what a difference a year makes

me and 5 month old Louie

Okay...I know it's been a while.  I'm so terrible at blogging.  But, I wanted to let everyone know that I'm doing REALLY, REALLY GOOD.  It's amazing the difference a year makes!  This time last year...I was so weak from chemo and radiation I could barely walk.  Now, I'm painting full time in my studio, teaching an online class, and just got back from a road trip with my kids for Spring Break.  Yes, I'm still have to use a feeding tube...can't swallow or talk very clearly. I still have good and bad days...and tend to get tired a little more easily that before.  But hey...I'm still here and I have painting to do! Life is good. Thank you to everyone who encouraged me to hang in there with treatments when I wanted to quit so badly. I'm so glad I hunkered down and got through it.

I've actually been painting like a mad woman.  It funny...before I got sick...I feel like I wasted a lot of time.  Mostly just worrying about stuff.  Whether a painting was good or bad...should I paint this or that...will it sell...etc.  Now, I won't say that those things don't cross my mind...but these days...I'm real quick to dismiss them and just get to work creating.  Doing what I love.  I'm so damn lucky to be able to do that!

For quite some time I've wanted to move to larger paintings for galleries.  I don't know why exactly...it's just something I feel the need to do.  Kinda on my bucket list, or something. When I first mentioned it to Danny...his initial reaction was...if it ain't broke...don't fix it.  I've been a self representing artist on the Internet now since 1998.  And I'm proud to say...it's been my full time job.  But, I just feel the need to move in this direction also.  The key word is "also".  I'm not feeling the need to give up entirely on what has worked so well for many years.  :)

So lately...I've been working on this goal a little bit everyday.  Baby steps.  I have a wonderful woodworker building large wood panels for me...the smallest is 36" X 36"and the largest 48" x 60". In the meantime...I started on some small watercolor studies to prepare.

Here's one of them finished.

"After Rain"

watercolor, acrylic and pencil on handmade paper

available at Etsy

Next, I moved on to smaller wood canvas.  It's important to me to maintain the look of the watercolor on wood.  The smaller wood canvas pieces allow me to experiment, before I totally commit to the large pieces.  They are still works in progress.  It was also important to me to allow some of the original wood to show through.

I'll keep you posted more about the progress.  :) 

I'm currently gessoing a 36" x 48 in one corner of the studio.  Have the paintings above in progress on another desk in the studio...and am filming my You&Me class on the other desk!  Yes...crazy busy.  But, I love it.

Thanks to everyone for all your love, support, sweet notes, prayers and magic! You guys rock my world! I am one lucky gal!

Love,

Wyanne