Still Life with Mannequin

14" x 20" Watercolor

From the pile under the bed.  Tweaked it a bit and decided it was a keeper.  Probably should've cropped in closer, but too much to do to get ready for Studio Crawl in Fargo-Moorhead this weekend.  Stop by and say hello if you're out and about.

Flowers in a Mug

14" x 11" watercolor

Whenever I get scattered and unsettled about painting, I choose florals as a subject.   Flowers are my least favorite thing to paint because of all the little busy forms and because I never seem to compose the rectangle in an interesting way.  Painting something to which I have little attachment seems a better idea than painting something important while I am feeling this discombobulated.   I can be crabby and distracted, say to myself "WTH" and not care about results.  The painting muscle gets exercised, regardless, because really it is all the same thing: shape, color, value, edges.

Sooner or later most (figurative) painters will do florals, but IMHO it takes a master to do them well.  So having few expectations about my own floral endeavors can be liberating.  I just hope I get out of this funk soon.

Wild Roses

11" x 14" watercolor study on gessoed paper

I remember now why I don't like painting on gesso:  it wrecks your good brushes if you don't sand it smooth, and the paint lifts.  Why I like it?  The paint lifts.  Double-edged sword.   I am getting behind in posting, so once again digging into the don't-know-what-to-do-with-it-pile.