Today’s experiment is derivative of yesterday’s. In fact, it began as a canvas to test a blue-yellow combination. Sometimes blue and yellow pigments combine to give a muddy appearance (see Blue and Yellow Don’t Make Green).

I like the abstract feel of this portrait. It reminds me of my father. But it also struck another note in my mind. I finally remembered a portrait I painted of my older brother Mike. Michael is autistic and very low functioning; he is the reason that I started this blog (also see ‘about’ at the top of this blog’s banner).

Maybe I made an unconscious connection between my Dad and Mike; maybe I mentally equated Dad’s passion for the violin with one of the few times I saw any kind of emotion in my brother.

Man and Violin
Watercolor
16″x12″ 140# Cold Pressed Watercolor Block

I feel myself being drawn back to the method of painting I used before taking my ‘sketch break’.  I would like to sharpen my painting skills with more disciplined practice and expand my visual repertoire by reacquainting myself with the work of the masters.  I don’t know if I have any fresh material, but hopefully I can come up with some new, expressive work.