And just like that, February sweeps in with increasing daylight! It is a daily reminder to be thankful for the small things and having daylight until after 5:30 p.m. seems to be one of those gifts! It has been a year of health issues for both Paul and me. After a few days of fighting what seemed to be a head cold, Paul finally went to the doctor for shortness of breath and possible pneumonia. Although he had none of the usual signs of heart distress, we were shocked to learn that he had serious heart blockage and now has three stents. We are so grateful – for quick-responding and skilled medical teams, incredible improvements in heart diagnosis and treatments, faithful and supportive prayer partners, and most of all – that Paul is improving every day and able to move forward. While it’s been a season of challenges, we are thankful for renewed health and working on positive lifestyle changes. As you can imagine, Paul is so excited and thriving all those yummy veggies and leafy greens!
I’m working to integrate some new techniques into my painting style, and for this week’s painting, I went back to one of my favorite scenes. For the painting, Grand Marais Light, 10” x 13”, I chose 300 lb. Arches Hot Press watercolor paper. This paper is much more sensitive to paint saturation and absorption, so I used Silver Black Velvet brushes, limited my palette colors and let each layer dry completely before adding the next layer. It’s a joy to work in watercolor because there is always something new to learn!
