When Soulful Studios Was Full

Soulful Studios currently looks empty and embarrassingly messy so I posted these photos to remind myself of what my workspace can look like when things are in order. Now I'm neat with a stocked inventory in a virtual world. Being busy is wonderful but sometimes when the walls are bare, (most of these paintings found homes), and the "to-do list" lengthens pressure can build. Pressure can be good for an artist in terms of productivity; it can be deadly if one doesn't keep it in check. I'm searching for balance at the moment. Luckily my current projects are very interesting and quite a few stretch my creativity to new levels. This is an exciting time.

The pet portrait in oil of three dogs is coming along nicely. I will post progress images next time. Monday I will start sketches an eagle for a client that is looking for something unique. The paintings surface will be an antique muskrat skin stretching board. I generally don't paint on objects like that but this gentleman was insistent that he wanted my work on his board and would wait as long as he had to for the painting. I found it to be a rather amusing idea so I went for it. Frequently I there is a bald eagle that soars over my studio. The images I gathered are very good so this could spawn other regular paintings in the future.

I've been very busy with Gallery 50 lately. They have their annual competition featuring wetlands, so I'm also working on a sketch for that as well. This piece is interesting because it has very limited color with more of a conceptual feel, which is very different for me. "Hiding in the Shadows", the painting on the previous post, took 2nd place at Gallery 50's miniature show and I also sold one of the last few "Bunny Brave" paintings there as well.

Finally, I was honored with an interview by EBSQ. I've been a member since the beginning of my blog and they were kind enough to include me in their Blogger of the Week section that you will see here later today.

I hope everyone is enjoying their summer. I'll post the dog commission in progress and a few other goodies very soon. Back to the canvases...