Dwellings #4 - 14" x 11" Acrylic on canvas board - $150

I worked on another “Dwellings” piece today. I like this one. The houses go up a hill and there are clouds and sky at the top of the picture.

Let’s see… anything different about this one? No. Not really, except that I am getting more comfortable in my skin.

"Dwellings Series #3" - 11" x 14" Acrylic and colored pencil on canvas board - $100

Today is 9/11. I noticed when I was in the dentists office this morning. I wish I had something profound to say about that, but I don’t.

I need to work big so I can work more freely. I can’t do 100 paintings in a large format because it would be cost prohibitive, so I am doing most of the paintings small, but I can draw big on paper. I got a large roll of paper today so I can set up my board and draw to my little heart’s content. These will count and I will post them on the blog.

Finished the third “dwelling” painting. I might be getting the hang of this.

"Dwellings Series #2" - 11" x 14" Acrylic and colored pencil on canvas board - $100

Spent most of the day in the studio. Finished my second painting in the “Dwellings” series. Turned out pretty well.

Tried my hand at abstract painting on another piece and it didn’t turn out great. I need to practice stopping. Things can get out of hand pretty quickly when I have a brush in my paw! I am going to count it though, because I need 6 paintings this week!

"Dwellings Series #1" - 14" x 11" Acrylic and colored pencil on canvas board - $100

Went shopping today.

Went to Barnes and Noble and got an ARTnews magazine. Paid $6 so I can subscribe for $20 and get a whole year. I should have just take the subscription card! Oh well, it gives me something to read in the bathroom.

Then I saw another book, Expressive Drawing: A Practical Guide to Freeing the Artist Within by Steven Aimone and just had to get it. I am going to use his lessons in the book as my assignments and perhaps that will get me rolling. I owe Christina a new pair of pants now because this wasn’t on my shopping list.

Then I went to Michael’s and they were having a sale. 40% off stretched canvas. I almost bought armloads of them but then reminded myself, I paint to roughly to use stretched canvas. And besides, I don’t have that kind of money. You know, starving artist and all. I ended up with some woodless pencils, woodless color pencils and watercolor pencils. And a few of those canvas panel boards to get started with. I plan to get some masonite because it is cheaper and I can cut a bunch out of a 4′ x 8′ piece.

It is a 30 minute drive for me to go shopping, so I looked online and found a place called Dick Blick Art Supplies. They sell art supplies and will pay your shipping if your order is big enough. I haven’t compared prices yet, but it looks like they have some pretty good specials. If you want to check them out, you can here.

I went to Lowe’s to get the masonite or “hard board.” $12 bucks for 4′ x 8′ piece. I got two and had the guy chop them up into managable pieces that would fit in my car. I don’t know what sizes I will chop them up into when I get home. I guess I should look at standard frame sizes, so I don’t make it too hard for my customers and force them to get custom frames.

Got home and started painting. First time in years. It is slowly coming back to me, all the techniques I used in college. I really like some of what I did back then and I will try and incorporate that into what I am doing now. I will let you know how it goes.

My first piece is of a village in Italy. I am going to do houses for a while, using the forms in the house as shapes for an abstracted piece. What do you think of “Dwelling 1?” Please comment below. I would love to hear from you.