Today it has stopped raining and the sun is out.  I am hoping that means it is warmer than yesterday.  I have a lunch date, so I will get back to work this afternoon.  Going well, but need a break.  Back to my brushes.

"Plans are only good intentions unless they immediately degenerate into hard work."  - Peter Drucker

Today is the last opportunity to view the American Watercolor Society's 146th Traveling Exhibit now on display at ArtCenter Manatee in Bradenton, Florida.  So, if you are in the area, stop by and enjoy both exhibits on display.  

I am continuing on this latest piece.  How would I classify it?  It has elements of a portrait and a landscape at its core.  But at its heart, it is a homage.  It took me almost a year to decide to paint this piece.  It took some time to figure out exactly the angle I wanted to use.  I will most likely finish this particular subject with two half-sheet paintings.  I might paint this as a half sheet as well since they would hang well together.  We'll see.
Back to my brushes.

"The countenance is the portrait of the soul, and the eyes mark its intentions"  - Marcus Tullius Cicero  

Have added a new documentary review.  It is the final disc in "The Power of Art" with Simon Schama.  Perfect timing because tonight on PBS they will be showing Simon Schama's documentary "The Story of the Jews".  Have it all set up to record.    Still working on this latest piece, going okay.  Back to my brushes.

"If you want to be successful, it's just this simple.  Know what you are doing.  Love what you are doing.   And believe in what you are doing."  - Will Rogers

Continuing to paint on this full-size painting.  Going well, trying some things I don't usually incorporate in my work - so, that's fun.  After a lunch date I'll be…Back to my brushes.

"Everything that can be counted does not necessarily matter; everything that matters cannot necessarily be counted."  - Albert Einstein

Throwback Thursday!   When I first picked up my brushes again, I would paint quick little paintings for my friends.  This was one of about a hundred  of those little (and I mean little) paintings.  Some of these paintings were barely over an inch in size.  The first day of Spring and I have started a new painting.  Finished the guidelines today.  A couple of times a year I choose a subject with a message.  This one is pretty straightforward with that message.  Looking forward to getting paint to paper.  Back to my brushes.  

"My imagination can picture no fairer happiness than to continue living for art."  - Clara Schumann

So here is the picture-perfect kite-flying weather in Kansas City. Clearly it was a little windy in order to get this large kite in the air.  People were wearing shorts and tank tops and having picnics in the parks.

And this is was the weather when we got home.  Ugh.  More snow.  I really worry about how hot it will have to get this summer to get anywhere near an average temperature this year.  The upside is that there we got about two inches of rain before the snow started and we were in need of rain.  

Art-wise, I finished a painting yesterday.  After forty-five minutes contemplation I tore it up and threw it in the trash.  My family scattered.  Back to my brushes.

"What's so fascinating and frustrating and great about life is that you're constantly starting over, all the time, and I love that."   -  Billy Crystal

Everything's up to date in Kansas City!  Went on a road trip with three friends and had a great time.  We visited the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art the first afternoon and went downtown afterwards and found the crowds at the Sprint Arena for the Big 12 basketball playoff.  Lot of happy Iowa fans the next day, and they were spending lots of money at the Plaza.  Very happy merchants in KC.  Took some fun pics at the National World War 1 Museum/Liberty Memorial.  Quite a view from there.   Enjoyed excellent food!  Pictured at left was my first evening meal.  Yum!  We had picture-perfect 75 degrees and sunny for two days.  Returned home to 2.5 inches of snow.  Ridiculous weather.   Back to my brushes.

"Painting is by nature a luminous language."  - Robert Delaunay

Warm weather is calling me away from my brushes.  

"Winter lingered so long in the lap of Spring that it occasioned a great deal of talk."  - Bill Nye

Beautiful day here today.  I spent the afternoon in Cave Springs taking photos.  I ran across this snake which was surely enjoying the sun as much as I.  I think it is a milk snake, but it is so covered in dirt, or about to shed (not sure which) making it hard for me to tell.  I admit it did catch me unaware as I had been traversing this area for awhile without even running into a squirrel.  Next time I'm out there, I think I will wear sturdier shoes…just in case.  Back to my brushes.

"To find out what one is fitted to do, and to secure an opportunity to do it, is the key to happiness."  - John Dewey

Hope everyone at the opening reception for the AWS 146th Traveling Exhibit at the ArtCenter Manatee in Bradenton, Florida had a great time and the weather cooperated.  Spent a great deal of time last evening making my choices for AWS judges for next year.  But, spent the morning choosing wedding attire!  Back to my brushes.

"Cease conceiving of education as mere preparation for later life, and make it the full meaning of the present life."  - John Dewey