Just playin' around

I couldn't figure out what to paint tonight that inspired me enough to overcome the exhausted feeling that was trying to convince me to do nothing ... until I spent some time sketching. I don't do that often enough. Then (and I know this doesn't make a ton of sense), I liked the sketch, turned my board around and started to paint something I'd sketched the other night. Whatever works, right? And this is what I got done! It's from one of my favorite photos of all times of my nieces and daughters skipping down a row at the Tulip Festival. Sadly, when I penciled it in, I didn't center it correctly, leaving no room for my other daughter, who's supposed to be on the left. Shh, don't tell. But my goal tonight was to not worry about details and just paint the shapes made by the shadows. And to keep the colors from getting muddy, which sometimes happens in my shadows. To help me stay on goal, I sat far enough back from the computer screen that I couldn't really see any of the details in the girls. It worked! And it was fun! AND I even like it. Now that's really what I needed. The trick will be staying loose while adding just enough definition to suggest detail. Tomorrow. Anyone know that trick?