I am often asked if Brightening is still available for sale. No, it is not. Sorry. It was sold many years ago, but you can still get prints by clicking the link above.

The next question I get asked is if I could paint another one.

Not likely. I find it very hard to copy my own work. It never works out well and usually ends up in frustration. Not that I don’t have “sister pieces” and “spin-offs” of my work occasionally, but it’s not something I usually do on purpose.

Let’s face it, I often paint like I write — clueless, in the dark, and with no idea of the outcome. It really is a bad habit, especially with painting. I keep hoping that some day I will actually come to a point where I can plan a painting. For the moment, don’t ask me how to do that because I have no bloody idea and not for lack of searching for an answer that works for me. Oh, there’s people who will talk about composition and thumbnails and such like that. There’s Mikki Senkarik whose work I follow because she walks through the whole painting process and has great tips, but I just can’t. It feels like plotting to me and I’m afraid that it would ruin the energy of the piece. David Limrite told me earlier this year that I just needed to start treating my canvas like my sketchbook and he is right. While he and his partner, Jordan, were able to get me painting more, I just have yet to actually sit down at a canvas and start scribbling like I do in my sketchbook.

I admit that I have frustrations that I don’t have with my writing (any more). If I look back, then yes I can see similarities with what I use to go through with my writing. I know it’s part of reaching a new level of mastery and that these steps must be gone through. I know this!

I frustrate myself, feeling myself getting older and not getting any closer to the things I desire in this life.

How long must the old dog lie on the nail before the pain gets so intense that it moves? I ask myself this question often.

Okay, well this is going down a rabbit hole I didn’t expect. But maybe it is part of my walk into the enchanted forest. I can’t let the magic help me if I don’t tell the spell what I want it to perform.

Interesting. I often ask people what story my paintings tell them, but I haven’t done this sort of exploration for myself.

While I will leave myself to think on that, let’s found back to the original intent of this post.

As I was saying before my diatribe, because of how I paint, it makes each one unique. One has finally been produced that is similar to to Brightening.

It is called, “Enchanted Forest.”

I know, you’re shocked.

I love the little mudslide across the path. A great little obstacle to encounter. I think some dwarf was mining and chucking all the dirt up in a mound. With the area so lush, it must get a lot of rain. That made the mud slide down.

If you want to own this piece for yourself, you can get it now on Etsy. Warning though: once it’s sold, it’s gone.