Sometime I am drawn to a reference photo in such a way that I feel compelled to paint it. Even when I have several Christmas commissions to complete and I am dedicated to doing that. I saw this photo on Pixabay and really just wanted to paint it today. I wonder if any other artist feel this way ----that your painting illicits some feeling or memory from your childhood or maybe it is being painted for someone else who will react to it emotionally. Whatever the reason, it is almost mystical and it makes it even better when someone writes to me and tells me that a particular painting "touches them". I am really thankful for that.
