Road to Peace

I know it's been a while since my last entry but I have been very busy.  I have been studying and doing lots of painting using the English pallete and layering technique.  I am trying very hard to get to a point where I can paint successfully from my sketches.  This has been a difficult thing for me to do in the past.  In order to paint from sketches and photos one must adopt a whole new mindset.  First of all, although nature is a great source of subject matter it is a mess.  Nothing is arranged the way it must be to be captured on paper.  So this calls for attention to detail:  Trees must be made to look more like trees, houses must be viewed from different angles and overlapped versus lined up and son on.  Secondly, the tones are always a challenge to detect because everything is so jumbled.  As artists we are required to select those elements in view to create an aesthetically pleasing arrangement.  This is easier said than done.  In any case, I feel like after sketching all summer and studying outside, at home, in classes, and in my studio, I am getting closer to my goal.  Of course this is very exciting to have breakthroughs like this but painting, especially watercolor painting is one step forward two steps back, so I am taking this progress with a grain of salt.  In any case, I hope you are all well and that you like this little watercolor I did this morning.  By the way I am going to be showing my recent work on December 3 from 6 to 9 in the lobby of my building as part of a South Boston art presentation.  I would love to see you there. Bye for now.