Pastel Jazz #3

Pastel on Canson Black Pastel Paper

Ok, so the Princess Ballerina #1 did not turn out as planned - again - even after spending all of my mothers morning out hours on it. So, I decided to post something I did a few years ago while doing various jazz studies for a commissioned painting. This is my favorite out of that series. I will be working on a new daily painting today.

I have decided only to post Monday - Thursday. My goal is 4 paintings a week. Maybe I should say 4 successful paintings a week. . . Who knows!

My Princess Ballerina #2

Acrylic 12x12 on Canvas Paper

My precious daughter took her first ballet class this summer - it was called "Princess Ballerina Camp". She LOVED it. A friend of mine captured a photo of her while she was in class and I have been working on painting it. I have finished all but her head - I just can't seem to make it look like her! The photo is a bit fuzzy. So, yesterday, after the 3 year old's birthday party and in the middle of clean up and laundry, I did this study of her head. I am hoping it will help me capture it much smaller on the full length I am working on! I am going to work on it today. Hopefully I can post it tomorrow!

The quick drying time of acrylics is a blessing and a curse - keeps works relatively safe from little fingers, but dries too quickly when I am easily distracted by the day to day. I can see every interruption in this one!

My quote for the week:
"You must be able to create in the middle of things, or else you will not create. You must learn to take whatever practical and psychological actions are necessary to combat the anticreating forces that surround you and live within you."
Eric Maisel from his book Coaching the Artist Within

Chester Dog

Acrylic on Canvas Paper 8x10 SOLD

I am trying to work out the style I most like to paint in. I am returning to painting after a few years off. . . I have gone from painting in oils to painting in acrylic (it is much more convenient to a busy life full of children!) I have realized over the course of the past few weeks that I cannot paint in the same way with acrylics as I did with oils. So, let the experimenting begin! Here is the painting I did yesterday of our faithful lab, Chester. It is about an 8x10 on canvas paper.