too many mediums...

Today as I began the oil underpainting for a beach path scene in pastel, I was amazed to find an affinity for oil that I didn't know I had. It was so much fun to work in that medium again - I found myself painting longer than usual at the underpainting stage. It made me want to paint in oil again. Too many mediums, too little time.

#5 and the reference photo

This time it is acrylic over an ochre gesso ground. I'd love to continue playing with this medium but I need to return to pastel for upcoming spring shows. I'm including the one reference photo used for this week's acrylic experiments.

aha! moment

When I worked exclusively in colored pencil, the paper surface was critical to the outcome of my art. Then, I started working in pastel and again, found the surface was all-important. I am still finding my way with oil and don't have a favorite surface yet but one would think that SURFACE would be on my mind. Apparently not because I have been playing all week (without a lot of enthusiasm) with acrylic on canvas panel.

Today I finally had an aha! moment and switched from canvas to a paper surface. I'm much happier with the result. I have one more surface idea then tomorrow, I'll post the reference photo for the experiments of the week. 9 x 12 inches, acrylic on paper

bye bye sky

Another try with one brush, glazes and hopefully, more spontaneity. In the end, I wiped away all the sky that wasn't dry which left just a hint of the mountains. 9 x 12 inches, acrylic.

one brush instead of four

Acrylic again. Same reference photo, a little different composition. Today I used only one brush (#10 Connoisseur white taklon flat) and thin glazes to start. Yesterday, trying to find my way, I used four different size brushes. 9 x 12 inches, acrylic on canvas panel.

seven months later

It has been seven months since I first painted with acrylics. Today is my second try. I'm going on faith that I'll be able to get softer edges if I become better acquainted with this new-for-me medium. I may continue throughout the week using the same reference photo. 9 x 12 inches, acrylic on canvas panel.

late night color

Tonight, "Lavender Sky 2." So much color just before bedtime...wonder what that will do to my dreams?

back to pastel

Today it is "Lavender Sky." My afternoon attempt to get back to painting in my studio with pastel instead of painting the interior walls of our house. After the red kitchen (Behr New Brick), I moved on to the great room (Ralph Lauren Lincolnshire Olive). I'm done with walls for now.

Meanwhile, we're still looking for retirement property on Lake Sawyer or Lake Morton in Washington State. Anyone know someone there who wants to sell?

almost there

Here's a shot of the spaghetti sauce kitchen walls. Cabinet hardware is on order but I'm ready to move on from this project.

Good advice from my chiropractor this morning:
"Dreams are free; dream BIG."

side-tracked by spaghetti sauce

It has been a struggle this week to get into the studio to paint - lots of other things going on. Today was going to be the day but then the spaghetti sauce thing happened. I was cleaning up after dinner; I put the left over spaghetti sauce in a quart jar and headed for the refrigerator. But the color of the sauce was so beautiful I just stood in the kitchen holding the jar. The next thing I knew, I was on a mission to update the kitchen by painting the walls that color. One thing led to another and today was spent in major cleaning to get ready to paint the kitchen. The whole pantry needed to be rearranged to accommodate all the stuff from the counter tops and the collection of teapots, candlesticks, and water pitchers from above the cabinets. Tomorrow I'll buy the paint. I've been side-tracked by spaghetti sauce.

day's ease

What better time to paint a colorful late summer hillside than a rainy Sunday evening, the first day of March?
10.5 x 10.5 inches, pastel on paper