5 minute painting
day 9
daily painting: 365 day art project
Day 145
Painted on Dec 9, 2017

I was searching for a new canvas to use, and came across one that I started, but never finished. I don’t remember painting this at all, but I must have. 

December is always a good time to tie up loose strings, and finish up the abandoned paintings. I won’t get around to all of them because there are probably 10 or so, but I’ll do what I can. So the photo above is what the canvas looked like before my 5 minute painting began. And, here’s what it looked like after..

Work in progress

Although I wasn’t crazy about the idea of picking up where I left off months or years ago, (I prefer a white background when I’m starting a new painting, so I can start fresh) I really liked starting on a canvas that’s already been prepped with modeling paste. It saved my head going to all the trouble of tripping out. Geesh. 

Work in progress – close up shot

I have no idea where this is going or what the subject is going to be at this point. None. I find the unknown incredibly painful, and thrilling at the same time. A part of me wants to just dig in there, and get this thing figured out. Have it done already, even though I’m only beginning. I’m pretty sure that’s my head talking..I know how much it loves to solve all my problems for me. Another part of me is totally calm and in no rush whatsoever. 

Ah, yes. Relax. Breathe. Wait until tomorrow to start new again. 

Tonight I listened to classical music from Downton Abbey as I painted. 

5 minute painting
18×14 inches
day 8
Finished painting!!
daily painting: 365 day art project
Day 144
Painted on Dec 8, 2017

Success doesn’t come to you, you go to it.
– Marva Collins

I finished it!! I’ll be sealing it later today. I’m thinking of using Dorland’s wax on this one, which will take about an hour or so. I’ve never actually timed it before, but it’s quite a long process because I heat up the wax, and then cool it. Then it has to sit a while before I buff it out, and then I do it again..and maybe again. So, yeah..probably about an hour over all, not including the sitting time. It’s usually something that I do over several days.

Once that’s done, I’ll start the long process of photographing it, and listing the original and prints. Ugh..my least favorite part of all of this. The real work begins for me with all the computer work. I paint super fast, for the most part, but when it comes to all the rest, my pace is slower than a turtle. 

The bright side is (trying not to complain too much here) I’ll have a better photo to show you soon. I’ve been trying to be less of a perfectionist this month, so I’ve been taking all the photos for my blog with my phone. The photos aren’t the best, partly because the lighting really stinks now that I’m in a new studio, but whatever. Not going to worry or stress over things I can’t change. It is what it is. 

Hard to believe it looked like this a mere 8 days ago, eh? 

Tomorrow, I’ll start a new painting.
I’m getting it done one 5 minute painting sesh at a time.
Oh, yeah. 🙂 

Tonight I listened to Sign of the Times by Harry Styles while I painted.

PS: Can you believe I almost messed up, and didn’t paint today?? Yikes. I was so busy doing other things (photographing, editing photos in PS, listing new paintings/prints, and working on other paintings) that I blew off my daily painting first thing this morning. It wasn’t until around 9pm that I suddenly remembered that I had forgotten my daily painting. Oops! Luckily all I needed was 5 minutes, so I still had plenty of time to get it done. 

PPS: tomorrow I start a new painting. I’m excited!