I am producing a lot of work and I am happy. The last couple of days have been spent, visiting with and old friend and my son. Inside the artist was grumbling. Minimal work got done. It was great to take a break for good purposes. Honestly my hair was been stretched from my pulling on it. I was Working too much. Pleasing the artist is elusive.

I cannot stand it. I have started changes to 'Night Balloons.' Even if it is accepted into the show I will not be happy without the changes. I think changes will be minor enough that they will not be noticed.

Old Engine

22"x 15"

Watercolor

$500.00

This painting was painted for the Finley River Train Show. I took the photo outside a train museum in California. The lighting and the view here makes a good composition. There is tedious detail, but not too much. I did have to grid with the drawing to make sure everything was where it belonged the first time. Got into a little trouble with the grid lines in the sky but I think I over came it. Must remember to keep lines like that light, but there is also a fight to see them.

I plan to repaint this much larger and then submit it to Watercolor USA next year. The plan is to work slowly, working out all the issues as I go. It would be novel to finish something earlier than 5 minutes before it is due.

Where Is It?
Watercolor
18"X15"
This a the other painting that I submitted to watercolor USA. I think that I am through playing with this one. Yes it does happen. It was originally painted for 'The Beauty of Everyday Life' show, at the The Waverly House. The painting won the theme award. This was fun, a challenge, and hair pulling. I had to keep my finger on the item that I was painting, or I would slip and start working on the wrong thing.

I brought this painting home and tightened up a little. When the Waverly House show came about, my mom had become really sick. I was spending a lot of time in doctor's offices and the hospital. I had works so hard on this painting and was determined to finish it, I stayed up all night to finish this one. It was finished really fast.

It was good, but now it is better. I am not listing the price of this one because I did not have it in my records. I will list it after I know it it is accepted.

I'm back. I am doing well. It did take me a few weeks to recover from my mother's death. Then I started painting. Producing work is one of the first steps.

I've discovered a new way to progess with my work. If I paint on several paintings at once. I don't get into hating the painting in front of me. If there are issues, or things are not progressing well, it don't stress. I just flip to the next painting. I let go, and move on to dealing with the next piece. Ideas on what to do next, or solving a problem with a painting has to percolate with me. I keep flipping to a different painting. With a different painting on the table, the mental work has already been done and I am ready to move ahead with the work. I also clean up my work area each time I switch to a different painting. It is a cleansing process.

Night Balloons.
14"X 17"
Watercolor
$400.00

I have submitted this to Watercolor USA. I will know if it is accepted by the April 17. I am waiting. It is not accepted, I am ready to change this one. I want more warm color in part of the the back ground. I may want to tweak the actual shape of a couple of the balloons. I think this piece is out of balance. This was not apparent until it was done. I think if I lighten the area above the small balloon and add a little warmth it will solve the problem. Until I know if it is accepted in the Watercolor USA, I am hesitant to make changes.

The painting sits, in the studio and I continue to mentally work on it. This seems to be something I cannot rush.

Thank you for your kind works of support and care after the my mother passed. I was silent for awhile, but I was feeling your care and it helped.

I am seem to be up and painting more than I have been able to the last couple of years. I have entered three competitions and finished five paintings in the past two weeks. Deadlines do help. I have several other painting getting close to go in the frames. You should be seeing frequent posts now.

With brushes flying everywhere,
Jane Huggins:)

I forgot that I pick "Balloons in the Night" as a title for this one. Once this one is totally painted I will have to push and pull between dulled color, it is night, and the brightness of the light.

I am excited, this one should be a stunner.

This next week I need to step up the work on two train paintings due at the end of the month, but I will continue to work on the balloon and coffee cup paintings as a pair.

Working on two paintings seems to do well for me. Keeps me from hating the work that I continually stare at.

Working on more that two at at time can be hard for focus, but a good time to work on the ones that sit on the boards undone. I like to start paintings. I don't like to finish them.

This painting was started this last spring. It will probably be finished some time this week. I collect coffee cups. My favorites eventally get broken, but that is only an opportunity to add to my collection. At first it seemed like this painting would paint itself, but I got hung up with making all the elipes right. The darkened room in the background is being up before sunrise. The light source is directly above the cups.

My mother died on February 4, 2010. I usually do not paint under such stress. I have been painting but not finishing anything. I am pleased with my work. There is a whole in my heart, but I think painting with my mother watching over my shoulder will lead to productivity.

My father says he talks to her. I do too. I have a tendency to talk to myself a lot when I paint. I can only imagine the reaction to others I am painting with when my mother is added to the conversation.

I love you Mommy. I know where you are, this will be a good year

O.K., I am back. My mother has gotten a lot worse lately. I agreed to put her hospice the other day. I am working through the emotional side of this pretty well. After the holidays I feel that I have more mental and physical time.

I am getting much better at playing the piano. Piano playing is a great stress reliever for me. Painting is another thing.

Although, I am making myself pick up the brush I do not focus well and getting little real work done is not happening. I am cutting myself some slack here. Things will flow when it is time.

This painting is one that I wanted to start years ago. Every November when the Christmas lights are put in the Ozark Rive Park, The Miracle Children's Fund sponsors this night. Hot air balloons are erected in the Night and stay on the ground. It is awesome to see this huge creations all together in the arena. You only see them when the fire is put on to keep them inflated. At times you see one or two and once in awhile several are firing up at once.

The two spectators are my husband and Nate, my little brother.

I am pretty pleased with the progress of this on so far. I wish some of the colors where clearer, but it is a night scene.