Lights All Askew in the Heavens

I love getting to this part in a painting. It's the point at which I can look at it calmly and feel with confidence that it actually will be finished someday. And--even better--probably someday very soon!

Mardi was obliging enough to pose for this next photo, to give you a sense of scale.

(No need to bombard her with fan letters--I have already thanked her for you.)

Lindy served a similar role this afternoon, as I cut out a sheet of waste paper in the projected size of my next large painting, to give me a sense of how big it will be in the physical world (it's 94" x 19", for those of you keeping score).

This paper mock-up is useful not only as a tool to help me imagine the piece's potential aesthetic impact...but also to verify that it will fit in my car for transport in the future. Learned that one the hard way.