After working very hard at painting I have to stop and play. For me play is loose, haphazard strokes, dabbling with colors I do not ordinarily combine, inattention to fine details, and no investment in how it turns out. Most often these pieces end up in the trash, but ever once in a while, one comes together right. This one is not even on canvas. It is painted on Acrylic paper, which appears to be something like hot-pressed 300 lb watercolor stock. I like these old guys. I call it, "Growing Old Under the Oak".

I do not hesitate to destroy mediocre artwork in the same way that a photographer culls out the bad shots. That boat headed for the coastline that I did right after Tod died... well, right now the only place that piece exists is here on the blog where I posted it. Several of the things I posted were later destroyed. It does not bother me. I have so many paintings stored throughout the house that dumping the "chit" does not bother me at all. I doubt I will destroy this one. Matter of fact, I need a "thank-you" gift for someone, and this looks about right.