As you can see I haven't done very much to the painting. I'm not sure if I like it or not. But if I really hate it I can always sand it down and do something else.
My daughter and I drove up to Norway to deliver my show. She drove! It's always stressful for me to be passenger but when you're driving with someone who has their learners permit... well...Enough said. We got lost and drove around in circles for over an hour! I started singing (to the tune "Charlie on the MTA")  "Did they ever return. No they never returned. And their fate is still unlearned. They may ride forever round the streets of Norway. They're  artists that never returned." Finally Bruce called wondering where we were and talked us to the gallery turn by turn. Ahhh!!!!  But everything is there. We are all set for Friday. If anyone is in Maine you're welcome to come. Go to the Frost Farm Gallery for directions.

Here's the painting I'm working on. I tried mixing yellow and blue but I didn't like the color so I had to go out and buy another paint stick. These things are EXPENSIVE! But I really needed the green. I'm not sure if I'll like this as much as I did the first one, but it's early stages yet. I'm also having trouble getting the brown of the benches right. It's easier to mix color when they're liquid or semi-liquid than it is by overlaying. In my pastels I have 5 different greens. Oh well it's a "learning experience".
My show is in a WEEK! I just hope someone shows up. It would be nice if a bunch of people I know are there. I also want to sell out. Or at least sell a lot.

I feel like this is where I should have been 2 years out of art school instead of just getting started again. This is what happens when you get married and divorced and have a child and have to support yourself. It gets in the way. It wasn't the time so much as the mental energy. My daughter was very needy. It took all my emotional strength dealing with her, there wasn't any left over for myself. Now I'm in a soul-sucking job and it is hard to keep going. But I have made a good beginning. I just can't loose momentum.  So next week I have to find some time to contact other galleries about having shows. 
I've worked on the painting some more since I took that photograph I'll post another one in a few days.

I love my new toys. I think I'm through working on this one for a while. I'll put it aside and let it percolate. I'm going to start another painting tonight.
In the meantime I'll be looking for more places to have exhibits.

Adding the yellow makes quite a difference. The only problem I have with oil paint is that it takes so long to dry and the clean up is messy even with the paint sticks. But I'm really happy with the way it is coming along

New Medium

I miss the drawing aspect of pastels and  all the "real" artists use oil so I got some paint sticks and they are great! I love being able to draw again but also thin them down and paint with them too. It' so much fun. I have to get a yellow. I bought what I thought was  a pale yellow but it is really a clear blending stick.  That will teach me not to read the labels carefully. This is a very rough beginning. I spent a bout 20 minutes on it last night. New toys I love it! I'm very energized!

Show nerves

Blue Door

Well my show is in a little less than 2 weeks. I'm very excited. My friend Kevin is framing my pieces and I hope that they are done sooner rather than later. Most of the new pieces are on my website http://www.coastalart.biz

I'm trying to tie up all the loose ends. I hope everyone can come to the opening.

Tree Reflections

Finished

Well after many changes the painting is finally finished. I moved the window to the right to set if off center. When I had the wall the way I wanted it I put in the dried weeds in the lower left corner.  There is tension created by the intersecting diagonals; the left to right up sweep of the shadows of the tree branches and the left to right downward movement of the broken board at the top.
 I know I am really bad at updating my blog but I never was one for keeping a journal so I'll try to be better in the future.
 More exciting news. I'm having a show at the Frost Farm Gallery. The opening is Friday June 3 from 5-8 pm. Everyone is invited. This painting is one of the works I'll have at the show.