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!

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 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 4

I almost feel like I should be writing bios for these chickens......

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

Thirty Paintings in 30 Days - Day 3

Still in the barnyard - check'in out the chicken coop.....

'Toots'
6"X12"
Acrylic mixed media on birch panel

Landscape Experiments

Trying out some new ideas and experimenting with some different approaches to landscape painting. Purchasing the canvas packs from Michaels - makes them less precious and gives more of a 'go for it' approach to painting. Not everything works but you don't know until you try!

'The fields are harvested and fall has arrived'
8"X10"
Acrylic mixed media on canvas 

Back to Painting....Again

It has been a long break from painting, posting, commenting. I needed it - was feeling overwhelmed with social media, had just finished an intense two week open studio workshop the end of June (I know.....that was months ago!!) - totally drained and not sure which direction to go with my painting. Still not completely sorted out, but gradually getting back into the routine. A one day workshop in July - 8 interpretive landscape paintings (10"X10" each) in a day! No more than 8-10 minutes for each painting, which was a good thing altho' it is still possible to 'overthink' in that short a time! A busy fall so whether I like it or not back to the easel - and it is good to be 'getting back'!

'Henry'

7"X7", acrylic mixed media on paper

'The south country is parched'

10"X7", acrylic mixed media on paper

'Ageing Gracefully'

8"X8"; acrylic mixed media on paper

'Ginger'

12"X12"; acrylic mixed media on canvas

The Art of Practice

I am a convert of the practice of daily painting! Having said that - I haven't been doing the quick paint/sketch the past couple of months. I am painting but working on bigger pieces that are somewhat labour intensive and really stretching my creative 'muscles'. Don't get me wrong I enjoy working on these larger pieces but I find doing the smaller, less time consuming painting gets my creative juices flowing - 'what ifs', experimenting with colour and mark making - just so much fun, is freeing and there is no right or wrong!! This practice helps keep my larger studio work fresh and exciting. It certainly boosts the energy level that I bring to the canvas.

All of the sketches are 8 1/2"X11" and are acrylic mixed media on 90lb paper. All painted today. Not a lot of detail and not 'pretty' but I am trying to capture a feeling of freedom and energy in these studies. Something that I think has been missing from my work lately.