Waterways

Each week before painting class Judi comes to my house first and we eat something. She works so far away (Eden Prairie, not that far except for that it's dreadful traffic) and home is not on her way. I thought, hmm, I could feed her because I only work 4 miles away. That started out just fine and I had food in my house but each week it's gotten more meager in the offerings. Tonight it was pickles and crackers. How can I not have any food???? I think it's work and students and projects and standing all day. At the old job I sat in front of a computer and had time to think and read the NYTimes cooking section. Now, the student texts me and says, "Did you mean to let the eye wash station run for an hour?" No, I meant to run it for 30 seconds but someone asked me a question and I got distracted. I did stop at the campus meat store and got cheese and meat. Now all I have to do is cook it. In my "spare" time. And why can't the husband ever cook? Well if he's not going to cook then I'm going to cook what I like and it will have blue cheese and anchovies in it (but not together).

Anyway -- Class 5 was tonight and I'm very sad that we have one more week together. I LOVE my classmates. I learn so much from them and they are all funny and interesting and people that I want to know forever. We worked on landscapes this week and watery places. I think we are all fascinated by water because WTF we are living in the land of 10,000 lakes!!!! Kat gave us a demo of painting water and plants and of course made it look easy, and then we all got started.

I found a photo from a campsite at Big Bog State Park near Upper Red Lake. My campsite was on the river and I took many photos because it was a magical place. Of course my painting does not look like the place but I get the feeling from it sort of. I really want to be able to go to my favorite places and paint while I'm there and paint what I feel in being there. My color mixing needs to improve because I still can't get the right subtle colors but hopefully that comes with fortitude and practice.

Here is the painting. I took the photo in the fall as the leaves were turning yellow but not yet fallen.

Why is it that I like the photo of the painting but not the painting? I am critical of my paintings but when they are photo'd I can see it and I like it and I can see the feeling. I guess it's the "stand back" that Kat is always telling us to do. And of course, "STOP!!!"