#179 - #181 Three Easel Paintings 8/27/19

I decided I needed to get a few more paintings in before the end of August, Go Small, I said to myself.  Enough with the Small, Go Big, another part of me said.  I found a great sale at ACMoore: buy 1 canvas get 2 free, and on top of that a coupon for 20% off your total order.  I made the trek.  Came back with 30 wrapped canvases....the largest was 2ft by 1ft, the smallest 5in by 5 in.  There were plenty of 3ft, 4ft, 5ft, canvases for sale, but I was too intimidated.  What could I possible paint so well that it deserved to be so large?  Too soon for that, my internal rational self said.  I got home, sorted them on the book shelf, and picked up the 4 remaining 3x3in easel canvases and decided I would work up to the nice, large 2ft by 1ft.  Perhaps November.  For now, find something interesting to put on the little canvas.

First, Grizzly.  My friend Mary has a large, hairy beast - a rescued St. Bernard.  Last time we got together at her house for drinks and dip, I took some photos.  I love painting animals....they will be my gateway to humans perhaps. I cropped one of the photos of Grizzly and painted him, love it.  But will the owner of said-dog love it?  She'll love it because she's my bosom friend, but what if the Grizzly she knows doesn't stare back from the painting?  It's a risk.  But we have to start somewhere.  That's what I've been telling myself as I look back on some of my first paintings.  Uggg, I think, why did I think this one was finished?  It needs work!  But my internal rational self then says, "If you hadn't of painted that one in that way then, then you would have painted it that way at some point, and it's best that we got that point completed so that we can move forward to the next point...eventually getting to a place of utter comfort.  Without those tries, I'd be at a stand-still of just wishing.  Good job you, getting those tries completed!"  A little pep-talk.

Then I did a planet picture I found on the internet.  I liked the light coming from the back side of the planet.  And the red and brown together.  And the moons. 

Then I did a dare.  A few weeks ago I sold the Statue of Liberty painting.  Paul was home that weekend, and he and Joe were yucking it up with the idea that because I shipped it to Texas, it was someone wearing a MAGA hat who bought it.  Then Joe said that since Batman is my best-selling subject, that I could really sell paintings fast if I combined the American Flag with Batman.....hahahha, the two boys laughed at the thought.  So I told them I would test that theory.  So, here it is, Batman in front of an American Flag.  Well, what do you know - it's adorable!  Joe took a picture of it to send to Paul.  We'll see what happens when it's dry enough to varnish and present to the public.