Okay, so I forget what day I'm on as it seems I can't quite manage a painting every single day - especially when it is in oil as they take some time just to mix up the colors.  Here is a painting that I did in a Pastel painting workshop I am taking.  It is small and appears to have gotten smeared some.  It's ok though, as it was really only a study.  I plan to do it again - larger.  I've learned a few things that I like and a few I don't and how I think I would approach differently next time.  I often paint the same subject/photo more than once.  A "thumbnail" is always a good idea.  It gives you the opportunity to see what works and try out the colors, composition, process, etc.... It's worth doing it first small.  You not only learn a lot but can save a lot of time, money and frustrations if you dive into the big "final" piece all at once.

Northern Living
5x7 Pastel on U-Art

Day 8:

From my love, 6x6 oil on panel

I'm not going to lie, painting flowers is not easy.  I was trying to keep my brushstrokes loose and at a minimum.  I could have easily overworked this one but the voice in my head kept saying stop before you think you're finished, so I did.  Can't say I'm thrilled with the results but there are definitely things about it that I like.  I think the composition is good.  Where does your eye go first?  The red of course, especially at the center of the rose (where there is great contrast). I added the touch of of red on the far left to balance out the heaviness of the red rose, take your eye over there but not off because it picks up on the purple flowers.  The textures, I think, keep you entertained and moving all about the painting.  Always happy to here your comments!?!

P.S.  There will likely be another flower painting as I have this beautiful bouquet that my husband surprised me with "just because I love you!"  Aww, how lucky am I?  And because I have a lot more of these colors already mixed and left on my palette and I hate to waste it.  Wish me luck.

Day 7:

Little Miss Daisy
6x6 Oil on canvas panel

My first attempt at a dog.  This little angel left this world for doggie heaven a few weeks ago and she left a hole in the hearts of a very special family that I know.  This morning, I got a google video (from my photos) of my 2 dear canine companions and it got me feeling the need to paint a fur baby.  I couldn't find any photos (right away) of my pups that inspired me so I had this one and thought I would give her a try.  Another challenge, to be sure, especially when you are trying so hard to capture the true essence of the loved one.  I hope I managed to do her justice.  I had fun and am sure there will be more furry creature paintings in my future.

FYI:  I began this painting by painting the background all black.  I was curious to see how that would affect the painting.  Not sure whether it really did much to the end painting, as it all got pretty much covered.  I'll try the next one with a different ground and see the difference.  A reminder, that these daily paintings are not only great practice, but opportunities to try something new.  If it fails, then you've only spent a few hours and few supplies but gained a bunch of knowledge.

Day 6:

Hydrangea's from my garden
8x8 Oil on panel

I'm already having trouble deciding what to paint.  I need to make my daily paintings fairly simple so as to complete them in a day (a few hours or less a day).  Yet I get bored with just one plain item.  I want paint things that excite me or stir some kind of thought or emotion.  So, I need to "feel it".  Who knows, one day I see something and it sparks no reaction whatsoever and a few days later, I'm itching to recreate it through a painting.  This one, while only a single object, had enough texture, variety, color (challenges) to get me going.  I am very pleased with the results.  I was standing a bit over the subject as opposed to looking at it at eye level and I think it shows.  This painting also went through the love/hate process that I encounter with all my paintings.  In fact, I figured this one might end up in the trash or painted over.  I really like how the shadow turned out.  I will let you in on a little secret, the shadow was not at all like that.  I had drapery in the background and I started to paint it as I saw it and hated the look so I changed it to this.  The other worry I had with this one, as I am finding I am encountering, is over-working it.  Knowing when to stop.  I could stop and let them dry and come back to them and fix/change the problems, but I am trying to keep these all alla prima (Italian for meaning at first attempt) or wet on wet.  It is a challenge with oils to be sure but I like the challenge.  It's the best way to grow.

Day 5

Yum, Avocado!
6x6 Oil on canvas panel

Oil paintings are hard to photograph!  All that sheen and texture (research and practice on that to come).  Anyways, this is a quick snapshot that I don't think is very accurate to the painting.  I like much better in person.   I LOVE avocados and thought the colors would be fun and they were.  I also LOVE purple, hence the background.  The avocado is actually sitting on a cream color table cloth that has scrolling texture in it, so I decided to add it as it seemed a little boring without it.  I did think about composition, trying not to place it in the center.  I tried making it big and cropping it but didn't like that as it takes away from the lovely shape of this fruit.  When composing, you need to remember not to place the object(s) too close to the edges either.  I will say, I am finding that my objects always seem to end up smaller than my intended thumbnail and sketch.  Perhaps, I will need to begin larger than I think I would like the finished painting.

