01_26_02

At 3:30 pm I turned off the computer and realized the weather was still nasty. I headed for the beach, thinking that life keeps putting obstacles in our path tempting us to compromise for the road of least existence. I had to keep moving on this project. The freezing weather was at 36 degrees or less and a stiff wind made it colder and difficult to paint. The sky was a maze of contrasts between darkness and patches of blue sky. The light controls the image. I could feel an icy crisp coolness of atmosphere as I wore two pairs of gloves... still damp from the day before so I was double-cold. As you look at the art, you see that this is the way it was. This is a record of the emotions of life in a blinding storm that rocked my paint box and easel. Sand came in sheets stinging my face and eyes as well as blasting the wet paint. I painted in the wind and rain... freezing every minute. I finished it... quit - went home and took Sketch, our ten year old boy, to his favorite cafe for hot chocolate. "Whew!"