I've been finally getting more time back in the studio, and some plein aire as well.   With such great fall weather, its mighty hard not to spend as much time as possible outside but I needed to get some of the Dog Days pieces going.  

First up is Jake, a lab who was a rescue and became a very much loved fella.   I love hearing clients talk about their animals, and it truly helps in the painting of them.   I keep in mind what the client has said and try to put that into the painting.  

"Jake"   12x16 pastel on navy colorfix

The client wanted a rustic frame and we went with this barnboard style--its a bit more grey in real life.   

Since Jake was approved yesterday, I took today to go sketching.   I wanted to catch some photos of this huge moon we have now,  and our sunsets have been amazing!

I stopped on a section line and got the dogs out and my sketchbox.  I knew I wouldn't have much time, so I just hit it and left it, each mark is fresh and very strong.   I used this dark blue paper to make it easier on myself--the dark blue served as much of the shadow areas.   I left a lot of the blue uncovered by pastel, and it lent a uniformity to the whole.

"Looking North"  8x12 pastel Plein Aire, colorfix paper

Thanks for stopping in, see you next time!

A sucker for raspberry!

Raspberry is a favorite flavor, and my daughter brought a couple of these tootsie-pops home for me.   On a whim I put one in an old baby food jar I had sitting on the window ledge.   The sun came thru and highlighted this set up and I knew it had to be painted!

This however was months (a year?) ago!   Another bonus of working small--I can get to all those 'someday' ideas!   I'm burning thru ideas daily!   Some might be done up as a larger work, but mostly I think I'm happy just letting them be what they are. 

Another side effect of this small painting, daily painting in general I suppose, is that I think about art sooo much more!   I've got art on my mind all day long!   How I'll paint that idea I have, how I'd chose for a color I see in the grasses, how that line merges with the background.....I am noticing so much more when I am riding, hiking, just doing chores.  

And it is feeling so fluid!   Often I let too much time go before I get some art time in.  Then I feel stiff and rusty.  Not today!    Altho I will be honest, doing it daily is tough!   Really hard!   I am busy like everyone else, but knowing I want to do this project has been a terrific push.   I am highly recommending it, as so many have to me!   They were right.

5x7 on black colorfix paper    "Raspberry Sucker"