Another American Hero

Another American Hero

16x12, soft pastel

This time of year (especially this year) we are reminded of our local heroes. Our firefighters are as inspirational as the healthcare workers who have been working tirelessly for months as we battle the invisible deadly COVID19 virus.  Now, on the West Coast of the United States we battle yet another 2020 demon...wildfires.  So many fires are raging throughout the West, more acres burned than we can count...more lives disrupted, more lives ended.  May God watch over all our heroes, give them strength and courage, and when the work is done, bring them safely home. 

Isolation

Isolation

6x6, soft pastel

A little ditty I call isolation. I look forward to the days we are hugging, shaking hands, and socializing once again and remove the word isolation from our daily lives!

Get Your Vitamin C

Get Your Vitamin C

12x18, soft pastel

Sometimes I just have to remind myself to get my vitamin C...and D, and all the other things I need to do to stay heathy and strong. Fortunately I have a dog that needs a walk every day...so vitamin D is readily available from the sunshine we enjoy while walking each day. I like the dramatic backlighting In this piece and chose to include the spotlight I used in the still life setup (just for fun). 

Be safe out there!

 

No Social Distancing Necessary

No Social Distancing Necessary

12x18, soft pastel

So, now it’s July...summer is in full swing, American cities have slowly reopened and sadly all Americans are now faced with an overwhelming spread of the virus.  To say that this year has been difficult is a gross understatement. It has been heartbreaking, devastating, and depressing as I hear of Facebook friends and their families across the globe who have lost dear ones to this virus. 

In America, the virus rages on and on and it has further divided people within an already divided country. The political turmoil and protests in recent years within the States has broken my heart...this virus has trampled it to pieces. Too dramatic a statement? I guess so...but that’s how it feels sometimes. As though all of humanity on earth is being tested...and as they say, “ only the strong will survive”. I firmly believe it’s not just those strong of body...but the strong minded...those who are strong on compassion and love, those who have the strength to simply persevere.

So, to those of you that may eventually read this, may you persevere through this most challenging of times. Draw on the strength within you. Embrace the love, the compassion, the inner strength you know you have. Focus on how you can help yourself and your community. We will all be stronger and hopefully a more compassionate human race going forward. Persevere! 

All Tucked In

All Tucked In

6x6, soft pastel

This little guy was isolating with his family in Italy back in March/April when COVID was blazing through their country. While I’ve stayed quite busy isolating with my husband and dog in America since the first week of March, my blogging habit fell quickly away. I decided to take up guitar while isolating and have painted minimally for the past couple months.

Comfort Zone

Comfort Zone

6x6, soft pastel

In these crazy times we all need to find our "comfort zone" while being as careful as we can regarding the pandemic that is COVID-19.  

Today I'm honoring all the pets around the world who are in isolation with us, providing more comfort than ever before. Jack, the Jack Russell terrier is currently hunkering down in Verona, Italy with his family. You can find Jack on his Instagram page: Beautiful Jack Alfonso. That's where I recently found his photo which inspired this painting.  I reached out to his "mom" and have instantly found a new virtual friend. Someone who is by now well versed in what it's like being in isolation in a country besieged by this virus.

We have been messaging each other during the past few days and she has provided me a glimpse into her world...the world we are beginning to experience here in the United States, an uncertain world indeed! 

So, my message would be: find your comfort zone, take care of yourself and your loved ones, reach out to a stranger and connect...social media can provide some scary information but it also can provide us hope and a way to connect with others around the world.  We can pray, connect, protect ourselves and continue to have hope that one day, we WILL dance again!

God Bless you, 

Cindy G.

Sailboat 8 - Sail, Don’t Drift

Sail, Don’t Drift

6x6, oil

A good motto to live by...sail, don’t just drift through life...the ride for us all is fleeting!

Sailboat 7 - Catch The Wind

Catch The Wind

6x6, oil

Catch The Wind was a bit of a bugger.  I’m going to do a lot of exercises in mixing paint colors after this. I just didn’t get the proper gradation of blues/purples I had in mind for the sail...oh well...always the student!

Sailboat 6 - At Sea, One Needs Little

At Sea, One Needs Little

6x6, oil

At Sea, One Needs Little ...a light breeze and a loved one nearby.

