Day 4 started strong.
The first order of business was blocking in the dog fight scene and finally getting the bear onto the canvas. Then I stopped by the studio and picked up an unfinished painting that had been sitting there waiting for me. So… I’ve got a confession to make.
It’s not really 6 paintings in 7 days.
It’s 5½ paintings in 7 days.
I’ve been living a lie.
After that revelation, I dove into the details, feeling like I was finally ahead of schedule. Then I remembered one very important thing…
Feathers.
Lots and lots of feathers.
The rooster has officially become the painting that makes me question every decision I’ve ever made. Somewhere in the planning phase, I apparently forgot that roosters are basically 90% feathers. Every section I finish reveals three more sections waiting their turn.
There were definitely moments where I started reassessing my life choices. Maybe all my teachers were right. Maybe I should have gone to clown college. At least clowns don’t have to paint hundreds of individual feathers.
Still, you push through.
That’s part of this challenge. You don’t quit just because the painting turns out to be harder than you expected. You keep laying down brushstrokes, one after another, until the impossible slowly becomes manageable.
When I finally looked up from the easel, I realized something encouraging. All six compositions are laid out. Two paintings are getting very close to the finish line, and for the first time I can actually see the light at the end of the tunnel.
There’s still a lot of work left, and this is no time to coast. The downhill stretch can fool you into relaxing too early. I’ve still got to keep my head in the game, stay disciplined, and bring every one of these paintings across the finish line.
One brushstroke at a time.
