THE START OF SOMETHING KNOWN BUT NOT KNOWN!

In the middle of trying to unpack from my Oregon trip, deal with end of the month matters, doctors' appointments and all the other "stuff" that gets in the way of what I really want to do (paint) I started my next 30" x 30" painting in the self portrait, quilt collage series.  I figured that the necessary things of life will get done somehow and if I waited until I had free time, I would never have time to paint. The deadline to enter the next "Stroke of Genius" book is the last day of the month.  I thought this might qualify, so I am madly trying to finish the painting, photograph it and submit the results!  This is the first step, collaging all the squares onto the paper.  I then collaged tissue paper torn in strips over all the drawings (haven't photographed that yet)  Tomorrow I will draw a full size self portrait in ink on top and then add paint.  All these drawings were done on assorted yellow page ads.  I really like the maps and venue seating plans.  I have enough old phone books, I could probably do a background with just that imagery. This painting will be more subtle than the last one as the background material is muted in tone.  I have a general idea in my mind how the layered elements of these collaged pieces will look when finished but it is impossible to know exactly what will happen......and that is where a lot of the fun is.  It's always a revelation.  Each time I do one of these paintings, it generates more ideas for the next one. Right now I have about 5 ideas percolating in the back of my mind.  I keep a notebook to write things down as these thoughts are often fleeting.