Sometimes I carry a painting around in my head long before my brush ever hits the canvas or my pastel strokes the paper. Such is the case with this pastel.  I have been watching the late afternoon sunlight  through the trees for weeks, longing for the right moment to get it from my head to the painting.  I've also watched the cows as they follow their fence route every day. On this day lighting and cow were just right. The painting seemed to pop from eye to head to hand almost effortlessly.  The experience is quite addictive. I'm glad it's an addiction that produces instead of destroys. I feel blessed. 

It seems I've been slow on the blog these past few weeks. Summer is never as orderly as my regular schedule, but I've determined to use what time I have to paint, paint, paint to improve. There's no other way to get better, so I'm making these next few months my "education" time. I'm immersing myself in good art books and putting paint and pastel to work.  I'm getting ready for a solo show in October and I want to be at my best.  I'll give the details later.