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