I may title this ‘the Rose Quartz Necklace’

I will add an image later.  Right now I would like to catch up a little bit.  My husband Bruce has had some health issues which involved blood clots in both lungs.  This led to the discovery that his thyroid was quite enlarged. His doctors have been watching this for a long amount of time. It was decided that a complete removal of the thyroid would be the best treatment but the timing of that was adjusted because of his need to stay on blood thinners until the clots were safely under control. Finally, his surgery was done in Pittsburgh with only a quick hick up when his blood pressure dropped for an unexplained reason. The nurse called a code which means that every doctor and nurse available was at his bedside instantly. They administered a bag of IV fluids and did an EKG but all seemed normal.  There have been a few other challenges this fall but everything is calming down.  All this stuff has interrupted my normal painting schedule but I hope I can get back into a routine.  A lot of my artist friends have asked for a class to review the portrait techniques.  I am considering that but if I do  it, I will have to get it set up quickly.  I have so much less energy and more trouble breathing.  It is not like asthma, it is just that my heart doesn’t have the energy to push oxygen and talk too.  I think I may try anyway.  Soon I will send an inquiry about how many want a class. I am working on a number of paintings, even thought the progress has been slow.  I seem to be improving some of my skills so that I move through some of the steps a little easier so that is good for me.  I have so much I would like to do. Well, thanks for being patient through this slow period in my blog.  I will get on my ipad and post a photo of my self portrait.  It is very instructive to do a self portrait because you know your own image so well, if you make a mistake, it is obvious. Then again, we may not see ourselves as others do.  By the way, please check out the web sites of artists you know of, they have such good information that can give us ideas and help our development.  Try Cesar Santos and Andrew Tischler.  I will get that photo up in a little while.  Diana