Fixed It

 80% of my motivation comes from looking at a work in progress and seeing something that really bugs me; I have to fix it or I won't be able to rest. The other 20% stems from being excited about the prospect of working on some quirky aspect of the image; a gradually darkened corner of the wall, or a texture on a tablecloth, something challenging.

Today I took care of the left side of the piece below. In its former state, as pretty as it was, it was too light. It drew attention away from the center of the painting. The only thing to do was to use some dark glazes, and I'm actually shocked by how well it came out. It has a sort of soft, dreamy quality about it now, and yet I can still let the two figures stay bright, as though they're spotlit.

                                                 Another Thursday Evening, work in progress (click on image for larger view)

And: worked on the pants of the gentleman on the left, and the hair on three of the women.

                                                 Standing Room, work in progress (click on image for larger view)
 

I must confess that I've fallen into the rabbit hole of a biography of Claude Monet, and that is slowing me down. Also we had snow overnight, so the birds have been frantic and I had to replenish their food supply numerous times today.