I know you’re totally right about the not stressing thing. Still. I end up having to talk myself out of it way too often. It doesn’t help that I suddenly have insomnia again which gives me hours on end to spend obsessing over every negative aspect of my life. And to top it all off, today I seem to have LOST a painting! *maniacal laughter* Maybe I just need to reintroduce heavy drinking into my repertoire. That would actually be a really convenient solution since it’s raining today which means my recent solution–going outside to get away from it and sucking up sunshine to boost my mood–isn’t going to happen. There’s a pub just at the end of my block.

On the bright side, I’m actually taking a break from painting right now. I’ve gotten in a few decent hours today which is the most I’ve managed in a while. And reading your comments here made me feel alot better. Thanks.

I love my hole saw.

Or it could be because the pieces are far enough along that I see the finish line, and don’t have any reason to sprint towards it. I don’t know, but I understand where you are here. The important thing is not to stress out about it.

When art just isn’t calling to me I will ofte decide to just put it completely aside. Or else do nothing but minor maintentance while otherwise focusing my attention on a video game or book I’m reading. Or just going out and carousing. I force myself to be away from art and don’t let myself stress out about it. After a few weeks, I start getting some desire to get back into it, but hold it back a little longer so that when I do finally allow myself back at it, it’s like a treat I’ve been postponing instead of a chore I’m procrastinating. Framing is everything and stressing myself out needlessly doesn’t do much but motivate me to escape the stressor.

I really really like these pieces, especially the first one you post isolated (second photo down) with the green blob to the side. I think that one looks completely perfect as is. I also love the whole you bored through them, but then I would, wouldn’t I.

OY! Hopefully you’re brother used up his allotment of bad luck with that awful experience! Mold is one tough menace.

I know it sucks it’s getting so late in the year and they’re only just going to be starting work on the roof next week. There’s just been one thing after another in the way and getting this going has taken quite a while. On the bright side, we’re still having gorgeous weather much of the time. I was comfortable raking leaves in a tank top this afternoon! Fingers crossed it keeps up til the roof is finished!

I don’t envy your roofers working so close to possible snowfall, or the fact that it is a steep roof. My brother did his own himself a few years back with a little family help. He didn’t listen to us when we told him to only to one side at a time in case it rained. Then he could tarp it from the side that wasn’t torn off. Well, it did rain and he got black mold growing inside his walls. One insurance-connected restoration crew botched the repairs and he had them stop under advice of a more reputable restorer. Two of his kids already had asthma. All totalled they paid out $110,000 for damages when the house was appraised at $159,000. The insurance company dropped him. No surprise there, though it was no fault of his for sticking up for himself.) Then they sold it to move into a house that didn’t have any mold. (The mold never tested out as fully abated when they were done.) It was a 100 year-old Craftsman with a cantilevered front porch which I had done some work on through the years and grew quite fond of. He bought it condemned for $30,000. It had foundation problems.

Anyway, besides my home repair nightmare story, I just want to say that I like the work you’ve put up today.

I do feel that solutions to blocks are infinite, just like painting. One of the many anwsers will find you. Me, in the mean time am playing the bass (badly,) in a band bidding my time.