durtydduck

I can't email you. I would love to see some of your work.

I wish Lex could open a forum for art work!

I have never spent more than ten days working on any painting.
I would give myself a month working on it off and on. If I really got obsessive about it I could finish it in one week.

10 days? Wow! You are quick! and quite skilled. I often spend months shaking mine out..pointalism is a b*tch but, I like the effects.

As far as the original question...if it makes you happy...go for it.

I'm too impatient to spend months on one painting. I want instant gratification. LOL

To pick up my speed and keep it fresh, I would get out ten canvases and set up 10 still life arrangements and time myself to see how complete I could get each one finished in 30 minutes. It would be a race with the clock to see how much I could get done in 30 minutes.

As a result, the paintings looked fresh and loose and not overworked. The ones that looked good, I would spend a few hours on final touches, and the ones I did not like I would scrape off and paint something else.

Some of these quick sketches have won first place awards as some judges like fresh and loose. -->(paintings that is... )

The key,
the goblet,
the making/extracting sweet juice...
...No. I don't know the secret message.
If the oranges were lemons then it could be about making lemonade when life serves you lemons.

Thanks for guessing. The secret message does have to do with the key.

"The key to health is freshly squeezed juice."

Or:

"The key to staying young is fresh juice and vitamin C."

Go for it. That will be a beautiful painting!

Your work is a lot better than mine and most others. However you create it, it is... forget those who can't see interesting contrasts. I am appreciative your work and I would love to see more. If my opinions aren't always clear, it's only that words can't describe you skills and talents.

Wow, thanks a lot. I have worked very passionately and very hard learning how to paint. I was not talented. (Born with it.) I just had a burning desire to learn how to do it and never lost interest in it.

I got a totally different message from that. I saw "here's my key, stay for breakfast"

I don't know. Can you tell us?

The key to good health is freshly squeezed.

(As apposed to reconstituted O.J.)

(Vitamin C is one of the secrets to cell rejuvenation and staying young... but squeeze it fresh.)

Good one!!

I see in the conversation the discussion of the background, the animals, the strength of the situation portrayed, and the clothing...

...civilization, ruin, nature, power, personal magnetism...

The essence, in my opinion, begins with your eyes and your demeanor...stance and purpose...how you focus and blend the portrayal of your character.
It will be just one or two facets of your character; the traits essential for the story of the situation.
In that equation there are only two scenarios:
One is to show mastery.
One is to show balance or blending or rightness of the power over animate and inanimate.
With proper mastery the balance is smooth, not jarring, and difficult to discern as a separate factor.
I think that you are seeking to display that very balance of power that blends the elements together under your influence.
And thus...your eyes and your presence.
Without the focus of your eyes, the strength of your presence, the whole conglomerate that is according to design should fall into disarray.
That is the propriety of control, after all.

I hope that you achieve your goal.

That's good.

Jeannie,

You are quite gifted.