Flow

"Flow", Acrylic on Panel, 7x5"

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I decided that I needed to try a small tree painting (now that I have the new brushes).  It's definitely better, but not quite what I want yet.  I'll have to try some more.  But for tomorrow, I think I'll go back to books.

Classics

"Classics", Acrylic on Panel, 5x7"

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This one is ok, but I had a lot more fun painting the rug than the books themselves.  The volumes of The Good Earth and Pride and Prejudice are some of those classic, cloth-covered books - the ones with brittle, yellow pages and a musty smell.  One was a gift and the other, I have to admit, I never got around to returning to my high-school library...

As I continue to do these, I'm learning several things that are going to spur me to visit Half Price Books this weekend.

Paintings of books are more interesting when:

• The books are hard cover - more substantial and easier to put in interesting positions.
• The covers have interesting patterns and/or text treatment.
• They still have dust covers (the more beaten up, the better).

More to come!

Childhood 2

"Childhood 2", Acrylic on Panel, 5x7"

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You wouldn't think it would be so challenging to paint books.  It's the text that's the real challenge - tedious to paint in the letters exactly.  I'll keep going and see if I can get to something I like.  I continue to be distracted by the big painting I have on the go.  I'll have to post it when it's done.

I'm thinking, after the books, that I might go back to the tree subject matter.  I think it will work much better with the smaller brushes.

Bright Books

"Bright Books", Acrylic on Panel, 5x7"

Ok, he's the first one that has really tested my resolve to put up all daily images.  I like what's going on with the colors at the top (the strong purple line) cutting across the two brights, but the book rendering isn't working that way I'd like.  I think I'll punt on putting this for sale on Daily Painter.

I still think the theme works though, so I'll be doing more.  Stay tuned!

Childhood

"Childhood", Acrylic on Panel, 5x7"

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Here is the first of my book images.  I think I'm going to do a lot of these.  This one is a bit tame (too close to reality) but I think the subject matter could be great.  I started with some of my personal favorites from when I was a child: Watership Down, Little Women and The Jungle Book.  The small brushes are making a big difference.

Rose 2

"Rose 2", Acrylic on Panel, 7x5"

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Happy Monday.  Ok, the smaller brushes make a big difference - at least in how I like the whole painting small thing.  I love the depth of the petals in this one.  Can you tell that my daughter talked me in to buying roses at the grocery store?  Not the sort of thing that we usually have sitting around the house - especially not roses!  Ah well - good valentines subject matter.

Next up will be books.  I like the idea of painting them since they're rapidly becoming artifacts, like 8-track tapes or spittoons.  I like the subject matter and am hoping that I'll figure out something interesting to do with the compositions.

Owls

"Purple Owl", Acrylic on Panel, 7x5"

"Orange Owl", Acrylic on Panel, 7x5"

My sister commented that I didn't seem like I was having much fun with the daily paintings, and I have to admit that she was right.  I haven't been able to find a style/content that gets me excited about the format.

So to 'loosen up' a bit, I decided to do some images just from my head (not reference images).  I like owls and make them all the time in glass, but I haven't painted them.  So here are a couple of cuties.

I suspect the appeal of the owls has more to do with their head/eye proportions than any innate positive qualities, but oh well.  They are cute.

Can you tell that I've done quite a few children's books?  ;)