The theme for my 12 x 12 x 12 June 2026, my monthly 12" square painting, is to help me decide how to transition the background color in my Dates in a Life Walking Project 2026 painting to document a big life change that I expect will increase how much I walk every day.
The fabric in the photo is the same grid as my walking painting. While the circles are smaller than the icons I use to document my steps by the thousands, they leave me a good amount of space to try different color options.
Currently, I have been painting Florescent Magenta in the background of some squares to signify the days (mostly weekends, but also including holidays, vacations days, and sick days) I have not been at work, because it usually gives me more time to walk for exercise.
My days are going to change soon, and I'm trying to decide what color I will use instead of the Florescent Magenta so I can highlight that. Hopefully working on this piece, and experimenting with one of the blueish paint colors in this photo, I will be able to make a good choice.
I outlined the ovals with the skins of photos of snow banks I collaged on the fabric for my March 12x12x12 painting. I have a little more painting to do and then I’ll be finished.
I didn't have enough time this weekend to work on my new Wordle painting. I was hoping to work on the third batch of 4 puzzles with the results from my custom 7 character word. I already have the first two groups complete. The pencil lines ready though for when I have time, maybe after work this week, or possibly next weekend.
This is the month of October in my Dates in a Life Walking Project 2025 painting, a year-long painting documenting the number of steps I walked each day. I have documented my steps in paintings since 2016.
The green dots represent my foot injury from the end of September, when I thought it was a sprain, to show my limited walking.
To mark an increased walking limitation, I am using the same green paint as the dots, but to mostly cover the black icon design.
Below is my walking in 2025 so far, with room for the rest of the year. The gold background paint represents days off from work, including weekends, holidays and vacations. The red represents walking 10,000 steps or more, and the yellow icon represents over 20,000 steps.
Here is the month of March in my Dates in a Life Walking Project 2025 painting, a year-long painting documenting the number of steps I walked each day. I have documented my steps in paintings since 2016.
The black icons represent up to 9999 steps walked each day, red represents 10,000-19,999 steps and yellow represents 20,000-29,999 steps.
I was able to walk 10,000 steps on four days and the day with the black round icon, I walked 9310 steps, but unfortunately didn't have time to walk 10,000.
The Iridescent Bright Gold background paint used to signify the days (mostly weekends, but also including holidays, vacations days, and sick days) I was not at work, which usually gives me more time to walk for exercise than the days I am at work, with the exception of sick days (of course).
The picture below shows January through March with plenty of room for the rest of the year.
Happy New Year! December 2024 was not a good month for walking as evidenced by the icons with gold in the background, which were under 5000 steps, but I more than made up for it on New Years Even when I walked 23,442 steps which is represented by the yellow icon.
I have many hours to finish painting the lines dividing the months on my 2024 walking painting, which is quite large, and then I'll start working on 2025's. I am usually finished by the end of the year but not this time.
The sun was shining on the December section of my walking painting this morning, the very last day of 2024. There is only one icon left to add for how many steps I walk today, which is circled in red at the bottom. We’re hosting a free New Year’s Eve party for 2000-3000 people on the Rail Trail in Natick and I expect to walk well over 10,000 steps, hopefully close to 20,000 if I’m lucky. Happy New Year to all!
November was a busy month and the weather was cooler as expected. My goal is to walk close to or more than 10,000 steps a day. I was able to walk almost 10,000 steps on two days (see the circles), 10,000 or more steps on five days (see the red icons), and I walked a little over 20,000 steps one day while in Seattle (see the yellow icon). I do wish I had been able to walk more than the 4000 steps or less on the six days highlighted in gold.
The picture above is of November, and the picture below is January through November, with room for December in the bottom right corner.
I cannot believe this year is coming to an end! It's time to start planning and working on the background fabric for my 2025 walking painting, which will be my 10th year documenting my steps.
While watching (mostly listening) a town meeting on Zoom this evening, I was able to finish painting the Wordle puzzle patterns on the backside of the fabric so it soaked through lighter on the front. In the morning, when it’s dry, I’ll turn the fabric over and do more painting on the front side, possibly (hopefully) Wednesday night.
At the beginning of the long holiday weekend, I was starting to finish up this Wordle painting and working on another. The photo with the orange grid is the backside of the painting in the second photo. I’m especially loving the backside and it’s giving me thoughts for the other painting. Hmmm. 🤔
I had a productive three day weekend working on this Wordle painting and I started another. For this one, I carefully painted in most of the grid after handstamping the patterns of my puzzles. I have a four day weekend next weekend and will trim and finish the edges for this one. Then I’ll continue on with the next one.
Happy November! October was another wonderful weather month! I was able to walk 10,000 or more steps on seven days (see the red icons) though I wish I had been able to walk that much on more days. The gold highlight color shows the seven days I walked 4000 steps or less, which is always a disappointment. My goal is to walk close to or more than 10,000 day.
The picture above is of October, and the picture below is January through October, with room for November and December to the right. I cannot believe this year is coming to an end in 60 days!
