Landscape!  This isn't abstract!  Yes, sometimes I do landscapes.  This one terrified me.  It made me break out a calculator to calculate the difference in surface area between an 11 x 14 and a 16 x 20 because it took me so long.  But I'm really pleased, even though it trends illustrative.  More on that later, because I have a project up my sleeve.

This painting was part of an about six week period in which I did something that terrified me every. single. day.  This was one of those things.  It was a good month and a half.  I had a little hiatus and it's time to get back at it because pushing the envelope is where it's at.  And if it doesn't work... I may not share it here.  Whatever, it's just paint, right?

(And pieces of my soul...  gone forever.  Right.)

Guys, I got brushes and actually used them.  Bryce Canyon and I are having some moments.  I'm having difficulty with the color red, so I decided to dial back the hoodoo pressure to go crazy literal with texture, and I picked a more normal-looking landscape and used lighter layers applied with brushes.  

It looks illustrative to me, but I'm happy I got the color down.  Now, time to be brave with texture for the next one.  It's different from what I normally do, but it's trending in a direction I'm taking.  What do you think?

Here's my second attempt at this grassy desert plant thing.  I'm so into it!  I thought this was the weaker composition, but something magical happened on the canvas.  Don't ask me to explain it.  But, I'm saving this puppy for a show.  I'm really excited about showcasing the contrast between my Water Series pieces and the Mojave Desert.  Expect more desert-inspired abstracted pieces in the future. 

Also, green is fun to play with.  I had no idea.  Some professor told me, once, "There is no real green in a tube - you have to mix it."  Not so, Viridian is magical.  I see it, don't you?  Viridian begets sage.  And yes I mixed it.  (insert emoji here)

Here's some more desert inspiration for you.  I believe this is Ephedra.  That's if my memory serves me right from our nature walk hike in Joshua Tree National Park.  It may or may not also be called Mormon Tea?  Anyway, don't ask me how I found this original photo colorful.  The Mojave rubs off on me.

I'm delving into sales of originals, so this piece is on sale in the shop!  This means I'm painting more and using more of my source photos to really get into each piece.  I can't wait to offer more and show you more of how this is pushing my practice!

I can't tell you how excited I am about this new direction in my oil painting.  I thought I'd be ensconced in a Water Series forever, because I'm an Aquarius who adores blue.  And then I found the desert.  Now that I live on the ocean, I'm seeking the desert.  What is up with that?  Whatever it is, it works.  Yellow and purple are fun to play with, right?

I'm holding a few of these desert pieces for a show this year.  I haven't tried this one yet as a scarf.  What do you think?  Is this something I should do prints of?  Scarves of?  Keep it as is and auction it off?