Here are the final paintings in the 2020 Strada 31-Day Challenge. It is a huge relief to finally be finished. I honestly thought I would enjoy painting flowers more as the month went on, but I found myself struggling the whole way through. There are some paintings in this collection that I am really proud of, and a few that I hesitated to post. I posted the failures anyway. I think it is always a good reminder that a good painting comes from lots of practice and even then failures still happen.
This final week was particularly hard. I found myself wondering why I why I paint. This month I’ve been so frustrated with it so often, that it has been more torture than anything. I think I just need to steer clear of flowers. They are truly sucking any joy that could be had from painting. There are certainly some successful paintings this month, but far too many that I’m really dissatisfied with. I plan on sanding the worst down at some point and painting over them. No use in wasting perfectly good panels.
I certainly admire artists who regularly paint flowers and make it look easy. Flowers are harder than they appear. I’m really looking forward to getting back to painting subjects I’m more interested in and less frustrated with.
This isn’t to say I don’t advocate branching out and trying new things. I definitely do. It’s just a fact of life that everything you attempt won’t necessarily be successful. I need to remember that I tried something new and learned a lot.
Thank you for following along this month and for all of the helpful encouragement given along the way. I appreciate everyone’s support through this difficult month. Check me out on Instagram @amber.honour to see my thoughts on each painting day to day.
Super impressed that you stuck it out even though you were struggling with the subject. Hope you can look back later and find the exercise was valuable …and that you find your joy in painting again soon.
Thank you. At the very least, I know I gained experience. And I am proud I finished the challenge so it wasn’t a total bust.