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"

Day 4, Resting

No, I'm not resting, today was another perfect spring day, and I spent most of it outside with horses.   So, again, I am painting late!   But this one felt really good going on, and I'm happy with it.

I've noticed its easy to feel rushed painting later in the day, but that's not true, I can paint as long as I like!   Since I am working small for this project, it gives me the freedom to enjoy the day as I did, and still have plenty of studio time.  Another bonus of working small.

I took the reference while visiting a friend near Webster.  (Hi Connie!)   She is also an artist, and we went sightseeing, what fun!!   These 2 fellas were enjoying the late afternoon sun.  Even at rest, they have a powerful presence about them. 

I used a 5 1/2 x 10 1/2 Uart 500 mounted to mat board (rag).   I like this better than the foam board pieces for some reason.   I used my laptop to display the photo up to a point, then I just go with what feels good.