Finishing Day

"Penns Creek in Sun and Shade", Pastel

I've been in the studio lately, completing a series of paintings which were started on location earlier this summer. It seems like I often work this way- explore around outdoors, find places which I resonate with, paint on location searching for the feel and colors of the place, and then bring home the 'starts'. Often I need to 'rest' the painting at this point, until I can see it more as a whole, and know what (usually little) touches it needs to come in to a pleasing balance and clear mood. This part is often the hardest for me, and I'm very pleased that several paintings have 'ripened' this week, and now stand on their own, ready to frame and go out in the world!