Poolside II (in progress)

Do I ever get sick of working on the same projects for days or weeks? Yes, which means that project usually find its way to my drying rack and stays there (great examples: portraits of Amy and Mark). In this way, I can be almost a slave to my emotional connection to a painting. This isn't really a good thing for me as an artist. Isn't making art about expressing yourself and how you are feeling? We should love each painting, right? Well, yes...and no. My art is an expression of me, of beautiful things or places that lifted my spirit, and overall, I love creating each piece. But, painting is a struggle. Sometimes I really don't love the piece I am working on. It's not working, the colors aren't right, the angles just won't line up, this is not what was in my head... But that is the way anything satisfying is - we have to figure out the problems, overcome the frustrations, put in the time...before we can feel the accomplishment and really love our work. There is a stigma that painting is fun. Well, it is... but, it is also work. And it sure feels good to step back and have that very troublesome painting (and colors, angles...) work.
And no, this painting is not yet finished nor is yet the subject of any real frustrations - just problems to fix.