Early Vines, 9x12

"Early Vines" 9x12" Pastel on sanded paper

I've been in a funk. And I think I know what it is. Every time around the end of August and into September, I'm occupied with my kids going back to school. It's not school that makes me in a funk. Don't get me wrong here, I'm going to enjoy the extra time it allows me! But, it's the pre-school meetings, filling out the permission forms, activity registrations, and volunteer sign-ups! And then there is the paperwork for a few shows that I am preparing for! Tedious paperwork! I thought when I left corporate life there wasn't going to be much of that paperwork! It's the tedious paperwork that makes me feel stale and in a funk.

A couple of weeks ago my student came over and she wanted me to work though a painting from start to finish. As time flew by, I had to stop half way into the work till our next meeting. And so this is the finished piece. This was a lesson on warm under paintings. Most of my landscapes start with a warm under painting, and this one was screaming bright! Warm under paintings can always be cooled down, but with a cool under-painting the piece has challenges warming up. Not sure why this is, but it is.