DOWN TIME

8x8 oil on canvas panel

Daily Paintworks assignment this week is to paint a figure "lying down". It was fun painting the light and rumpled bedding, but I am looking forward to trying this one again with a more relaxed hand.

THE POSER

8x10 oil on moleskine nfs

The Poser is for sweet Linda Popple's moleskine with The Texas Moleskin Round-Up. I had so much fun painting this guy that I think I may have to commit to painting a few more roosters and chickens over my summer break. The background was a bit of a dilemma, I was aiming for dull, but sophisticated, something that would allow his plumage to stand out. I am happy with the end results, but we'll have to wait and see what Miss Linda thinks for herself.

And now I have a special favor to ask all of you...I have just recently lost 50 pounds...YAY!...Ok, that's embarrassing to admit that I even needed to lose that much, but it is what it is. I want to celebrate those 50 pounds with 50 pet portraits of animals of all kinds during my 50 days of summer vacation. In order for me to do this, I need you to send me photos of your pets, and I mean pets of all kinds...from dogs to piglets, I'm on for the challenge and am hoping for a variety of subjects to work from. The photos must be your own pictures and, you will be under no obligation to purchase a painting. In order for me to work from your photos, they must be clear and in-focus, along with good lighting; jpegs can be e-mailed to me at jaledge@aol.com . I am beginning this challenge within a few days, so it is important I get your photos soon.

Happy Summer to all of you, school is officially over for me and I'm ready to paint...Please help me celebrate my 50 with 50!

EIGHT FOR TEN

5-1/2"x14" oil on panel

Ok, so by now you all know about Carol Marine's new challenge at Daily Paintworks, go here to see all of the amazing results. Ten minutes per little painting...do I even need to tell you the first one is in the upper left hand corner and the last one, #8 is in the lower right hand corner? Ten minutes was difficult for the first row, but by the time I got down to the second row, I found myself not needing the full 10 minutes, Carol was right, it gets easier and you do get a feel for what you can accomplish in 10 minutes. Ok, so I failed in subject matter, she specifically said paint an object; however, I am not a still life painter and find painting such things tedious. After failing miserably with a few asparagus, I fell back to a photo of what else, a dog.