A little nip and tuck!

On the top right, you can see I started corrections and almost forgot to take the "before photo." Well that certainly took a different turn from the start didn't it? This is one of those cases where you are out painting and think, hot dang, this isn't bad. You get home and take a second look and wonder who stole your original work.

Sometimes life is like this little painting. You're walking with your head held high, enjoying the day and fall into a pothole. You just pick up and move on. Lesson learned here is to really look at that sky and composition before diving into those beautiful colors. I'm off to my next painting…what are you going to do? Elsa, Jennifer, Annegirl, Christine, Katy? Additional names to follow.

Visitor

I was about to crop this photo but it looked like one of the "models" was watching from the sideline so it was included. This was a fun little painting 5x7 in oil. Sometimes when just practicing I work out things like color combinations, thickness of paint and design using a still life set up. Sometimes the results are pleasing, sometimes they are a scrub off. This one seemed to come together so I'm off to collect a few more things to try. Stay tuned. Oh, before I go, what are your passions this week and are you painting them? Of course I want to know, so please drop a comment or two.

Oops! Off with MY, head.

I really got enthused about correcting a painting and giving it a new life. Problem was I forgot to take the photo of the old one until I was almost finished. Let me tell you what I did so you have an idea where this poor puppy was. Added the blue gray trees at the top, I had a road up there, dumb idea, then I brighten the trees middle ground and put additional color and made the foreground have visible brushstrokes. Originally, it looked like a cemetery plot for sale. Honestly! Next goal is photo's before new life. So, what are you doing with your time this week?

Clouds from my window

When we are not in the middle of gray and rain here in Seattle, we have the most beautiful cloud structures. I open my eyes in the morning and the first thing I see is sky, water and trees. Nice huh? My thoughts are always, that would make a very nice little painting. Well, while I haven't exactly made New Year resolutions, one of my goals is to do more paintings with clouds. Stay tuned! Meanwhile, what are you going to do? Drop me a line and fill me in.

Evening

If you really want to learn about values, try painting in the late evening. What a challenge. Every thing is dark yet, you want to show some color and light direction. I will not post many evening paintings, why? Don't like to stay up too late. I'm a happy morning person. Speaking of happy, I hope the New Year brings you much happiness and good health.