The Mural

We have slowly made progress on the mural.....actually a little more than the picture shows.  The job is getting a little tedious, and I look forward to getting it done.  It is a big, somewhat tedious job and I can only hope that the money we earn will make it worthwhile.  Payment has not been discussed since our patron gave us a down payment before we began.

Jim and I have evolved into a partnership where our individual strengths are maximized.  He does the drawing on the wall in pencil.  I paint the general scene, then he follows with the details.  I sometimes have to reign him in or he would be painting the keyholes on the doors of the buildings.......but he agrees that he needs that reminder.  He keeps me from being too lackadaisical. We were hired to do a rather "whimsical" painting of the town, not a photo-realistic representation.  We are generally having a good time and end each day with a mutual admiration session.

Paint Eastport Day

This is my painting for Paint Eastport Day, which rolls around every year at this time.  Participants sign up in the morning, then take their paints out and do a scene "en plein air." The paintings are auctioned off to the public at a reception at the Arts Center at the end of the day.
My painting was done beside the Todd House, a bed and breakfast down the street.  The owner of the place ended up buying it at the auction.  There were a few other bidders, but my reserve was a hundred dollars......much more than the typical bid.  I had the guts to do it because I knew Ruth was going to by it and how much she was willing to pay.  There is probably a rule against such things, but the money goes to the art center, so I doubt that anyone would mind.  The next week I sold a painting at the "All Nudes Show," also at the Arts Center........it was the painting I posted the last time I wrote.  At the same time, a woman bought one out of Jim's gallery.  How this all messes with my head.  I am supposed to be happy and flattered when I sell something, but as I wrote last time, it messes with my head.  In an attempt to counter this recent trend in my work, Elizabeth and I have decided to give ourselves a new project. Also, the season is about over here, so the galleries will close, the tourists will go home, and I can focus on what I love to do.