Day 17. A Walk in the Park

“Walking in New Orleans” 6×6, oil on canvas

My title is misleading. Painting lately has been anything but a walk in the park, but I’ve received so much support, I can easily and gladly overlook my blood, sweat, and tears. I am completely overwhelmed, surprised, and humbled by all the comments of support and praise I received on yesterday’s painting. You all convinced me to go ahead and sell the painting, which I did. So thank you to all of you who helped turn a frustrating day into an amazing one. What’s more, your kind words have inspired me (despite the sunburn I got yesterday) to go back outside. Ezra goes to mother’s-day-out on Tuesdays and Thursdays so expect some more plein air paintings on those days. I’m eager to get better.

Tomorrow night I’ll be doing my first-ever live event painting at a wedding for one of my former art students. I’m thrilled. A little nervous too so I thought I’d throw in a little figure practice today in preparation for tomorrow night’s painting event. I’ll post pictures!

On Wednesday I wrote about about missing New Orleans. On yesterday’s visit, I snapped a few pictures of Peter and Ezra in the little park on Esplanade Ave, one of which I used as a reference for today’s painting. This image and ones like it remind me again and again how lucky I am. How much I have. How much support I receive. I’m still not a homeowner, but I just might have something better.

I didn’t intend to cut off their legs in the composition, but I haven’t been working on my little 6x6s lately and felt a little constrained. I redid the drawing a few times and then just thought, oh well, let their legs be cut off. I figured I could probably make it work. The jury is still out.

I’m not going to do away with the small paintings, but lately I’ve found the bigger ones more enjoyable, more manageable, and even more sellable. Even though storage is becoming an issue, I’m going to stick with the larger ones. And if the sales of the first few weeks of this 100 painting challenge are indication of what is to come, I think I just might clear enough space as I go. For that, and the many things today’s painting represents, I am filled with gratitude.