2011 Paintings Reviewed

Since my first blog, January 2nd, 2010, I've been moving towards painting. This last year, I finished and signed eight paintings. The paintings have more of a common thread then my drawings. Of the five woods paintings, Wildfire is the best. I'm getting looser and more energetic in my squiggles and strokes and splashes and smears.

MY WOODS

SWEET CHOICES: I did Chocolate Mice the end of last 2010, drove you crazy with it and wasn't quite satisfied; it was too tight and strained. The three Sweet Choices I did this year on previously used, 3/4" stretched canvases helped a great deal to loosen me up (for the woods paintings no doubt). They came out so well however,I'm sorry I didn't throw caution to the wind and use new gallery stretched canvases. Now they need to be framed and I only like floater frames and as yet, have not been successful doing that--I have no idea what hardware I need to get them to float!

WHAT AN ODD COUPLING OF SUBJECTS! I understand my fascination with the woods. I associate the trees as barriers, obstacles to get around to the (hopeful) clearing beyond; I'm pretty sure my cancer experience had a lot to do with that subject choice. The pastry fascination, I can only guess: I do think life is sweet and precious and joyful and we should celebrate each moment as long as we can. And what better way to celebrate than with a piece of cake!

SEE YOU NEXT YEAR WITH HIGH HOPES FOR ALL OF US ON OUR PLANET!