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A beautiful day and I intend to paint all afternoon!  Have been working on my tractors and am happy with it so far.  Detail takes a lot of time, but is worth the effort if that is the look you are going after.  Sometimes, very little detail appeals to me.  I might try this both ways.  We'll see.  I have a bridge painting in mind next.  But I also want to continue with my paintings of the Crystal Bridges construction site.  I have three of those completed so far.  The Nabholz construction crew I had scanned last week.  I fixed some problems on "Coppering the Roof at Crystal Bridges" and will take that back to be rescanned.  It had some value problems that I have now resolved.  I guess I had better stop looking at it or I will always find something to change.  Artist's lament.  The gentleman with red/white/blue hard hat will be my next subject - just too much fun.  And he kind of slouches, which he would hate I am sure, but I love it. 
     I should count the painting of the gentleman I met at the Crystal Bridges overlook ("Old-School Gentleman" featured on my portraits page) as part of that series of paintings.  He probably doesn't like his wrinkles, but it was what made him beautiful and interesting to me.   I approached him and told him I thought his face was amazing and asked if I could paint him.  He was a little skeptical at first, but after talking for a few minutes he consented, and I took one photo.  It has been over a year since I met him there at the Crystal Bridges overlook, but I believe his name was Mr. Beck.  91 years old at the time, and a WW2 veteran.  He had been a pilot in China.  Had a son that had been interested in art at one time.  A charming gentleman, I enjoyed him very much.  Alice Walton and the new director of the museum were there at the same time.  But to my eye, he was a standout.   I hope I will see him again so I can show him the painting. 

"On the first day of spring I dig my fingers deep into the soft earth.  I can feel its energy and my spirits soar." - Helen Hayes