Instagram Challenges

 I have deserted this blog for a while and put all my effort into my account on Instagram as the challenges there were great for motivation. There is much on there to see but here some of the first months of  2023

More Still Life 

There hasnt been much chance for getting out to paint and I have wanted to improve my direct observation skills anyway so here are some still lifes painted in January

Still Life

 During lockdown I took my time to set up a few still lifes and patiently paint them in wn artists acrylics. All are 20cm by 20cm

The next two were painted in different ways, the first one was using grisaille first and glazes of colour while the second was painted onto a white background

Still in Lockdown

 

I received my certificate for completing the 30 works challenge.

Many artists are passing time doing challenges and they are so useful for expanding skills and ideas and influences. I did keep to all the briefs, more or less but some were a bit annoying as I was trying to keep a positive frame of mind. Not seeing anyone and having to order everything was a challenge in itself. Its still the same now as although we have just moved to level 3 and are allowing a bubble buddy (my son Jon) to be with us we are relectant to take chances. My doc has warned me personally. We have just had our triple birthday week and have risked meeting up with grandchildren who were over the moon to see us. I have all the time in the world to paint so are working on a still life a week using tiny brushes and acrylic.

Oil pastel painting of my still life arrangement. It is on card treated with a gesso and pumice ground. Only a4 size mount so quite small for an oil pastel as the sennelier sticks are quite soft and thick. I used a variety of blending techniques and scraping back to neaten edges.