One of the luxuries of being able to work on my art every day, is that I can let a painting simmer, until I’m ready to get back to it. This landscape
has been bugging me, just one little part. I hung it in our living room, and I knew I would have to do more work. Now I’m not afraid of “destroying” a painting. I hear deKooning say “kill it, and bring it back to life.” To me it’s like kids and dogs, you can’t let them or YOUR painting win.
River
I started this painting last year w/ some misguided idea that I could sell something that I wasn’t invested in. Gregg nailed me and I’m glad. This is starting to be MY river.
Experiment
Vellum is translucent surface used primarily by architects. I don’t think it’s paper, maybe polyester? This is the opposite side. I did the initial drawing and the idea hit me to also draw on the other side. And I’m using acrylics, trying to learn more about their properties. They make lovely washes on the vellum. If I display this I may sandwich it between acrylic sheets. Since it’s 3’x3′, glass would be a problem.
My dog Callie has torn her ACL. We had to buy new tires for the tractor. Gregg’s looking for a job. My stomach hurts.
River
I got a magnet with the comment “Life is not a destination, it’s a journey.” Since I haven’t gotten any official notice that I’m an Artist, I just try to work everyday, and when I get to the end, there will be like the riverbank, a sign, but the river has run past. Oh, and when I get the notification of Artist, I’ll let you know!
Does it need an oil well?
I have two paintings I’m working on for possible Christmas cards this year. 
Christmas spirals?
I struggled w/ spirals all winter, and wasn’t wowed, except for the one the eagle eyed Mr. Mills picked up. If I want Christmas cards, I have to start now, and this is one. It’s sharpie on paper. Once I decide on the image, I will make a painting, so it will look quite different.
Changes to “Changes”
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!
“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.