Failed Daily Paintings and New Challenge

I have missed a few daily paintings. A couple days I didn't do any painting at all. And there were a few paintings I did do, but didn't post -- I felt that they didn't turn out right. I was thinking about posting the mistakes anyway, but I'm a little nervous about that. I remember reading somewhere ~ "not everything an artist does is a work of art" ...  but, on the other hand, maybe it's best to share, and thereby learn from the mistakes. I'm sure even the master painters burned a few omelettes here and there. It's the process of attempting, learning, and moving on that I find to be the really interesting part of being an artist.

I hereby promise to show my mistakes. But not today. (!) I left my camera at my friend's and my phone takes terrible pictures. But I will start posting paintings soon. No more skipping days. Anything painted during the day is fair game, and nothing will be edited out just because I don't like it or it's not finished. Scary.

Now for the challenge. This is for the week of

November 28th to December 5th.

Post something you painted recently that you don't like. I will be doing it too so no need to be shy here. If this challenge is not your cup of tea, then post a work you really like but is not finished. Or a painting you really like that was a result of a mistake, a smudge that ended up looking like a cat - kind of thing. And as always, have fun! Next challenge will be announced December 5th.

Any previous challenges are also fair game, just write which challenge you are posting.

Lily

Pastel on board. 4 x 5.5 inches.

Stone Bridge - Central Park

Pastel on board. Jim and I were in New York City the end of October. The weather was perfect. I took this photo in Central Park. 4 x 5.5 inches.

Salt Marsh

It was too late in the day to do a landscape from life. I started with bands of color. As I smudged the pastel into the board, it looked like a New England salt marsh. As I worked it some more, it reminded me of the plains in Colorado. But mostly it's bands of color. Pastel on board.

Night Lights

Pastel on board. I like how the moon looks tonight. 5.5 x 4.5 inches.

Dusk

Today's daily. Pastel on board. The sun was setting and I liked the way the dark trees crossed against the light sky. This started by looking out the same window as yesterday, but then I just made the forest up because by the time I got to the bottom half everything was black outside my window. 5x7 inches.

First Challenge For the Week of Novemeber 21 - 28th

Dear contributing artists,

Jen suggested I make a weekly challenge. Here it is: using medium of choice somehow portray, hint at, suggest, or just copy New England weather in the middle of November.

Due November 28th.

If you don't make it, no big deal, I will announce another challenge on the 28th.

Have fun!

After the Rain

This is a pastel painting on a gesso prepped board. The image was loosely blocked in with charcoal, then I applied the pastels. I opened my bedroom window, sat in a chair with the board on my lap, and went to it. It had just rained and the sun was coming out. Everything was still damp from the rain and all the colors sparkled. 5x7 inches. Phew, first one done.

So the Challenge Begins

The idea of being a daily painter is something that has intriqued me for a few years now. I have been following a couple daily painters and love to watch the progression of artistic skill. More than that, I love to follow the everyday struggles we artists have in making art. The daily painters give us an aesthetic journal of these struggles. Setting up a challenge to post everyday will keep me focused, force me to complete one thing a day, and reflect on the process everyday. That is my hope for this daily challenge.

I feel my challenge also has to have a direction, or a limit. I will paint smaller paintings. They will range somewhere inbetween 4 inches to 10 inches in any direction. I want to paint in acrylics, watercolors, pastels, and oil paints; either in combination or alone.

I also want to open this up to my artists group. I would love that have my group join this challenge in someway and post along with me. I'm not sure yet how to do this but I will find a way.

Well, that's my idea. I'm not going to pick an official start day yet, but there will be one.