The Real Challenge....

Yesterday, I mentioned that I struggled throughout the entire painting of the subject for Challenge #13... "The Red Canoe." Yesterday in my post, I chalked it all up to weather and lighting conditions. Over the course of my early morning coffee routine, I came to realize that although I was indeed painting more regularly than usual, the challenge limited me to smaller painting projects to conform to the time necessary each day. As well, I had several larger format paintings which I had been considering... and this format prohibited me from getting my teeth into theses.

My art has never been an area of my life where I required much, if any encouragement to get at it. I have always been a "self-starter"... with ideas which never stop piling up in my head, my sketchbooks and my very large library of digital references. I have always been able to move through these sources to motivate myself and was never short of good subjects. I found this Challenge project to be difficult to juggle with my personal life responsibilities. I found the experience increasingly draining as it proceeded.

All of these things said... I wish to restructure my Challenge goals, not to paint continuously over thirty days to create thirty paintings, but rather to paint over thirty days and create paintings of merit and thought ... that I am proud of. "The Red Canoe"... per say is not such a piece for me personally. It might well find itself in the fireplace as a Valentine evening "cracklin" fire starter... or just a study for a future larger work.

Today, I worked the entire day on "The Winter Willow" piece started... but not finished, a few days back. It is complete for the most part, as of the writing of this post and I truly believe has more to offer"Me"... and "You" than future Challenge 8x10's which I "knocked off" to make the daily deadline. Truth is... "I" am pleased... head-to-toe with my decision. One great painting produced with dedication and proper time... is better than thirty mediocre ones!

 The actual subject... rooted... a few mile east of Rockport

The starting structure... establishing lines... lights and darks in one session

"Winter Willow" - oil on canvas 24x20 inches. it is painted on canvas used to recover canoes like my own. The heavy tooth makes it a challenging surface to lay pigment on... but it really does allow for great textural effects.


The real challenge in living one's life as an artist or even as an individual, is to live it authentically and as fully as you can. Other concerns such as wealth... ambition... and recognition are transient reasons which change as one moves along in life. The first two will sustain one over a life time and in all likelihood, bring some of the other things mentioned as well... without making them primary objectives.

I offer the jpeg of the finished piece to perhaps help you to understand both my dilemma... and my solution. Paint what you feel and have a passion for... and you will always be happy and motivated to sit down to the studio easel... or to head "out there." Good luck with your own choices and journeys!

Good Painting!... to ALL!!!