Tiny Disasters

Chicago - Cops kill cougar on North Side
Chicago (Cops Kill Cougar on North Side)
9″ x 12″
Oil on Canvas

Ideas for a series have been rumbling around in my head for a while. I keep coming back to the same general ideas year after year. Now that I have sent in my entry for New American Paintings, my burden has been lifted and I feel free to paint whatever my heart desires. I was putting too much pressure on myself to continue with the bee series when I really needed some fresh ideas to get me excited.

As I walked home this morning thinking about my ideas for this series, I kept saying “Yes! Yes! Yes!” to myself and I quickened my pace. I couldn’t wait to get into my studio after work and get down to some real work. I’m starting several small paintings, I did three tonight. This one, entitled: Chicago (Cops Kill Cougar on North Side) is a scene from a cougar shooting that happened after a cougar was found wandering a busy Chicago neighborhood. The second is of a deer road kill and the third is of a tornado.

I love painting again. I feel energized and I want to get to work. I have so much to do at my day job over the next few weeks but I’m going to make time to work on these little paintings. I think working in a smaller format will be good for me. I need to feel like I’m making quick progress. The large paintings have been so hard for me to resolve. It seems the more I work on them, the farther away I am from being done. Time for a fresh perspective, a new approach, and some fun with paint.

I feel so relieved that I got my mojo back. I’m ready to find shows, I’m ready to paint my heart out. I’m ready for First Thursday and First Friday. Bring it on Portland.


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