Completed a short time ago, all that is left is to sign, mat and frame "L'impenetrable". The image size is 8" x 15" and it will be headed to my eastern shore of Maryland gallery - Troika Gallery - for their big July show, Concours d'Troika.

Moving right along - I did manage to get started on the cat yesterday and now, today - well lots more of that darn rug to get done. I see the light . . . the light at the end of this tunnel.

About to sit down to the drawing board for today's studio time. Here is where things were left off yesterday afternoon. I added more pattern but also went back over areas already worked to darken and help to shift things backward and forward to give depth as well as to develop more of the soft texture of the rug which will be very important as the rug takes such prominence in the composition. Since this rug is just steps away from my drawing board, I am constantly getting up and checking out the tonal variations to try and keep things from becoming too 'busy' in black and white and also, have judiciously edited some of the pattern to simplify and key into the more important aspects of the intricate patterns. I want the rug to be important in the finished drawing, but I also want the animal subject to hold its own so have to keep that in consideration as I work. It might actually be time to start work on the cat so as to make sure I have not gone overboard on the rug's patterning. I don't think I have, but that remains to be seen. Of course, I can always go back and tone down the rug by over layering to push it back and add more focus to the cat, if needed.

Yesterday's four and a half hours of work, and again - I ask myself "Why?"

Today's additions.

A New Work Takes Shape

It's about this time in a new work, maybe ten hours into it, and especially one that has a lot of noodling and do-dads and little picky designs and textures like this one, that I scratch my head and wonder out loud, "What were you thinking?" I know, well I . . . hope . . . this one will be a winner when done, but might be questioning myself on the background as I work on it over the course of this week (my dinning room rug kindly offered me the reference while one of the roaming neighborhood felines did the rest).

Opening tomorrow, May 17th and running through mid July, this year's edition of the annual spring show, Modern Marine Masters will take place at The Maritime Gallery at Connecticut's Mystic Seaport. One of my works is included in this fine assemblage of works by some of the worlds most esteemed marine artists. A great place to visit on any occasion, doubly so during one of the gallery's major annual art events.

HORSE

A very special show, Horse, will take place this summer, from June 13 through July 11 at The Gallery at Sculpture by the Lakes in Dorset along Britain's southern coast. I am pleased to have several of my drawings included in the show, along with fine works by other internationally recognized artists and sculptors. If your plans call for you to be in England this summer, or you are a native, why not visit this marvelous venue to see some very fine art.

A new work, recently off the drawing board, Shell Game will be one of four new works being delivered to McBride Gallery later this month for the opening on June 7th of their 35th Anniversary Show celebrating over three decades in Annapolis.