New Paintings and Willy Update

I didn't realize how long it's been since I wrote a post. I have been spending a lot of time painting, and these three aren't the only ones.  Some of them have been obliterated, since I have only two canvases.  The top painting and the bottom one are the top layer of those canvases.  The middle one is painted over some other painting that has already been erased in my memory as well as literally.  I may have done more that have also gone down the well, already forgotten. I also painted over two old paintings where I didn't change the image, just the technique. I experimented with various ideas to change the harsh look my acrylics have always had.  I liked them that way, but suddenly turned against them.  I'm happy with the new versions, which I have forgotten to photograph.  I'll do that today and post them.

It continues to be difficult and boring without Lytton and I am still brought to tears when I think of him.  Luckily it happens only once or twice a day and I basically make my way through the mud that is my life looking for things to keep me busy.  Willy has wormed his way into my heart and I now think of him as part of the family.  He is endearing with his antics and I can't help but love him.

Morning Dog Walk

It's a blustery, cold day, which always produces a different kind of beauty. When I took the dogs out today it was snowing only lightly, but the wind was fierce and bitter cold. Nevertheless, after I brought the dogs home, I took my camera and went back down to the foot of my street to tale pictures. This is a colored photo, believe it or not. It's what the day actually looks like. One can imagine the world looking like this before human beings, and probably after, too.

I love having access to the water in all kinds of weather. Here on the rough Maine coast one can see an indifferent ocean free of human interference. No beach umbrellas or surfboards for rent here.........

Before and After

Another experiment......first the watercolor painting, then the same painting doctored with pastel. The difference between the two are not very obvious in the pictures, and now that the watercolor doesn't exist I can't tell how much the pastel changed the original. I guess I like the painting......it's a picture of my favorite corner on 186, or 182, going the back way to Machias through the blueberry fields.

Watercolor Version

I like this version of the still life I did the other day much better than the pastel. Nothing is quite as brilliant as watercolor, and I have to say, modesty aside, I am good at it........