Gnarly Old Maple

Gnarly Old Maple
Pastel on board 9"x12"

This is my most recently completed pastel. I started it last summer on site, and had a hard time pulling it out and finishing it. I struggled with all the green in this scene.
I enjoy painting in this style, but what really pulls at my heart are paintings done in a much looser style.
When I was younger, we would swing out into the creek from a rope tied into this tree's upper branches.

february and what it's done already

Sierra and Sage
pastel on paper (3.5x4")

I dread February unless I'm going to escape to someplace warm and sunny, which I'm not this year. This shortest of months always feels like the longest.

So, i set a goal for 2 purposes-
to get through the February greyness.
to improve my painting.

The intent or goal is to paint daily. It may be a quick 15 minute painting, or more. Hopefully this will help me to loosen up in my painting and to get over the difficulty with starting new works.
I don't intend to be too hard on myself if I don't paint every single day.

This is the first warm-up painting. A 15 minute painting of someplace warm and sunny- the High Sierra in eastern California.