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This summer, I have been following, and am VERY inspired by several friends who have committed to painting projects. Perhaps you've heard of painting challenges, when an artist commits to producing a work every day for a specified anmount of time,  that are posted online, via social media, newsletters, or blogs. They are all a little different, and I'd like to share them with you, and tell you about a discipline of my own.

The first one that really made me sit up and take notice recently  was undertaken by a wonderfully talented young woman, Kim Casebeer.

She is an oil painter from Kansas, and has garnered a lot of well deserved national attention. I had the  privelege of meeting and painting with her this past spring in Carmel, CA.  She has set the goal for herself of producing a plein air work ,for virtually every day this entire summer.You see the entire project, and read about the process on a daily basis  at http://kimcasebeerartist.blogspot.com Besides the great little paintings; most are 5x7 oils, she shares her stories that make an interesting read. 

A very new one was started by pastel painter, Julia Patterson.  Here is one of her 6x6" pieces that is posted at http://dailypastels.blogspot.com  ( Sorry about the cropping, Julia!) Julia  has invited any artist who wished to particiapte to contribute work to this project, and several artists will be posting daily pieces until the end of July. Since there is a mix of painters, there is a wonderful variety presented, and Julia's posts are also a good read. Her own work is charming...and labeled perfectly as  " whimsical impressionism". Her site is www.juliapattersonart.com

My buddy Becky Joy is working on "Project 125". For a period of 125 days, she is painting small oils, and posting the images online. Most of these are 6x6" oils, and can be found at www.Beckyjoy.com/2013/project-125  She has some very fresh beauties in the group, resulting from her recent travels.

So what am I doing?  Well, one of my projects for the summer was to clean and clear the studio. I relocated my flat file, and started a pile of supplies and equipment that will go in to a studio sale later this year. I also got rid of some things...including some admittedly awful work, and some starts that I know won't get finished. ( they sure won't now!) I also thought it would be a good time to just go out and paint for a little while every day before it got hot, and I started in on the heavy lifting...literally. 

I thought about this...and realized that I really did not want another pile of little paintings, when my ultimate goal is to keep growing and reaching as an artist. I am aware of how much the " challenges" serve to really kick-jump the quality of an individual artists work, and I applaud the fact that many are sold on line. ( Yay, ladies, I hope you sell them ALL!)

So, I am drawing everyday. From LIFE. Even if it's for only 20 minutes, or so, I am filling my little sketchbooks with my scribbles.

I have always made a practice of having a sketchbook with me at all times...I have sketched in the odd place like waiting in airports, or waiting rooms, or just out in a park. Here is an example..." Before the Show", done in a movie theatre before the lights dimmed.

But, it was not, up until now,  something that I really committed to in a disciplined way.

I do write in a journal every morning, as suggested in The Artist's Way, and have done so for many years now.

I do sit -ups, and go out for a long, brisk walk at least five days out of the week. I often joke that the hill that I live on is my gym...and I do have to get home  again!  I've been doing this, or something similar for the past several years...and I sleep well, and am in great health.

So, why not draw every day?

Of course, on those days that I do go out and plein air paint, that will have fulfilled my challenge. After all, that is the ultimate in working from life...as is working from live figures.

You will not find my drawings posted online on a regular basis. They will not be for sale, or exhibited ...although I may include the odd few if they happen to fit in to a themed show.

What I hope you WILL see is a new confidence and ease in my work. I'm fully aware that this practice had been a bit neglected of late.

So, I will keep you posted, as always on the new, and hopefully improved,  work.