Well, I certainly have fallen behind on the “30 Paintings in 30 Days” challenge, haven’t I?

The thing is, I can’t blame it all on my 9 to 5 job (or rather, my 8 to 5 job).  Yes, I’m tired when I get home from work, and then there’s supper and getting the kids ready for bed, etc, but I when I do muster the energy to paint, I always manage to get into a flow.

The main problem is WHAT I’m painting.  In comparison with the face studies from the previous challenge, paintings of the back of women’s heads has the ineffable quality that I think has always been missing from work – but seeing as I never really do anything truly original, this is hardly surprising.  At the end of the day, though, they’re still studies.  I’m in a state of constant practice and preparation, but I never get any closer to my goal, which is to produce original work (such a scary concept!!).  And I have to change that.  Time to learn by doing.

Bu-u-u-u-t… maybe I’ll just finish these last 3 paintings first.

By the way, of these 3 wips, one of them is actually based on a photo I took of the receptionist at work.  She’s the first person I’ve ever asked to pose for me, and she was so nice about it, too!