Daily Painting - Day 3 and 4

Apple Study
11x14, oil on canvas

I did 3 apples each day.  I used 2 different apples and changed their position as well as the light some.  I began by mixing 3-4 red values, a yellow/green, 2 values of the shadow plus a really dark (raw umber mixed with blue - used pthalo blue because it was the only blue left on my palette and didn't want to waste it.  I wouldn't use it again as it's too green).  I tried different brushes and different brush strokes.  I started with flat brushes and tried to limit my strokes (top apples).  The middle apple on the bottom, I started using some filberts to get a bit softer/blended look.  I am not after a photographic looking painting.  I love the look of brush strokes.  I also tried varying the direction of my brush strokes.  I feel like I over worked the top far right apple and almost overworked the bottom far right.  I am sure I learned a lot with this exercise.  I certainly didn't think painting an apple 6 times would be as challenging as it was.

Daily Painting:  Day 2

My Red Boots
8x8 Oil on canvas

Well, this one certainly took me longer than an hour!  But, I had fun.  I started with drawing a thumbnail sketch and indicating the values.  I then colored my canvas with raw sienna wash and OMS (odorless mineral spirits), then loosely sketched the image with raw sienna and a short bristle brush.  I began painting with the darkest values first.  I struggled with the black glove which had all the light on it.  I probably painted it too white.  After about 2.5-3 hours from start to finish, I had to call it a day even though it could use a lot more tweeking.  I must always remember the goal - complete a painting a day, don't focus on perfection.  I think I accomplished my goal for the day!

Okay, I'm back.  I'm really here to keep myself accountable.  I'm an artist who is struggling with finding my voice, my muse, my medium.  I always say that I have art A.D.D.  I want to try it all and I have tried just about everything (art related that is).  I have my favorites (mediums) which change sometimes from day to day.  Each medium has a different feel, a different response to my action, a different end result.  While that is great, I feel like I've not had much time to really focus in and "master" any particular medium.  Fortunately, many of the fundamentals of art carry over between mediums and because of all my past experiences, I'm confident I have a solid grasp on those.  I've decided NOW is the time to focus on mastering a medium (or 2) and discover my style, my muse, my medium.

Through the years, I've been told that I had artistic talent.  So, I thought that any time I did something art related it should be good, right?  WRONG! Talented or not, it is a gift that needs to be used, exercised and practiced.  Just like sports or music or anything, we don't show up one day and win a gold medal in the Olympics or compose and play a symphony.  No, we show up daily and practice, practice and practice more.  We have to put in the time to hone in on that "talent", that skill.

As well as not leaning on "talent" to carry me through the creative process, I also need to let go of the fact, that every time I step into my studio and pick up a brush or a pastel, I must create a masterpiece. Something that is good enough to sell or give away to a dear friend.  In the past, if the finished product didn't fit that criteria then I felt like I had wasted my time and $ on all those supplies.   NOT TRUE!  I learned from every moment of practice.  I learned what works, what doesn't work, what I want to try differently the next time.  Baby steps!  Fortunately, as we know baby steps lead to walking and then running.  A few trip ups along the way teach us even more.  Failure is the best teacher.  So, I am going to try to embrace failure.

Anyways, I hope to paint as often as possible, daily if possible.  I plan to paint small and simple so that I can complete them in a few hours a day.  This goal needs to be challenging but achievable.  I hope to post my paintings (the good, the bad and the ugly) here so you and I can see the progress.  I will post my thoughts, my experiences, my insights.  As a teacher,  I love to share my experiences so that others may learn as we are all on this journey together - sometimes we're just taking different paths.

Day 1: Fall

8x8 Oil on Canvas

About this painting:

I will tell you that I almost NEVER do still life's as I have always found them very boring.  However, I started reading a book called, "Daily Painting" by Carol Marine and I was encouraged and inspired to give them a try.  I've heard from many that painting from life is the best way to learn as we see so much more with our eyes than through a camera lens and photograph.  Since the weather is not lending itself to plein-air painting, I decided to set up a still life, so I grabbed what I could find.  This painting was a bit challenging with the metallic paper wrapped around the pot and all the flower petals but I pushed through.  It probably took me longer than I wanted but I will say that I quite enjoyed myself painting it.  Also, I will mention that I am still fairly new to oil painting but I am really liking them far better than acrylics due to the fact that they don't dry so fast.  Oils are so much more vibrant and I love how they blend and mix right on the painting.  Also, odor and clean-up is not as bad as you think.  Odorless mineral spirits make all the difference.

The road less traveled is lined with beauty

8x10 on Uart

Decided to try one larger so it took a little longer, but not much.  There is a purple underpainting - wish I kept more of it showing through.  Most likely will paint this one again!

