2023 - Strada Easel Challenge Day 4 - Beige Tea Pot with Mum/Charcoal

 Day 4 #stradaeasel

Finally working with this little tea pot. I had it for years thinking I'll put it in my paintings. I did these three little value drawing/sketches in soft charcoal to see it in different lighting sources - Top light, Room ambient light, Side light. Getting the value patterns was important, but a bit vague and very sketchy with the soft charcoal so I can easily brush it away before painting. I hope you can still get a sense of the light. 

I usually paint with more dramatic color, but in this one the tea pot is beige with some darker markings, the backdrop is a greenish gray, and the flower is an artificial beige mum - so quite neutral without strong contrast. 

Unfinished Sketches/Studies - NFS
Beige Tea Pot with Mum
©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

2023 - Strada Easel Challenge Day 2 - Dried Hydrangea in Gold and Brown Vase

 #stradaeasel

Day 2 #stradaeasel  

I have to ponder a bit about how I've been trained to paint fast-Alla Prima, but actually prefer a slower more methodical approach as in a Direct Approach with a few layers, but not the Classical or Indirect painting that is highly technical. I love all three, but my temperament is somewhere in the middle. 

Unfinished Block in  - NFS
Dried Hydrangea in Gold and Brown Vase 
Oil on Canvas Sheet
©2023

2023 - Strada Easel Challenge Day 1 - Hot Chocolate

My painting discipline has been waning for awhile now so going to start the new year 2023 with the January strada.easel challenge to get back on track. Strada runs this challenge a couple times per year and gives away 5 easels of  choice via a random drawing from the qualifying participants. The ruless must be followed by registering, posting a painting each day of the month,  January 1-31.

These posts will be short and used as a means to share and record the activity. Paintings and drawings may or may not be finished. I will also be posting on instagram at #studio.campagna .   

If interested in their product, you can visit Strada Easel at this link.

Day 1 #stradeeasel - Hot Chocolate - block in:

Unfinished Block in - NFS
Hot Chocolate
6x8 Oil on Raymar Canvas Panel
©2023