Keeping a Daily Painting Habit part one

'A Beautiful Winter Day'        6x8        pastel       ©Karen Margulis
available $95

I got off the plane from my workshop in Florida this afternoon with thoughts of a nap. It was a fun weekend but very busy and the couch was calling my name. I brought my suitcase of supplies down into the studio and my easel stood there waiting for me. I was torn. Couch or easel?

I chose the easel. After all I had just told a group of 13 artists  that they needed to make time to paint more often. A daily painting is the key to progress. I issued my daily painting challenge to them. And yet I wasn't going to paint!  That wouldn't be fair! I should practice what I preach.

So I put up a piece of Pastelmat paper (really liking it more and more) and pulled up one of my new Florida photos on my phone. I spent about 30 minutes painting these scrubby little palm trees. I was tired when I got started but quickly got lost in the painting and started feeling energized.  When I was finished it felt great. (like a good workout!)  I was happy that I decided to paint while this image was still so fresh in my mind. And I am happy to set a good example for the artists who were in my workshop!

close up detail

Note: I loved all the scrubby stuff I saw in Florida. Of course the beach was beautiful and the skies were fantastic but it was the scrub that excited me. So of course I chose to paint what I love. It is much easier to paint when you are excited about your subject. More on this later!