Sailboat 5 - Tied To The Sea

Tied To The Sea

6x6, oil

Maybe it’s because I grew up along the Mississippi River, but I’m drawn to boats, fishing, any body of water and in particular these types of little buoys. They remind me of fishing bobbers. As a young child fishing I learned early on to pay close attention to them. Once they started bobbing frantically your heart skipped a beat and you were pretty sure you had a fish on the line.

Sailboat 4 - Wind Song

Wind Song

6x6, oil

Wind Song, a windy sail along the shoreline.

Sailboat 3 - A Sailor’s Joy

A Sailor’s Joy

6x6, oil

A Sailor’s Joy, a beautiful sunset sail.

Sailboat 2 - Gray Dawn Breaking

Gray Dawn Breaking

6x6, oil

Gray Dawn Breaking is the second in a series of boats...this one, an early morning sail on a very foggy morning. I love the subtle lavender mist. The image is a bit speckled from light hitting the oil paint...I’m going to have to practice a little more taking photos of wet paint.

Sailboat 1 - Seas The Day

Seas The Day

6x6, oil

Seas The Day is the first in a small series of 10 sailboats I plan to paint in oil. I’m one of twenty local artists participating in a fund raiser on April 30th at Finer Frames to benefit the Eagle Idaho Plein Air Festival (which will be held June 6-13th). Each painting must be painted on a 6x6 unframed wooden panel (which means my beloved pastels just won’t work for this event). However, what a great opportunity to practice painting in oil.  Right?

Anyway, the fund raiser is comprised of 200 6x6 paintings all of which will be up for sale for only $36. each! It should be a wildly popular event...I’m hoping to buy a couple paintings from other artists myself.

Brass Bird on a Pot

Brass Bird on a Pot

6x6, soft pastel

This little guy travelled with me to the local greenhouse for a bit of “Plein air” painting during January.  I placed him on an upside down flower pot in between a few other pots of bright pink flowers where he rested quietly until I was finished. Plein air isn’t necessarily my bag...but it was great fun and good practice painting outside the studio. 

PSA and The Butler Institute of American Art

I don’t normally use this blog for “narratives” unless it’s about a specific painting I’m working on or just completed. But, this morning I’m introspective and grateful so here goes.

All Things In Moderation:

There have been times where I’ve expressed my love for my family in this blog because they are so extremely important to me and honestly, I can’t come close to expressing those feelings adequately. Some people would think I’m just too emotional...but love runs deep for me, and intensely. Their happiness and wellbeing are paramount. So, having this passion for creating art seems a bit selfish. Ok, a whole lot of selfish! And I think to myself...should I be doing this?

Spending so many hours in my own little world over the past six years, I can’t help but wonder...am I maintaining a balanced life? Most day’s I think I am...but it’s becoming increasingly hard to do so. Reading, watching videos, listening to podcasts (all art related) and above all...drawing and painting consumes me. I find that particularly odd since I’ve never had any interest or hobby during the course of my life take such a center stage. My family are extremely supportive of course but I worry about not spending enough time with each of them. My usual motto of “all things in moderation” flew right out the window when I started this journey with pastels.

Perseverance:

So, what does this have to do with my title?  It’s back to the feeling of gratitude for everything and everyone I love...and an overwhelming sense of humility. And, I guess it’s also to acknowledge my second most important motto to “persevere”.

If I could give my children and grandchildren only one gift...it would be the ability to persevere. Most days, life clicks along at a satisfactory pace but life can also be very tough and there will be (not “may be”, but “will be”) some very difficult moments, days, weeks, months and maybe years. Times so difficult and feelings so agonizing you may feel that you can’t make it...but you can, we all can if we just persevere, have an open heart and stay the course. So, I guess what I leave behind for my family is modeling that philosophy of perseverance. That’s what I’ve been doing in my life and with my art. 

At first, the art critic inside my head was vicious. It’s a wonder I didn’t listen to it and quit before I’d really begun. It took a quote in one of Vincent Van Gogh’s letters to his brother to resonate with me. He said “if you hear a voice in your head that says you can’t paint, then by all means keep painting and the voice will be silenced”. He wasn’t a very good drawer or painter at first...but he persevered against overwhelming odds. More overwhelming than most of us have to deal with. I’m thankful he expressed those sentiments.

PSA and The Butler:

Without perseverance, it would be near impossible to achieve individual goals. I set a few art goals along the way and am slowly making headway. Recently, The Pastel Society of America (PSA) awarded me signature status (which was a goal I had set for myself a few years ago). It wasn’t until 2019 that I felt I was making the progress I needed to make in order to achieve that goal.  I am very pleased to have been juried into PSA as a signature member.

