Avocado Sunrise

 Avacado Sunrise

6x6, oil

Day 9 Strada Easel Challenge 

There’s something about painting this little piece that was so much fun, I wondered why I hadn’t painted one before now. I eat avocado and toast almost every morning and today was no exception. Unfortunately I broke down and ate half of it before I finished the painting. It was delightful!

Silver Sugar Bowl

 Silver Sugar Bowl

6x6, oil

Day 8 Strada Easel Challenge

Once again focusing on reflective surfaces in a super small still life. I purchased this little silver sugar bowl (I think it’s a sugar bowl) in Arizona.  I considered polishing it up before painting it, but the greenish patina was kind of charming. I’ll polish it later and paint it again.

Silver and Fuji

 Silver and Fuji

6x6, oil

Day 7 Strada Easel Challenge

Continuing with still life using a little wooden box...this time again, setting it up on top of the box to accommodate the bowl of fruit and focusing more on adding color.  I just love painting reflections. 😊

Thinking Outside of the Box

 Thinking Outside of the Box

6x6, oil

Day 6 Strada Easel Challenge:

Today I needed color! While dealing with shingles...and watching in disbelief as radical protesters stormed the Capital building...I just needed to go to a happier place! That involved searching for items that would make a happy colorful still life. So here you go! The beauty of painting is being able to go into “the zone”...where pain is dulled and the political rhetoric of the day is muted. May God bless and re-direct Americans towards a more tolerant peaceful existence. 

Amber Glass

Amber Glass

6x6, oil

Day 5 of the Strada Easel Challenge:

I loved the way the amber glass was reflecting off the back wall of this little wooden box.  I'm giving myself a couple hours to crank something out each day...but I hope to refine this piece in the coming days.  I'm going to have to square-up this box going forward since the canvas is square (the painting looks as though I couldn't paint a straight line) but,s maybe that's the funky nature of these still lifes. For now, I'll call it finished.

 

In The Zone

 In The Zone

12x15, soft pastel

This piece has been brewing in my head for awhile. Finally, there was time in 2020 to give it it's due. I know what it's like to be "in the zone". It happens every time I paint. You lose all sense of time and place because you are completely focused on the creative task at hand. I knew that was the case for this gentleman too. I was drawn to his music as well as his state of mind.

He was playing a beautiful classical guitar piece at the Farmer's Market a couple years back. I love classical guitar music....and, I especially loved his "TIP" bucket.  I can still remember the scene...strong light was pouring over him from the alleyway, tons of people were chatting at nearby restaurants, and there was the fragrant smell of fresh breads and intoxicating scents of fresh cut flower. In all the cacophony, he didn't seem to notice as he focused on the gentle music flowing from his guitar. Simply put, he was "In The Zone".

Pot In A Box

 Pot In A Box

6x6, oil

Day 4 of the Strada Easel Challenge:

No...it's not the kind of "pot" you might suspect...but a case of shingles has set in during the past 24 hours so finding some pain relief is priority number one today. I hear pot is good for that...but alas, I live in Idaho. I may need to visit an adjoining state (ha!).

Now for my painting...I'm infatuated with pitchers of all kinds. Big ones, short ones, squatty ones, and skinny ones. I think this little squatty guy may have been on a railway dining car because it has a little silver dish attached at the bottom, presumably for catching potential spillage as the train moves along the tracks. Whatever the reason, I love it's little plump body and attached lid and saucer. It's actually silver...so I may need to revisit this subject again this month because to me, it looks like a ceramic pot.  Nonetheless,  it's pretty darn cute!