"Duck Pond" (oil on linen; 8" x 10") sold

sold

Reference photo

At the outset of every painting, I always feel two emotions: excitement and fear.  I feel excited about the subject AND fearful about whether I will be able to pull it off.  If there is no challenge, boredom will set in and only slapdash work will come out of the painting session.  Yes, I live on the edge.

When  I went to paint at Wide Water along the C & O Canal a week ago, I took a walk to walk off numbness in the toes.  It was a bit chilly, yes; but, oh boy, it was gorgeous.  There were several mallard ducks and lots of Canada geese in the water, fishing and sunbathing.  I took many pictures.  Yesterday, I decided to make something of the above picture, with a bit of both feelings I just mentioned.

I cropped the photo to focus on the ducks and warmed up the palette.  Wobbly reflections of trees and their brilliant leaves fill up the entire painting, but without the two birds, it won't make any sense.  It would have been nicer if one of the ducks had been a female, but I didn't want to invent their colors.  Just to be on the safe side.

"Yellow and Peach Roses" (oil on linen; 8" x 10") sold

sold

It amazes me to see what one can do with 80 square inches of linen.  Six roses!  Isn't the painting luscious, if I may say so?  I used to do lots of flower paintings in watercolor.  As I moved away from this not-so-forgiving medium, exploring more opaque medium of oil, I embraced landscape with enthusiasm.  I love to paint landscapes, especially en plein air, which I didn't really enjoy as a watercolorist.  But, you know, something strange has been happening lately.

I stopped teaching (history at a college, if you are not familiar with my story), and am now painting full time, everyday and happily, if you want to know.  My audience is eBay.  For three months I floundered, trying to figure out what attracts eBay fine art buyers.  Gradually I find myself reaching to my old bag of tricks, something I do well, or better than other subjects --flowers.  Why haven't I thought of that?  I inherited my love of flowers and gardening from my parents.  When I lived in a high-rise apartment, I used to have a patio filled with flowers in containers. 

It all goes back to the old adage in the art business.  Paint something you really love.  I am anxious to see how much "Yellow and Peach Roses" will go for on eBay.  Wish me luck!