A new week

I lost my database of the locations and owners of all the paintings I have sold. Having spent a great deal of time inputting the data this past spring it has somehow disappeared. I still have all the receipts, but they have to be compiled and re-entered. So, I am slow going today. Finding today a challenge to focus. Also living in between paintings, which just creates weirdness.

Two painting ideas are beginning to surface. Now begins the uncomfortable and narrow road of research.

I am tempted to watch 5 hours of "I Love the 80's" on VH1 in my despondency......

New Painting: "The Guide"

Today's painting

I have been adding the bird over the last few days. Almost complete.... I had my doubt but this looks like it is going to be a strong painting.

Today's work.....

The thing about oil painting is that there are no immediate results. No easy way to get where you want to be and the final glorious image on one's mind ever pushes and dredges up many doubts concerning ever being able to attain to the original idea. Yet, here we are and along it comes with much patience.

Today's painting

(oil on canvas, 6" x 8", $50)

We sort of played hookie today and took Reuben James to swim over at Hemlock Overlook on too beautiful a fall day.

I haven't tackled the white horse this week, but have done three small landscape paintings. The other two will have to wait to be shot as it is the end of the day.

New painting on the easel

(Excuse the mahl stick.....I just realized I didn't take it away before shooting.)


So, from the difficulty of a black horse to the difficulty of a white horse....I must be crazy.
If I wasn't before, I am after today's painting. Unsure about the background still.
I am really struggling with the mane hair and have decided to call it a day, at least for painting. I fight seeing every detail...ever hair. It is due to my blasted perfectionist heritage.

This painting's very early basic narrative is about a blind horse with a guide which will be some sort of bird. "Creepy good", no?

Etsy Store Front: Art Notecards

After much prodding from friends I have opened an Etsy shop where people can buy nice notecards with my paintings reproduced on them.

I can't afford my own artwork and neither can my friends, so I am happy to provide a way for them to have an image they love at an affordable price. Though the store front offers my dog and cat paintings, almost all of my work is available in this format.

$10 for a five pack with envelopes in a neat bag, same image or mix and match...click here: Etsy Store

New Painting

When I am chewing on ideas for new paintings, I choose one and then begin research. For the past three days all my mind has been bent upon this process. I am so focused I can barely walk away from it at the end of the day. I am wiped out. I dream about it....

This afternoon I started a new painting. There is great relief in sketching out the image directly on the canvas, beginning to mix color and put down those first strokes. But it is usually then that doubts begin to knock. Is it going to work? Do I have the skill to pull it off? Does the idea have enough strength to stand? Is this the best representation of my idea? It can be quite maddening at the beginning. I have a good start today, though.

I sold two paintings over the weekend, started a new one and have several new ideas for paintings. And it is fall.......God is faithful.