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The final day!

Day 31 of the Strada Easel January Challenge.
A little further on this painting today. As much as I would loved to finished it on this last day of the challenge, it just can’t be rushed.  This painting is for a very special couple.  A beautiful story I will share when the timing is right and I have their permission.  I look forward to working up all of the layers and details with much love and prayers for this special family. 

Day  30 Strada January Challenge - painting from life

It turns out that Riley, the JoyEful Party Animal studio dog was right.  (Shhhhhh, don’t tell him. He will be impossible to live with if he thinks he is right!) I needed to change my still life set up with Raggedy Andy and the train.  I added a Beanie Baby Bear to the composition.  The balance has returned to this composition.  

Another busy day today.  I had to hit the studio early to get in my studio time before I got involved in today’s other activities.  Tomorrow is the last day of this challenge.  I’m not sure I will finish this painting by the end of the challenge.  I just know rushing the process is never a good idea. 

Day 29 Strada January Challenge 

Plein air artists have the weather challenges.   I have JoyEful Party Animal, Riley, stealing my props and rearranging my still life set up.  This is a typical day in the studio with Riley the studio dog.  Some people are disappointed that Riley isn’t there when they visit me at the JoyEful Gallery & Studio.  Some days he just can’t control himself!

Studio dog, Riley actually helped me out with this painting.  The composition was bothering me.  The layout wasn’t flowing right when I viewed it. It needed something else for balance. I added another prop to the party.  Now Riley is really determined to steal the props.
It’s a good thing I love oil painting because it is forgiving and accepts changes well.  My opinion is I can do a painting fast or I can do it right.  

Day 28 of the Strada January Challenge started out with shenanigans in the JoyEful Party Animals Studio.  Studio dog, Riley stole Raggedy Andy from my still life set up…AGAIN!  He is convinced it is HIS toy.  Never mind he has an overflowing basket of dog toys. It’s hard to be upset with that fuzzy face for very long.  He knows how to work those puppy eyes and pour on the charm.  

I’m getting pretty good at resetting up my props and lighting.  Painting from life can be challenging but worth the effort. It trains us to observe and visually imprint the scene in our memory.  Lighting changes in landscapes, live models move and studio dogs can steal the props.  My goal is convey a story adventure.   I believe the artist is telling a story about what they are experiencing through their eyes.  Many of my paintings evolve and change while they are in process.  Sometimes I add or subtract from the story.  I always finish a painting I start.  There are many lessons to learn in the process.  If I quit on a painting, I will cheat myself out of valuable lessons. I’m excited to see where this one will take me on this adventure!  Uh oh, where’s Riley, the JoyEful Party Animal?

Day 27 of the Strada Easel January Challenge.
I finished another painting with some of my favorite family props.  This painting “Blues Warm Up” joins “Tea Time Blues” in this fun series.  I’m enjoying small family memories.  I would not have taken this path without participating in this month long challenge drawing from life. 

This painting is finally coming together.  Tomorrow I can finish up the details and tweak some areas.
There is a sweet moment in my painting process where the painting clicks into place.  I know I’m in the home stretch.  Some paintings click earlier and others take much longer.  I wish I had a set formula to have it on a predictable timeline.  No such luck.  The unpredictable nature of each painting is an adventure.  Many people ask what is my best painting.  My reply is “the next one”.  There ‘s always great possibilities with a blank canvas.  A always a journey through highs, lows, frustration and that sweet moment when the process clicks into place. 

More on the reflections on the blue teapot today.  Sometimes, I have to remind myself it is ok to slow down to make sure I’m getting in all of the beautiful nuances in the color and reflections.  Rushing the process can be a disaster for me.  I can’t wait to get back to this one tomorrow.  

I spent most of my day on the fun commission with the martini, donkey and Pinnacle Peak.  So fun.  

Cheers from the JoyEful Party Animals Studio!

The base layer on the blue teapot painting is finally dry enough for me to work on it again today.  I’m enjoying painting family memories. 

There are lots of fun reflections with twists and turns on the teapot.  I find it tempting to jump around on different details on the painting. That is a recipe for me to get lost on my process.  I do better when I focus and stay with one area at a time.  Some artists like to cover parts of their paintings to keep focused.  Others work in a grid only painting one square at a time.  I like to get all of the values and base dead color blocked in first.  Then I slowly build the layers of  details and color. It is interesting to see the various processes artists use in their studios.  

