“This Sweet Simple Existence”…My Year of Daily Painting. January 2026 Recap
Late last year, I had decided to embark on a rather daunting project. I would make 2026 my year of living creatively, my year of daily painting, a personal art project called “This Sweet Simple Existence” focused on painting objects (whether still life, food, household objects, etc), images and scenes from everyday life to showcase the magical and extraordinary in the seemingly mundane daily existence.
“Painting Small and Often” Collection, Acrylic on Stretched Canvas, 9” x 12”
I had recently came across Carol Marine’s book “Daily Painting: Paint Small and Often to Become a More Creative, Productive and Successful Artist”. It was exactly what I needed, as I was starting to feel stagnant with a botanical painting I’ve been reworking over and over. I wanted to break out of the rut and dive into more dynamic, expressive work full of quick, energetic and textured brushstrokes, which is my favorite way to paint.