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An Adventuring Spirit

Whenever I go on a new kind of adventure, its timing and the sense of excitement and pleasure easily overcomes any fears I may have of the unknown that awaits. Horseback riding trips on my wonderful horse, traveling across country alone, getting to know certain persons, and I would even include trying new foods are some of my recent adventures.  Will I even be able to swallow that first bite - or will I end up discovering a new taste that I thoroughly enjoy? 

Adventures in my painting come from that same kind of attitude. What if I discover something that changes my painting forever - and for the better? For me, what I stand to gain is so much more than what I stand to lose in exploring a new subject, approach, and source of inspiration.  Often I am compelled to obey my sometimes fleeting inspirations, going off into new "territories" of feeling and insight.

I spent several weeks along the Lake Michigan shoreline this summer, sometimes watching sailboat races in the evening and spending some time at the harbor in my home town. Sailboats have always brought a sense of peace and mystery to me - their quiet silhouettes bring me a feeling of timelessness that I greatly enjoy and how beautiful it is when the wind fills their sails! The timing seems right these days, so I am off on my sailboating adventure in my painting and loving it.  It is interesting to me that these new paintings are expressing a combination of my watercolor style (I painted in watercolors for years before starting oils) and my style and technique with oils using the palette knife. Maybe I have discovered a new home, a new harbor, and my latest adventure will become a lasting one. We'll see - time and oceans of canvas await. 

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