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.