Here we are, a week into another STRADA Easel Daily Painting Challenge. If you’re unfamiliar with the challenge, it’s a daily challenge hosted by STRADA Easel to paint from life every day in January. It typically happens twice a year in January and September. I usually do the January challenge and skip the September one because I’m too busy then. Last year I skipped the January one and did the September challenge, and regretted it. I did most of the challenge, but I was exhausted by the end of it.
This month, I picked a flower and skull theme. I find the challenge easier to work if I have a theme to work in. I skipped the last two Inktobers so I’ve been itching to paint some skulls and flowers look pretty with skulls. Flowers also add some much needed color to the composition. It was really difficult for me this year, like every year, to choose my theme. While I wanted to do the skulls, I was really hesitant because I need more of what I feel like are market ready paintings. Now that I’ve actually been selling my art, I have a little bit better of an idea of what will sell and that is predominantly landscapes. Don’t get me wrong, I love painting landscapes, but not necessarily from life. The main point of this challenge is to work from life, so landscapes are out. I thought about painting flowers by themselves again, and I might do some, but the skulls were really calling to me.
I’m sure finding a balance between what you want to paint and what sells is a struggle of any working artist. That is what I plan to work on this year. Right now, I’m going to paint something I want to paint. I think at least a few will sell since people seem to love skulls as much as I do. In February, I have a large landscape planned for the Canyon River Runners Art Show hosted by the John Wesley Powell River History Museum in Green River, Utah. I plan on working on just the one painting all month to give myself a breather after this 30 day challenge. Then in March, I plan on completing my own 30 day challenge and hopefully complete 30 landscapes. Once I’m done with that I’ll either take a little break or work on a few larger landscapes.
Great content! Keep up the good work!
Thank you! I’ll keep on trying. 🙂