Morning Kitchen

I am at my daughter's house being with grandson's while she goes to a writing workshop. This morning I looked up and notices her, a grandchild, and their dog back-lit in the kitchen. I was sitting on the sofa in the living space and looking into the intimacy and light of the morning kitchen. The whole scene has some of the interior-ity and bright versus darkness of Bonnard scenes...I think/hope that I can make something of this image...may Pierre's spirit inhabit me!

First Painting From Journal Drawings

I haven't fully understood how painters go from sketches to paintings...so I am trying to go from  worked out little value sketches, to paintings that stay in the value plan that I have decided on.  This is my first attempt. I have about 10 more small drawings to work off of. Please stay tuned.

Working out Shapes and Values

At night after dinner, I like to think about what I am going to paint the next day. If I am already thinking about shapes and values, it makes getting started the next day easier. I also believe that there is some intangible but very real value in mulling, pondering, staring at, and sleeping on an idea. I love that Ann Patchett writes in "What Now?", "...nobody ever made a living depending on a muse. The rest of us have to go out and find our inspiration, write and rewrite, stare and stare and stare until we know which way to turn."