Day 2 - I'll Light a Candle for You

 It's day 2 of the January 30 and 30 and I'm in the groove.. Leaning into yesterday's spark of Simple Gifts, today's painting is a different take..  Titled "I'll Light a Candle for You", this one features a Duck in Chucks, a trope I come back to time and again.. kind of like peanut butter and jelly.  He's wearing a birthday candle for a hat, and is atop a soft rainbow. All together, the image feels like a simple gift to me...

"I'll Light a Candle for You", 8"x8", oil on panel, click here for purchasing details.

There is something to being able to appreciate the little things in life that helps bring happiness and peace to the chaos.. It's the simple gifts that make up our safety net, I think.. :) The wee duckling here agrees..

To take this a little further, I paint a lot of small paintings.. 8"x8", 10"x10" and 9"x12" are some of the most common sizes for me.. but, if you look closely, you will see that I try to pack a lot into every mark I make on this small space..  My painting style is what is known as Alla Prima, which means all at once.  This helps me to keep my marks fresh and along with my often thick and juicy textures, I hope to convey a sense of joyful life in each small image.  Take a look at some of the details below..

And my imagery is fairy simple when taken by itself.. What intrigues me is when you put the simple things together you often get a story. I try to make my stories ones that convey happiness..

Day 16 - Egg-spress Yourself

I feel lucky to live in a time when there is constant encouragement to Be Authentic. However, regardless of all the encouragement, it's not always the easiest way to be.  I say, keep on trying anyway, till you get the hang of it.

 I'll just leave this little duckling (a brand new one in my Ducks in Chucks series)  here as a reminder to express yourself today, in whatever way feels good :)

"Egg-spress Yourself", oil, 8"x8", click here for purchasing details

Day 21 - Sometimes I Do

The title for this painting popped into my head as I looked at this silly duck who is looking right back at me.. "Sometimes I Do!" she quacked... Sometimes I do what?  I think it means - Sometimes I feel this way, sometimes I do.  A little bit loopy,  kind of goofy.. but ready to walk into the next scene of my life, preferably with daisies and a smile... I'm a little bit loopy because life's not always daisies and a smile... and a little bit goofy, because why not? And while I'm at it, why not be goofy with the aplomb of this duck. Hopefully I can brighten someone's day along the way. :) 

Oh, and yes, this lady was painted also in response to yesterday's painting :) I like to paint in pairs or 3's..  Its more fun that way, and I thought a white duck in vintage chucks would compliment nicely..

Sometimes I do, oil, 8"x8", purchasing details click here