It only took me nine and a half hours to redo my webpage, but I really like the layout and hope you do as well.  Unfortunately, it does not work well on mobile devices.  It does work on a tablet though.  No, I still don't have six of my paintings up.  I'll have to save that for another day.  But I did want to take a moment to send out into the universe my wish for all to have a grand Happy New Year full of health, love, and laughter!  Back to my brushes.

"Tomorrow is the first blank page of a three hundred and sixty-five page book.  Write a good one."  - Brad Paisley

I have added another art documentary review.  I will eventually go back and rate the last one, but just wanted to see something else.  I have spent the last 17 1/2 hours cleaning my office.  Now I am much more relaxed when I am there.  It had gotten a tad overwhelming.  Now it will be both relaxing and functional.  Sometimes you have to put the brushes down and deal with mundane things.  I read an article in the newspaper today about Arkansas artists.  Apparently, there are only males.   Enjoying the winter solstice today.  Back to my brushes.  

"Action is the last resource of those who know not how to dream."  - Oscar Wilde

Child:  Why did the chicken cross the road?
Me:  I don't know.  Why?
Child:  To see the ugly guy.
Me:  What?
Child:  Knock, knock.
Me:  Who's there?
Child:  The chicken.  

Lol.  And yes, I know….rooster…chicken….whatever.  Back to my brushes.  

"Misers aren't fun to live with, but they make wonderful ancestors."  - David Brenner

That was the weather while I was out shopping for gifts today.  I did get a lot more accomplished than the last time I went out.  I'm making handmade tags so no time to waste.  For your enjoyment, another photo I took at the Chihuly exhibit.  Back to my brushes.  

"We look forward to the time when the power of love will replace the love of power.  Then will our world know the blessings of peace."  - W. E. Gladstone

I read on an acquaintances blog the question "How many paintings do you complete in a year?".   An interesting question.  So I am very happy to report, albeit a skosh early, that I have completed ten paintings this year.   I almost completed eleven, but the background remains undone at this point on one piece.  Since I have no plans to finish it until after the holidays, the count must stand at ten.  For me that is excellent…or astounding.  For as most of you know I am the most agonizingly slow painter.  I will say that I think I am a little faster than I was five years ago, but it depends on the subject matter of the painting.  I will eventually get them up on my website, which I plan to update soon.  But I must admit that if I have the choice I will usually choose painting over anything else.  Except having lunch with friends.  That is a top treat for which I will gladly drop my brushes.  For your enjoyment, here is another photo I took at the Chihuly exhibit.  Back to my brushes (eventually).

A little light pushes away a lot of darkness.  Happy Hanukkah.

Well, I couldn't be happier or more relieved to finish these paintings.  Admittedly, a few days past my self imposed deadline but considering life intrusions…not bad.  So now I can get on with other commitments.  I want to update my website, and I really need to update my registry page which is sadly out of date.  And…oh yeah probably do some holiday stuff.  For your enjoyment here is a another photo I took at the Chihuly exhibit.  Back to my brushes.

"Humanity is an ocean.  If a few drops of the ocean are dirty, the ocean does not become dirty."  - Mahatma Gandhi

The title says it all.  I'm still trying to complete this painting.  I'll let you know how it works out.  But, here is a small rant to keep you entertained.  So, picture this tired painter after about seven hours of work and I run out of tape.  So, I have to get that awful s****h masking tape out and use it.  Why, why, why doesn't it come off the roll except in shredded strips?  On top of that it literally stinks.  S T I N K S!!!  Smells like some horrible chemical concoction that Dr. Jekyl would have put together.  The labeling says that it is environmentally friendly…I suppose as compared to their old tape?  But, I have a hard time believing that the chemicals that produce this smell are somehow "better".  So my youngest was kind of enough to go to the store to look for the no-horrible-smell-works-like-a-charm tape by Shurtape.  They don't have it.  So I said get anything  except stinking tape or blue tape.  So, now I have blue tape.  And it stinks.  Back to my brushes.  


As you get older three things happen.  The first is your memory goes, and I can't remember the other two."  - Norman WIsdom"

I know, I know, it's been awhile.  What can I say?  It's that time of year and I am super busy trying to get these paintings done.  So, I'll catch you up.  The newest paintings are going well.  Very happy with them both.  Had a great holiday with family over Thanksgiving.  The highlight had to be the Dale Chihuly exhibit at the Clinton Presidential Center.  Really, if you have the opportunity don't miss this exhibit.  We extended the joy by doing a 1000 piece puzzle.  The entire puzzle looks like the front of this exhibit flyer.  About six of us worked non-stop on it, but almost everyone had a hand in finishing it.  Took about eleven and a half hours.  Challenging to say the least.  We finished at 2:30 in the morning.  No quitters in this group!  This just confirms that we are all crazy.  I've added another art documentary review, so pick one out to watch soon.  I'll do the other tomorrow.  Back to my brushes.  

"Instead of getting married again, I'm going to find a woman I don't like and just giver her a house."  - Rod Stewart