4/C process using ruby overlays.

Illustration from decades ago!

Blank paper.

Blank paper.

Hello everyone, it's been awhile.

There are many reasons and excuses for the lack

of paintings and posts.  Many changes in family health over

the last two years plus difficult events that mess with the mind.

At least my mind.  Of course I have at least a 100 meaningless

excuses for not painting.

It was a huge mistake to stay away from painting and drawing

for such a long period of time.  It all feels empty now.  I ask

myself questions like, didn't creativity and passion come naturally

before?  Why does color seem to be a mystery now, why do I

doubt my ability now, what happened to confidence?

Hopefully I'll be able to find them again and get back to it.

During the last couple of weeks I've been studying other painters,

watching on line demo's, looking at my books and searching for

ideas.  While doing this I realized something.  Many of my paintings

tell no story and seem to be just pretty pictures that would make

nice wall paper or place matts.  Yeah, yeah, I know, stop with

the pity party.  Pity or not, it's real and factual.  Lorianne will love

this but part of my problem are reference photo's which I take by

the hundreds.  I've been spending a lot of time looking through them

recently hoping for some creative spark.  It would appear that my

tendencies are drive by reference shots with no thought process

just images.  They all seem to be taken on gray overcast days

that are flat as a pancake or sunny days all shot during mid day.

Now that's smart, no shadows, no contrast no common sense.

Plein air, now there's a subject.  I've purchased five easels to use

during painting adventures.  How many have seen the light of

day ... 2.  How many have seen the light in the past 3 years ... 0.

Are you loving this Lorianne?  I'm sure you are.

Well, I've gotten this far and now I can't remember what my original

intent was but at least you all know where I've been and where I

am.  Down the road there may be a post that involves a brush and paint

or pen and ink or finger paints and feet.  Maybe I can get my grandkids to

paint something for me.

Until we meet again and thanks for listening to me drone on!