Day 24

This is the last day of the challenge and I want to thank Leslie so much for starting this. I have learned much this month, even though I didn't quite get 30 paintings done. I learned a lot more about the medium I use and I also learned how to paint better, making every stroke count. This challenge was the perfect nudge I needed after the holidays and weeks away from my studio.
This bird arrived in our yard 2 years agao during a very snowy winter. He liked the bird seed. Not sure whatever happened to him as we have not seen him since.

Day 23

These lovely singers annoy some, but he sits at the top of one of our pines and sings his heart out every morning in the spring and summer. I realize it is often at 4 or 5 am...reason for annoyance..I love to listen to them.

Day 22

I love the subtle coloring of the female cardinal. I had to do this one again as the first attempt was not to my liking...

Day 21

Back from the busy weekend and here is a little charmer that we enjoy all summer. oil pastel, 6 x 6.

I may get 24 of the 30 done by the 31st. Pretty good for me. Check out the other paintings in the challenge here.

Day 19 & 20

I cought up on one today, but sadly will have no time over the weekend to do more, maybe next week I can catch up more.
These are both oil pastels 6 x 6. This is a redbelly woodpecker that visits our suet frequently. He is very shy.

And this is a carolina wren that visits our suet also. A friend of mine has one that makes a nest in her mailbox every spring, so she puts out a pail for the mailman until the babies are gone.

Day 18

I did finish another bird today. This is a mourning dove and they frequent our yard all year long. My husband calls them the ladies as they slowly walk down our driveway every morning to the feeder.

I did start another today so by tomorrow I should be able to have 2 more done. Thanks everyone for all your nice comments, much appreciated.

color

I had my first class last night in our gallery space. Much better, lots of room to spread out. There were 3 new students along with the 4 that have been coming for awhile now, making a total of seven. A larger group is much more fun and the new students added another dimension to the mix.
Last time I started with Pegg Kroll Roberts value lesson using the cubes, so this time I added the color and caught the new people up on values. I didn't take a pic of my demo as it took them a while to draw the set up. We are working in oil pastel. I brought mine to the table as the new students didn't have any and I wanted them to try the different brands to see what they liked and what they might want to start with.
Here is the set up

And here are a few of the students work. They didn't have time to finish, but the person who did the second one said she had no idea how to draw. I indicated we would learn as we went along. She did great! It is going to be a fun class.

2 birds coming up for tomorrow.