The last day of 2014 is also the end of this brief online challenge. There is potential for another challenge later, but for now I will resume my regularly scheduled program. When I first started painting I painted from photos. The thought of painting from life or the out-of-doors was such an overwhelming thought at the time, yet now I find myself only...

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I am going to start off by admitting that I realize that I am behind yet again. The holidays are drawing nearer and the annual most stressful time-of-the-year has commenced. While trying to get as many projects done as possible outside of work, I am sorry to say my painting time has been sliced to a fraction at the moment, but I plan...

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Painting over old paintings is something I enjoy doing every now and then. I have never been one to waste a canvas or two, plus I just love the effect of letting the old painting seep through creating interesting variety and textures. This week I played around with using thick paint. I pasted it on like butter and it was so interesting to...

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  This week I thought about edges some and then some more. Where do I want them to be sharp and create interest, a closing off if you will of one value shape from another. Where do I want them to be soft and almost invisible where I want to viewer to softly walk into a combined shape. It is like this well...

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This week I decided to paint something I have never painted before, the beautiful Arizona desert. This point is near the Superstition Mountains. I am absolutely amazed at the splendor that is there. It's like a giant disguise for all the painful and deadly items that lay there, similar to one of Odysseus' sirens luring you in. The white piece in the front...

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I have tried to come up with excuses for why I am behind, like allergies, change in season, overtired, overworked and really I do have all those things going on, but are they viable excuses for why I did not paint last week? The masochist in me says 'no'. So now I am officially one painting behind and I will have to make...

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   Week two and I am already breaking a rule or two. Not only is this one is larger, it is also not going to be for sale. I am afraid you all will just have to forgive me for this one, but it has been a very frustrating painting week. I have been working on a new painting all week and keep...

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I decided to challenge myself to a fairly reasonable challenge since I have to realize I have a full time job other than painting. I will be completing one small painting a week, 5"x7" and posting them here on my blog for the remainder of this year, and with the rush of cold air breezing in it felt very appropriate to do a...

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Starting in October continuing through the end of 2014 I am going to be doing one 5"x7" study a week in addition to other projects. These paintings will also be for sale. I will be posting them each week as they are completed. ...

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For a while now I have been on this speed race to get better as fast as possible. While working a full-time job it isn't easy to not get burnt out really quick. I panic on nights that I don't study or paint thinking that one day of not doing these things is going to seriously set me back. All the while my...

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If it hasn't been obvious by now Richard Schmid is my favorite living master artists. The way he works with paint and brushstrokes, lost and found edges ( I really could go on forever) is just an amazing melody across the canvas. I picture myself painting in his presence someday (fingers-crossed) but until that day I continue to study his books and lessons...

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It has been quite some time since I posted on here. My dog recently had to undergo surgery for a tumor that could have been malignant but it wasn't! Such great news. Now that she has completely recovered I can finally pick up the brush again. I took a workshop with Lori Putnam a few months ago and she is just absolutely sensational....

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Recently I took a workshop on cityscapes and I enjoyed it immensely. It brought back everything I remembered from high school in regards to one-point and two-point perspective. It seems so often when I finish a painting I get upset if my perspective is off at all in my painting. (Wishing I would have taken a drafting class at some point.) If you...

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One of my favorite quotes is from a book by Dan McCaw. 'There are no such things as failed paintings, only failure to paint.' This quote could not ring with more truth. There are days when we work tirelessly on a painting only to finally call it done and only be halfway satisfied, and we then find it hard to find something good...

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