And...They're Off!!

"Sweet & Lowdown"  -  oil on Carton, 8x10, $125

I am biting the bullet so to speak, and taking on a personal painting challenge.  One of the artists whose work I admire, Liz Wiltzen,  (www.mountainartist.com) recently completed a personal painting challenge of painting 100 paintings in 100 days.  I have decided to do the same thing.  The reason for doing something like this has more to do with learning from the journey, than it does from getting 100 paintings out of the deal.  Granted, the paintings will be small, most 6x6", some like the one above, 8x10".  For this challenge I want to focus my attention on "simplicity".  Sound simple?  Nope, not so!  Simplicity in painting is hard.  We, or I should say I, have the tendency to noodle around when I get a little confused, and out the window goes simplification!  Simplicity in painting refers to the act of not adding what you don't need, and focusing on the essence of what you want to say in the painting.  Unlike Liz Wiltzen's paintings, which were all plein air pieces, I am going to make it a little easier on myself, and include studio as well as plein air paintings.  Looking at the calendar, starting today, August 4, I will finish the challenge on November 13, 2010.

Side note, the title from the painting above is from the film by the same name, "Sweet and Lowdown", about someone who thinks he is the best guitarist in the world, aside from Dangjo Reinheirdt, the Frenchman who created Gypsy Jazz.