“Contemplating Bernie,” 5″x7″, oil on canvas board, NFS

"contemplating bernie," 5"x7", oil on canvas board

"contemplating bernie," 5"x7", oil on canvas board

Sometimes you take a chance and it doesn’t work out. But you know, deep inside ya, that you did what you could and you’re happy with how things turned out after all. Sometimes life is like that. Sometimes you just gotta sit back and contemplate your life. Consider. Reconsider. Evaluate.

I am trying to keep my paintings loose and bold. On this painting, I kept at the details. I shouldn’t have. My first idea was the right one – reach for the big brush, Steve! But, no, I had to go for the detail brush. The tiniest of brushes, the eensy little one is a foul temptress and she got the best of me today.

But you don’t grow if you don’t learn from your failures. I learned today that the bigger brush, the bold stroke is my friend, is my protector from the succubus, if only I will heed the warning.