Nothing to see here, move along (well, not really...)

...but, sometimes it really seems that way!)

I feel that I might have used this title before (but, I really don't care.)

It's been a strange week, and today is stranger, still. It's not been a bad day--straightened the studio, worked on a painting, worked out, sat in the hot tub with Linda for a while--but I had a "free" hour (or so) tonight, and I didn't feel like doing...anything.

I have a couple freelance projects due soon, and a painting for work, and (of course) several of my own in progress pieces, as well as a couple drawings I'm polishing--and I simply was not motivated to work on any of it.

I did work on the piece for work this afternoon, and (it's due Thursday) it will be done on time. But, it would have been nice to have worked on it a bit more this evening.

Oh, well.

The drawing for the 24 x 36 aluminum panel is coming along nicely. I (still) think it's going to be an amazing painting. AND, I plan to purchase some porcelain this week; hopefully, there will be at least a couple new sculptures in the show next month!

I bought another box of the Gamblin Traditional Gesso last week, and hope to get at least one more 24x36 inch panel this week, so I can prep a couple panels with the next "batch" I cook up. (I don't want to waste the stuff!)

I need to draw a lot more often than I have been, lately.

The photo is of some "practice" sketches I've been doing. They're more like "warm-ups", actually, than "real" drawings. (I mean, they're real, but...)

And, yes, the spider in the lower left is a real preserved female garden spider, freeze-dried. (If anyone knows where I could obtain more specimens like this--of various species--please let me know! And, thanks!)

I think...

...I'm finally heading in the right direction, and have lots of new ideas for the next several paintings. (And I'm drawing again! It feels really good; I kind of haven't drawn in a long, long time, other than working out ideas directly onto canvas--which I can force into shape, but not really "develop" to my full satisfaction.)

I made a quick sketch on the primed aluminum panel a couple weeks ago. After looking at the anemic thing for a week or so, I realized that it was far too simple, too basic--

--so I erased it.

And, I'm starting it over, and "doing it right" this time! I've found several good reference photos, purchased some "reference fabric" (!), and I'll be making at least one original sculptural reference, and probably a small 3-D model of the entire scene (a "compositional" reference) for this piece.

I want this to be the absolute best painting I've done, so far.

Period!

I really appreciate everyone's patience. Late May and early June were crazy, and not in an "artistically productive" way. I house-sat for a friend (who had to unexpectedly, and all-of-a-sudden, take an out-of-town weekend trip) and I helped a client hang around 40 paintings in her home last weekend, in time for a party she was hosting.

And, there are still a couple freelance projects I'm wrapping up this weekend.

But, I will have new photos of the new stuff, as soon as it all moves past the sketchy, "conceptual" phases it's in right now. (Basically, as soon as I feel I have something worth posting--worth being looked at.)

Promise.

Take care, everyone!