The original photograph of a young girl sitting on a rock overlookiing the gulf.  Great mood, I thought.

Photograph of unfinished painting

Decision Time

It's always great to finish a painting and feel overall pretty good about it.  But then there's always a
"now what".  So here I am.  I have been pleasantly surprised by the nice comments I've had about the snow painting.  I was worried because I really have seen very little snow in my life.  And oddly enough everyone has liked the colors.  Well, I feel very confident about my use of color.  I am thinking about another one and have had a request to do a large one for a condo in NYC.  And I probably will do that.  And I have a photo I took with some birds in a tree.  I would really like to do that even though most people won't like it and thus it will probably not sell.  Not that that has ever stopped me from painting what I want.
Then the other evening I noticed the late afternoon sun coming through the front door had really interesting  shapes and colors ( I go crazy over shapes).  I love the way the sunlight dances through the vine on the front porch.
Every time I've tried to paint this week something  has come up and now I'm getting frustrated about not being able to get in the studio besides wondering where I'm going to start, or really even "why", since  I don't even have a gallery to show in.
Oh well!.  For some reason, I just have to paint.  It's like an affliction.  Somewhere inside something is schreaming at me, "paint, paint, paint!'  So, paint I will, when I decide where to start.
I'm still contemplating how I can best do my"relationship" series.  I've had a few more ideas with mixed media.  That just needs to cook for awhile.

Finished oil, "Winter Morning"

I think this is finally finished.  First ever snow pic for me.  May do another one similar for my daughter's new condo in NYC.  I have a request.

This one is 20x24 and under construction.

Living here where it snows a few inches every 10 years or so, I'm not sure I'm qualified to paint it.  But this is based on a photo my daughter in  law took in Central Park last winter.  I thought it would be fun to give it a try.

"Reach for the Sun", 24" x 30", oil

Not a great photo.  There was some glare on the right side.  It will do for now though.

Indecisions?

I am still alive.  Ive been dealing with a quandary...to paint or not to paint.
Do I want  to use watercolor inspite of a still somewhat shaky hand, or..do I want to paint at all?
Well after much soul searching I KNOW I want to paint.
As to what and where, I'm still not sure.  My "invisible people" work is still with me, but in the meantime I have been working on trees in oil.
If you've read any of this before, it is repetitive.  Sometimes it's tough to deal with changes in life. I never realized old age before.  Funny, I don't feel any different inside.  But stupid bodies don't always agree with me.  People think we're all senile and/or worthless.  Look what they did to Jay Leno and he's only middle aged.  The only thing I can see is I have less patience with stupidity and want to spend time doing what I love.  I'm sure NBC is right in thinking that we are not so easily persuaded  to purchases whatever the advertisers are selling.  And perhaps my ideas of entertainment are probably different than they used to be.  Big parties have certainly lost their charm.
 I apologize for being so wishy washy.  Any way, I've been working on a couple of oils and would appreciate your opinions, for better or worse.
Right now my only gallery is 5th Street Gallery in Rosenberg.  It's a little out of the way and to be honest I don't have anything there right now.  But I will probably go back soon.  So this blog and facebook are my galleries for the moment.
Pictures soon.

FINISHED?

Although the painting is covered, I am not completely happy with it and may do a completes revision.  But, this is basically what it will be.  I call it "Where's that bus" or "My car is in the shop", or it;s open.  Have you a suggestion?

Still in Progress

                     
                                                   Still in progress.  It's slow goint.  

Work in Progress: Car trouble! W/C

Wow, time flies!

I knew it had been a while, but didn't realize how long it has been since I wrote.   Well, we spent that time in Tennessee with Mary, and then came Christmas and then New years and, well I couldn't find the supplies I needed out here and had to get them off the internet, and then I wasn't sure how to start my new series and then......of well.  You get the idea.

Well, now the supplies have come.  I bought some great new sable brushes and arches watercolor paper, my favorite brand.   Well, actually I had started earlier, but hated the paper I could find out here and I piddled around and sketched, then I changed it, then I thought maybe I should start with an easier version.  So then I started with what I had with the original drawing.  Then I wasn't happy with it.  Then I put some color on it to see if it would work.  Then I didn't like it.  Then...well you know how it goes sometime.  So I left it alone for awhile.

So, then all the family left.  It was great seeing everyone.  Now it's great, well good anyway, and I can get back to work.

So I pulled out some new paper.  Then I didn't really know where to start.  Then I finally sketched it, and made some changes, then some  more changes.  And finally one day, I began to paint.  Well I love the new brushes, but, it has been 5 years since I painted in watercolor.  And I need a new shoulder from standing at my easel and using the brush at arms length for s few, well, really many years, and they don't want to operate on it  and I don't really want them to either.  So I got a shot.  Well, you know I broke my right arm around labor day and had that operated on (no choice that time) and my arm got real shaky.  So I went to the accupuncturist to see if he could help my right hand.  And he has, sort of, so it only shakes when I use it.....

Well now it's January and I am really painting.  It's a little harder cause my hand isn't as steady as it was, but I'm working on it.  And I find it is getting a little easier as I get in the swing of watercolor again.  Now, I have  it about half done and it's not as good as it should be.  And the decisions about how to go about it are some what resolved.  And I hope to finish it this week.  And if I think it passes inspection I'll frame it.  And if it doesn't, I'll start over.  If I do that I may start on an easier idea.

So, tomorrow when the sun is up, I'll put a pic in just so you can see where all this has led to.  But I will finish it regardless so I will know what to do next time.

And a very Happy New Year to you all!