painting for myself

These are bits and pieces from today's painting. Looser than most, it is just for me. I posted the completed painting on my New Work blog.

It's the time of year that I paint for myself. From now through the end of 2008 I'll be experimenting, playing, taking myself less seriously (I find that to be easier each year as I get older). Stuff that used to be top priorities is shifting. Family, home, food are taking the place of producing, competing and planning for opportunities that I may no longer want when they finally appear.

When I was growing up, my father took three months off each year to go steelhead fishing. They were winter months - slow for a carpenter. I tried fishing with him once. Cold and boring. My father wasn't the kind to entertain a child. I walked up and down the riverbank for hours while he stood perfectly still. Waiting, thinking, being quiet. Refueling his spirit for the coming year of work and responsibility.

I'm using the rest of this year for the same purpose.