At the same time, The Butler Institute of American Art’s pastel exhibition is now underway and I am taken aback at seeing my artwork in the publications for this prestigious show. While I won’t be able to make it to Ohio to see the exhibition, I’m thrilled to share my painting with others that do attend. Below is a link to PSA’s website announcing the show.

http://www.pastelsocietyofamerica.org/psa-at-the-butler-2/

So, at this point in my life, it’s on to the next goal!  And, hopefully maintaining some semblance of balance in my life and the strength mentally and physically to persevere.

31 Day Challenge Collage

It’s great to wake up Feb. 1st and have the day wide open again. But, I will say I’ll miss this particular challenge and the fun I had with shot glasses. Thank you to #stradaeasel for coordinating all the artists and their efforts and thanks so much to those who followed along with me!  Until next time! 

Last but not least...Dad’s Parting Shot

Dad’s Parting Shot

8x10, soft pastel

There are many things that remind me of my dad so I’ve pulled out a few items from my memory box to arrange into a small still life. This is a quick study piece. I don’t know if I’ll paint it larger, in more detail, or add more pieces. But, I thought it was fitting for the final day of my shot glass series. The background...

The Barber:
Dad was a quiet man...and multifaceted...he was a bit of an enigma. He was a longtime barber in the small Iowa town we lived in along the Mississippi River and proudly owned his own shop. So, I included a shaving brush. He cared for his shop (and our home) meticulously. He could repair and/or build absolutely anything.

The Gambler:
For as many years as I can remember he was also a gambling man, drinking and playing poker quite often into the wee hours of the morning. Playing cards, dice, and a shot glass are included because they all went hand in hand. Of course high stakes poker wasn’t legal in Iowa so card games were “secretly” held in various locations. One night while playing cards (which I’m told, often included lawyers, police and a judge or two) the small “poker club” was robbed. Several younger men gained access to the room and stormed in. At gunpoint, the players were tied up and robbed. Fortunately no one was injured...except maybe their pride. You would think that would deter them...but not for long. In any event, his cards, dice and a shot glass represent those tumultuous times (“dicey shot”...or maybe we should call it “lucky shot”)

The Golfer:
Dad was also an avid golfer. He owned his own golf cart and in retirement played every day. He loved going to the golf club to play. He had at least two...maybe three hole-in-ones so I included one of his golf balls. I believe this one was his first hole-in-one (“long shot”).

The Singer:
Dad was also musically inclined. He whistled often and for a time sang in the choir at church. He sang like Perry Como, Bing Crosby, and Frank Sinatra rolled into one (ah yes, the “mad men” era). He owned several harmonicas (which my mom always called French harps). I have one of his smaller versions which I cherish.

The Hunter:
I didn’t include something representing hunting...maybe I will if I paint this again.

In his youth he was an avid hunter. Because he wasn’t very talkative (and very busy with work and “other interests”) it wasn’t easy to get to know him. As a sensitive child in a busy family of six kids, I wanted to be closer to him. So, one evening I asked if I could go deer hunting with him the following morning. To my surprise he said yes.

We woke up WAY before dawn and headed out, when we arrived at my uncle’s farm he handed me a shotgun (of all things). At ten years old, it seemed as though I was only a bit taller than that gun. I’d never shot that particular gun before...heck, I don’t think I’d shot ANY gun before except maybe a BB gun. I didn’t even WANT a gun, I thought I’d just walk along beside him.

He gave me a couple safety tips and that was all the instruction I got. Then he told me to walk through the corn field. I looked at him, at the gun, and the corn field...then back at him. Too afraid to let him down, I did what I was told. He told me not to shoot (especially in his direction) and only shoot if I had a “clear shot”.  What did THAT mean?  He took out in another direction around the cornfield. Oh man, this was not the father/daughter experience I had imagined!

Walking through that corn field, my heart was pounding in my ears and throat. Fear was so intense I could hardly see where I was going. As I made my way through the drying corn field (which towered at least two feet above my head) I could hear a lot of crackling, crunching noises. It was disorienting. Was that my dad? Or a deer, or several deer...? Or a corn field monster (ha!). I was prepared to shoot but fortunately didn’t (despite the overwhelming thought of being trampled by deer or worse). To my relief I finally found my dad at the end of the cornfield and later learned that he’d sent me in there to flush out the deer (if there were any). Needless to say, that was the last time I asked to go hunting. I restricted my future requests to fishing and golfing instead.

