Have you been following on Instagram?

If not, let me catch you up quickly. I entered the 30 Day Strada Easel Challenge to paint or draw each day from life and post daily. I chose to begin the month of September only using black and white. With my Copic Sketch Markers, I used only 3 values in greyscale to sketch. Some days I used pencil. I even tried black and white paint! (see September news) But, by Day 15, I was really missing color in my paintings! That’s when I broke out the red and repainted the hummingbird study (it sold) and more paintings with color followed after that!

What did I learn from this Challenge?
1. Painting is my job. I will show up every day for work.
2. Drawing in grayscale is basic to seeing the darkness or lightness of a color in life. Thumbnail sketches before painting are key!
3. Drawing from life helps me work faster because the conditions change so quickly!
4. Weather influences my art.
5. There are many artists posting on Instagram. Group challenges like this give opportunities to meet wonderful comrades in painting!

Time to pack these daily artworks, 11×14 and smaller, away! If you see one that you like, message me — I will send you a better uncropped photo of the painting so you can see it better, and make you a deal! … I am ready to move on to some BIG Canvases!