Middle Creek View

Middle Creek View
6" x 8"
oil on canvas board

I have been concentrating on my brushwork and portraying distance. I adjusted some of the colors on this one last night. The distant hills were so dark, they were barely distinguishable from those in front of them.

I have always been intimidated by the thought of putting down the paint and leaving it, but its actually a lot of fun! A challenge. Challenge is good. Plus it forces me to concentrate on the exact color I want to put down.

HAY!

Hay!
9" x 12"
oil on canvas board (linen)
Click here to purchase.

About a month ago I was driving down Friendship Lane and saw all these wonderful pot-bellied hay bales lounging in the fields on either side of the road. I took some pictures and used them for the first time last night. I had originally set up my easel off the back porch, but it was soooo hot and the sun was soooo bright that I wimped out and decided to work from a photo instead.

I hadn't painted since I went up to Washington to pack my stuff for the move, so I was feeling a bit rusty. I have to admit, I was not mentally in the best of places while working on this one, but I found forcing myself to focus on the process of painting to be good medicine. It was a good reminder to ditch the "tossers," as my friend Simon puts it, and move on. Unpleasant people and unhappy thoughts are not worth wasting my time and energy on, especially when I can put my energy toward something as amazing as creation.

Art and laughter are the best medicine.

And chocolate.
We cannot forget chocolate!