“Cozy Cafe” 

8″ x 8″ oil painting on museum quality panel. Artist: Adele Bower

Doing a painting is interesting. First I have an idea for a painting. Then I plan it; the colors I will use, the size panel as a surface, maybe even the title……..in no time at all I have created in my imagination my greatest painting EVER.  I think, “This will be my big breakthrough, I’ll be famous, I’ll be contacted to teach workshops, hold TV interviews, offered a big time gallery showing.” You know….the usual. Soon I can’t wait to get started.

First things first…..I select the size of panel (a basic necessity….you MUST have a surface to paint on). I find references to suit my idea……a photo of flowers, umbrellas, chairs, trees and make a quick sketch on the panel, using a light pigment or a pastel pencil. Very good. ” This is going to be a great painting”, I say to myself. “I’ll start right now”. It’s about 5 in the evening and I’m tired, but….I’m so excited.

I should know better. While in art school often it was necessary to work on my homework assignment well into the night. The next morning as I packed up my portfolio to go to class, I noticed what a truly bad job I had done on that assignment; it even had smudged fingerprints around the edges. Too late, time to go.

But this evening it would be different….this idea is too great to wait. So I got started.

After painting for over an hour I was so disgusted , I seriously considered giving up painting altogether, then taking up basket weaving or making ceramic ash trays, but I have dozens of baskets already and I don’t smoke. I cleaned up the palette, washed my brushes, and stomped into the den to watch TV and complain.

 Morning comes. I fed the cats, made a hearty breakfast for my husband and I (sweet cornbread and hot tea…. coffee for him). I threw some clothes in the washer, brushed my hair and teeth and promised myself to get dressed as soon as I get the first color layer down. Still in my PJs, I finished it. Better!

I’m glad I started up again.  I don’t think there is much of a market for baskets or ceramic ash trays……..is there?

I’ll definitely let you know when the galleries and TV hosts begin to call.

For Information about the Original Painting of “Cozy Cafe”

For Information about Fine Art Prints of “Cozy Cafe”