The Fisherman:
The only time dad sat still was after dinner watching the news or Bonanza or Gunsmoke. When it came to hobbies, each one became a passion for him.

Dad’s love of fishing was epic. He fished as a young boy along with his dad and brothers. He was an avid bass fisherman and was proud of his boat. He was a great cook too and often fished on the Mississippi River for catfish especially if there was going to be a big fish-fry at the golf course.

The bobber reminds me of that passion and the final day of his life. He and a golfing buddy capsized under the dam’s spillways while fishing one August morning. A lot can be said about that day but if you know the Mississippi, you know their chances of survival was almost zero. They both died doing something they enjoyed...I guess that’s not a bad way to go.

The Catholic:
And finally, the good Catholic man. Dad was not without vice...but I will say he was devote in his beliefs. I never knew him to raise his voice or harm anyone, ever. He was a “live and let live” kind of guy. He had a soft heart and was loved by many. I have his rosary which I can honestly say I don’t recall him ever using. But, no matter how late his night before was, he was always dressed in his Sunday best for church each Sunday morning. His faith, like the rosary above intertwined throughout his life, connecting all the many things that interested him.

Miss you Dad ❤️

I had a blast doing these crazy shot glass paintings during the 31 day challenge...I hope you enjoyed them too!

Shot of Stella

Shot of Stella

6x6, soft pastel

As I’ve said once before, I love Stella...whoever she is. I love the gorgeous green bottle as much as the contents. The green against the yellow (along with the red and white label) is pretty striking. In any event...the month is coming to a close and I have more shot glass ideas than days left to paint them. Maybe next year I’ll do it again!

Tot Shot

Tot Shot

6x6, soft pastel

Who doesn’t love a good hot crispy tater tot right? We have a special place we like to go for burgers and they have the very best tots around. We were out for lunch the other day and the spirit of the 31 day challenge, I sacrificed these three tots from my lunch to use in a still life setup.

Of course Benny was very interested in the savory smell my studio took on while I painted and sat patiently next to the still life table hoping to get a handout once I was finished. I must have distracted him along the way because it wasn’t until three days later that he picked up the scent again and sat patiently next to the table. Although they were cold and dried out by then, I simply had to give them to him anyway. A dog’s reward for superior patience.

Shot of Fall

Shot of Fall

6x6, soft pastel

 Well...I figured I'd round out the "seasons" shot glass theme with fall. The only thing I had for fall were a few dried leaves I collected while walking Benny last October.  In any event...here it is.

Shot of Summer

Shot of Summer

5x5, soft pastel

It was time for a bit of fun in the studio. No, I didn't really have all these flowers in my little shot glass...but I imagined I did! I'm so, looking forward to summer when the flowers are in full bloom and the weather is warm.

Calculated Shot

Calculated Shot

6x6, soft pastel

My “plein air” piece from yesterday at Edward’s greenhouse was a disaster...so I came up with this piece instead.  Of 3 paintings yesterday, only one survived the cut.

I know, I know...I’m really aging myself using my HP12C for this piece. But, it’s my very favorite calculator (my only one) and still works like a charm. Someone on the internet wrote recently that calculators were obsolete since everyone can now “google” the answer to all their calculating needs. Surely calculators won’t become obsolete will they?  I hope not. 

A funny thing about this one...there’s a red dot reflecting in several areas within the shot glass. The HP doesn’t have a red dot anywhere on it but I added one in nail polish so my husband didn’t get it confused with his own. I guess we get a bit possessive of our calculators. 😊

Shot of Spring

Shot of Spring

6x6, soft pastel

My husband and I used a new system when getting groceries together...we went very early in the day (after all we are very early risers) and each took a small cart with list in hand. We started in opposite ends of the store and met in the middle...it took all of 10 minutes and we were in the checkout line...amazing! Not on my list were these sweet little irises but I couldn’t resist...especially since they were so tiny and fit beautifully in a shot glass! I’m so ready for spring! 

Bird Shot

Bird Shot

6x6, soft pastel

This little brass bird sits on the mantel in my studio. Since I’ve never painted brass before I thought it would be a great little subject...I love this little bird and of course, I like the play on words. 

