Seeking 'The Light Side of the Moon'...

First of all, I want to thank each and every one of you for leaving me such heart-felt comments on my last post about Codi.

As you know, I almost always answer comments individually at the end of the comment roll, but this time I hope you will understand that though I read and absorbed them ALL, I really couldn't go back and type an individual response to each one, because I just found it too emotionally difficult.

It took me a while to make my way down to my art room because Codi would normally come with me and so I knew I was going to really feel it... I think they call it 'self preservation'.
But knowing I needed to get my next bear on the go I finally made a start a few days ago.
Ordinarily I would have been doing this all over the Christmas holiday and so it would have been nearly finished by now. Instead I was curled up in my bed with a nine roll pack of tissues - But, at least the ball is now rolling.

Anyway, I thought I would give you a little preview.
I have got the under-painting down now, most of the background and even part of the fiddle, but in this photograph it shows only the first layer of under-painting, where I begin to establish my darkest and lightest areas...

Though it looks quite light at this stage, like the last bear, this will also be very warm and very dark once it's complete.

Meanwhile, I found that painting really helped to take my mind off of what's happened. In fact, it has been the only time that my head has rested since... well, just... since :0(
Painting is a really therapeutic way of passing time isn't it?

The problem with concentrating on a series of large paintings is that I have little to post between. This got me thinking about sketching - AGAIN.
Anyway, I came across this wonderful book called 'An Illustrated Life', by Danny Gregory. Every page is crammed full of sketchbook excerpts, from both amateur and professional Artists. There are hundreds of them and I've never yet read a book that has made me want to rush out and fill a sketchbook as this book has. It's totally non intimidating and shows not just carefully thought out sketches, but also carefree and hap-hazard ones too, just as I like them!

I am now on the look out for a decent sketchbook, which I have never yet found, so, if any of you have managed to find a good one, I'm sure we all want to know about it!

Before I go, this year I thought it might be a fun idea to put some sort of fact about my day at the end of each post, such as, what music I listened to today, or what's for dinner tonight. So, here is this years first fact...

What music I listened to whilst painting today? 

'PINK FLOYD', because it suits my current mood - Both 'The Wall' and 'Dark Side of the Moon', twice each - and both at at least 100 decibels as this is the ONLY way to listen to Pink Floyd. 

Back soon...