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I have now been painting almost 10 years and have been thinking of the premise I had when I first started. I had a theory that every painter seemed to need to create a painting on 10 subjects. It has been a while, but let us examine this idea!

Painting #1 : A Red Barn

                Yes, I started with the red barn – did a pretty good job (at least I thought so at the time) and have painted many red barns since – including two last week during a plein air competition! I love the way the light plays with the colors, especially the champagne light of the winter landscape.

Painting #2: A Lighthouse

                My lighthouse was a squat little thing on an island off of Vancouver Island, B.C.. This was when I discovered that I preferred to put a different spin on some of the “required” painting subjects.

Painting #3: Close up of a cow’s face

                Yes, I did these. That pink nose!

Painting #4:  Hay bales in a field

                Round or square – irresistible! The composition possibilities that rows of hay bales present are intriguing to contemplate. I walked through rows of bales piled high last week and tried to make a painting of the scene at the end of the row. Decided to paint a red barn instead.

Painting #5: Rooster

                I admit, I haven’t done this one yet. I guess I haven’t met the right rooster with attitude!

Painting #6:  Still Life with Fruit

                Enough said

Painting #7:  Fish on a white plate

                I hadn’t planned to do this one, but I was on a painting trip with friends. We had an early heavy snow, so we painted the trout that had been caught the day before. They were frozen and the only white plate we could find was a paper one, but we got it done!

Painting #8:  Old Truck

                Beside a barn, alone in a field, rusted or restored – just a fun painting to try.

Painting #9:  Sailboat with white sails

                I painted mine on a high mountain lake – this always surprises me when there are sailboats on high mountain lakes! I want to try a mass of boats one day.

Painting #10: I simply can’t remember what this one was!

                Suggestions?