I've been working on the Wolf Totem painting once again. It always takes a while to jump back into a painting part way through. It takes some time to reconnect and rediscover where you were when you had to put it aside for a while.

With submissions coming up for upcoming Fine Art Shows on the Island, I needed to also start on another painting. And the 4ft x 4ft canvas was calling out. I'd looked through my image library to try and find another image that would be suitable for such a canvas, one with adequate resolution to work from. But I was feeling that the only image that best suited this canvas was the Brown Bear. I had done a 3ft x 3ft painting of it, and included it in my first solo exhibition at the Silk Purse Gallery. I was so happy when the Brown Bear painting found its new home with a dear former student of mine.

But during that same exhibition, one gentleman voiced that he loved that painting but that it was too small. So, I figured that the Brown Bear was calling again, and I wanted a composition and size that could command attention in a show. But as with all my paintings in this series, I will not refer to picture of the first painting, and only work from the photograph. It will guide the way, with whatever changes that come up along the way.

I also find it helpful to have a second painting in the works. It informs the work being done on the other. Also in this case, it is helping me connect to the starting phase of a canvas, given that the Wolf was further on in its progression.

Now that I've completed the recent commissions for icons, a totem painting which I had started last year, is back on the easel. I have a number of canvases waiting in the wings, including a 4ft x 4ft... I'm drawn to the 4x4, remembering how much I enjoyed painting the 3ft x 3ft Brown Bear, but it needs to be just the right image with a high resolution for adequate information for the detailing in such a large canvas.

In the meantime, the wolf totem which had been started, will be a good way to get back on the bike so to speak.

But I started feeling cold symptoms on the same day that I delivered the last icon commission on Monday, and have had recurring stabbing sinus headaches since, and not feeling great at all. But the canvas is patiently waiting.