I am painting oils over these panels. You can put oils on top of acrylics, but you can’t go the other way, without peeling paint. I thought I’d change a lot, but mostly there were areas that seemed thin to me. Who knows, when this dries I may not like it either. However, I’ll take my cue from Willem DeKoonig, who worked on one of his “Woman” paintings for over 10 years. When we had llamas, you learned that you couldn’t let them win over bad behavior. You had to correct it. Same thing with paintings. 
addiction
I honestly tried to do this painting in acrylics, but, damn. I didn’t repaint it with oils, just some highlights and zigs. I was listening to Dylan singing love songs. It hit me what my theme is. I’m a little dim. My theme is women, and even these spirals represent
life. I have a suggestion for an alternate title. Instead of “Changes”, how about “Change(s) of Life”. It made ME laugh!
lighten up
I took this image from a collage. Theses panels have been “percolating” all winter. When I looked at them I realized that the dark areas were too dark. The other problem was that the paint was too segregated. I like to interrupt the surface and drag paint to an area were it doesn’t belong.
“The Lacuna”
I’m reading this book by Barbara Kingsolver. Frida Kahlo is telling the main character that a painting needs ” a thimbleful of life”. I dragged myself into my studio once again to battle w/ acrylics, and to pour my life into this painting.
truck
I drove the truck to my studio. It’s huge and it’s old, and I’m trying not to complain. We lost a car, the O’Connors lost Paul.
This is the lower corner of Changes. I’m ready to take my oils back to the Fines Creek studio. Tho we aren’t frost and snow free for sure,
until Mother’s Day.
Color
Colorist is a dirty word. I’ve really tried to contain the color on this, but today I realize I don’t like the top. Or the bottom. Not together anyway. Since this painting is on panel I could saw them apart. But that’s lazy, I need to work to get the whole thing working.
My car was totaled, and the ins. co. paid quickly. But the hospital is already at $8000, and the ins. will pay $2000. Maybe we’ll get me a moped. It’s all rather depressing. 
Changes
I thought I needed to emphasize the changes otherwise they are just spirals!
narrow panel
This panel is 80″x12″.
killed it
I added a lot more paint to the top of the tree, with the painting upside down. So there will be drip marks flowing “up”. I also added a little space ship w/ a solar array. When this dries enuf, I will highlight some areas.
Tree of Life
I think I’m “just before” killing this painting. I don’t know what’s bothering me. Maybe I was foolish to try such and odd ratio. This is not the golden mien!