2023 Strada Easel Challenge Day 18 - Orange and Reds Study

 Day 18 #stradaeasel

Thought I'd take a break from all the green today. I've been working with a flat brush, but I think I'll go with a filbert on the next round object I paint.

Study with Orange and Reds - NFS
Oil on canvas sheet 
©2023

2023 Strada Easel Challenge Day 16 - Old Aquaintance

Day 16 #stradaeasel

Hump Day for the Month of January!! Shifted gears a bit today and painted something more familiar. Apples!! These have been sitting awhile and honestly ready for the trash, but thought they needed a reason to exist since they are no long edible. Glad I did the painting.

Quick study - NFS
Old Acquaintance
Oil on canvas sheet
©2023    

2023 Strada Easel Challenge Day 15 - Blue Teacup

Day 15 #stradaeasel 

Worked more on the blue floral teacup and didn't feel so rushed today for some reason. I still consider it unfinished, but will start something new tomorrow. Each day that I discover an obstacle I faced I've been trying to do a setup that invites me to work on the skill more the next day. You know the drill two steps forward one step back. The wonderful thing about it, is I think I'm beginning to look at painting in a new way that's more interesting to me.

Unfinished - NFS
Blue Floral Teacup
Oil on canvas sheet
©2023

2023 Strada Easel Challenge - Day 14 - Blue Floral Teacup

 Day 14 #stradaeasel

No special history on this cup and saucer. It's just a new start for the challenge. I took a bit more time to do the setup today, but kept it simple. Another benefit of doing this daily challenge is I'm finding the skill areas that need the most work. Gives me something to look forward to when I'm working on my painting skills  after the challenge. Actually looking forward to it - love learning!

Unfinished Block in - NFS
Blue Floral Teacup
Oil on canvas sheet 
©2023

2023 Strada Easel Challenge - Day 13 - Grandma's Old Brown Teapot

 Day 13 #stradaeasel

Today, I just swapped out the teapot from yesterday and left the background - not good. I honestly need to work on a better setup with more color harmony, but I got a late start and had to get something posted to stay in the challenge. I'll do this one again, just not sure when.

This teapot is older than I am. It's a Price Kensington from England and belonged to my Grandmother. 

Something I'm realizing about painting everyday without much time to actually work on a setup. When it's not working very well, but there's not time to improve things - ya just have to let go of the ego and throw something together - fail, but learn something, and make the deadline. 

Unfinished - NFS 
Grandma's Old Brown Teapot
Oil on canvas sheet
©2023

2023 Strada Easel Challenge - Day 12 - Tetsukyusu - Unfinished

Day 12 #stadaeasel 

Today was a very  l l o o n n g g g g day. Doctor's and helping daughter along with usual house todo's. So  the value study was all I could muster. I'm glad I did it though because I better understand the challenges I'll face when I actually get to paint it. 

Another unexpected benefit of doing the strada easel challenge is I haven't been obsessed or overly concerned about making mistakes like I use to be. I know I have to work for a couple hours (at least) and get the result posted no matter what!! 

Value Study Pastel - Unfinished - NFS
Tetsukyusu 
Pastel on drawing paper
©2023

It's a new Japanese teapot that I bought for myself because it is so cool. It's called a Tetsukyusu - made of cast iron and lined with enamel. The decoration is embossed and it is heavy. Inside is a removable tea infuser and I thought the trivet was a nice addition. 

Here's a photo of the set up I threw together because I was running out of time. Need more contrast when I attempt the actual painting.

Tetsukyusu

2023 Strada Easel Challenge - Day 11 - Keepsake Japanese Vase - Unfinished

 Day 11 #stradaeasel

This was not an easy task and one that will require a do-over, but I learned something from the effort. 

Process on this one was rushed so I didn't make a grid before beginning - the vase is 2.5 in. in life, but in the painting it's 3.25 in. so keeping all the little facets in the vase in proportion was the challenge. If I'd done a drawing in conte' first to see what I could edit out and still do it justice might have made my life easier. The detail looks a little fussy and the flower is larger than I'd like, so it is another area that I'd like to take more time with now that I am familiar with the arrangement. I think it will go easier when I attempt it again.

Tomorrow will be a busy day, so I will choose something less detailed to paint.

Unfinished - NFS
Keepsake Japanese Vase
6x6 Oil on Canvas Sheet
©2023

2023 Strada Easel Challenge - Day 10 - Keepsake Japanese Vase - Block In

 Day 10 # stradaeasel

This miniature Japanese vase (2.5" high) has been with me since 1953 gifted to me by my 3rd grade teacher Ms.Trudeau. She introduced the class to Oriental culture and their art has been interesting to me ever since.

