Merry Little Christmas

These are a few of my favorite things! (Tom & Jerry, oil on canvas, 6x 4 in.)

wThere’s a lot going on in December, in and outside of my house. My painting takes a back seat to Christmas preparations, but after a two-week-long blitz I decided to take a break and try some small Christmas-related paintings. I’d stay in the mood, but stay out of Target.
 
First, my studio had become the wrapping room (if only I had a permanent one!). I wrapped up one more gift before putting away all the sparkles, then I reassembled my still-life box and filled it with handfuls of Christmas decorations: my favorite bulbs (C9 opaque colored—the best. Period.), a Tom & Jerry cup, bottle-brush trees, candy canes, and a poinsettia. I listened to Christmas music (and Kanye West and some art-history podcasts), and got to it on small canvases and panels. I planned to use some itty bitty 2.5 x 3.5 canvases, but I learned my brushes are too big for that size.
 
The difficult thing about painting holiday decorations is keeping the colors pure and bright. You can’t have any mud on your palette or else your decorations look dull, and then your mood is all, “the holidays are a difficult time . . .” Whereas I was shooting for, “Fa la la la la la la la la!”
 
After Christmas, I’m hoping to paint some snow scenes. But if the skies don’t deliver there are plenty of wintry things to place in the still-life box and continue my tidings of comfort and joy. I’ve created a new gallery page to show these works, and right now I’m calling it “Holiday Punch.” Don't mind if I do--cheers!