
Tuesday, January 18, 2022

Started adding two more grapes. They didn’t look right. Worked on the glass and did a little work on the linen at the base of the glass. Put a bluish red glaze over some of the darks of the grapes. Did a little work to soften some edges. The pear needs quite a bit of work.
Worked on the apple, grapes, glass, and foreground linen. The glass looked kinda dirty and it has always looked like it was floating. I’m getting it dialed in. At least I think I am.
Did some work on the background and a little work on the pear. Need to apply a purplish glaze over the grapes, followed by grape highlights, spend a couple of sessions on the apple, pear, and glass, finish up the linen in the background and foreground in one or two sessions, and add any finishing touches. It won’t be long. Creating what is called a “lost edge” is a difficult thing to pull off. The left edge of the apple and pear are very sharp and look a little unnatural. It’s a difficult thing to barely soften edges so objects don’t look like they’ve been cut out and pasted onto the painting. I think I’ll be able to improve the edges.
Just kept driving. Ended up putting in a 15 hour day and got home at 11 pm. It was a good trip.
Got set up at the Will Rogers KOA near Claremore, Oklahoma at 6:15. Took a day and a half to get out of Texas driving in hard rain a good deal of the time. The Will Rogers Museum is nearby but I won’t have the opportunity to visit. Plan on leaving early tomorrow in order to get near Dubuque Iowa tomorrow evening so I can get home around noon on Sunday.
It will be a 22 day, 5400 mile trip.
Drove so many miles this trip I had to get an oil change here in Huntsville, Texas.
Picked up some great brisket at Walls BBQ. While getting my oil changed I asked a couple of the guys if Walls BBQ is good. They really lit up, “if you go there bring us some”.