Saturday, January 3, I was painting with my son Dennis near a boat landing on the Willamette River.  We made plans the  night before.  If the weather looked like rain we'd paint each  m,l;others portraits indoors.  If it was not raining we'd venture out for some plein-air work.  It was not raining.  My "concept" for the painting was to record the essential elements of the scene so that an observer of the painting would at least get a feeling of having been there. I try to keep this thought while I work.  The morning air is cold.  But the painting goes well.  I take a break to stretch my legs and see how Dennis is doing.  We are both happy with our progress so far--values, placement of color, looseness of brush strokes, etc..  What a pleasure!  I'm aware of my enjoyment as I get back to work.  Eventually, though, I notice some of the things I liked in the beginning of the painting are gone.  The fresh, crisp, sketchiness I had going was being replaced with "exactness" that needed dismantling.  Like a guest who is having a great time might overstay their welcome, I was having a great time and staying too long at the easel.  One brush stroke is fun and two is double the fun.  Knowing when to call it a painting is as much a part of the creation process as knowing how and where to put paint.  "Over Painting" is an area I've been working at overcoming.  The love of the work tends to keep painters long past closing time.  Overstaying our welcome so-to -speak.

New Year Resolutions?  The recent artical about "New Year Resolutions" by Lori Woodward Simons reminded me of how much I use "lists" to keep me on track.  I like the feeling of accomplishment when checking off an item.  So much so that if I do something that isn't on the list I'll write it in so it can be checked off.  It's great fun and cheap entertainment!  It sometimes seems like things that become "New Year Resolutions" take on an adversarial role, an "archrival" for my time, abilities, money, will power, etc..  Like a challanger that keeps taunting me and betting on my failure. On the other hand, if I just put it down on my "to do" list I'm more likely to get it done.  Having goals for the year are excelent ways to get things done.  Writing my goals (my to dos) will keep me aware of what needs to be done.  So this year I resolve to write down what needs to be done so I'll remember to do it (uh-oh).  I'm struck at how that parallels having a firm "Concept" of what the painting will look like.  I started the year off with a painting of the Coburg Hills, here in the Willamette Valley.  The view is from a grass seed warehouse that employs our high school and college kids in the summer.