Comfort zone

Though I do love it when a painting tells me what it wants, it's clear this one was calling me back into my comfort zone.

Over the years I've created a number of paintings that had this feel to them (although without the addition of that Nickel Azo Gold). And though initially it clung to a sort of central cross I was glad to see it break out into something more asymmetrical. These are the colors, strokes and tools that come easiest to me.

And I have to ask -- is the comfort zone so bad? Perhaps when adjusting to the current realities of life becomes this challenging, when you're hyper alert to every little twinge and cough, it's not a bad idea to indulge in a little comfort: to watch old favorite TV shows that make us laugh; to eat familiar foods and paint familiar subjects...

While my husband continues to watch and listen to the news, researching as diligently as he can in order to find some sense of control over current circumstances, I know that those activities, for him, are in his comfort zone, and so I try not to interfere or object too much. For me, though I want the information digest from time to time, I'd rather read or watch old favorites, meditate, paint, and blog; bury myself in a quietly colored world of my own creation.

And so I look at this and smile: though new, it feels like an old friend -- and, oddly enough, very like the view from the kitchen window of our former home on the water. Ah, those were the days...

Learnings: Small strokes and textures aren't really doing it for me right now.
                  This is boring. I need more contrast.