I think I have been pretty open about how much fun I have when I paint. The process is just joy to me, and I do hope to keep it so for as long as possible. But there is the matter of what to do with the large collection of paintings one acquires, in a relatively short amount of time I might add. Once you have filled your every vacant wall space, available nooks and crannies, space in closets and attics and barns, and given your friends and family canvases they may not have asked for, you are still in trouble because paintings are piled too high. And this is not only a problem for the novice painter such as myself; why I even read Mary Cassatt had 300 of her own paintings in her possession when she died. She was not alone: Vincent van Gogh had “over 850 paintings and almost 1,300 works on paper” in his possession when he died. We all ask: what to do with it all?

I really am not interested in being a sales person or even find it particularly comfortable discussing my artistic process. I just really like moving a brush of color across flat spaces to find doorways or avenues or escapes that weren’t there a moment ago. Discovering space is a welcome guest on a canvas. One can reside there and sort out the rest later. At least that is how I feel while splashing about in pink and blue and bits of gold.

I do like living among my paintings. I don’t mind them propped or leaning about the room. They are quite seriously part of my most interior self made visible and that is a wonder I am taken with. I feel that way about a great many artists who have populated this grand earth but I am equally glad to feel that way about several of my paintings. I am grateful to live alongside of them but hope they find a home of their own soon.

Thankfully, here in Vermont, Open Studio weekend is upon us! If you are local do pop in and take a look around the studio with me. If you are so inclined perhaps you will leave with something painted in your possession, if not, at least come chat with me.

If you are far beyond state lines check out ninecentdesign.com and do let me know what you think!