuine Melissa Adams original could be yours in less than a month! =0)