A friend of mine is going through some tough times and I thought of her through this entire painting. No, it's not of her. But as I watched these two women (the painting doesn't look like them either) I could tell that they had a special closeness and that one had a serious problem. The other one was just there, to be with her, to listen. Sometimes that's all you need.

 How Everyone Can Afford to Collect Original Art
by Denise Rich

It doesn't have to be expensive, it just has to be special to you.
It's about satisfaction and just plain enjoyment, having things that give you a special feeling when you look at them. Not just an "Oh yes, that matches the couch perfectly" feeling, but an "Oh, that takes my breath away" or "makes me smile every time I look at it" feeling. And it doesn't have to cost a dime!
I can't say it any better than this comment from a client I was conversing with recently about her art collection:

"I just gather things that I like, are visually striking (like your cows) or that mean something to me. I framed a drawing of an Easter bunny I did when I was little. People love that one! And a felt purse my mom made years ago. I started buying art when I was at Iowa State in the '70s and still have and display them."

 I love what she said and thought it deserved sharing, as well as the Easter bunny drawing she mentioned seen below!

(Thank you for sending this to me, Diane.  It's wonderful, I especially love the flower hat.)
She collects art she likes, is visually striking, or that means something to her.  She's already gotten over thirty years of enjoyment out of work collected in college and still more out of one of her favorite childhood drawings. It really is that simple.

Just thought I'd share the latest of my small paintings that I'm still working on. It's called, Where's the Ladies' Room?. This one is from a museum. And you know that feeling... You're in a strange place, a big place, trying to calm the panic and get the information you need at the same time. You just want to scream, "Where in the world is it?!!?" I really don't know what the real story was in this scene. That's just the scenerio that I read into it. 

Sometimes I let other people's ideas influence what I think about what's going on in a painting. But no one was around while I did this one. So look where my mind goes, right down in the gutter. But honestly I'm glad I didn't have any input from anyone this time. Because this scenario actually hits pretty close to home for me (at an event this past weekend, I can't even go into it). And I'm hearing all the time, "Paint what you feel, Linda. Paint what you feel!". Well, I guess I did!