Day 29

Today I did a quick sketch of these pliers and then set off to work on another piece slightly bigger and in a different style.  I have been experimenting lately with a couple of styles to see which I like better and with the hopes of sticking to one style for a while.

8x10 oil on wood panel

Day 27

Can't say much about this one... it is still in progress may pick at it more tomorrow perhaps.

Day 25 - nailed it?

Didn't quite nail it... quick oil sketch of my favourite picture hanging hammer.  Lee Valley tools are awesome!

oil on cardboard panel 8x12

Day 24

I literally set the timer on this one - weekends are too busy.  60 minute quick sketch in oil paint on black gesso paper of my FAVOURITE tool - my kitchen aid mixer.  I may return to this mixer again and spend some time doing a proper oil painting of it.  It's 20 years old this year - still going strong.

Day 23

Went fast and simple with this one hour painting for Day 23.

8x8 oil on panel

Day 22 - too much

Here are some don'ts for daily painting - DO NOT choose a complex subject, do not choose a canvas much bigger than 8x10 and do not pick a day when you have several other important tasks to complete.  

Why I chose a sailboat to try to squeeze in as my painting today I am not sure.  In the 2 1/2 hrs I tackled this I felt rushed and dissatisfied fairly quickly and have called it quits.  I think I will stick to tools, fruit and simple objects and will try a better, slower paced boat when I have a couple days / week.

12x16 oil on black gesso canvas

Day 21

8x8 oil on canvas - last run

Trying to catch some more shadow colour on the snow, from a photo of a late afternoon run in Jasper.

Warming up

The weather has been rather chilly here, but when you live in a cold climate YOU MUST get out and enjoy it or you will go mad!  We had a beautiful sunny day yesterday and spent it outdoors with friends and family   We had a fire and picnic - it was so cold the quinoa salad froze first as we ate it, then the bean salad soon after, potato salad stood up a bit longer.  Hot chocolate was essential, the marshmallow is just a sweet extra.

8x8 oil on canvas

#15 - Portrait

Went back to my tried and true first love of portrait painting for Day 15 of the 30 day challenge.  I am still working on this but need to post before I have to run off to take care of other essential things that need doing.

8x10 oil on canvas panel

Day 13

Very quick oil on panel for day #13 - my rusty paint scraper.

Day 12 - Finishing up

Today's painting time was spent working on finishing up my Backyard Rink start - got rid of some trees, changed some background.  I am almost done, aside from some tweaking of values and sky.  Tried doing an extra 1 hour painting but only had 1/2 hour before running off to get kids, dinner and head for a meeting-so it got scrubbed.

12x12 - oil on canvas

#8 - The Crime Scene

8x10 oil on wood panel

This is my 1 hour painting for Day 8 of the 30 in 30 days challenge.  I am not sure why but the title 'Crime Scene' came to mind, like these 2 tomato detectives are checking out the poor carved up tomato slice... sorry too much netflix BBC crime dramas!

Day 4 - return to beach

Today I attempted a quick one hour painting for Day 4 of 30 in 30 days challenge.  Had a major disaster and it was wiped off after a spill of turpentine, so I am posting a very recent quick painting - the beach in Hawaii instead.  

8x10 oil on panel

I got a start on the next painting in my winter series and am feeling good about it.  Once it's dry will start with some colour tomorrow.

11x14 underpainting