Oof—it’s been a little while since I posted. Happy New Year! I hope you all had a delightful celebration and that you’re looking forward to a happy and productive 2013. I don’t have any New Years resolutions, and I’m okay with that. I do have goals; they’re the same goals I worked on in 2012 and, in 2013, I plan to keep on working.

My life has temporarily veered rather sharply off its usual course, which both refreshing and fun. I am house-sitting for some family friends while they are out of town, and also hanging out with their fifteen-year old son and making sure he gets to and from all his sporting events and other commitments. My duties include feeding the chickens, collecting the eggs, feeding the dog, and keeping the wood stove running. Most importantly, for another whole week I get to hang out in this house on a mountain and write. By next Saturday, I plan to have made significant progress on this draft of my novel. I’ll keep you updated.

For your viewing pleasure, here’s a fun thing I meant to share about a week ago. Last Saturday, Brackett (whom you may recall from the Sandy Hook NJ adventure), Brother, and I had a game day at our house. We also did a gift exchange, and Brackett got me a set of Acrylic paint and some canvases. They are so much fun to play with after working on the computer for so long! After spending an entire afternoon playing Middle Earth Quest (Sauron won, alas) we all took a paint break. Here are the results!

First, mine:

Acrylic on canvas, 4×6″

The boys decided it should be hung on a restroom door instead of a gender sign, just to see what people would do.

Next, Brackett’s:

Acrylic on canvas, 4×6″

All abstract-expressionist, with a Jupiter sort of vibe.

And finally Brother’s:

Acrylic on canvas, 4×6″

He was channeling Bob Ross. And you thought I was the artist in the family!

I did my smaller canvas in about 30 seconds, so I got out a larger one and spent the rest of the time on this painting of Vanya, which is still unfinished:

Acrylic on canvas, 8.5×11

Originally I was going to put Taniel in the other half of the painting, but then his proportions were all wonky so I painted him out. I’m getting into the dark forest as a secondary focal point now (I can put more detail in it and make it all creepy and stuff), but what do you think? Any suggestions for how I should finish this painting?