Chocolates

Day 31 #stradaeasel
Today marks the end of STRADA Easel's January 31 Challenge. Each January and September they create The Challenge and it is open to everyone. You simply make the commitment to draw, sketch or paint something from life every day and post it online. I have enjoyed the adventure and will to it again in September.

Standing Tall Revisited

Day 30 #stradaeasel
More light and more shadow on the trees and along the ground. Closer to the feeling I was looking for.

Standing Tall

Day 29 #stradaeasel
There is something fascinating about the changing perspective when one looks up into tall trees. I love that feeling. My problem today was to simplify the shapes enough to fit. This sort of works. But the majesty just didn't make it onto the 8x6 inch panel.

Sketching People with Books and Coffee

Day 28 #stradaeasel

Another beautiful sunny day to be out and about. These folks are visiting local favorite places.

In Bright Light

Day 27 #stradaeasel
An experiment in oil sketching—having fun, still too wet to add any more at the moment.

Light in the Woods

8 x 6 inch  |  oil on panel

Day 26 #stradaeasel
Today was cold and sunny. I loved the light and shadow patterns. While I was gazing into the trees, trying to decide what to paint, a bald eagle flew by. I got out my gear and painted the view down our driveway.

Late Day Patterns in the Woods

 

8 x 6  |  oil on panel

Day 25 #stradaeasel
I love looking into the woods around our house. The large tree-fork is a cedar tree that grew out of a stump years ago. The stump gradually rotted away allowing some of the roots to from arches in midair.

Back Stage Chit Chat

6 x 8 inch  |  oil on panel 

I have just learned that Back Stage Chit Chat has been chosen as one of DPW's Picks of the Day for 25 January 2019. The painting is available unframed on DAILY PAINTWORKS website.

Black Scottie Chai Latte

Day 24 #stradaeasel
I ordered Black Scottie Chai at the coffee shop where I have been sketching this month. I liked it so much, I looked them up online and learned it is made by a small company near me—in Snohomish, Washington. I ordered some of their concentrate and one of their mugs. The box was waiting on my door step when I returned home today. So you guest it, I had to make a cup and paint it! Drank it as well.

Window Seat

Day 23 #stradaeasel
It was gray and raining this morning. The day did get brighter, but chose to paint the morning feeling.

Early Morning Patterns

Day 22 #stradaeasel
I love the early morning light in the woods. I see it every day and often wish I could capture what I love about it. This attempt captured a bit of the feeling I love.

Busy Morning

Day 21 #stradaeasel
This fellow was very busy making omelets constantly. I loved watching him. Painting turned out to be a different story. I decided I was finished when the panel fell off the easel and landed face down in my palette. Posting it anyway.

Coffee and a Good Book

Day 20 #stradaeasel
Another patron at the coffee shop down the hill. I'm thinking it must be a good book.

Deep in Thought

Day 19 #stradaeasel
An oil sketch - I don't see how anyone can read anything when their face is so close to the book. Seems like so many students read that way at the coffee shops. Perhaps they are really falling asleep.

Catching Up

Day 18 #stradaeasel
Painted because I liked the light and the way detail disappears into shadows.

Coffee Shop Texting

 

6 x 8 inch  |  oil on panel

Day 17 #stradaeasel
The sun was shining and she had total focus. Very fun to paint! Painted in the studio from coffee shop sketches, since I didn't have my paint box at the shop.

Diva Espresso at the Hanger

The man above is missing his head because he left—so I added others.

Day 16 #stradaeasel
Took a sketchbook to the new coffee shop at the Hanger in Kenmore this afternoon. The Black Scottie Chai is fantastic!

A Glass Purse Full of Flowers

Day 15 #stradaeasel
I have had the glass purse for years. The flowers and purse were both purchased because I wanted to paint them. This is the first painting for both, and the last for these flowers.

Long Shadows on Another Beautiful Day

Day 14 #stradaeasel
Late afternoon at the lake again. I love the sunlight!

Long Shadows at the Lake

Day 13 #stradaeasel
Another warm day at the park. This time in Kirkland. Lots of people, many children and, of course, some dogs.

Park Art & Long Shadows

Day 12 #stradaeasel
It was a sunny and 58˚ this afternoon in the greater Seattle area. These children came to the park with a box of sidewalk chalk, made creations in many colors. Every now and then they stopped drawing so they could dance over their creations.

Market Flowers

Day 11 #stradaeasel
I bought these because I liked shapes and colors. Some of them look a bit like daisies, but I have no idea what they are called.

Ice Fishing

 

8 x 6 inch | oil on panel

Day 10 #stradaeasel

Sketch of a wonderful stone carving. Posting for the challenge deadline — so much light is reflecting off wet paint, that you really can't tell what the painting looks like. Will post again when I shoot a better photo.

China & Silk

Day 9 #stradaeasel
Roses were my grandmother's favorite flower. She planted many varieties in the garden. When in bloom, some always made it to the kitchen table, where I often had tea with my grandfather. These flowers are in one of her vases, which was given to me years ago.

China & Silk was juried into A Brush with Color, an exhibition at the Scott Milo Gallery in Anacortes WA. SOLD! My thanks to the gallery—the painting has found a good home.

Star Bright

Day 8 #stradaeasel
She comes to sit above the fire place every December and stays for most of January.

Sketchbook with Leather Cover

Day 7 #stradasasel
An oil sketch of one of my leather covered sketchbooks. This book was made in Florence, Italy. Most of the sketches inside are of people visiting Seattle's famous Pike Place Market.

Morning Coffee

 Day 6 #stradaeasel
It was very windy last night and our power went out around 2:15 a.m. By 7:30 a.m. the house was still dark and cold, and no working stove, so we went to the local coffee house.
These people were sitting on a very long bench.

The man below arrived quite a bit later and on the our side of the long bench. We were in large, comfy chairs by the fire.

Ribbons, Lights & Roses

Day 4 #stradaeasel
Another little painting from the "winter garlands" just because they are so much fun!

Ribbons, Blossoms & Butterflies

Day 3 #stradaeasel
A little farther along the Celebration garland in yesterday's painting.

Celebration!

Day 2 #stradaeasel
Today's painting for the STRADA January 31-Day Challenge, shows two treasures hanging on one of our Christmas garlands. Soon they will be called "winter garlands," since I like to keep them up through January, just because they are so much fun!

I will be creating and posting a painting, sketch or drawing from life each day this month.

Hangin' Around on New Year's Day

Day 1 #stradaeasel
This is the junior companion to September's Hangin' Around. And it is another Husky football game in the living room—New Year's Day Rose Bowl.