Missing In Action

Sorry that I haven't been posting these last few weeks.  The world has been heavy and I have been in my cave painting and trying to tune out the ills around me.  This week I received news from some of my painter friends about the gallery in Ormond Beach that closed without warning to their artists who had work hanging in the gallery.  Jessie Cook (in the photo) and Peggy Landeen are hoping to get their work back but so far have not had much success.  Hard times seems to be all around me and I'm trying not to let it get me down.  One of my galleries damaged a painting and returned it to me after keeping it for over a year.  Prior to that, it had been in another gallery and wouldn't you know, someone came in looking for that painting.  Since I wouldn't send the damaged painting to them for consideration, I painted another one very similar to the first.  There is no guarantee that they will buy it, but my fingers are crossed.  David and I will be starting the art show circuit again this fall.  I'm trying to stay positive so that it won't effect my work.  Tomorrow is a new day with  wonderful possibilities!

New eBay Painting

                                    Click to Bid
        Yesterday was open studio and we painted most of the day.  Rainy and muggy outside, it was a good day to stay indoors.  I finished the lemon wedge on Thursday but just now had time to post it.  This lemon comes from my Meyer lemon tree which is prolific this year.
      As an artist, I believe that it's important to always try to push your skills to new levels.  Since the opening, I have been searching for a new direction.  I think maybe visiting the New England area, like Old Lyme, Conneticut, opened my eyes to the beautiful paintings of the American Impressionists like, Charles Hawthorne and Henry Hensche.  I learned recently that Monet started out as a tonalists.  His painting of Rue de la Vavolle, Honfleur, was an early attempt to paint on location.  As you can see, the shadows are brown with little variation.  Once he opened his eyes to color, detail became must less important.  I'm drawn to the beautiful colors of light outdoors but it is difficult to leave my comfort zone of indoor painting.