6 Paintings in 7 Days – Day 4
Our little storm finally grew up.
What started as a tropical disturbance has officially become Tropical Storm Bertha, and she’s left home for New Orleans. I have to admit, watching her head off into the Gulf almost felt like sending a kid off to college. Is this what it feels like to be an empty nester?
With the weather no longer demanding my attention, it was time to get back to the studio.
Today wasn’t about starting another painting. It was about strengthening the ones already in progress. The three dogs, the rooster, and the pelican all received another pass, focusing on blocking in shapes, refining values, and pushing each painting one step closer to completion.
I’ve settled into a rhythm that seems to be working.
Rather than spending an entire day on one canvas, I start with the first painting and work on it for about an hour. Then I move to the second. Then the third. Then the fourth. By the time I’ve worked through the entire lineup, I circle back to the beginning and see each piece with fresh eyes. It’s amazing how often the solution to one painting appears while I’m working on another.
That’s one of the unexpected lessons from this challenge. Momentum isn’t just about working harder—it’s about letting your mind bounce between ideas. Each canvas teaches me something I can immediately apply to the next one.
The values are becoming more defined. The compositions are settling in. Personalities are beginning to emerge from what were once rough block-ins.
We’re officially past the halfway point of this challenge, and the paintings are starting to look less like sketches and more like finished pieces.
Tomorrow it’s time to start adding the details that make each painting come alive. One layer at a time, the finish line is getting closer. 🎨