An Inspiring Quote

"The man is a success who has lived well, laughed often, and loved much; who has gained the respect of intelligent men and the love of children; who has filled his niche and accomplished his task; who leaves the world better than he found it, whether by an improved poppy, a perfect poem, or a rescued soul; who never lacked appreciation of earth's beauty or failed to express it; who looked for the best in others and gave the best he had."
-Robert Louis Stevenson

Daily Painting - Day 23

An Improved Poppy
5x7 Pastel Quick Study

The sun is shining!

Daily Painting (ok, missed a few days - was on a weekend getaway for my birthday thanks to my wonderful hubby.)  Day 22:

JUST DO IT!

The Sun is Shining!
5x7 Quick Study

I painted this scene a few days ago and while I liked it, I felt it lacked a variety of color.  See below.  So back to the drawing board.  It's funny, I always felt like once I painted a specific scene, I was done, especially if I was happy with the end result.  If I didn't like the end result,  I was hesitant to do it again.  Oh, that darn fear of failure.  Or I perhaps I'm just not sure how to approach it differently.  Or, I'm frustrated.  Until, I realized "JUST DO IT!"  I have to admit, I am really enjoying painting the same scene over again.  It is fun to see how different the result are.

First attempt at sunflower scene
Its ok but I'm no't happy with limited colors

Below are examples of the scenes I have repeated.  The first image in each grouping is the first try at the scene.

What comes from experimentation

Daily Painting - Day 21

In early January, I had a request from a customer on my etsy site to paint St. Anne.  She was in no hurry so I saw this as my opportunity to try to combine my current style with the Saints in acrylic with my new found love of pastels.  I explain some of my process and my discoveries below.

St. Anne with the Blessed Virgin Mary
9x12 pastel and mixed media on Uart sanded paper

I began by exploring just what you could do on sanded paper.  Below is the underpainting using watercolor, acrylics, ink, stencils and stamps (similar to my process that I use on canvas boards)

After the initial sketches, I began to lay down large blocks of color in pastel.  I ran into a few problems.  I found that pastel does not like to stick to acrylic paint.  I worked with it as best as I could and fortunately there was not a lot of it in the underpainting.  The areas where the acrylic was used that had been watered down as in a wash seemed to work ok.

As you can see I struggled.  I put down too much pastel.  So, I set it aside and the next day, with fresh eyes, I still felt the same and decided to remove some of it.  I found a stiff brush in my studio and I gently brushed off areas I didn't like.  I also used a gummy eraser to remove some other areas. The Uart sanded paper is great for this - very sturdy and holds lots of layers of color.  Still plenty of tooth to work with.

After this removal, I decided that I like seeing some of the designs, textures and prints that I had originally created in my underpainting and decided I would try to allow them to show through and work with and around them (see St. Anne's garment - the triangle area in the center).  Also the celtic stamp that I carved and stamped is a symbol of the mother/daughter bond, certainly had the shape of a heart.  This shape made me think if the image of the sacred heart so I went with it.

I learned a lot from this and I think the final result is more than acceptable.  We will see what my possible customer has to say.  I will take what I learned from this, along with some other ideas that came my way while working on it and try some more new things.

Please feel free to comment and ask any questions you may have!

Be Like A Sunflower!

"I want to be like a sunflower so that on the darkest days I will stand tall and find the sunlight!"

Daily Painting - Day:20

Be Like a Sunflower
5x7 Quick Study

Trying something new today - Sunflowers.  May try it again.  I can see why Monet did the same scene many times.  Yes, he was painting the scene as the light changed it.  In a sense I am doing the same by changing underpainting to give the scene a warmer or cooler feel, perhaps changing the composition to see which is more effective.  These are, after all studies.  Someday I plan to go back and paint them larger incorporating what I have learned from these quick studies.

Magnificent Maui #2

Daily Painting - Day 19

Magnificent Maui #2
5x7 Quick Study

Hmmm, this one was just as frustrating as yesterday's painting.  I'm not sure what I'm after.  Perhaps I'll try it again - in the future!  It definitely is different than the first painting of this scene.  Amazing how different a few changes in color and approach can change the painting.

Taking an online course combing watercolor (my first love many, many years ago) and pastels (my newest love).  I will try to share some of what I am doing/learning from that course.  Lots of play!  Lots of texture!

Magnificent Maui

Daily Painting - Day 18

Magnificent Maui
5x7 Quick Study

Got frustrated with with the rocks and the hill amongst other things.  Will be doing this one again tomorrow!  Let's see what changes.  I think these quick studies are great for learning and practicing and when I pin down what I like, what works, they will be great for a larger more in depth painting.  I really can't imagine going big without having done these small quick studies.  I believe they will save me lots of time, mistakes and frustrations.

Ahhh Summer!