Today’s early morning painting session today before I work on a commission painting.  I was able to block in the rest of the base layer on this one. Riley, the studio dog is still convinced the Raggedy Andy doll is one of his toys.  I caught him before he “rearranged” my set up again this morning.  

This challenge has been good to help me to stay organized and focused on quality studio time.  In the past, I would get lost in painting and let my other responsibilities slide.  The other side of my former bad habits would be to try to play catch up on administrative tasks and neglect quality studio time.  My goal is to create my best work and actually make more income than I spend.  Without sales, I won’t be able to buy supplies and time to paint!  

I jumped over to this fun painting today.  I set aside the blue teapot painting I was working on yesterday.  I need to wait for the paint on the to dry a bit.  I want to keep the colors clean. 

Riley, the JoyEful Party Animals® studio dog, keeps trying to steal the Raggedy Andy doll from my still life set up.  He thinks it should be his toy.  Never mind that he has a toy basket overflowing with dog toys!  It can be a challenge when he rearranges the still life!

Back to the easel to get a little more done on this one.  Now to find Riley to see what mischief he may be in…

#Strada #Stradaeasel 

Materials used: Artefex Panel, Rosemary Brushes and Gamblin Oil Paint

I was up early to get in studio time to work on Day 21 of the Strada January Challenge.  I wanted to get in a few hours before I got involved in today’s adventures.
Some days I have to hustle a bit to get in studio time for this challenge, commissions and the administrative portion of my art.  Applying to art exhibitions, galleries, museums can take a lot of time.  Then there is the bookkeeping and tracking inventory and deadlines.  That is much more challenging than the painting studio time to me.  Keeping a work balance with family and personal care (exercising) can be challenging as many of you know.  I seem to drop the ball a lot. I just try to pick it up and try again.  Nothing to complain about, I’m so happy to have the opportunities and health to do what I love.  

Day 20 Strada January Challenge

Finished!  Now for the title. Today I finished the martini shaker, tweaked the Ketel One Bottle and finished the background.  It is hard to stop on a painting. There is always that time when you run the risk of overworking and over thinking the process. 

This painting will help me with my commission on a large canvas.  The collectors requested a JoyEful Party Animal Donkey with a Ketel One martini with a lemon twist and with Pinnacle Peak in the background.  It is a good thing I will balance out the martini research with my morning hikes on Pinnacle Peak!  I’ve been working on this commission while doing this Strada Easel January Challenge. The commission doesn’t meet the criteria for the challenge.  It is a little hard to get my donkey model to stand still on Pinnacle Peak with a martini!

Materials used in this painting Artefex panel, Rosemary & Co Artists Brushes and Gamblin Artists Colors

#strada #stradaeasel #stradaeaselchallenge2024

Day 19 of the Strada Easel January Challenge. #Strada #stradaeasel

Back to this study today. I was able to work on the bottom of the martini glass, napkin and Ketel One bottle today. Still lots to go on this one.   This study will help when I move to the big canvas for an upcoming commission.

Day 18 for Strada January Challenge #Strada #Stradaeasel Strada EaselAnother painting begging me to paint it.  I love having several paintings going at once.  I never get stuck or bored when a I can jump into a different painting as the inspiration hits.  It is getting a little crowded in my studio.  It keeps me motivated.  I’m off to an art reception at the Phoenix Zoo where I have 2 paintings in the exhibit.

Day 17 of the Strada Easel January Challenge. #Strada #stradaeasel

In between commissions, I was able to squeeze in some time to return to this study for the Strada Easel January Challenge.  I found I was rushing and had to wipe a bunch of work on the bottle.  Rushing never works out. I had a good final hour and was able to correct my mistakes.  This study will help when I move to the big canvas for an upcoming commission.  Materials used: Artefex ,  Rosemary & Co Artists Brushes and Gamblin Artists Colors

Day 16 Strada Easel January Challenge. #Strada #stradaeasel

What a great day full of JoyEful Adventures!  I had a fantastic morning on a photo shoot.  More paintings and news in the future on this grand JoyEful Party Animals Muse Adventures.  In the early afternoon I hit the trails to formulate my creative process and future paintings.  When I returned home to the studio, I couldn’t shake the idea for another tea pot and Dutch liquor bottle painting. It begs for a beautiful tea cup from my great grandmother.  The idea was nagging at me in my dreams last night!  So, I have learned to enjoy sweet surrender to these muses.  It is common for me to have up to 10 - 20 paintings in progress in my studio.  I set up a new still life set up and did the initial sketch on the panel.  Now this painting is in the queue, my creative side of my brain is calm and ready to return to the martini with a lemon twist still life.  It is getting a bit crowded in the JoyEful Studio!Thank you for following the JoyEful Party Animals Adventures! 

