The Obvious Path

This is a painting I did while we were in Maui during October and November of this year.

I haven’t been painting very long, only since September of 2012.  So, maybe what is difficult for me, is old hat to other artists.  Although, I think that most artists have the same recurring difficulties that I do.

I can often get myself to think I’m not a very good artist.  I know I’m no Gauguin, although I would like to be.  But, I think my painting is pretty good.  I know that it makes people happy to look at it.  I know it is cheerful and filled with bright, beautiful colors.

But there are days, and it happened in this painting where I think I’m horrible.  I get to a certain point in a painting, and it become difficult and challenging.  This is when I can tend to beat myself up.  I don’t get too severe with myself.  I told myself a year ago, that if I continued to do that, I would have to give up art.  I was making myself too miserable.

But when this painting got about 3/4 done, I became very frustrated with it.  But I finally worked my way out of the little snit and finished it.

I used some new brushes in this painting. They were made by a friend who has Painter.  They are Liquid Brushes.  They are a very old technology in Painter.  So old, in fact, that they do not paint on layers.  But they were fun brushes to use.  They make a very nice bristly stroke.