Painting Memories

Follow      Acrylic    24 x 28

Now that I'm back from my marathon travel, and in the studio frequently, I'm really enjoying painting my memories from this time away. Follow, is a scene from the very last day of our walk to Santiago de Compostella. I turned to the right and there was this wonderful old building full of personality and history, and this well trodden path disappearing around the corner. As I was completing the painting, I decided to add something that thrilled me on every encounter. Sheep!! I called this painting Follow because at first it was the road I wanted to follow, but now it's also the sheep. Plus sheep always follow each other!

Painting Memories

Painting After a Pause

Harvest

I must say that retirement is so great, and that being able to devote my time to painting is really fulfilling. I'm just getting into a regular schedule and still have to fit in my fitness workouts, but it will all come together. 

After not painting for several months due to my extended trip and the preparation for it beforehand, it was interesting getting back in the painting saddle. On my return, I had only a few weeks before starting up my teaching schedule for the fall, so I began painting in acrylics, as that is the medium I'm teaching in. I was surprised at how many painting techniques that I would normally readily employ, came back slowly. Things like softening edges. I had to go back and do it after the fact. I have now completed my first two sets of classes and my first demonstration of the season, and I've moved on to oils. It feels great to be painting with that rich buttery oil paint that scrapes off so nicely! And I did scape off....twice! 

But regardless of the challenges, it's just so enriching to be able to spend my days creating. And the thing we all love about painting is the lifelong learning. It literally never stops, and that's why we never stop. Happy painting everyone!

Painting After a Pause

Back at the Easel

Tractor Lines    12 x 24    Acrylic

It's been a long time since posted. The exciting new is that I retired from my full time design job and I can now concentrate on all the things I really love doing, which of course includes painting! To kick off my retirement I went on a long travel through Spain, Portugal and France. My travels started with a girlfriend, walking the Camino de Santiago de Compostella, an 800k path starting in St. Jean Pied de Port, France, crossing northern Spain and ending in Santiago. It was an incredible journey on many levels. The daily visual splendor and the many new international friends, made this a journey to cherish forever. The above painting came from a gorgeous early morning, walking through fields where the tractors had been busy mark making. These tractor lines, enhanced by the early morning sun and shadows was breathtaking. I just had to paint it!

Back at the Easel