Way back in 2007 my friend and I took photos of a young couple on an overcast day at the Newport Harbor Entrance. I have been thinking of doing a painting of them ever since. Almost a year ago I finished the painting, but something about it kept bothering me, it was close, but not quite there.

I asked other artists for input, but I wasn't feeling connected to the painting anymore. A month ago I was looking at the painting and realized it could be my son and his lovely girlfriend.  I was inspired again and I knew what to do! I turned his head, darkened the figures, gave the dog a tail, added color to the rocks and it all came together.

It isn't necessarily a good idea to wait to start painting until you feel some great inspiration. That is a quick road to procrastination for me. An artist needs the discipline to get into the studio and get down to work. On anything. But this just goes to show you that sometimes the best thing to do is to set a painting aside and trust that the answer will come if you keep painting!