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.

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

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

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.

It's a Love/Hate thing

" I had a mother who taught me there is no such thing as failure.  It is just a temporary postponement of success." -Buddy Ebsen, actor

Daily Painting: Day 11

If you saw yesterday's post, you saw the experimentation I was doing with some mixed media on sanded pastel paper - UART 500.  I learned a lot and I had fun, as I always do when I do these kind of playful backgrounds.

So, the experimentation (i.e. learning) continues today.  See the progression below.  This is definitely in the HATE phase right now.  I have found I go through cycles of LOVE (sometimes just LIKE) and then HATE (or really not thrilled).  It's tempting to give up at this stage but I figure I have nothing to lose (except maybe some time) and always something to gain (i.e. a successful painting or at the very least lessons on what went wrong).

I'm really just kind of winging it when I do these portraits in pastel.  I've not had any instruction and pastels are much different than acrylics.  I'm definitely NOT in my comfort zone.  So, come along and get uncomfortable (and learn) with me.

sketch with soft charcoal (easy to erase)

 blocking in darkest values
LIKE it stage

WIP  unfinished portrait - in the HATE stage
9x12 pastel on mixed media UART 500 paper

Seems a shame that I covered up all of that lovely background, doesn't it? In fact, I think I almost like the second version better.  I was trying to allow some of the background to show through but at some point lost it.  Well, maybe next time.  Let's see what tomorrow brings with this one, shall we?

Do you need approval?

"The best way to get approval is not to need it.  This is equally true in art and business.  And love. And sex.  And just about everything else worth having." -Hugh MacLeod, cartoonist

Daily Painting: Day 9

Remembering Summer Vacation
5x7 Quick Study

Do you need approval?  Why?   Why do we so often seek approval of one sort or another?  Also, whose approval do we seek?  The approval from one is not the same as the approval from another, now is it?  For example, I know my father would look at this painting and probably every other one I've ever made and say, "it's amazing, you are so talented."  He was my biggest fan and I admit it is one reason I miss him so.   It is true I always wanted to please and have the approval of my dear father. However, his approval at least where art is concerned, was not the same as the approval of say a peer, a teacher, a mentor, a art juror.  His was the "unconditional" type of approval that comes out of love and relationship.  That kind of approval should perhaps be the kind we most seek and treasure because its a much deeper, wiser, kinder approval that really can lead to greater encouragement.  Instead we let someone who doesn't really know us, our journey, our process, or our work, judge us. Unfortunately, its that approval or disapproval that we allow to define us.  We can't let others define us according to whether or not they approve of us, or our ways, or our work.  Approval means we are doing something right.  But who is to say what is right?  Just keep doing what you love and you'll have your heart's approval and anything after that is added frosting on the cake.

Do what you love and love what you do!

"Whatever you like doing, do it!  And keep doing it.  Work hard!  In the end, passion and hard work beat out natural talent. (And anyway, if you love what you do, it's not really "work" anyway.) - Pete Docter, animator

Daily Painting - Day 8

Mountain Road 2
5x7 Quick Study

Same inspiration photo as yesterday but different approach.  I lowered the horizon line to put a little more emphasis on the clouds.  I also created the underpainting with cooler colors giving the entire painting a cooler feeling.  Still there is good contrast between warm and cool colors.  I also left out the tree(s) on the right side hoping the mountain range would help balance things out (not sure).

What goes before

"When nothing seems to help, I go look at a stonecutter hammering away at his rock, perhaps a hundred times without as much as a crack showing in it.  Yet at the hundred-and-first blow it will split in two, and I know it was not the last blow that did it, but all that had gone before." -Jacob A. Riis, social activist

Daily Painting:  Day 7

Mountain Road
5x7 Quick Study

This painting is what goes before (see quote above).  I got a little tired of winter scenes so thought I would try something new.  Was somewhat unsure and uncomfortable with this one.  May try it again soon.

Winter Color

"Your attitude is the minds paint brush, it colors every situation."  

Pastel Painting Day 6:

Winter Color
5x7, Quick Study

I LOVE color and looking at all this white stuff, especially on a very overcast grey day, one might lack inspiration.  Where's all the fun colors?  Sunny snowy days are better with shadows etc... but this is when its fun to be an artist with a huge palette of color and a little imagination. Purples, turquoise, blues, yellows, greens and a few neutrals.  Amazing how you can bring a boring scene to life.

It looks like its snowing in this photo but it wasn't.

May you always see the bright, beautiful and vibrant in your life!

Knowing when to stop

"If you decide to run the ball,  just count on fumbling and getting the shit knocked out of you a lot, but never forget how much fun it is just to be able to run the ball." -Jimmy Buffett

Pastel Painting Day 5: I ran the ball with this painting!

When I Grow Up
5x7, Quick Study

Knowing when to stop

It's always difficult for an artist to know when the painting is finished.  Experience has told me that less is more but sometimes you just wonder what if I did this, or added a little of that especially when you're just not completely satisfied with your painting.  Today, I wasn't satisfied.  I was trying to get the lacy white branches on the trees in the distance just right.  Then the foreground was boring so I tried a little bunny.  He didn't turn out.  Then I looked out my studio window and saw this little teeny tiny pine tree that we planted and decided to add it into the painting.  Then it looked lonely, so I added some friends.  I am finding with pastels, it is especially hard to make a change or addition and then "erase" it if it's not right.  Pastels are not as forgiving as some other mediums.  I'm sure it will get easier "to know" with a lot more practice.  But today I decided to run with the ball, perhaps I fumbled and maybe got a little shit knocked out of me but I sure had fun running.  Give it a try!

Failure is Good!

It's hard to hear that, but it is true.  Failure is education (if you don't give up).  It's learning what not to do.
I'm reading a book full of inspirational quotes, "It always seems impossible until it's done." by Kathryn and Ross Petras.  www.amazon.com/Always-Seems-Impossible-Until-Done  I always love a good quote to reflect upon.  So, today's quote is appropriate for today's painting (of which I'm not a fan of).
"I keep on making what I can't do yet in order to learn to be able to do it." - Vincent van Gogh
Daily Painting Day 3:

Quiet House
5x7 Quick Study

I took this picture because of the house in the distance.  I'm always intrigued when I see houses especially out in the middle of nowhere.  I wonder who lives there and what it is like to live there.  I also like the contrast of the hard edge, man-made building next to the natural landscape.

Anyways, it was a very dark, grey day when I took this photo and wanted to change it up from my bright sunny day winter scenes.  It just seems very boring to me (as I am a big fan of bright colors) and I'm not happy at all with the tree in the foreground.  So, that said, I am going to give this one another try tomorrow.