So finally, last night I took up my brush and completed the first assignment in the watercolor class.

These are test swatches of possible backgrounds for the 'Grumblemuffin' monster.

Here are Danielle's examples from the packet:

I copied most of them but made up a couple of my own. This photo is from last night:

Here's a close up:

The little frog is one of a pair that S. gave me for my birthday.

They fit right in on my desk and will go nicely with the real frogs/toads? that might show up again in the Spring that invaded my space. Little blighters.

Anyway, here's the piece in daylight:

Doing this fairly low key and straightforward exercise took me two hours, start to finish. Every time I finally GET to the table and dip my brush in the water and paint, I almost always slip into the flow state and lose all track of time. It's the absolute MAGIC of doing something creative. I'm very grateful for the phenomenon. It heals my brain in ways that nothing else quite touches.

Thank God for ART.