"Write it on your heart that every day is the best day in the year."
Ralph Waldo Emerson

Monday, September 12, 2011

I'm Baaaack! "Rusting Through Retirement" (Final)

Well, after 6 days in the hospital and several here at home recouperating from 2 blood clots in my left lung, I am finally back to painting...it has been WAY too long for my taste. I am doing okay - taking a lot of meds and trying to regain my strength and my breath.

I worked on this painting yesterday and finished it this evening - finally. Now I want to frame it tomorrow so I can enter it in a show on Thursday - I'm pushing it pretty close, I know! Wish me luck!

11 comments:

Gillian Mowbray said...

WOW - this is amazing, especially considering your health scare, Barb. I hope you recover to full health soon. Hugs. x

Autumn Leaves said...

Luck wished, Barb! This is stunning! Now please do take care of yourself!

Barbra Joan said...

Barb, what the heck happened? wow, you've been through a lot in the past couple weeks.. please, get better .. sounds like your on your way,, your painting is nothing short of outstanding.. and yes I wish you all the luck I can send.. let us know how it goes..
Barbra Joan

Watercolors by Susan Roper said...

Barb, if you can finish painting this beauty while recuperating I wonder what would happen if you were 100% healthy! Oh...I forgot...I have seen hundreds of your paintings when you were healthy and those were winners, too! You are just one great artist.

While I love all of the other elements in this and the masterful way you painted them, my eyes keep going down to the softly painted grasses and weeds growing beneath the car. Yes, they are so realistic it does look like they are growing there in the painting. Absolutely love this one!

Watercolors by Susan Roper said...

PS...I just went back to your first WIP on this and see how much masking fluid you used to create those grasses and reeds. While I recently vowed to not buy any more masking fluid and to never use it again in my paintings, I will break that vow (once again) and try using more of it to do the grasses like you have. Probably won't have the same results but it might get me closer! I see that I need to use a smaller stylus when applying the masking fluid.

You are just so good!

Christiane Kingsley said...

Barb, you don't need luck with such a stunning painting. This is an absolute winner! I feel that I am right there in front of the truck...this is almost 3-D. Wonderful!
Don't work too hard!

Barb Sailor said...

Gillian,
I am so glad you like it. It is good to be painting again and I am taking good care of myself.

Barb Sailor said...

Sherry - Thanks for you positive wishes.

Barb Sailor said...

Barbra Joan - I am glad that my problem was diagnosed - I was increasingly short of breath, and extremely nervous - literally jumping out of my skin! Also I had completely lost my appetite and couldn't stand the thought of cooking - I knew there was a problem and had my husband take me to ER a week ago Thursday where the 2 blood clots were diagnosed in my left lung. I was in the hospital 6 days and had some powerful meds to thin my blood. I do feel much better and am following the doctor's orders very carefully.I will keep you all informed.

Barb Sailor said...

Susan - You are wonderful...after all that you are going through, you still take time to encourage me! Thank you so much! I am happy you like the painting. As you know, I use liquid miskit very often for special effects. Yes - it leaves very hard lines and I hesitate to use it in places that I think I will not be able to handle ... I sharpen the handle end of a wooden paintbrush to a fine point and use that for the fine lines - if there are areas you want thicker just allow the mask to build up on the tip and you will have a wider line. I used it on the top part of the grill right under the hood, on the head lights where it didn't matter if you got a hard edge, on the windshield wiper where i did want a hard line and of course on the weeds where I actually like the almost callographic lines you get. It does cause problems if you don't handle it correctly - takes practice, but I would be lost without it. I love to use it with the large florals to outline the edges like in my painting, "Pretty in Pink!" Don't give up on it - it has it's place!
Thanks so much, Susan for your encouragement.

Barb Sailor said...

Christiane - Thanks for mentioning the front of the truck - I really spent a lot of time making that my focal point and it is so nice that you got that illusion of dimension.