Today I worked my fingers to the bone...well, not really, but they are covered in paint.  I finished two 5"x5" gallery wrap canvases, got a 24"x36" ready to varnish [I varnish all my acrylics], have another 24"x36" one step away from varnishing, have 2 more steps on an 18"x24" gallery wrap and...well, you can see it's been a very busy day...a very busy week.  I have one painting - only 2/3 done, that needs to be finished by Feb. 1 so it can be varnished and ready by the 7th.   Whew!  How do I get myself in these deadlines?

I'm sure many other artists spent this day deep in paint, or clay, or wood shavings, or whatever their medium of choice is.  I always feel I've had a great day when, at the end of it, I'm peeling paint off my fingers so I can fix supper.

Today is a good day to paint.  My location is the east bay area of California - meaning I'm about 45 minutes east of San Francisco via freeway...but a Monday is no day to be on the freeways around here!  I'm thankful I work out of a home studio.  Today the sun is shining, although it's cold outside - now "cold" is a relative term 'cause for those living in winter in someplace like Montana, then a day in the low 50's is practically spring!

But I digress.  I'm working on a piece commissioned by the owner of the gallery to which I belong.  It's more of a "good will" commission than a financially rewarding one - she has asked all the artists in her gallery to do a painting that she's going to display for public silent bids; when the auction is over, the winning bids will get the paintings and the funds collected will be donated to a new public art project in that community.  It's one I believe in and am happy to give time and effort to.

I don't do much "pro bono" work as it is both time consuming and costly in terms of materials, but the very few I do I choose very carefully. 

So, today is a good day to paint.  In my studio I have currently seven active paintings in various stages.   Have a great day.

Painting is a full-time occupation for me.  It's the air I breathe.  I can't not paint.  It is my humble opinion that art is necessary for the human soul.  Both for the creator of it, and for the viewer of it...it sets our minds and hearts outside of ourselves. 

My work is all about color.  I love to manipulate color and shape and form.  It's been my privilege at outdoor art shows, the past couple of years, to have visitors to my booth exclaim how happy they feel just being in my booth - that the colors of my work brighten their day.  It truly makes me feel special when someone purchases one of my paintings because I know that they truly want that piece for it's special value...not just something to go with their sofa.  None of my work fits the category of interior decorating! 

I love talking with other artists about Art.  There is a special connection artists have...we all understand the elusive nature of creativity and how hard it can be to get out of our own way so that the work can just flow.

I'm glad I found ArtScuttlebutt.com and look forward to meeting new friends.