Day 15 of the Strada Easel January Challenge.
Today I started with some of the fun details on the martini and a base layer on the bottle label. Cheers!

Materials used: Artefex ,  Rosemary & Co Artists Brushes and Gamblin Artists Colors

Day 14 of the Strada Easel January Challenge.  
Quick painting session today. It’s Sunday and my other half gets cranky if I spend too much time in the studio on Sundays.  Trying to keep a balance can get a bit tricky, but so important.

Today I blocked in the values and base layer. This is a study for a really fun commission on a big canvas.  More on that later.  Material used on this painting: Artefex panel, Rosemary & Co Artists Brushes & Gamblin Artists Colors

Thanks for following this JoyEful adventure!  Enjoy your Sunday!-Joye & the JoyEful Party Animals ®

Day 13 of the Strada Easel #strada January Challenge.  Today I spent the day in my studio at the JoyEful Gallery - Joye DeGoede Fine Art. I’m doing this painting for a study for a fun JoyEful Party Animals commission on a BIG canvas.  I thought it would be good to do study for the still life portion of this big painting. The fun collectors requested a Kettle One martini with a lemon twist.  No problem…I love the “research” for these fun commissions.  Uh oh, I may have found another favorite drink.  The one I’m painting may get a bit stale, so I stopped by one of my favorite watering holes to sample one before I started this painting.  I’ll have to paint fast to finish up this study.  It is hard to throw away good props. I promise, no drinking was involved during the painting layout of this painting.  Hmmm…it’s Saturday night and past 5’oclock.  Definitely happy hour time! Thank you Strada Easel for this challenge.  It gives me the excuse to buy more Artefex  panels.  Thank you to the JoyEful Party Animals Collectors, you take me on so many JoyEful Adventures!

Day 12 - Strada January Challenge Strada Easel #Stradaeasel #strada

Finished!  Tea Time Blues ©  JoyEful Animals® Joye DeGoede 

Today, I finally finished this one.  I loved painting the colors and reflection details on this painting.  I do miss painting animals with these still life paintings.  

This challenge is reminding me to embrace my personal process and discipline to apply the lessons I have learned along the way in my art career. Spending time drawing from life is fundamental in telling my authentic story.  I never want to be known as one of those artists that copy from photos on social media or other artists.  

My personal process:  I spend lots of research time sketching from life, multiple  reference photos.  I don’t paint from one photo, but several to help me tell the story.  It’s all about the JoyEful adventures!  I love adventure, action, animals, people and landscapes with my still life.  I love telling stories with my paintings.

I am starting a new commission with a JoyEful Party Animal with a martini.  I’ll do a small study painting of the martini for this challenge. It will be a great way to prep for this commission on a BIG canvas.  I can’t wait to get started today.  

Materials used in this painting: Artefex panels, Rosemary & Co Artists Brushes and Gamblin Artists Colors  Strada Easel Artefex Gamblin Artists Colors Rosemary & Co Artists Brushes

Day 11 - Strada January Challenge Strada Easel #Stradaeasel #strada

Today, I got to work on the Dutch shoe bottle today. I need to do some research on it.  I played with this little shoe as a child.  I used to beg my parents to let me open it. You can see the cork in it has been abused.  It probably was me hoping it would “accidentally open” with a little “accidental help”. My recollection of the history is it is from a trip my father took to Holland to see my great grandmother.  I’ll chat with my family to see what their version of the family history reveals.  I’m sure there will be lots of “embellishments” in their accounts. 
Materials used in this painting: Artefex panels, Rosemary & Co Artists Brushes and Gamblin Artists Colors Rosemary & Co Artists BrushesGamblin Artists Colors

Day 10 - Strada January Challenge Strada Easel #Stradaeasel #stradaBack to the details on the blue teapot today.  I was able to block in the Dutch shoe liquor bottle today.  I also blocked in the base layer of the background.  I look forward to working on it tomorrow. 
Materials used in this painting:  Artefex panel, Rosemary & Co Artists Brushes and Gamblin Artists Colors

Day 9 - Strada January Challenge Strada Easel #Stradaeasel

More progress on the blue teapot today. Still lots more to go on the teapot before I work on the orange cuties and Dutch shoe liqueur bottle.
Stay tuned for progress. 

