Santa Sleigh Ride

Santa Sleigh Ride
Oil on canvas, 8x6

We have a lovely snow on the ground - so it looks like we are going to have a white Christmas!  Today, my routine was completely off schedule, and it was late before I found a "painting window".  Looking for something a little vintage, I thought a reindeer and sleigh might be a nice platform for today's Santa.  Somedays the paint just flows from the brush, but today was not one of those days.  With so much on my mind, and so little sleep as of late, I had to work a little harder.  I will probably touch this up tomorrow - painting number 351 in 351 days :)

Sleigh Ride

Sleigh Ride
Oil on canvas, 10x8
GOT Art Gallery Holiday Trunk Show

After a full day of visiting with family in from Australia, tonight finds me painting in a vintage theme.  I have never painted a horse-drawn sleigh before, so this is my first attempt, possibly a Christmas card candidate!  I am really playing with the grays here, pushing a little prussian blue in with a little violet.  I will need to take another photo, as the blues do not appear as strong as they are in the night lighting.  I have discovered that I do not like using the palette knife on canvas - the wood panels accept the knife marks so much better, without all of the skipping off the tops of the canvas tooth.  Painting number 322 in 322 days.