What's your excuse?

Cold winter days make for long and productive studio sessions. That's the main reason I chose to hold NaMoPaiMo in February.

Unfortunately, Colorado did not get the memo.

I know I should be painting, but weather like this demands riding.  Aggie has spent the week playing second fiddle to Scarlett, 

Santana... 

and Sprite. 

Sorry/not sorry.

I asked the NaMoPaiMo Facebook group to share their reasons for not painting. Here are some of my favorite and not so favorite responses.

photo by Becca Brooks

Like me...

photo by Stephanie Blaylock

a lot of would-be painters are distracted by real horses. 

photo by Julia Harmon

Ditto for dogs, 

photo by Kristen Cermele

dogs and sheep,

photo by Laura Skillern Sailer

and dogs and sleds.

photo by Hilary Schwafel

I want to do this! 

photo by Jean Barrett

Babies,

photo by Erika Baird

kids...

photo by Kristy Thiessen

and boyfriends with cats are also a problem.

photo by Nicole Severs

Some of the fun things people are doing instead of painting include buying cars,

Beatha Sellman

traveling,

photo by Bobbie Allen

drinking,

photo by Caroline Spracklin

and making cheese.

photo by Karinny Hullathi

Some of the not so fun distractions are homework,

photo by Devon Comstock

home improvement,

photo by Heather Frystak

working,

photo by Lauren Wood

being sick...

photo by Marilyn Jensen

and being nine months pregnant.

photo by Stacy Quick

Still more people are spending their time on other hobby endeavors, such as sculpting,

photo by Myla Pearce

 mold making,

photo by Maggie Bennett

resin polishing...

photo by Jennifer Scott

and, of course, tackmaking

photo by Bronwyn Ahyong

I suppose the cows need milking...

photo by Hazel Vickers

and I know the hay needs baling...

photo by Kathleen Fiford

but still... We're ten days into February people! Pretty soon we're all going to have to get back into the studio!