Over the last several days I started a few pieces and all except this one ended up in the trash. Another 'Not a Masterpiece", but it was fun! I don't know what I am trying to do; where I am going. I am in the experimental mode, trying things I never tried before, just "fiddling around". Maybe this is a good time to try a more impressionistic piece. I almost succeeded here by eliminating the details and using just color to suggest forms. I'd love to work with my pastels- my refuge when I want to 'play', but it is too damp on the porch. It has been raining nearly all day every day. As I write this the thunder is rolling and the rain is pouring down.

I really would love to do an illustrated children's book and started a sketch for the first image, but the composition is all wrong. Back to the drawing board. I have the story in my head. No morality, no preaching or teaching, just plain fun. I had no idea how difficult an illustrated book was until I thought about doing one. An incredible amount of work goes into those little picture books that we read to our toddlers! You need at least a dozen different images, all the same style, and the characters have to be recognizable throughout. What an undertaking!

I don't sell very much art. It just accumulates in my bedroom and in my garage. I attended a seminar last year on how to price art, after which I adjusted all of my prices. A few went up, but very, very few! For the most part all of the prices went down significantly, especially on my prints. Some of it is because I don't do art fairs. I'd like to, but there seems to be a built-in Catch 22. You need a photo of your tent/ set-up to get into a show, but until you do a show,you have no photos!

A children's book, on the other hand, is very marketable. Publishers are always looking for new material. Now that I have a grandchild, that idea really appeals to me.
I wonder if I can complete at least a half a dozen images before Shelly finishes her Perpetual Portrait? (Sorry, Shelly, but that last line was just too good to resist!)