So far I’m really happy with how this challenge is shaping up. Aside from a couple of paintings, I’m thrilled with how the paintings are turning out. Today I’m a third of the way through the challenge and it has really flown by. The challenge I did last year really drug on, but I was sick then so I’m sure that makes a difference.

I’m noticing a trend toward groups of three. I try to add more or less, but three seems to be the magic number. I’ve also noticed a trend of disliking a painting to some degree the day I finish it, but liking it a day or two later. I can’t say I was a fan of any of this weeks paintings until later, but now some of them are among my favorites.

It’s possible I spoke too soon when I said I was starting to hit my stride last week. On day 4 I arranged and rearranged these tomatoes, added and removed dishes and tomatoes, and sketched these tomatoes all over this panel before finally settling on this composition. I’m really happy with the loose style of the painting along with making good use of the refections.

Day 5 came together a bit easier , composition wise, but I had more trouble painting it. It was a muddied pink color right up until the end when I put in the final details and it all somehow came together.

On day 6 I tried doing a more desaturated painting. I really didn’t like it initially, but now that some time has passed it’s one of my favorites and it no longer seems so desaturated. I love the simplicity of this one.

They can’t all be masterpieces. Day 7 was a struggle. I changed the composition half way through and while it is better than it was I still don’t like it. I overworked it in an attempt to love it, but that probably only made it worse.

Day 8 is Pink! It is interesting how I’ve painted four red paintings so far and each one is such a different red. I’m not normally a fan of anything pink, but I love the juice stains surrounding the pomegranate. I almost didn’t include them, but thought they added to the composition so I went for it.

For day 9 I thought I could use some different colors. Plus, blueberries never last long in my house so I had to paint them before they all got eaten. I love that some of the original sketch shows through along the edge of the plate. I think it adds a touch of needed warmth to the painting. I used the same plate as in the first garlic painting, but I didn’t paint the lined pattern this time. I think if I would have added it, it would have added too much to an already busy composition.

Day 10 was difficult. Initially, I planned on painting plums, but they went bad. So I tried avocado, but it wasn’t working. Then I tried to use pineapple. I arranged and rearranged it for an hour before finally starting a painting, which I hated and wiped off. After taking a long break, I came back with a single radish and let the pineapple show through. It’ll do.

Tell me what you think. I’d love to hear which painting is your favorite. All of these paintings are available for sale over in my store.