Well, as so often happens the "real" painting was not looking as good as the study, so I trashed it. I might revisit again someday when not trying to reacquire my painting confidence. I swear, I look at work done 15-20 years ago when I didn't know what I was doing, and they are all SO SO SO much better than anything recent. And at that time I had 3 kids to carpool to activities, a job and was working on my latest degree.
Not being an idiot, I know better than to think I need to recreate that environment in order to get my mojo back. I am older, have less energy, and am less inclined to take risks (now THAT's a problem); but I'm also wiser, more experienced, and have honed down my scattered interests somewhat so as to make better progress in a few areas. Most important is knowing what makes the paintings I dream about. (Not subject matter, even though it seems my "oeuvre" has been painting people.)
Competent technique, confident application, and something to say. The challenge is sitting steadily on all 3 legs of that stool at once.
