Get 'er done.

I apparently have writer's block again.  There are seven paintings at home waiting to be worded, and instead I did this:

Huh.  Think back - this has two friends already and will end up being a Four Seasons series.  But all those other canvases are feeling neglected.  I even know what most of them will say, I just haven't been able to get 'er done.  Admittedly I was distracted by a great book I was reading.  It is called Stone's Fall (I think) and is by Iain Pears.  I picked it up for less than three bucks when Borders went out of business.  Well worth the three bucks.  And now I am back into John Sandford.  Books are like crack for me.  My favorite part of the day is when I am curled up on the couch under a blanky with my poodle, a book and a bowl of popcorn.  If only I had a woodstove - that would be heavenly.  Someday....

Have you looked at my little Etsy store?  There are 30-odd pieces on there, and if I ever finish some of the new words, there will be even more!  Get 'er done.

Adivasi

My high-school friend Elissa owns a small business in downtown Brattleboro, Vermont.  They were hit pretty hard by hurricane Irene and spent six weeks cleaning mud off furniture, hand-washing linens, waiting for their building to be habitable again.  Last I heard they did not qualify for any FEMA assistance.  It was very heartwarming to read about how the Brattleboro business community helped each other through the disaster.  As a small business owner myself, I'm pretty darn sure that being closed for six weeks would cripple me.  But they got back in their space about two weeks ago and are open for business!  Check them out online at http://www.adivasi.com/.

I bought two beautiful pillow covers from Adivasi when they were trying to raise some money by listing items for sale online.  They are handmade by someone right in Brattleboro, and I figured they would either make a lovely addition to my couch, or a lovely Christmas gift.  Turns out they will be a lovely addition to my couch.  Someone won't give them up.

She won't even share with me.  (And yes, that is white paint on the couch pillow.  Damn stuff is everywhere.  Grr.)

Back on track. I think.

You know, it is pretty difficult to single-handedly put a train back on its tracks.  Ultimately it will be very rewarding, but the day to day aspect is daunting.  So much so that this week it was a hell of a lot easier to just stand around and look at the wreckage.  I did make a little progress -- one of the cars is back upright and I gave it a little push.  The rest is coming.  But it's hard work.

Did that make any sense?  No?  Bummer, because that's all I have to say about it.

I am working on another commission piece that I hope to finish tonight or tomorrow.  The color scheme is out of the ordinary for me, so I am reserving judgment until the end.

I am also getting the urge to paint something big.  I wish I had the room to really throw some paint around.  Make a huge mess.  Now THAT would be rewarding.

Etsy

Okay, I did it.  I have a lot of things to tweak, but the ball is now rolling.  Tell all your friends and family.

http://www.paintonpurpose.etsy.com/

Sugar Pie #2

Working hard? Or hardly working....

This weekend I broke all the molds.  Well, two of them.  First of all, I started a painting and didn't finish it.  Normally I like to do the whole thing (unless it is a word painting) in one swell foop, because I like to see all the pretty swirly colors.  This time I painted the background and let it dry.  In the next couple of days I will finish it.  It's 50/50 whether it will turn out okay.

Second of all, I mixed a color.  Yep, I mixed a color.  For my commission piece.  I did a second, third and fourth draft, and so far we are three for three that the winner is number two.  (Heh heh - that sounds funny.)  No pictures yet, just this hint:

And just to show that I have, at times, been working, here is my evidence:



That last one I call "Still Life with Penguin."

I can't think of a title for this post....

Well, the 30 days that September hath have blown away on the breeze and suddenly it is October.  How did that happen so quickly?  I have no new paintings to share, but have made progress on my potential commission.  My first attempt is pretty good, so I hope the next few will be even better.  In the meantime, here is something old:

And here is something weird:

That is all.