July 2013

I have been busy painting the family portrait of Justin's family growing up. It has been a good experience. I learned a whole lot about how to paint clothes and shoes and how to blend colors in oil. The faces were small and very challenging, I repainted them several times. I used everything I learned from Edward Povey including to work on a painting like it is your last chance to tell a loved one how much you care, your last chance to leave one great painting. In that context, how many hours you spend becomes utterly unimportant and it did for me. Quite an experience! Of course, Edward encourages us to approach all our paintings and drawings that way. I confess I have quite a way to go...
This attitude does several things though; it frees you and enables you to try and try your very best and keeps you going till you reach a new level. I experienced a kind of intoxication when I finally got a good likeness and I never showed one of my paintings to more people than this one. (My juice fast may have played a role.) I believe it was all good and necessary. I listened to a great book on cd while painting. It was just what I needed: the Song of the Lark by Willa Cather.
My problem is that I still don't have the pictures I want to show you. I have been told how to take photographs of art. Thank you, James! I still have not gotten the tripod and lights required. So, I will send you a blog with a photograph of the family portrait and Tess' World as soon as I can.
For now, here is the photograph I felt honored to work from.

Justin's family growing up