Major Grey's Chutney with Crackers and Cheese

8 x 7.75  |  oil on panel

In celebration of Day-31 in the STRADA January 31-Day Challenge, creating and posting a painting, sketch or drawing from life each day this month. I have enjoyed the process and will continue painting from life every day. 

#stradaeasel Day-31

Thinking of Spring

 

7 5/8 x 5 7/8  | oil on panel

Today began as a gray day, followed by sunshine that soon became heavy rain. Next hail turned the ground white like snow and when the sun came again, I went out and picked this early andromeda. It usually opens in early March.

#stradaeasel Day-30

Sweet & Savory Pepper Duo

10 x 7  |  oil on panel

These are South African honey peppers stuffed with mango cream cheese and sweet picanté peppers stuffed with cream cheese. They taste so good!

#stradaeasel Day-29

Summer Garden

9 x 12  |  oil on panel

Today's painting is based on a sketch from my childhood home.

#stradaeasel Day-28

The Model

12 x 12  |  oil on panel

I felt like painting something different today, found a willing model. The oil sketch looks a bit like her.

#stradaeasel Day-27

Amaryllis

9 x 6  |  oil on panel

This Amaryllis is about to open its second flower. Perhaps there will be a third. Today's painting for the STRADA January 31-Day Challenge.

#stradaeasel Day-26

Cracker and Cheese with Tea

6 x 8  |  oil on panel

I ate the cracker with cheese, warmed up the tea and enjoyed all three.

#stradaeasel Day-25

Matryoshka: Inside and Out

8 x 6  |  oil on panel

The models for Day-24 are another Matryoshka. This one does open and the last doll, the smallest one inside, is sitting by the first.
#stradaeasel Day-24

Liberty Bell

8 x 6  |  oil on panel

Today's painting is my old "Liberty Bell Bank" — a treasure in childhood. The bottom has a key hole and the US Patent Office markings. Since I lost the key in childhood, it still has money inside. My painting for Day-23 in the STRADA January 31-Day Challenge.

#stradaeasle Day-23

Pooh and Friends

6 x 9  |  oil on panel

This was so much fun to paint! These little characters have been siting on the shelf for years with some favorite childhood books. They became my models for today's painting.

#stradaeasle Day-22

Lunch in D.C.

 

8 x 6  |  oil on panel

Years ago I had lunch in a delightful dining room in Washington D.C. The space was so charming, I wanted to paint it, so I sketched while waiting for my meal. I pulled out one of my old travel sketchbooks today, found the sketch, and used that for my Day-21 painting in the STRADA January 31-Day Challenge.

#stradaeasle Day-21

A Half Cup of Tea

8 x 6  |  oil on panel

Another friend from the Christmas Tree and garlands over the fireplace. Also his second painting, see Day 19's Just Hanging Around. This fellow is hanging from the floor lamp at the other end of the couch.

#stradeasle Day-20

Just Hanging Around

8 x 6  |  oil on panel

This fellow hung on our Christmas tree for years, then moved to the garlands above the fireplace. Several years ago, when I was putting the decorations away, I hung him on a lamp in the living room, where he has been ever since.

Today he posed for his second painting. The first was just after I drew him on wood, cut him out and gave him his face, hands, hair and outfit.

#stradaeale Day-19

The Baker

 

8 x 6  |  oil on panel

My painting for Day-18 in the STRADA January 31-Day Challenge is based on another sketch from the market. She was wearing the strangest hat. The top part, that I thought was to stand up, drooped past her shoulder. Fascinating. She did make wonderful desserts.
#stradaeasle Day-18

Park Bench News

8 x 6  |  oil on panel

Today's painting was an experiment that didn't work. Two others were washed off before this one appeared. Love the sketches, park visitors in one of my sketchbooks.

#stradaeasle Day-17

Good News!

 8 x 6  |  oil on panel

Good News! was painted from the sketch below, people visiting Seattle's famous Pike Place Market. This is my piece for the Day-16 in the STRADA January 31-Day Challenge.

