Just When You Think You Are Done!

These cats are toying with me....just when you think you are done...

'Mae'
6"X6"
Acrylic mixed media on birch panel 

Not every picture gets a name right away, especially this rascal!!

'That Cat'
6"X6"
Acrylic mixed media on birch panel 

Another Cat....

'Prue'
6"X6"
Acrylic mixed media on birch panel 

I imagine Prue to be in her senior years, tiny and very, very soft!

Still on Track

Well, here it is Day 2 of my month of cats.....still on track.....I know, I know it is only Day 2....

'Murphy'
6"X6"
Acrylic mixed media on birch panel 

Still not sure about the 'blue' background but it does make Murphy 'pop'!!

Being First

Hmmm....Being First.....a good thing or a not so good thing? I suppose it depends on what you are 'first' for perhaps.

It just doesn't seem right not to start off the new year with some daily painting. I am hoping to paint 30 this month and get back into painting mode after taking most of December off.

I think young Mouse is not too happy with being first. He would have preferred to be further down the line after I had some practice with other members of his family!

'Mouse'
6"X6"
Acrylic mixed media on birch panel 

2018 was a year full of all that life has to offer. Joy & laughter, sadness and doubt. Lots of painting, art workshops, a parent's health issues, my own chronic back pain, good books and lots of studio time both inside and outdoors. Joining an art co-op and having a space to show and sell my work and have my own shows - maybe Mouse will like being part of that! I am learning to slow down and appreciate what I have! And I am ever so grateful for you - who take the time to visit here. 

Thirty Paintings in 30 Days Chicken Collage

Here they are.....30 of 'The Fairest Fowl'!

Learned a lot from these chickens and had fun painting them. I hope you enjoy them and congratulations on your Thirty Paintings in 30 Days!

New Work

Along with the Thirty Paintings in 30 days for September, I have been getting ready for the Bragg Creek Art Festival. A large art show and sale at the local community centre, outdoor painting events and lots of musical entertainment are all part of the week long event. 

I was finishing off some larger paintings for the show and sale - painting edges, varnishing, photographing and the list goes on. It was a great weekend for the arts in our community and always exciting to share new work at these events.

'Fall Skiff'
24"X30"
Acrylic mixed media on canvas

'Indigo Skies and Prairie Gold'
24"X24"
Acrylic mixed media on birch panel

'Fall at the Marsh'
20"X20"
Acrylic mixed media on birch panel 

Thirty Chickens...

Well, didn't make a chicken a day for the thirty days of September.....but, I do have thirty chickens finished October 1!

Just too much going on, but I am still excited to have '30 Fairest Fowl' to add to my collection.

Many thanks to all of you who took the time to check them out and leave a comment - your feedback is always appreciated. And to all of you who participated in the September Thirty congratulations on making time to paint.

'Sparkle'
5"X5"
Acrylic mixed media on birch panel
Day 26

'Frizzle'
5"X5"
Acrylic mixed media on birch panel
Day 27

'Violetta'
5"X5"
Acrylic mixed media on birch panel
Day 28

'Henny & Penny'
5"X5"
Acrylic mixed media on birch panel
Day 29

'Radcliffe'
5"X5"
Acrylic mixed media on birch panel
Day 30

Thirty Paintings in 30 Days - Day 25

Say hello to the lovely Lemon!

'Lemon'
5"X5"
Acrylic mixed media on birch panel
 

Thirty Paintings in 30 Days - Day 24

'Lottie'
5"X5"
Acrylic mixed media on birch panel
 

Maybe not the diva of the hen house, but Lottie's 'life experience' probably makes her pretty close to the wisest hen in the coop.

Thirty Paintings in 30 Days - Day 23

'Paloma'
5"X5"
Acrylic mixed media on birch panel 

Thirty Paintings in 30 Days - Day 22

Ahhh, yes....the lovely Carmen - the diva of this flock! At least on Day 22....

'Carmen'
5"X5"
Acrylic mixed media on birch panel 

Thirty Paintings in 30 Days - Day 21

This 'guy' has been waiting & waiting & waiting to get into the lineup. As you can see he is a bit put off, but deep down he really is just a big softy!

'Herb'
5"X5"
Acrylic mixed media on birch panel 

Thirty Paintings in 30 Days - Day 20

A 'fashion runaway' or some of the most beautiful plumage you have ever seen. The world of exotic chickens offers endless variety that you couldn't possible make up in your wildest dreams! Delia is fashioned after a French breed of chicken known as the Mottled Houdan. Her extravagant feathering at times obscures her eyes but she doesn't mind as she feels it adds a touch of mystery to her personality.

'Delia'
5"x5"
Acrylic mixed media on birch panel 

Thirty Paintings in 30 Days - Day 19

I haven't said a lot about the chickens - they have presented their challenges but I am really enjoying painting them! I have been trying to vary their 'poses' and hope that it has provided some variety. Someone asked me if I was running out of ideas and the answer to that is  .....NO!! There are so many different chickens out there and so many different colour combinations to be explored - besides I think this group of 'Fairest Fowl' are enjoying their not so typical plumage. Most of all I hope you are enjoying these '30 days of Chickens'!

'Amber'
5"X5"
Acrylic mixed media on birch panel 

Thirty Paintings in 30 Days - Day 18

Hmmm.....not quite what I had envisioned....but these 'chicks' seem to have a mind of their own!

'Sal'
5"X5"
Acrylic mixed media on birch panel 

Thirty Paintings in 30 Days - Day 17

'Cinnamon'
5"X5"
Acrylic mixed media on birch panel 

Back on track with the daily painting. The chickens are great for practicing a variety of things - colour theory, underpainting, mark making, composition, design, 'practicing' drawing (never do enough of that!) .....but... they really are just fun to paint!

Thirty Paintings in 30 Days - Day 16

'Bunty'
5"X5"
Acrylic mixed media on birch panel 

Thirty Paintings in 30 Days - Day 15

'Brown Betty'
5"X5"
Acrylic mixed media on birch panel 

Thirty Paintings in 30 Days - Day 14

'Ming'
8"X8"
Acrylic mixed media on canvas
 

Lot of leftover paint from Day 13 and just couldn't let it go to waste! Limited palette but there it is - less is more. Ming was not planned just a very rough sketch on the canvas and let whimsey do the rest. Touches of 'vermillion' and soot black - materials an ancient Chinese artist might have used and perhaps a feather brush! Maybe a place of honour at an artist's table offering inspiration and encouragement.....Only Ming knows....

Thirty Paintings in 30 Days - Day 13

'Pepper'
5"X5"
Acrylic mixed media on birch panel 

The next 3 weekends are going to be a bit of a crunch....3 day workshop starting tomorrow (abstracting the landscape - certainly a departure from chickens), plein aire festival next weekend and then the last weekend of September is our local art festival....lots of music, food and an art show and sale. I really have been spending too much time on the chickens and not enough on the larger pieces for the show.....I just can't help myself.....'must paint a chicken' seems to be a bit of a mantra in my studio these days.