Just Keep Painting

Another attempt at the same park scene was a flop. That's okay, this isn't about creating masterpieces but about practice - lots of practice.

What we paint on

To date I've been painting on pieces of 9X12 canvas from a Frederick Canvas Pad. Today I wondered how paper would be different. So I pulled a sheet from my sketch book and used all the left over paint on my palette. The paper felt very dry under the brush -- I didn't care for it. Ian proves to be a good model as he sleeps.

Out and About

Since I began painting I knew I wanted to paint outside. Finally I took to the streets. Not yet brave enough to set up my easel on location -- but I took a few pictures at a nearby park and painted this at home.

Hat or Paint

Trying to focus more on the paint's thickness, I made another attempt at the hat. I like the way the orange background shows through the hat.

Where to start?

I was on such a roll in September when I caved to work and didn't make time for my painting. I wandered around the house today wanting to start, and feeling stalled. Ian has a new hat he fancies so I thought I'd capture it.

Fresh Start

I need to face, square-on, why I haven't painted since September? My original goal when I began painting last summer was to give three solid years of focus to learning the craft and then to assess my progress. For this to happen, I can't let my day job take over my life -- a common theme in my life. I'm a hard worker, I just need to stay focused on my art -- after giving my employer his fair due. [I'm writing this entry on July 1, 2008 - today I will be uploading photographs of most paintings I've completed since January and writing a blog note with each.]