Where did the time go?
Painting on January 6
New Painting on June 6
I painted this scene freehand (no under drawing) from a photo I took on a trip to New England (Lee, MA) almost 20 years ago. My wife/companion, Mary-Ann, asked me if I would paint one for our front hall. I had not touched my watercolors since I completed the barn painting in January.
What Happened?
I started the new year with good intentions, but somewhere along the way I lost the motivation. This was before Covid-19, so can’t blame that. I think in part it was because I became engrossed in bird watching. Going on field trips, taking photos, reading about bird identification. In any event, there was a 5 month hiatus in my painting.
What Now?
In the 11 weeks since painting the New England scene in June, 18 new paintings were completed, or almost 1 1/2 paintings per week. The only thing slowing me down at present is the selection of subjects.
Observations
Maybe the layoff was a good thing. I have come back recharged with a desire to be more active in the studio. Due to Covid-19 we haven’t been able to paint at our regular paintsites. I have discovered new sources for instruction, am learning how to use my tools and knowledge to improve competency and the quality my work.