I would rather rub my eyes with sandpaper than deal with shipping companies.  Back to my brushes.

"If you make the customer a promise…make sure you deliver it."  - Merv Griffin

Today I had to take time to clean up.  When I can't easily locate something, it's time to purge.  While I was at it I went through one of my portfolios and ran across this sweet little painting I did of a friend's granddaughter.  You know her personality immediately by the wonderful bright clothing she chooses.  Her hair was much longer, but I thought it worked better in the painting short.  Never thought the nose was quite right, but it works anyway.  Maybe I'll get the chance to paint her again someday.  Back to my brushes.

"Accept what people offer.  Drink their milkshakes.  Take their love."  Wally Lamb

I have a tradition of painting my own SASP (postcard) to be mailed with my entry for the AWS exhibit.  I was incredibly stressed yesterday and knew that if I could get my paintbrushes in my hand, today would be much better.  So I put drops in my eyes and thoroughly enjoyed painting this postcard.  I have painted this before but wanted to try it with a brighter shadow.  Nice memento.  All is packed and ready to go.  By the way, my youngest is a genius with my temperamental computer.  Back to my brushes.  

"The most wasted day of all is that on which we have not laughed."  - Sebastien Roch Nicholas Chamfort

Still gathering information and filling out forms.  You would think I would know what to do, but each show is different and I find myself reading and re-reading instructions to make sure I get everything right.  Really pleased with the framing of this work.  I'm sure the snow up north is causing some delays.  Really pleased to have UV plexiglass available now.  Hope to have this out of here soon.  Ready to start new piece!  Back to my brushes.

"Anyone who keeps the ability to see beauty in every age of life really never grows old."  Frank Kafka

Home again, home again.  Enjoyable trip last week to see family and friends.  Went to the MSW meeting on Wednesday and listened to the guest speaker Chris Krupinski.  She had quite a cough, but was a real trooper talking about each entry in the 2014 Mid-Southern Watercolorists' 44th Annual Juried Exhibition.    I was lucky enough to be able to meet her briefly before I left  to meet family for a late dinner.   As usual it will be a memorable show.   My parents were in Fayetteville after I got home for a day and it was really fun for the whole family to get to spend time together.   After a trip, it takes a few days of catching up before I get to paint.  Eventually I will be back to my brushes.

"To give pleasure to a single heart by a single kind act is better than a thousand head-bowings in prayer."  - Saadi

I am pleased to share that my painting "Revolutions of Five" entered in the American Watercolor Society's 147th International Exhibition has been accepted.  With this acceptance I will receive Signature status.  I am deeply honored and grateful to the judges.   I confess I hesitated a second before I clicked the button that would show the judging results.  A quick eye down the page followed by complete elation!  What passes for dancing ensued.  Back to my brushes.

"Sometimes in tragedy we find our life's purpose - the eye sheds a tear to find its focus."  - Robert Brault

Even though we had a little bit of snow and freezing rain last night, the weather is warming up.  That means that my new coat should arrive any minute.    I worked on cleaning up a piece of work yesterday and I'm pleased with the changes.  But the reality is that I am concentrating on the next piece even as I work on this one.  Keeping my brushes in my hand helps me consider alternatives and visualize my sketch differently.  The key ingredient is fine, but the supporting piece is what is bothering me.  So I am imagining several different supports.  We'll see if it unlocks the problem.  Back to my brushes.

"Every piece of the universe, even the tiniest little snow crystal, matters somehow."  - T. A. Barron

- 4 degrees here this morning, snow and ice covered ground.  Ironically, my new winter coat is stuck in New Berlin, Wisconsin.  Should show up when the ice melts.  Back to my brushes.

"Knowledge is knowing the tomato is a fruit; wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad."  - Miles Kington

It is flipping cold here today and there is again snow and ice.  My hypothesis is that all cold weather can be endured as long as there is fresh homemade bread in the house.  What is it about the smell that makes me happy to be stuck in this cave?  Oh, and then the melting butter on top.  Mmmmmm.  Of course it helped that I have one book, two magazines, four downloads, and one DVD to keep me company.  What are the topics?  Watercolor, watercolor, watercolor, and watercolor.  What else!  Back to my brushes.

"One cool judgment is worth a thousand hasty counsels.  The thing to do is to supply light and not heat."  -  Woodrow Wilson

Sporting new glasses today.  They will not help with painting at all unfortunately.  In fact I will have to remove them to paint.  I am hoping to get paintbrush in hand over the weekend.  We'll see.  I am feeling a reluctance to start on this piece.  Probably because I'm not convinced of its merits yet.  I have several drawn that would be fun and I might work on them for a change of pace.  Expecting a cold snap with accumulation this weekend so I feel the need to get outside before I am stuck.  Have a new documentary to watch this evening which I am really looking forward to seeing.  Jackson Pollock will be the focus.  Look for the review soon.  Back to my brushes.

"After a good dinner one can forgive anybody, even ones own relations."  - Oscar Wilde