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Love that paper bride painting!

Sounds like you need a vacation. I firmly believe that there's nothing that two weeks in Tahiti wouldn't cure. Then again, if that's not in the cards a couple of weeks doing plein air painting or still lifes just for a change of pace might do the trick.

Sharon,
I agree with Michele. You are too great a painter to have permanent painter's block. Time for a vacation. Tahiti sounds great. i loved being there. Actually I unintentionally jumped ship there...but that is another story. We all need a change from work to recharge batteries. After a break you will find a renewed vigor when you come back to the easel.

Wow, that is beautiful. Pass me a serving of depression please. ;)

Sharon, I just wrote you a long response and my AOL service was "interrupted" before I could post it! GRRRRR!

The jist of my long-winded post is: It sounds as though you are trying to break through to the "next level" in your work.

I've gone through periods like that, too, when nothing seems to be working, and I desperately want to paint better so I can be as good as this artist or that artist!

For the past few years I've been taking more time to paint outside and from live models. Usually I feel I'm working and working and not seeing any improvement, and then one day I look back at things I painted two years ago and I suddenly see a big difference.

The things that might help are sometimes the very things you don't feel like doing, like changing your way of using color, changing your medium, changing from portraits to landscapes. I think this was already suggested. If I force myself to try something I've been putting off trying, or I've been scared to try, it usually helps. If you are really honest with yourself and take the time to realize what you need (because we all need something), that might lead to some breakthrough!

What an amazing painting!

Your drive will come back, your work is too powerful to be kept inside for long. I expect an explosion soon.

Jean

I love it too, makes me want to paint. But I don

Sharon--

I agree with some of the points here. You're probably on the edge of a breakthrough. I find I usually paint worst when I'm about to "get" something new, and haven't just yet.

As someone once said, "Chaos always occurs on the cusp of change."

I ain't worried about you a bit...

--T

(Fabulous painting... thanks for posting it.)

We did not get you relaxed enough when you were out here!

I also get depressed when I see fabulous works by other painters, which would include me going to your website, Ms. Knettell. Do not doubt that you serve the same function - to inspire (and depress) other artists.

Jean is right, when your art explosion happens, we will all have to stand way back... .

Come here and we will not hide the wine from you. Nor will we hide the olive oil (which we DON