"I will not lose, for even in defeat, there's a valuable lesson learned so that evens it up for me." -Jay Z, musician and businessman

Ok, after looking at the painting from Tuesday, I decided, I liked it more than I did when I first finished it. Again, time away helps.  However, I decided that I had a few ideas that might make it better so I decided to try it again.  WOW, what a difference!  I see much improvement.  So much more depth.  Anyways, moral of the story try, try again! The more often I paint, the more likely  things will soon become second nature.  I will feel more confident, knowledgable, and comfortable.

Daily Painting - Day 17

Summer in Northern Michigan
5x7 Quick Study

The painting below was painted before the painting above.  Big difference!  I guess I learned what to do and what not to do.  Yea, daily painting.

Day 15 painting
5x7 Quick Study 

Knowing when to stop

"I can't do it never yet accomplished anything; I will try has performed wonders." - George P. Burnham, -writer and editor

Daily Painting: Day 16

5x7 Quick Study

Ugh!  Day 16 and I feel like progress with landscapes is slow. Sometimes I even feel like I'm digressing.  I've painted only a small handful of landscapes my entire life and never felt satisfied with the results but I will not succomb to my frustrations and overly high expectations after all it has only been a few months using this new medium and only a few years painting since my 20 year+ away from painting.  Each time I learn something new or something I do or don't like.  

I also need to learn when to stop.  The timer for 20 minutes went off and I took the above picture.  After looking at the photo on my phone, I noticed a few things I didn't like so I went back in.  I like how I fixed the water line but I continued to add more and fix and add and change and while some things were good, I think I would have been better to stop sooner.

So, today's take away - stop sooner than you think.  Step back or even away from it for a while.  If/when you come back start very slow with only a few strokes at a time.  Take a photo.  I have found looking at your art from a photo shows things you just didn't see at first.

with a few too many heavy handed strokes

If at first you don't succeed

"If at first you don't succeed, try, try again."

I joined a painting challenge.  It was to paint a painting in 20 minutes for 5 days.  First of all, I am finding this scene difficult to begin with.  I've not painted too many scenes with lots of green grass so I am struggling to find the right greens.  Then I'm trying to give the illusion of the path traveling down a hill.  I've been trying to incorporate some of the tips from John Carlson's book Landscape painting, such as warm colors in the foreground and cooler colors in the distance.  I may try this one again and again until I get something I sort of like.  I do see some improvements from the first one.

Daily Painting:  Day 15:

Same scene as yesterday
5x7 Quick Study

Same scene as above - first time painting it
5x7 Quick Study

Seize the Sunday!

For six days, work is to be done, but the seventh day shall be your holy day, a day of sabbath rest to the LORD.  Exodus 35:2

I LOVE to read or perhaps even more than the love of reading is the love of learning.  So, since I had very little to do this glorious Sunday and the weather was dreary, I thought it the perfect chance to read (without falling asleep - seems I always fall asleep when I read at night).  As you will see, I have any number of books to choose from around the house.  I rarely read fiction because I would rather learn than explore the imaginary worlds of non-fiction.  I try to do that when I am creating my art.

My nightstand

My prayer space

family room

As you see, I have books scattered throughout the house and will pick them up for a few minutes here and there, sometimes longer.  I am almost finished reading Matthew Kelly's book called Perfectly Yourself.  I highly recommend, especially if you are seeking to improve your self, simplify your life and find God's will for you and become the best version of your self.

I am also in the middle of John Carlson's book on Landscape Painting.  Another wonderful book.  I had to pull out my highlighter because there is so much useful information, as I am sure I will refer to it often.  At least until these things become second nature to me - which he assures me they will, as long as I keep painting!

I started Van Gogh's Letters after I saw the movie Loving Vincent.  What an amazing movie.  The entire movie is animated oil paintings in the style of Van Gogh.  Incredible and the story is wonderful as well.  I believe it is available to rent now on Demand.  The book is a wonderful insight to the mind of this struggling artist.  I am enjoying it very much.

I'll share more with you as I get to them.  Never stop learning!

Oh and I did paint today too!

Daily Painting:  Day 14:

Today's quick study 5x7

Baby Steps

"Progress: You might not be where you want to be but you're not where you used to be."

Daily Painting: Day 13

St. Anne and blessed mother Mary
Mixed media on UART 500 sanded pastel paper
Work in Progress

Continued progress - slow but steady.  Every mark is a lesson.  I'm using the pastel pencils a lot more than I ever have.  They seem to be easier to use over the acrylic texture that I created on the background.  Which, by the way, I won't likely do again.  I am finding it very frustrating and disruptive to this painting.

I'm thinking I would love to try some gold leaf for a halo around Mary's head. I have no experience with gold foil, however.  I would definitely try it on a smaller similar background to see how and if it adheres.  I'll be sure to share my process here so you can learn right along with me.  Another option, I was thinking, is a gold spray paint.  I'm thinking I would cover everything up except the specific area I want to spray.  Again, will test first and share process and results.