Return to Summer

In one of my first art classes, over a year ago, we were invited
to choose a photo from a pile of my instructor's reference photos.
I picked the one  he was going to use for his demo. Although
my painting didn't compare to his, I learned a lot from the exercise.
I looked at that painting again recently--still loving the composition
and all those layers of green--and decided to repaint it from the
photo I couldn't bare to part with.

I'm happy with the painting (although for those of you who've
read any of my entries, you'll know I'm still struggling with
the photo taking--the painting isn't blurry like the photo.)

I framed the painting, and gave it to my dad for Father's Day.

Joe's Cottage

Finding the right subject matter is tricky, when you are a
beginner.I cheated, here, and borrowed a photograph from my
talented instructor, Joe Lombardo. Not having to worry about the
composition,I concentrated on the painting, and, lo and behold,
two-and-a-halfhours later, I ended up with what I consider my
first successfulwork.  Successful, in thatI didn't wipe it or
throw it away.