I Hear You Calling...

Just a short post tonight to show the painting I did today. This is another quick one, a 6 x 8 oil. It might look familiar, because I posted the reference photo a couple of days ago. And this one is dedicated to my friend, fellow artist Elizabeth McCrindle in Scotland, Spider's virtual godmother! The photo did look like he was listening to someone calling him...could very well be a voice from across the ocean!

It's Only a Month, Right?

Gracie at the November Muse Try-outs

Well...I guess I've made the decision. I've signed up for both the novel and blog projects, and I spent the morning pondering my gameplan for the paintings while I mucked stalls. I'm going to try and keep the painting a day project simple - this time around, anyway! I will focus on head studies only. The next couple of days will be spent preparing - gathering my references, preparing panels...stocking up on chocolate! Actually, the timing couldn't be better for that last one - Friday, being Halloween means that Saturday, all the candy goes on sale! I'll be making a trip to Shoppers' Drug Mart Saturday morning to take full advantage, you can be sure. They always seem to have the best deals. Trust me to know where the best deals on chocolate are!

This angle, perhaps?

I'll also be wrapping up a few things that will free up my time to pursue the November craziness - those things that are in my control, at least! I got my GST return done and filed tonight (one of those rare occassions where I'll be getting a refund...I put a lot of $$ into barn maintenance and repair this past quarter)...tomorrow we will pull the mats out of the one stall that is needing attention, repair the base with some screenings and fix it so that it is completely matted...and that painting I keep not-mentioning will get some time so that hopefully I can call it done.

I stayed up a bit later last night, and look to be on the same timeline tonight - working on cutting down on those pesky sleeping hours! I can get another hour to work that way! It will be nothing close to the sleep deprivation that happens during foaling season, so don't worry about that one. Am I missing anything? To think there are several painters who do a painting a day, all year 'round! I'm only trying it for a month!

Middle of the Night Colour Sketch

After that first casein study, the night before last, I decided to put forth a little challenge to myself. Many artists these days are doing a painting a day. That's a little beyond reality for me at this point in time, but I thought, while I'm doing the foal watch thing, I could do a painting a day, for a week -- or until I get these babies on the ground, whichever comes first!

This, then, is my second installment, from another photo by Montana artist Donna Ridgeway. Donna and I seem to spend a lot of time on the same wavelength, and many of her photos appeal to me! They're the kind of photos I like to take myself. This little painting is 5 x 7, casein on cold press watercolour paper. It's just a quick colour study, nothing too serious! Probably took me a bit more than an hour.

Twine and Clever are still holding on. I don't think Twine will be able to much longer! Before midnight tonight would be nice, mare!