Vessels for Favorite Beverages

February 6, 2016 5.5"x8.5" on Watercolor paper

Palette:Ultramarine Blue, Carmine, B+W

February 7, 2016 5"x7" on Aquabord

Palette:Prussian Blue, Chinese Orange, Raw Umber,, B+W

Available on Daily Paint Works

February 8, 2016 4"x4" on Claybord

Palette: Permanent Yellow, Peacock Blue, Chinese Orange B+W

Available on Daily Paint Works

Onward to Month Two: Tea & Singing Bowl

January 31, 2016 4"x4" on Claybord

Palette: Lemon Yellow, Burnt Sienna, B+W

Available on Daily Paint Works

I have completed one month of daily painting! I have gotten so much delight out of being able to say "I have created 16..23...28 paintings this year!" When I sat down for my final painting of January, a little TNG mug, I opted for one of the Ampersand Claybords since it had been so long since I'd painted on them (a whopping five days), and I felt it. Painting on watercolor paper and the Ampersand Aquabord is a far more intuitive process for me, so I'll need to keep the Claybord in regular rotation if I want to improve.

This morning feels differently than the days preceding, not like a month has passed at all. I feel aware of how easily painting every day has returned to my habits, and how easy it could pass back out. I know there are '30 paintings in 30 days' challenges, and I'm glad that I didn't opt for that goal. There is something more to learn from this experience.

February 1, 2016 5"x7" on Aquabord

Palette: Yellow Ochre, Flame Red, Peacock Blue, B+W

Available on Daily Paint Works

For my first painting of February, I selected a singing bowl that sits nearby my painting desk. I wanted the lavender fabric to mimic the motion the mallet would take in a trip around the bowl, to give the painting a silent echo. This is a subject matter I hope to return to once I give myself several days to complete a composition. There are many lovely details on the bowl that will take close concentration and time to capture. I did my best to give a quick idea of them here.

Lemon Slice in Tea

January 23, 2016 4"x4" on Claybord

Palette: Prussian, Lemon Yellow, Chinese Orange, Permanent Yellow, B+W

Available on Daily Paint Works Here

Perhaps it is because I try to limit the "pretty" things I buy myself, but when I am arranging my still lifes I almost always grab a gift to include. This cast iron teacup is part of a set my brother gave my husband and I several years ago. Some day, when I have an entire day open to me to paint, I would like to do a still life of the complete set - teapot, two cups, and two dragonfly coasters.

It helps that my brother selected my favorite shade of blue, meaning these will pop up over and over again. Since the tail of the coaster tilts up, it should remain interesting to paint from several angles. 

This little painting marks the first claybord that worked with me every step along the way! The medium was extremely forgiving of my mistakes last night, including needing to correct two spots when at the very end droplets of water fell from my paintbrush onto my cup.... ahh!