Painting: A Time for Reflection

A Time for Reflection
Oil on Hardboard
16 x 20 in/40.6 x 50.8 cm

It's that time of year. The calendar is about change to the new year. It happens every year, of course, but I think it's an excellent time for painters to take stock, so to speak, and give themselves an annual review.

By that I mean it's time to look back over the last 12 months and see what direction--forward, backward, or even sideways--you can see in your paintings and your abilities.

Hopefully, you will find improvement, even if it's only in one thing, such as learning how to soften lines in acrylic, for example. I suppose sideways is better than backward. However, even if you look back at work completed last January and see little or no improvement or worse, you find you're regressing, don't worry.

Painters, as we all know, are their own worst critics.

And even if you're not satisfied with your progress, you have all of next year, starting this Thursday, to work on improving your painting skills.

Happy New Year to all the painters and collectors!