Confession and new paintings...

Marina at Dusk

24x24

acrylic on cradled panel

Night Swim

8x8

acrylic on cradled panel

It really was my intention to paint everyday this month even if it meant painting consistently on one painting versus 30 paintings. So here is my confession...I DIDN'T DO IT! You know how it is, life gets in the way. So I apologize to anyone who had that expectation. On the bright side, I have been busy this weekend. I finished up on 2 paintings. They will be part of the upcoming "Night Light" show at Studio Gallery.

A special shout out to Els Manning for letting me use this image of her daughter Aubri! You can follow Els on Instagram. I am there too!

Day 11

Staedtler Fine Point pen

I work full time as a dialysis social worker. Whenever a patient has a successful surgery for their access and gets their catheter taken out we give them a little "shower gift". The little rubber ducky and soap is part of it. When the catheter gets taken out, its safe to shower again! So this is why its my lunch time sketch. I have these in my office. The pens too!

See the "30 in 30"

Days 9 and 10

drawing with pen

I know of many artists who sketch before deciding on a painting. If you ever meet up with Tim Horn ask to see his sketches. Peggi Kroll Roberts has beautiful contour drawings of figures. Their studies are fantastic. I am trying to get into better habits and one of them is sketching. Drawing is a very basic skill that is an essential element to a painting. I have heard many critiques on paintings that point to an incorrect drawing. I can tell what I am going to need to work on here!

To see the "30 in 30" click here.

Days 4 through 8, "Bobbing for Pumpkins"

16x12

acrylic on cradled panel

I think I am done. I continue to paint everyday, That is my challenge for these 30 days in January. I have been in love with this image for a long time. I will be taking this into my critique class with Tim Horn in the next 2 weeks. I won't be putting my signature on until then. I have 3 other paintings that I am working on and I have a life drawing/painting session coming up next weekend. In short, more to come!

Click here to see other works in the "30 in 30".

Days 2 and 3

16x12

acrylic on cradled panel

This is what I have been working on for the last 2 days.(Progress shot). My nephew Mason was "Bobbing for Pumpkins"

I probably won't post again til the weekend.Thank you for being here and have a great week!

Check out the "30 in 30" challenge.

Happy 2017 and "January 30 Days of Painting"

I signed up for Leslie Saeta's "30 in 30" Challenge this month. I am doing it differently this time around.  The last challenge was held in September and I used all 30 paintings for a show at the Harrington Gallery in Pleasanton, CA. Thank you to those who came out and saw the exhibit and to those who purchased my work! So back to my January challenge. I will be painting everyday but not on 30 separate paintings. I will be working on paintings that I am getting ready for shows, competitions and commissions. I still hope to get a lot of mileage to better my skills. I won't be posting everyday but rather periodically for finished or significant progress shots.

 This is a painting that I am working on "Cat on the Table". I started it several weeks ago but worked on it for Day 1. This is a scene from my cousin's kitchen. She fosters cats and finds them new homes. They kind of have the run of the house as you can see. The cat's name is "Seven" the shape of the stripe on it's back.