I believe that the discipline of painting every day is a great way to help me improve my work. I find that giving myself a personal challenge helps me meet my daily painting goal. My latest challenge is called a 'Sunflower a Day'. I will paint 100 sunflowers in pastel in 100 days. They will all be 6x6 and I will be experimenting with many techniques and surfaces. Paintings will be available for sale. I invite you to join me and paint along or visit often to see my progress.

Saturday, August 13, 2011

Sunflower Painting #9 Monochromatic Blue Sunflower

Sunflower Painting #9 Blue Sunflower 6x6 pastel
I have been working on my Sunflower project and I am sharing #9 today. I intended it to be a sunflower a day but there have been days I haven't been able to get to it....there are also some days like today when I get to paint more than one! So in the end I will get to do 100 no matter how long it takes. I plan to do more of these monochromatic sunflowers. This one is on blue canson paper. I am working this weekend on painting furniture for my new screened porch. I want to paint my second hand wooden chairs different shades of blue....I am inspired by the blue doors of the Taos Pueblo. I'll post pictures when I am finished!


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Price: $75 USD
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Monday, August 8, 2011

Sunflower Painting #9 A new week begins!

'Sunflower #9' 6x6 pastel
I did a watercolor underpainting with some very bright colors. I like them so I didn't do much changing when I added pastel. They almost look fluorescent! I have some ideas for this weeks 'crop' of sunflower paintings and I think I will set up my paper to get a head start.

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Price: $75 USD
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Wednesday, August 3, 2011

Sunflower Painting #8

'Sunflower 8' 6x6 pastel
For today's sunflower I chose colors based on another Matisse painting. I am teaching a pastel class and tonight is 'Matisse Night' I like getting inspired to used different color palettes.....putting together colors I might not try and seeing what happens. That is what is great about this challenge. I can try out so many ideas within the boundaries of the 6x6 format and subject matter.

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Price: $75 USD
Or, send me an email

Tuesday, August 2, 2011

Sunflower Painting #7

'Sunflower #7' 6x6 pastel
I had to miss a couple of days because of a water leak at the house. Hopefully I'm back on track and will make up for lost time this week. Today's painting is on Art Spectrum grey. It has never been my favorite surface but I actually didn't mind it today!

Saturday, July 30, 2011

Sunflower Painting #6

'Sunflower Painting 6' 6x6 pastel
Almost a week of sunflowers and I feel like I am just getting started. This is so much fun. Next week I will get a bit more out of the box so stay tuned. Today's sunflower is on Wallis Belgian mist with no underpainting.

Friday, July 29, 2011

Sunflower Painting #5

'Sunflower #5' 6x6 pastel ©Karen Margulis
For today's painting I chose another palette inspired by a painting in my Matisse book. I don't plan on painting all of my sunflowers yellow and I like this pink one! I am finished with a big commission so I now will spend the weekend getting more 6x6 paper prepared for my project. I was feeling a bit guilty working on anything other than the commission paintings so now I can devote more of my time on the sunflower project.
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