Will work more on this tomorrow.

Block in Unfinished - NFS
Keepsake Japanese Vase
Oil on canvas sheet
©2023

2023 Strada Easel Challenge - Day 9 - Tea Pot w/Bamboo Handle

 Day 9 #stradaeasel

Decided to work with this tea pot still life a little more today. Cleaned up the drawing a bit, but the tricky part was to get the design on without losing the volume. Still could use some work, but I think it's time to move on to the next object. 

I'm actually discovering more about process going through this #stradaeasel exercise. I'm more aware of choices I am making.

Unfinished - NFS
Tea Pot w/Bamboo Handle
Oil on Canvas Sheet
©2023

2023 Strada Easel Challenge - Day 8 - Tea Pot w/Bamboo Handle

Day 8 #stradaeasel

The Strada Easel January Challenge is having a positive effect on my attitude. Got up this morning looking forward to another day of block-in. That hasn't happened for quite some time. 

This one I used the palette knife in a few areas. I really wanted to finish it so maybe will work on it again tomorrow. Whenever I go to a thrift store I look for still life stuff like this one. 

Unfinished Block in - NFS
Tea Pot w/Bamboo Handle
Oil on Canvas Sheet
©2023

2023 Strada Easel Challenge - Day 7 - Oval Vase with Orchid

 Day 7 #stradaeasel

Decided to try something a little different today, but will be going back to the tea pot later this month.

This had a similar concept to the previous oil sketches working with light and how the arrangements work with lighter-darker, warmer-cooler, and intensity-greyed color backgrounds and foregrounds.  

What I love about this painting challenge is that I'm getting back into a rhythm and feel productive again. 

I made it a whole week!!! 

Unfinished - NFS
Oval Pot with Orchid
Oil on Canvas Sheet
©2023

2023 Strada Easel Challenge - Day 6 - Tea Pot with Rust Mum/Oil

 Day 6 #stradaeasel

Had to work on this tea pot again and change it up a bit. I am happier with the result as it has more visual interest. 

Remember when you were learning your alphabet, and had to repeat the letters over and over again? Well, that's what painting is like as you go through the learning process, and why I choose to repeat the same subjects with different arrangements, lighting, color, etc. It also allows me to get really familiar with an object that has difficult lines, angles and curves. 

So while still unfinished, here is today's result. 

Block in Unfinished - NFS
Tea Pot with Rust Mum
oil on canvas sheet
©2023

2023 - Strada Easel Challenge Day 5 - Beige Tea Pot with Mum/Oil

 Day 5 #stradaeasel

This is a continuation exploring light with the Beige Tea Pot. I changed the background in preference to a higher contrast to the foreground subjects giving deeper shadows. Will continue with this one and push some of the color notes in the subject. 

Unfinished Block in - NFS
Beige Pot with Mum in Oil
©2023

2023 - Strada Easel Challenge Day 3 - Ruby Red Vase 2023

Day 3 #stradaeasel

I'm diligently working on ellipses - and related oval forms. It's getting a little better to see the actual shape of the oval - it's symmetrical of course, yet my eyes are not set perfectly so I'm learning to compensate; and my steadiness of hand will improve as I practice. Viewing things backwards in a mirror helps too - a lot!

Unfinished Block in - NFS
Ruby Red Vase 
©2023

Turban Squash - Still Life

This was getting back to my usual palette - and all I can say is what a difference. It shouts in comparison. Lots of fun to paint. Could end up in the oven...

Turban Squash - SOLD
6 x 6 Oil on Canvas Panel
© 2013

Nutcracker Pony

This little painting is the last Christmas image for the year. The nutcracker was a gift back in 2007 and actually sits much taller, but I wanted it to look more compact to fit better in the 6x6 format. The result reminds me of a childlike image.

I improvised the background to create visual interest for the space, and the actual colors of the pony are more saturated than the image suggests.

The lines you see are reflections because the paint is still wet, and are not so obvious in the real painting.

Nutcracker Pony - SOLD
6x6 Oil on Canvas Panel
© 2012

Red Sleigh and White Poinsettia

Red Sleigh and Poinsettia - SOLD
6x6 Oil on Canvas Panel
© 2012

I've been planning to paint a few Christmas images this year and now that Thanksgiving is past, I managed to get one done this week. 

I was kinda blown away by the brightness and warmth of the red sled. Usually green will enhance red, but this red didn't need enhancing... I decided the cooler white in the poinsettia would emphasize just how bright and warm it is.  Merry Christmas!