Crossing

I have been watching Karin Jurick's new site "Different Strokes from different Folks" for the last couple of weeks. I have wanted to make a painting to contribute to the site. This week, the photo was inspiring for me and I have submitted.

I was struggling with painter's block. I hadn't painted for a month and I was having a terrible time overcoming the inertia and all the little screaming demons in my head that tell me there is no use in painting. I forced myself to just sit down, ignore the little voices and paint. Today, I feel better.

Muses

I am finding that after taking a month off from painting, it is hard to get started again. I had all kinds of wonderful excuses; having to enjoy the last of the beautiful weather, putting my garden to sleep, enjoying my birthday and Halloween, etc. But now, like having to start excercises again, I am pretty creaky.

I decided to try a text on texture painting just to get the brush moving and because I actually like these paintings. I chose to incorporate the names of the nine muses. I was shocked to discover that all the muses control written arts or music.... there is no muse for visual art! I'm not sure this is finished yet so I will just hang it for inspiration.

YES WE CAN!

I am very proud to be an American and from Illinois this morning. I realize that Obama cannot possibly achieve all the things that are expected from him but I am so encouraged by the thought that the American people are open to a new approach.
Listening to his acceptance speech last night reminded me of the hope and eagerness of the Kennedy era.

VOTE!

Please Vote. I did! Thank goodness ex-pats have absentee ballots!!

Happy Halloween Before and After

I love Halloween. Hope yours is scary!!

Birthday Moon

What could be better than a frosty Hunter's Moon on one's birthday morning. If the weather holds, I will have bonfire tonight and listen for the elk bugling and the coyote choir. There are simple pleasures in the Columbias.

Stage Goats

I saw this team at the Draft Horse and Mule show in Sandpoint Idaho. I think they are terrific!

I'm struggling with finding show and galleries to show my work, deciphering submission forms, collecting marketing information and attending little government get togethers to promote the arts. There is so much more to art than just making the artwork. Does anyone have any stories they care to share regarding this topic?