Two Dollar Shot

Two Dollar Shot

6x6, soft pastel

I couldn’t resist using a couple sand dollars for this piece when I came across them.  They’re pretty tiny so they fit right into the shot glass. It’s a good thing this month is winding down my imagination is pretty well tapped out!

Make Mine A Double!

Make Mine A Double!

5x5, soft pastel

My still life set up is getting a run for its money this month. Just for fun I put a small light behind these two shots of Scotch. I thought they were kind of striking and very monochromatic, worthy of a painting I’d say. When I finish this month I just might have to celebrate with a double (I don’t think I’ve ever ordered a ”double”...but I just might). 

B52 Shot

B52 Shot

6x6, soft pastel

I painted it just because I like the colors. Kahlua, Irish Cream, and Grand Marnier make up a B52...but there’s creme de menthe in this one (love the green).  I really think I should be able to drink my still life props don’t you?  After all the candy and alcohol this month I’ll need to diet for the whole month of February!

Fun fact...the three layers (top to bottom) are the crema, body and heart...and now you know. 😊

Shot Of Convos 2

Shot of Convos 2

6x6, soft pastel

I suspected the previous one might sell quickly and I needed to make sure I had one of these at home  (cuz I like it so much) so I thought I’d paint it again and give it a bit more of a polished look. Believe it or not, I still have these little conversation heart candies. They’re one still life prop that hasn’t been eaten...yet. 😋

Buck Shot

Buck Shot

6x6, soft pastel

I thought this was a clever twist of words for a title...and, I was excited to start painting it. I got up at 4am (typical for a morning during a 31 day challenge). My excitement waned as I realized the only bill I had was a five dollar bill (which has significant differences from a one dollar bill). Fortunately it was a good stand in when it came to color and size and I found an image of a one dollar bill online. Oh how I love the internet!

Shot of Courage

Shot of Courage

6x6, soft pastel

These days Australia is on everyone’s mind. It seems the whole continent is on fire. I pray for quenching rains and the well being of everyone involved. The “shot of courage” above is for the Australian firefighters. The medal in this painting is their fire service award which is awarded for distinguished service by a member of the Australian fire service. May they persevere through these difficult times. Once again we are reminded that firefighters around the world are our heros.

Fun fact...the head of the Queen is only 1/2 inch...it was a challenge to paint it and get it to somewhat resemble the Queen...pearls and all.

Dicey Shot

Dicey Shot

6x6, soft pastel

Boy oh boy...I don’t know what is more challenging...painting 31 in 31 or coming up with titles for these shot glass paintings. I like the title to be a bit of a play on words for the composition...we’ll see if I can make it all the way to month’s end. I’m now dreaming (and waking up) with shot glasses on my mind. I’m looking forward to February and a good night sleep! 

🛌

Hook Shot

Hook Shot

6x6, soft pastel

A bit of basketball nomenclature for this little piece. I found this colorful fishing fly in my husband’s gear box. My favorite painting subject and my favorite color all wrapped into one tiny fly...what a joy to paint!

Bogus Shot

Bogus Shot

6x6, soft pastel

I can’t help but lament about “the good old days” when we spent a significant portion of the winter skiing at Bogus Basin and other ski hills in the Pacific Northwest.  It was such fun...and a great way of staying fit. These days, just shoveling the walk is enough workout for me. 

Shot of Convos

Shot of Convos

6x6, soft pastel

What the heck?  BAE...YAAAS...I actually had to google these terms (and others) when I went to paint this still life. I understand “text me” even “lets hang” but I had no idea these traditional candies had kept up with the times better than I have!

A bit of background: In 1866 Oliver Chase, a Boston pharmacist, invented a way to print vegetable dye “conversations” on individual candy pieces.  By1902 he began creating heart shaped candies with conversation quips on them which became very popular near Valentines Day.  If you’re familiar with them (and who isn’t) you know the messages...”kiss me, be mine, all mine, first kiss, best day, love you, dear heart”...etc. etc. These were the same messages as far back as I can remember. And (for now at least) I can remember them 60 years ago...or thereabouts. 

In any event...I got quite a chuckle out of the new conversation candies and was heartened to see that my beloved “xoxo” is still in print!   Enjoy!

