Rain is here
Good days for naps…and painting!
I’ve been slacking off a bit in the reading, writing, commenting, and video making departments. A bit of slacking on the running last week too, I’ve been painting a lot and getting things done around the house that need it. Just a change of routine. I finally got some starter tomato and pepper plants from the nursery, but I need to dig up about a half dozen garden boxes to plant them, and we might get frost and snow in the next few days, so I’m putting that off again.
Last weekend was heavy on the social events for me, on Friday it was First Friday artwalk and I was at the gallery. This time we had good traffic but it wasn’t packed like last time, so I found it a lot more enjoyable. I got to meet and talk with a few more of the artists there, and some people came in looking at art and I noticed them starting at one of my paintings, so I went over and introduced myself and told them about the painting, and my others, too.
On Sunday Dennis and I went down to Louisville (Colorado) near Boulder, and went to a graduation party for our friends’ youngest kid who just graduated from CU (University of Colorado) with a degree in journalism. These are longtime friends who were Dennis’s teammates and roommates in college and we’ve all known each other forever. We got to see another old mutual friend there, too. The weather was nice and they have a beautiful home and backyard and it was a fun afternoon.
I’ve been working hard on three paintings recently, all three are pictured in this post. I’m starting to figure out a few more aspects of abstract painting, though I’m definitely not there yet. The layering and glazing and composition are still very challenging for me, but I’m starting to catch on to it a little more, to achieve that more sophisticated look. I’ve recently found another artist online who does videos about abstract painting, and she’s from Ukraine! 🇺🇦 and she gives a lot of tips that have been helpful for me.
It takes a while for certain things to sink in for me. I feel like finally I’m starting to figure it out. I’m curious to hear what you’re seeing in my work as it changes. Feel free to comment.
I have a post in progress on anger. I’m working on it slowly. I get ideas for it and then I find myself not wanting to use energy thinking about it, because painting is really bringing me peace right now. It’s interesting because the things that have been stressing me out the most are what I am trying to let go of and find a different approach to dealing with it. There are plenty of things every day that could make me angry, and do make me angry, but I am so out of energy to rage about them. You know, the Pendejo’s Demented Testosterone-Fueled Boys’ Club that gets away with everything at the expense of everyone else. I’m tired, and I know I will need that anger to fuel me this fall as the election approaches. I am saving my energy.
It is raining tonight! I hope we get a lot of it, I hope it rains all night and for a few days. We need every drop. I have two wet dogs snoring on the bed with me after their evening walk in the rain.
I cleaned up the edges of some older paintings today, getting ready for shows. Then I prepped some 18 x 18 wood panels for painting. I plan to do a series of abstracts on these panels. I have about 8 of them. I’ll start with a small number and see how they go, good abstract practice. I love working on those boards.
I’m going to make this a much more slow-paced, enjoyable summer.
Be well, readers. I’ll be back with my next post much sooner. Thank you for reading and subscribing.