I believe quality materials are a must.  If I’m going to put hard work into a painting, I want to have materials from companies that put quality into their products too.  Materials used in this painting: Artefex panel, Rosemary & Co Artists Brushes, Gamblin Artists Colors

Today I was able to squeeze in a couple of hours to work on this one for the Strada January Challenge. Hopefully tomorrow will allow more time.  Some days it is hard to protect studio time.  Lots of interruptions during my studio time today.  I only got in about 3 hours with frequent interruptions today.  I generally try to paint about 6 hours without stopping.  Some days just don’t work as planned. 

Day 7 Strada January Challenge 

I’m back to my pencil drawing of the 3 monkeys.  Again, I moved my monkey prop where Riley, the studio puppy wouldn’t move it.  I’m actually getting pretty good at readjusting it when it gets bumped.  I used natural lighting.  That I can’t control.  Just as the light shifts when one does Plein air painting.  (Side note: it snowed today at my home in Scottsdale, AZ!)

I am calling this sketch completed. Tomorrow, I’m back to the blue teapot.  The 1st layer of paint should be dry.  I can’t wait!

Day 6 of the Strada Easel January Challenge.
Layout and base layer today.  I can’t wait to get back to it when the base layer dry!

Sunday I will return to my pencil sketch of the 3 monkeys while this painting dries out.  S0me things can’t be rushed.  If I don’t wait for the colors to dry, I will end up with muddy colors.  

Going Bananas is drying on my easel. It is so hard to get good photos of these little canvases. 
Lessons learned this week:

Don't eat your props before you finish a painting from your still life set up. One big advantage from setting up a still life and photographing it is I only have to wait a few minutes to eat my food/drink props! Plus it's not a problem with Riley the photobombing pup. If he knocks it over, it only takes a few seconds to undo the disruptions. If I've been painting from life and Riley knocks over the props, it takes a bit longer to fix it.

Going Bananas is available on my website under New & Available Original Small Works 8x8 & Under 

Back to the Monkeys and bananas. I'm almost finished. Tomorrow I will hit the last few details. I'll also finish the pencil sketch of the 3 monkeys before Riley gets a hold of my still life prop, wait, where's Riley?

Uh oh, to be continued.

Day 3 and I'm still excited to be participating in this challenge.

Today, I returned to the monkey pencil drawing. I made sure I was out of reach of my little helper, Riley the JoyEful Party Animal studio puppy. I only had an hour to work on the challenge today. I spent my day in the studio working on commissions. If I don't paint these commissions, I can't buy supplies! I was able to start establishing values and some details.

Some days don't go as planned. Working on commissions. Here is my after work sketch for day 2. Riley knocked over my setup. I'll reset tomorrow and finish this study. Then back to my oil paintings!
Cheers!

Day 1 #stradaeasel

I'm excited to be signed up to participate in this challenge. 
This January, artists from all over the world will be participating in the STRADA painting and drawing daily challenge.

We are instructed to :
Do a painting or drawing from life each day (i.e. a work of art done while you are looking at the subject from life-not from a photo or imagination). These subjects may include still life, interiors, figure, and landscapes.
Post the image of your piece for that day on your Facebook/Instagram page.
It is not necessary to complete your piece in one day. However, there must be a noticeable difference in the work between days and each day must be from life. Toning a canvas or varnishing a painting do not qualify as painting from life.

Come follow my adventures with the JoyEful Party Animals in my studio. You can see the finished paintings on my website Joyesart.com 
Day 1, I thought I was going to do fruit. I started monkeying around with my set up. Well, I got hungry and ate one of the bananas. The three monkeys in this WIP were looking at me from across the studio. They were a perfect replacement for the missing banana. 
What I learned today besides not to eat my props before I paint them…
I work much quicker blocking in my composition when I paint from life. I find it easier to simply and stay focused when I'm working from life. I don't get distracted by details like I can working from photos. It is also much easier not to fight distorted proportions in photos.