The missing link.

For years and years and years I have wondered, "Oh where, oh where, did my artistic 'abilities' come from?" Well, today my Mom relocated from the upstairs couch to the downstairs couch (she is recovering from surgery) and turned on the TV to a Winslow Homer documentary. I have always been a fan of Homer--probably because he is such a magnificent watercolorist (ahem, I LOVE watercolor), and he was able to create great and substantial work in this somewhat neglected medium (FYI: in my opinion bigger is not better, and painting in oil does not make your work more meaningful. Sorry). Anyway...after watching for about two seconds my Mom said, "Hey, I'm related to him! You know you are related to him, right?" Um, HELLO! I had NO IDEA! And I am so excited because I feel like my insatiable watercolor/American landscape tendencies/cravings make a lot more sense. Also, my love for Homer makes so much more sense now...and my Mom's name also...doesn't make more sense...but is suddenly cooler.

GO UTES!

I just wanted to reiterate that in my heart I am still a Ute.  I have never claimed to be a cougar in my five years of college.  I was a Ute fan before we won today, and after we won I was even happier.  I wore red tonight and got harassed for doing so.  It was awesome.

And I am still a Ute even if I attend the big BY.

You cannot take that away from me.

I'm alive.

I'm sure none of you were worried about the fact that this past week (that is not over) could possibly take my life, but I just wanted to let you all know that I am alive and frantically researching the man that painted this beautiful landscape (among other things).  And yes I have changed my research topic three times over the past week.  Don't worry about it.  I have until Monday morning.

PS - Hope you are feeling better, Dad.  It was good to see you last night!

PPS - Lizzie, I'm calling you Tuesday and I miss you lots!

THIS could very well be a preview of my final show.

So After an enormous amount of deliberation I think I have decided on what I am going to sell my soul to for the next five months.  The above painting is a very unfinished piece (that I have already spent more time working on [after the above photo] and plan to spend even more time working on in the future).  For a few years I have been toying with the idea of painting landscape, and I have finally decided (I THINK!) that there is no better time to do this than right now.  So, I have a million pictures that I have already taken (I have been "thinking about doing this show" for years, like I said), and years of experience hiking through these canyons, so all I need to do now is paint them and make them good.  

Think I can do it?  Anyone?