Jun 3 - Thanks and the Cover Painting Continued

Now the painting is starting to take on character... That's Ethan in the back in the white shirt, and his younger brother Jake in the foreground, still in elven attire. I love the strength of this composition, supported as it is by the dark tree shapes on either side. and the light shape in the middle. Much more work to be done on this!

Thanks need to go out to all of you who were first turn kind, then angry, at the loss of my shipping boxes. If your emotions could hit the offender(s), I know they're rotting in whatever personal hell is their world. I've filed police reports, insurance reports and talked to the UPS people. My "regular" driver Steve was off sick on the day the boxes were delivered, or else it wouldn't have happened. I'm going shopping for some of the replacement items, which means I've pretty much given up hope of any returns, and guess I'll just have to knuckle down and make more and better paintings. Your benefit, and actually, mine, too.

I live by the philosophy that "things happen the way they are supposed to" and this is just one of those "things". A little more time, and I ought to be over it. I had a bit of a shock when I discovered that the hiking shoes I'd bought on sale would cost over $95 to replace, though. Ouch.

You can see my entire blog HERE.
My workshop schedule for 2010 is HERE.
Color System information can be found HERE.
If you need to email me directly, please click here.

Jun 2 - The Cover Continues - Star Sons

Here's the first pass on the cover of the Star Sons saga. At this point, the 20 x 16 oil has the major shapes laid in, and the colors are starting to come out. I'm finding edges and making marks as I create, so the final painting only exists in my mind. There (amidst a lot of other issues crowding my eclectic mind), the finished painting is aching to get out and onto the canvas.

I've sent the image to the author and her printer, and adjust it as the needs of the cover printing demand. That's a minor issue to me, as I'm enjoying painting this--sort of like a road trip with interesting side journeys.

Other news... is there something going around? I had all of my paintings, supplies, DVDs and clothes stolen when my shipping boxes were delivered to the wrong house and quickly taken by thieves before my neighbor even knew they were there.

If you want to see the depth of my loss, please look over the last couple months' of my blog, and know that ALL of those paintings are now gone--the egret, the turtle, the mare and foal in the morning pasture, the groom with the grey in the green blanket...all in the hands of some lowlifes who wouldn't know a brush from a drug needle. I realize these are just "things", and I have the ability to replenish these works with better ones, but I sure ache at knowing some of my best paintings are gone forever. Gone, too, are all my samples from the workshops back east, as well. I'm so glad that many of you purchased those before I shipped the rest.

It will be OK. I've been through worse. It just could have happened at a much better time, ya theenk? I even lost my beloved Hennessy hammock. Ah well... Willow is a pure delight as she settles into being by my side at every move. Her new dog bed arrived today--via UPS to the RIGHT house. Sigh...

You can see my entire blog HERE.
My workshop schedule for 2010 is HERE.
Color System information can be found HERE.
If you need to email me directly, please click here.