HOW 'YA LIKE THEM APPLES

6x6, pastel, 4-3x3s

Today I have been cleaning pastels and getting ready for a workshop with Kim Lordier next week.  I have not touched a pastel for a while and thought it might be fun to do the 10 minute challenge.  It turned into the 10-15-20 challenge.  I need to get familiar once again with the 1000s of pastels I have.  My rhythm is off, but hope to be up and running by Wednesday.  

CHALLENGE IN TEN

on a 6x6 panel, oil,  4, 3x3 exercise

Well, I stepped up for the challenge.  Carol Marine along with Daily Paintworks has set up a weekly challenge to exercise our brains.  I played with this concept and could not get under 12 minutes, until today.  These are my first 4 in 10 and was exhausting.  The next 4 will be later.  After doing this challenge I really reflected on the mental planning of a painting and not fiddling around.  I am a fiddler.  I like to circle the drain for a while before I pull the plug.  This exercise does not allow this play time I so enjoy.  

The challenge is to paint each of these in 10 minutes with a timer to keep me honest.  It is so easy to over state a concept.  To paint over and over and not sit with what was committed to when I first put my brush to the canvas.  Fear and trust are basics in life and cross over every part of my life.  So I say be fearless and have faith to forge ahead.  Take what you learned and carry on.