How to use this Page

Tomato Sundae, Blk & Wht + Red series; 8x8" oil on canvas panel

I have renewed respect for the daily painters, some of whom have been churning out a finished 5-6" painting every day for years. Maybe I'm getting a little faster; but unlike many of them, I do not whip these out in an hour and then move on to larger paintings for the rest of the day. Speed has never been my strong suit. If I manage to set up and complete one of these in a day, then plan and start the next one, that's about it for me! I don't know if I'll ever work any faster.

Pssssst!, Black, White & Red series #9, 8x8" oil on canvas panel

As usual, better reproduction coming tomorrow.

Although it's invisible, I have Statcounter installed on this blog. I don't show it, because in comparison to a lot of other blogs, my hit count is embarrassingly low. Having even a few regular readers already stresses me out; so, although I do check a number of other blogs frequently, I don't often comment or do much to actively promote my own.

Anyway, if you have Statcounter, you know it records the daily number of unique visits, repeat visits, the referring URL (if any), and the general part of the country from which visitors come. But unless people comment, in most cases it is impossible to know visitors' identities. I can identify some of my facebook friends, because that group is also small! But when I get repeat visits from someone in, for example, Roseville, Sacramento, Houston, etc., and it's not someone I can guess, it makes me intensely curious to know who is interested enough to check back regularly. So if you are one of those, and you'd like to satisfy my curiosity, please say, "Hey!" I'll try to return the favor.

Tulip Shadows (revised); Blk & Wht + Red #8, 8x8" oil on canvas panel

Thereby proving to herself that if the values are right, the color is pretty flexible. Which means you can play with it. Does it still fit with the others? I don't know. I don't care--it's better.

Tulip Shadows, Blk & Wht + Red #8, 8 x 8" oil on hardwood canvas panel

Hmm, in the light of day, this one looks so much browner to me than it did last night. To put it another way, why do the lights look so much duller, the reds so much less red. etc? What was I thinking? Oh, yeah, I remember. Instead of "Get it right," I was thinking "Get it done." So for that, I get to "do it again." I'm hearing Hatfield in my head--"Which primary color is it? Nothing with a hyphen or an "ish". "Figure out the values." Needs more pure color, flowers and pitcher are too picky & need to be more simplified. Argh. I know these things, why do I not do them? Guess I'll give it the once-over this morning and re-post tonight.

Open and Shut, Blk & Wht + Red #7, 8 x 8" oil on canvas panel

As usual, a more accurate scan will post tomorrow. Otherwise, tonight I am a woman of few words.

Cracked Up, B & W+ Red #5, 8 x 8" oil on canvas panel
This will be more accurate tomorrow, when I can scan it.

One of the greatest things about painting instead of illustrating is having control over what, when and how I paint. Absolutely love it. One of the hardest things is periodically being assailed by doubt about whether it's "worth" the effort--about whether I'm too old, too slow, too amateur, too ... you know.

The age question really bugs me. Reading a recent post on Fine Art Views documenting sexism and ageism in the art world didn't help. One of my grandmothers was paranoid about age (among other things) to the point of refusing, at age 51, to be called "Grandma". When I was growing up, being compared to her usually was not a compliment. Something of a pessimist, she was fond of saying, "Life's just one damn thing after another." We used to joke about that but now realize that, to a great extent, she probably was right. As well, I have come to better understand her fear of being perceived as old--of not being taken seriously, of being marginalized, and ultimately of losing control. I've also realized for some time that being in control of anything is largely an illusion, so I'm working through it.