painting

One of the hardest things about painting for me is choosing a subject.  I don't like traditional art and yet I feel like I need to do that in order to actually progress.  So, I went to the web and started browsing different online galleries.  I happened upon a piece by Dik Liu entitled Fruits on Blue Velvet.  It is a beautiful piece and  yet was traditional enough to help me with form.  It had this "chunky" look to it that appealed to me.  I decided to try my hand at it.  Liu's piece is 12 x 12 and mine is 24 x 18 which meant I had to carry it out further.  Somehow I ended up with what looked like an actual tabletop which pleased me.  I'm still a novice at this and yet was satisfied enough to hang it over my fireplace (for now, anyway).  It will probably be one of those things that I end up stashing in a closet somewhere, but for the learning process I was satisfied.  

If it hadn't been for my great painting buddy, Di, this painting would have never been completed.  I can't tell you how many times we've been sitting at those easels and she had to stop her own painting to answer a question, guide me through, or give me her very welcomed frank opinion (I only take criticisms on my art from people I really trust and she's one of them!).  I can hardly wait to start my next one!