#stradaeasle Day-16

Paula's French Desserts

 8 x 6  |  oil on gessoed museum board

Today's painting is from one of my market sketches. Paula's was across from the Art Stall Gallery in Seattle's Pike Place Market. I sketched many people there and at the news stand on the corner.

#stradaeasle Day-15

Sketching with friends . . .

We had a table full of sketchers today. Great fun! We will do it again.

As always, when everyone is sketching, none of my "models" sat still long enough for me to do any more than quick notes. The two above are my sketches for Day 14.

#stradaeasle Day 14

Tassos Olives, Onion, Pepper with Okra Pickle

What can I say, this is the strangest yet. This looks rather funny now that I see it "in print" It is getting late, so this really is the painting for the Day 13.

#Stradaeasle Day 13

Supersize Coffee

8 x 6  |  oil on panel

The reference for this painting comes from a coffee shop sketch, while I was waiting for the car to be serviced. I loved the way this man was sitting as he read the morning paper. A perfect model for today's STRADA January 31-Day Challenge.

#stradaeasle Day 12

Ray-Ban Sun Break

8 x 6  |  oil on panel

 Another painting from a sketch in the same book as Day 9. This was in a park one very sunny day in Belfast. I loved the poses of so may visitors as they relaxed in the sun and shade.

#stradaeasle Day 11

Studio Fish

6 x 8  |  oil on panel

I found this in a wonderful shop years ago, Ming's Asian Gallery. Too charming to resist, looked like a painting to me. I purchased him and this wooden treasure has been on the studio shelf ever since. Today, however, he posed for his first painting.

#stradaeasle Day 10

Afternoon Visit in the Park

8 x 6  |  oil on panel

The models in today's painting are from an older sketchbook, a visit to Ireland and England. This was in a park in Bangar one Sunday afternoon. It seemed all the other visitors were elderly women. They were all so much fun to sketch. None of them even noticed me.

#stradaesle Day 9

Sack Lunch

 8 x 5  |  oil on panel

Today's painting is from a waiting room sketch I did last month. I haven't painted from my sketches for a while and enjoyed the process with this one. I like both of these, for different reasons.

#stradaesle Day 8

Box and Bottles

8 x 6  |  oil on panel

These are things I have saved for years simply because I wanted to paint them "some day." This became The Day. I love the shapes and what happens to the glass and it's shadow when light hits off to one side from above.

#stradaesle Day 7

Studio Notes

8 x 6  |  oil on panel

I have many notes in the book from early years in the studio. Notes on calligraphy, painting, color mixing—a favorite friend for many years.

#stradaesle Day 6

Matryoshka

8 x 6  |  oil on panel  

This Russian matryoshka wooden doll is shaped and painted like the nesting dolls only she is a single piece of wood and does not open.

#stradaeasle Day 5

Gala's Lemon Curd

 

8 x 6  |  oil on panel   

I am quite found of Lemon Curd and had great fun painting this gift for the STRADA January 31-Day Challenge.

#stradaeasle Day4

Studio Bear

 

8 x 7  |  oil on panel 

It is Day 3 already in the STRADA January 31-Day Challenge. The little bear took a visit to the studio this afternoon and spent the evening in there as well. I enjoyed his company.
#stradaeasle Day 3

A Bell is Ringing

This was one of those days when things just went down hill. Thought about scraping everything off and starting again, but somehow I thought the painting would get better.It did not.
I liked this part from the start. It is all that survived.

#stradaeasle Day 2

On New Year's Day 2018: Celebration

10 x 7  |  oil on panel

This is the first day of the STRADA January 31-Day Challenge!
I have joined the challenge and I will be creating and posting a painting, sketch or drawing from life each day this month. Celebration was painted late afternoon, decorations hanging from garlands up for the Christmas Season.

Wishing you Peace and Blessings
for the New Year and always.

#stradaeasle Day 1