In the last year, I’ve mostly been trying to hone my traditional painting skills. I never wanted to be a realist, however, there are elements of my recent paintings that I want to look more realistic or at least believable in the context of the painting. This requires more focus, the right brushes, paints, mediums, and a detailed drawing prior to even beginning painting. It’s a much more controlled way of painting. Yes, I can use more control in my work, but it’s also hard to repress my internal expressionist. Sometimes I just have to let him out of the box. The result is the image I’ve posted here of a painting entitled Immerse. Done in pastel and encaustic, it has a dreamy, quality, no sharp edges, straight lines or layers of glazing with a 0 size brush. Making this was like a huge exhale.

It already found a good home. Appropriately sold it to one of my swimmer friends, Kelly Owens , last week.