I made this Painting with the same theme of my Barn painting. This time I wanted to mix black and white with color on pine wood planks. It really is a mood painting. What mood are you in? A dark unsettled gloomy mood, or a bright and sunny mood? It’s a painting that takes your mood temperature. As I have said throughout this blog, I have to have a real feeling to paint something, and that includes serious and funny themes. Of course, I am also happy to paint something for someone that has meaning only to them. If I had to guess I would say most people’s temperatures are somewhere in the middle of this painting. Some leaning a little to the left into the darkness of life’s challenges (by choice or not by choice), and some leaning a little to the right into the optimistic peace and love of life. Personally, I strive to be “All In” on the right side of the painting. That can be an immense challenge at times. I guess that’s peering at the world with rose colored glasses, but in my opinion it’s much better than being gloom and doom all the time. I’ve been to the dark side more than once in my life, and it’s no fun over there. The only power I have is my attitude. I’m not trying to be deep or complex here. In fact, someone once told me I wasn’t deep and I took it as a compliment. I would much rather be simplistic and happy than deep and overly complex and brooding. This painting is just an expression of where one is at in their life. Some people can throw buckets of paint on a canvas and let it roll all together and end up having it hang on a museum wall. The viewer can then stare at it and make their own interpretation of it. I’m not knocking that. It is what it is. This painting allows the viewer to also make their own interpretation of it. The themes of good vs evil, good vs bad, happy vs sad and so on intrigues me. What wins out? I guess that depends on where one is in their ever evolving life? This painting concept allows me to experiment with these impressions in a weird way. My own form of therapy I guess.

I will be taking a little break from painting now. Not long though. I shall return soon. This blog has been a great way to archive and tell the story of my paintings in one place. Thanks again to all who have taken the time to read and view my work. It’s not a fast process, but 19 paintings in six months isn’t bad I think. Especially since I have to cut, glue, clamp, trim and sand my own canvases. I don’t mind though because the wood is part of the art for me.