It's 07:30 and it's black as midnight outside, and raining and cold. Hum...a good day to go to the studio and stretch some canvas, I guess. The need to head on over there is pulling me like a magnet. I have been on the road for a very long time now-in Norway, and in the U.S., and the impulses I have absorbed are needing to come on out. Geilo, Isfjord, Phoenix, San Diego, LA, San Francisco, Houston....hew......from cold to warm to cold again. From fabulous norwegian mountains to the desert in Arizona to fisherman's wharf. I was so lucky as to find wonderful exhibits in both Phoenix and San Francisco, so the whole experience was mind expanding on many levels. Now to use these impulses in my work-to catalogue the feelings of these places and put my own spin on the combination that is now together in my head. What a crazy puzzel, and will I be able to extract some essences from the mix? That is what is so exciting about starting and working on a painting...I never know what will plopp out of my mind and down on the canvas next. I do try to clear myself of preset ideas, at least in the start phases. My plan is to have no plan, but when I am in the middle of several works, I see the thread. Color will be the challenge-as always. I will try to recall the heat of the desert-and the feel of excitement of the experience of my southwest roadtrip which got rearranged on a daily basis. Just like I like living life.... impulsively and in the moment. Have a great November.....