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Desert Hues

HappyLittleCloud 24 Jan 2021

This painting almost broke me. I did it several weeks ago, was excited to try cacti, and was dreaming of a potential spring visit to New Mexico. As I worked on the foreground I scraped part of it off to restart and heard a yell of dispair from my husband who said I had erased his favorite part and ruined it. I spent hours after that trying to recreate what I had removed, and in turn removed the scene over and over again. My chest was tight and my heart was heavy. Eventually I gave up trying to make what I had already made and just finished it however I could. I hated the way I felt when I finished it. So I hated the outcome. I only saw some sort of backdrop for a wiley coyote chasing a road runner now. But after weeks of hiding this from you guys, I needed to upload it. And you know what? It's not as bad as I remember. And I've finally started painting again. I'm embarrassed I let that experience keep me from my new hobby for so long. This isn't a search for pity comments, but more an admission and hope that others can relate to the experience that I had. Still liked doing cacti. Even hid a little prickly pear in there, do you see him? My last revenge on this piece!

Oils

Comments

Well, there are some paintings you just struggle with. And the more nervous or uptight you are when painting the worse the outcome. I think once I start scraping things off I'm never really satisfied with anything that comes after. And if I really struggle with a painting I can't really be objective about it, all I see is how hard it was to paint and I just don't want to look at it. But after a while I forget the struggle and am able to look at the painting objectively. Just like it happened to you. I'm happy you showed us this painting, I find it really beautiful. Love the yellow color in the background. Those mountains are majestic. And the cacti look great.

Wow! Mountain is fantastic. Great shrubbery near cacti which are both awesome looking.

Beautiful.

Pietro1963 Master of Monsters

great desert scape.colors are beautiful.great work

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