P.S. This piece was a bugger!  Imperfections in the paper caused me to redo the background several times.  The background is now purple but doesn’t show up really well in the image above. Oh well, I’ve made it to Day 14. 😊

Shot of Fortune

Shot of Fortune

6x6, soft pastel

This may be one still life “edible” that stays intact.  Not because I don’t like fortune cookies, but it IS about 5 years old and has been laying around in the silverware drawer all this time. It’s pretty crumbly around the edges. I think I’ll just leave my ”fortune” to my imagination.

As part of my process today, I pulled out a color wheel to see what color harmony I should choose for this golden little cookie. I rather like the resulting purple background and touch of teal.

 

Shot of Winter

Shot of Winter

6x6, soft pastel

What do you do when there’s only a trace of snow? You make a tiny shot glass snowman! You can’t imagine how tough this little guy was to make and paint before he melted. It was 4:15am and we had a trace of snow over night so I ran outside, scooped up what I could and scurried back to the warmth of my studio.  It took all of 15 minutes before he was gone...only a trace of snow remained.

Little Blue - The Last M&M

Little Blue

6x6, soft pastel

Recently I bought a small bag of peanut M&Ms with the intention of using them for a colorful still life... but, by the time I was ready to use them the bag was almost empty.  Alas, “Little Blue” was the lone survivor.  

Zero Calories

Zero Calories

6x6, soft pastel

Day 10 #stradaeasel Challenge...I’m deviating from the shot glass series to paint this little piece for an upcoming show in early Feb. Life is hectic right now with the 31 day challenge and framing pieces for the show.  Calgon, take me away!

A Shot of Sleepless Night

A Shot of Sleepless Night

6x6, soft pastel

Day 9 of the #stradaeasel - I’m not going to bother painting this one twice because it reminds me of last night...when it seemed the world was falling apart. Problems with Iran, uncontrolled fires in Australia and a plane crash out of Tehran (later determined to be shot down in error by Iranian forces)...instead of sleeping well and getting up in the wee hours of the morning excited to paint another piece for the 31 day challenge...I couldn’t go to sleep. Finally, at 1am I went into the studio and sketched this little shot of whiskey so it would be ready to paint in the morning. Thankfully, it helped me sleep 😴.   

Shot of Chocolate - 2

Shot of Chocolate - 2

6x6, soft pastel

Take two of the “shot of chocolate”...now I can partake in its gooey chocolatey delishishness (despite my need to eliminate dairy...I tell myself it’s only a tiny bit right?)

Shot of Chocolate

Shot of Chocolate

6x6, soft pastel

It’s fun to paint food...especially sweets. This is the first version of this still life and the second will be a bit more detailed.  I’m enjoying painting a still life loosely and again with more detail.  It’s an interesting process...and I’m always learning something new about my subjects.

Shot of Lead - 2

Shot of Lead - 2

6x6, soft pastel

Couldn’t help myself...I had to do it again. I know it’s really a shot of graphite...but that just wasn’t catchy enough. This time it has more “refinement” (not as “painterly” as the previous one). Which took double the time to complete...but I think it was worth it. I’m not sure which one I like better. I also started with a purple under painting. Different approach, same subject.  

Shot of Lead

Shot of Lead

6x6, soft pastel

Day 5 of the #stradaeasel challenge - up at 3:30am ready to go and enthralled with my little shot glass theme. I’m sure I’ll tire of it by month end...but for now, it’s captured my attention.  This time I stayed “painterly and loose”. 

Shot In The Dark

Shot In The Dark

6x6, soft pastel

Day 4 of the #stradaeasel challenge is a wounderful little shot of Scotch called “Shot In The Dark” since it was painting in the early morning hours today...from 4-6am.  Now, for a nap!

Shot of Toothpicks

Shot of Toothpicks

6x6, soft pastel

Day 3 of the #stradaeasel challenge is a cute little shot glass I use to hold toothpicks.  I love it for its heft...perfect for holding small things...a fun little still life!

Little Jug

Little Jug

6x6, soft pastel

Since I’m focusing on still lifes lately, I thought I’d do the 31 day #stradaeasel challenge practicing with my still life props.  Love this little jug.

Little Cutie

Little Cutie

9x12, soft pastel

I told myself there was no way I was going to do a 31 day challenge after my marathon month of painting in December...but, I’d already sketched this one, so what the heck.  Maybe I can achieve 15 in 31. This challenge is for the full 31 days of January sponsored by Strada Easel.  Here goes.