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Anne Shulock will join 69 other artists, completing one piece of art every day for 50 days in the third annual 50/50 show hosted by the 20th Street Gallery. She has been working on a painting a day for the past 43 days.

Although it has not always been easy, she enjoys the process and is excited for the outcome.

Shulock got started in art when her parents set a rule that for every sport she took up she had to pick up an instrument. The piano and violin were not things she felt she excelled at, so in the seventh grade she decided to give art a try.

As she went through school she experimented with different styles. There was even a time in her life where she could tell that her art was going through a Picasso phase.

"I remember I used to draw weird things with lots of eyes in weird places," she said.

After high school, Shulock went through a media studies program at Pomona College where she dabbled in video, art and writing. After college, she was still looking for a way to get back into art and had gone to the 50/50 art show last year and decided that this year she would apply to do the show. She sent in some of her sample work and was chosen.

Now, in a small space by her kitchen, she works on a 6X6 panel every night with oil paints. It has been challenging working a full-time job and finding time to work on the paintings, but she still finds herself giving the paintings all her effort and a minimum of three hours per night.

"I went to visit a friend in San Francisco, and she asked me to stay for dinner and a movie, and I couldn't. I had to go back to doing my paintings," she said.

All the artists' paintings have to have one common theme. Shulock chose book covers because she loves books and knew that this would be a subject that would keep her attention for 50 days. Her paintings are her own interpretation of her favorite book covers and will be sold between $80 and $100.

This is the biggest show for 20th Street Gallery, which last year sold 800 pieces. Organizers said they believe it’s an art show that benefits everyone.

"It's good for the artist because they get a lot of exposure, and they sell a lot of their art. It's good for the buyer because they get exposed to new artists and they can afford to buy several pieces – not just one," said Teri Marquat, manager of 20th Street Gallery, "and it's good for the gallery because with 73 artists in the show, they bring in a lot of new people who haven't been to the gallery, and they often return."

After she completes the 50/50 art show, Shulock plans on painting something on a larger scale, as she feels confined by the small canvases she has been painting. If the show goes well, she will work more on building a portfolio to show to galleries and develop her true style.

"I am not going to change the face of modern art," Shulock said, "but it will always be a part of my life, and I'm think I'm good at it."

The 50/50 art show will hold its opening reception Wednesday, April 8, at the 20th Street Art gallery and ends on Saturday, May 30.

The galleries hours are, Wednesday through Friday 12-5 p.m. at 911 20th St.

For more information, visit 20art.net