Leanne Shawler, Artist

As I was working from home on Monday, I was able to get all the prep done for these jelly donuts (recipe by Deb Perelman of Smitten Kitchen ) and thus able to fry them first thing Tuesday morning to take into work for a Chanukah treat. There are two rises involved with this yeasted dough and I got a bit worried: the milk didn't froth with the yeast in it (not lukewarm enough?) and although after the first rise the dough was a bit puffy, it looked pretty sad and flat the next morning after the second overnight rise in the fridge. BTW, I did the "peskier" method where you prefill with jam before frying. Having never made these before, I had to do a taste test. (My hubby was dispatched to work with the one donut that "exploded" during frying.) Thankfully, they turned out pretty dang good (I think the lemon zest really made it) ... ... and off to work they went! Portrait #2 is underway for the 52 Portraits in 52 Weeks challenge. This time it is...

It's just the first week and it already has proved that one can complete a portrait in a week even if one works full-time and has to deal with family emergencies (we're okay). Monday night: image sketched Tuesday night: set up palette and first layers Wednesday night: choir Thursday night: well, we had to watch The Voice! (yes, more about those choices later) Friday night: one of my bosses got installed in his new job (where he is still my boss), an amazing evening Saturday: at hospital most of the day, home for an hour where I painted! then off to Christmas party Leaving Sunday to photograph and scan the finished portrait and get it online for y'all, as well as prep for week 2! For Week 2, I am still trying to decided between the redo of Frida Kahlo (which is on a board) or a whole new painting. I still have a lot of paint left from this painting in blues, reds, greens and purples, so I'm leaning toward the Frida Kahlo redo as it is more abs...

I didn't get started on the first week of my challenge to complete 52 Portraits in 52 Weeks until tonight, but here are a couple of pics. I decided to start with a self-portrait. There was a crazy looking one where I'm super-happy, but it wasn't my best angle, so I decided to use one where my hair looked fabulous instead. Before I began: Initial sketch: I'll show you the final result Sunday. Follow me on Instagram  @leanneshawler to see progress shots throughout the week. See the pinned "Featured" post  to learn more about the 52 Portraits in 52 Weeks challenge and how you can join in.

It's the last weekend before the 52 Portraits in 52 Weeks starts. I know what I'll be doing. How about you?

One: I don't need to draw a face to paint it. I can just dive right in, even with ink. Annie Hamman's class Close Up workshop gave me such confidence! (The class is still available as a self study) Two: I learned that while I love how long I can work with oils before the paint isn't moveable any more, what I don't love about it is the smell (even with using odorless mineral spirits) and the environmental impact. Open acrylics are supposed to be similar so I might give that a try... Madonna Oils, from Annie Hamman's Close Up Workshop class Three: Grief takes a chunk out of you, even when you're not consciously thinking about it. Dad died at the beginning of summer --and my mental acuity is just not there. Of course, I am thinking about making art a lot, because life is just too short not to do the things you love to do. I'm not even sure I am ready to monetize that, but I am moving towards it slowly... Four: My church has invited us to do a spiri...

I have been so inspired by Annie Hamman 's Close Up workshop (now available for self-study), that I have decided to pursue abstract-ish portraits for a year -- and rather than waiting for January 1st, I am going to start on December 11. That's right 52 Portraits in 52 Weeks . It almost sounds too easy (even with all the caveats below) and I wonder if I should really challenge myself and do 104, but because of the caveats below, I'm going to be realistic, if I happen to finish two in one week, that'll be the bonus for when I'm not able to complete one later in the year. Also, these guys won't be tiny. They will all be acrylic paintings on a substrate (translation: what you paint on) 8.5" x 11.5" or bigger. I will be using a Dylusions journal just because it lays so beautifully flat, but I will be also use canvas and canvas board because I want to keep playing with palette knife paintings and I don't think the paper will stand up well ...