Day 89

Had to make a quick painting today so I chose some old cans from my garage. The cans were bent and had loose lids. Instead of fixing the lids I decided to try and catch them in the painting. What else can I say? They are cans!

Day 88

Took a photograph of the sunrise over lake Erie. I tried to play with my technique as I painted today by leaving things loose, unblended and incorporating some broad hatching.

Day 87

Made this painting of the marsh next to lake Erie in Luna Pier. It was a beautiful, peaceful, and perfect experience as I was surrounded by grass reeds blowing in the wind. That is the perfect music to paint to.

Day 86

Painted this portrait as a commission. I love taking things back to basics with black and white and really looking at something. Taking color out of the equation can be so liberating but so challenging at the same time.

Day 85

Speedy Bird- I have been saving this image for quite a long time. I decided to paint it today from a friend of a friends online images. I get really excited to paint and start to visualize what I am going to do. I think bird, bird, bird. So I try to open the image and I cant open it any larger then about 2 x 2 inches! I really wanted to paint this so I gave it whirl from my tiny reference photo. I could only work for about half an hour before deciding that the image is too small.

Day 84

So I was minding my own business walking through my local Kroger when my mind was baffled by this amazing blue orchid. Did I say blue? I meant electric blue. This orchid is just beautiful. I had no idea how they made this (is it just dyed?) but I am fascinated because I tend to collect orchids. So I bought it as a gift but decided that I had to paint it before I gave it away. I ended up loving the painting nearly as much as the flower.

Day 83

This is a painting created from a photograph taken at the botanical gardens in Toledo, Ohio. The gardens there are beautiful and this arbor in particular is breathtaking. I went there last weekend and took pictures to paint from. Things still have not really greened up but it was interesting to catch the scenery before the green takes over.

Day 82

Tonight I let my mom set up my still life for me. It is interesting to see what others find for you to paint. I may have to do this again. The bottles were fun!

Day 81

This bonsai tree is the newest addition to my collection. It is an umbrella tree and is my first true indoor bonsai. I selected this tree to paint today because of its interesting twisting trunk. Throughout the trees life, and mine for that matter, I hope to paint this over and over again.

Day 80

I painted these boats in Luna Pier, Michigan. The day started off with bright sunshine but by the time I was ready to paint there was cloud cover everywhere. I still decided to paint this interesting sight despite the lack of light. I found the ropes and the texture of the boats create an interesting composition. Perhaps it would be nice to recreate this as a textural painting in oils at a later date.

Day 79

This painting was made in Botkins, Ohio. I have always had a fascination with train tracks and I finally had the opportunity to paint them plein air for the second time in my life. I was only chased away by one passing train.

Day 78

I did the mad dash today to stumble along and find something beautiful to paint. Also the hard part is finding somewhere to park nearby and to be comfortable with the surroundings. I found these three trees and thought they had so much character. Again I tried to keep things loose and spontaneous. They were by the Batelle Darby Metro Park on the west end. The weather was perfect today, crisp cool and sunny.

Day 77

Today I painted a single fresh rose. I tried to keep things loose when I painted today and to really use my entire arm and shoulder when I painted. Had fun with it and cant believe that 77 days have passed since I first started this challenge.

Day 76

Today I painted after work again. This time it was the field behind and there was much better light. This was a challenge because of how similar the landscape colors were. It felt great to be outside in the wind stretching my art legs again though.

Day 75

Today I painted a view from the back of my work. This was a quick plein air study because it was chilly and I had on dress clothes. Will revisit at another time.

Day 74

This is the final portrait for my commission. I loved how bright this girls eyes are and how cheerful her face is.

Day 73

Today I painted two portraits for commission. The one of the baby is started and needs more work. Cant believe I painted two in one day after work. I have the art fever I guess.

Day 72

Today I started work on the final draft of a commission. This girl was really interesting to paint especially because of her hair.

Day 71

Today I painted an alley in German Village. It was challenging because all of the buildings were white but I loved the shadows.

Day 70

Today I painted my brothers dog Snoopy. His expression was priceless and he always looked so dramatic.

Day 69

So last night was a late one. I got home really late and was exhausted. Luckily Emily gave me this new bonsai so I was inspired to paint it. Half hour study.

Day 68

Todays painting was done as a commission. The photograph was perfect to work from and the subject matter was bliss.

Day 67

Today I really struggled with this one. Once again I had very little time to paint today so I had to do a quickie. All was going just fine until there was an issue with the face. So, I decided to stop for the night, as it was really late already, and just post the painting. Yes, I am hiding my mistakes, and no, it doesnt bother me. Day 67 down the hatch!

Day 66

Today I only had about 30 minutes to paint so I chose a flower and kept it simple.

Day 65

Today I was wondering what to paint as I traveled upstairs to my studio. I saw my stupid uncomfortable heels and said to myself "Hello shoes of death, you sure do hurt my feet... but you look kind of pretty in this light." I love it when my art brain takes over. Simple shoe painting to celebrate day 65.

Day 64

Here is my final painting for the Art at the Arnold. It is of a model who was being painted at a booth specializing in body painting in the EXPO center. He was looking down watching her paint him and I just love the patient look on his downward face. This painting just felt right from start to finish despite the fact that I was making it for a competition and nervous about performing. I ended up winning second place in the competition for this painting.

Day 63

This painting is from the first day of the Arnold. We had a live model who is a world champion fighter. I found it hard to focus the first day with the media frenzy but glad that I had the opportunity to perform in public and make SOMETHING.

Lost Day

Somewhere along the way I missed a posting. So, here is day 60 something. It is of a sunrise on the frozen lake Erie.

Day 61

Well today was great and then it was a mess. I had this perfect night scene photograph just calling my name but when I got into my studio and picked up my layout brown pastel I just asked myself, "what are you doing!" I put down the pastel and scanned for the picture that was me today. This barn spoke to me so I decided to do it. So glad  did.

Day 60

So today was mechanical. I needed to do something totally opposite from portraiture so I found this wheel hub in my garage to paint. I used to have an eye for mechanical beauty but it has been lost for a long time. So todays painting is a throwback to my former self in hopes that it can be revived one day. AND ITS DAY 60!