60 minute Unusual point of view

This quick study was a 60 minutes oil, 11" X 14". It is not flattering but is interesting. I was standing over a mirror while taking the picture. This is the last quick study. Tomorrow I will begin posting pastels and my progress there.

60 minute, Sunset in Paris

I could not resolve this painting in 60 minutes, however, if I ever have time to go back and work on it some more, I do believe that it could be a fine painting. My summer directed study class is in pastels, but the 2 big issues I am working on, is to stick with each piece even when it is difficult and I want to give up and to strengthen my total approach to pastel painting. I am trying Wallace paper which is a new experience. The paper holds a lot of pastel. I started my 1st piece on the Wallace paper yesterday. It is not done yet. As I finish them I will post them. I think I have one more quick study for tomorrow. Staying on one painting, even when it hurts is a little new to me. I loved the quick studies because the timer told me when to stop. I am going through a phase where everything in my studio looks bad to me. I do not know if it is totally true or that I have learned a lot and am now harder on myself than I used to be.

60 minute Fluffy in shadows

I just have a few more quick studies to go.This one has a lot of problems the chair leg is floating for one. I went to the Pastel Society of the West Coast International Show in Los Gatos, yesterday. It had some amazing pastels and a congratulations to Tina Moore, who took one of the top awards. She is amazing as well!!! Check out the link to her web site. 

60 minute quick study of Gondolas

I worked out on the Mackville Ranch with Jerry today. I am soooo tired. I planted 3 willows from cutting, put in cucumbers and trimmed a few trees. Boy, am I out of shape. I hoped to work in pastels but all I got done was a few corrections to a coffee cup in a pastel I am doing of a yellow calla lily and a coffee cup. When it is done, I will post my steps.

60 minute quick study of Catherine

This is a quick study that I like and would like to take to a stronger finish. I have found out that when I get to a spot in a painting that is difficult, instead of staying with it, I use an avoidance behavior. I start another painting or change media, so I am now trying to stay with my pieces longer. It is hard for me and I guess that is the point. Some hard things are worth doing.

60 minute egg scale with oranges

The shape of the eggs are off a bit in this one. I would like to make corrections.

40 minute quick study 5, ballet

This is the last of this group of quick studies. I started a pastel yesterday and have been researching PSWC and PSA. Now I need to decide which ones I should finish and which ones to discard or paint over. Later!!!!

40 minute quick study 4, ballet

I like this quick study more than the last. I am in a funk,  it is frustrating. I am having a hard time mentally getting back into the creative process and inspiration. Even though my paintings did well at the county fair, I am going through a phase where everything I have done looks bad to me. I am sure that, that is not totally true but the feeling is real. I think the inaction is killing me. The longer I do not act the stronger the anxiety. If anyone has tips for pushing through this, please let me know.

Also several people have been leaving comments in Japanese. Since I do not read Japanese, I am not allowing them to be posted to my blog. I am so sorry. I occasionally have a friend to translate but she is very busy and I do not want to over burden her. If you could try to post in English...I so want to know your ideas and am so sorry for the inconvenience.

40 minute quick study 3, ballet

In this 40 minute quick study I was trying to use some of the ideas that I learned from the unusual still life lesson and also trying something more interesting with the placement of the model. I am still uninspired and I start my 1st directed study class today so I am a little nervous because these are totally different from regular classes.

30 minute quick study 2, ballet

I think this one is a little better than the last. My art did very well at the San Joaquin County Fair. I am grateful for that. My "White Iris" took best of show, best of division and 1st in acrylic painting. I didn't expect that, but it was a lovely surprise. What I am trying to decide now is what I am going to do with the 90 quick studies. The still lifes and landscapes I will finish but the figures....I have no idea. Have a great day.

30 minute quick study 1, ballet

This is a 30 minute quick study. I liked the idea of these next 5 studies but I have not looked at it in about 3 weeks and I realize it needs a lot more work to be a finished piece if it ever will be. If you have not seen the movie Avaitar, it is amazing. The art in it and design is fantastic!

45 minute still life 5

I really like this little cup. I plan to go back and finish all the quick studies that have this cup in. When I went to Seattle last week I did not paint all week and I am in a funk. I painted over an oil painting yesterday with a new subject but although I applied a lot of paint my heart and spirit were not in it. I am hoping with the action of painting my enthusiasm will follow. I think I am just out of rhythm! It seems when I am working and have much less time...I use my time more efficiently and am more inspired. Strange!!!!

45 minute still life 4

In this one I was trying to use minimal subject matter and lighting to create interest. The ribbons given at shows are so beautiful that I was wondering if they could be used as subject matter. This is a 45 minute oil sketch. I like this one.

30 minute still life, 3 with revisions

When I painted this group of still lifes I had just fallen and hit my tail bone. I was in a lot of pain but knew I had to paint...so with an ice pack on my butt I went to it. The 1st one is after 30 minutes and the second one is with corrections. The shadow was to dark in the 1st one and became a focal point which was not good. In the second one I softened the shadow.

30 minute still life, 2

In this one I think the shadow is to blue, so it demands to much attention. When I have time I will make some corrections.

30 minute still life, 1 apple

60 minute, Lodi Water Tower, 5

This is a quick study of downtown Lodi from the top of the parking garage.

60 minute, urban 4, Lodi Morning

This is a 60 minute quick study of Lodi, Ca. just before the sun is up in the morning. The scene is from the top of the parking garage. I am off today. The stomach isn't happy. Hopefully it will be back to normal tomorrow. We are finally into summer.

30 minute, urban 3

This is another quick study. The scene is on the road home from Santa Barbara. It needs a bit more punch but for 30 minutes I am fairly satisfied.  It was very early in the morning. I am going out to plant 3 climbing roses in a few minutes. Yesterday we put in the tomato plants, yellow squash, zucchini and cucumbers. It has been years since we had a vegetable garden but decided we would try again. Later!

25 minute quick study, landscape 2, parking garage

The next few postings are more urban in content. This painting is only 25 minutes. Some of these quick studies will be finished, others painted over but I am not ready to make that decision now. Yesterday I was thinning the water lilies in the fish pond and as I was doing that, I was thinking of Monet. I wondered if he thinned his water lilies or was he wealthy enough to have a gardener to maintain his pond. The lilies do not bloom without light, so I was pulling out the old spent leaves and the excessive growth that was shading the blooms. It is funny, when I made the pond more than 10 years ago my plan was to paint the water lilies...and all these years later...I still have not done that. Someday....

25 minute quick study, landscape 1

This is a view from the freeway.

40 minute, Exaggerated color II, 5

Well, this is the last nude of the quick studies. I am a little lost now that I am not in school but today I am going to try to  put new window screens in the frames so we can throw open the windows and enjoy the outside air. The dog needs brushing and hopefully I can put a brush to the canvas. I also want to revisit my quick studies and see if any have potential for finished paintings. Later! : )