“San Joaquin Prairie 2″ painting

"San Joaquin Prairie 2", Barbara J Carter, 2008, acrylic on canvas, 40x30"

From a single photo taken out a car window I was able to select two crops to make two paintings. The first painting, “San Joaquin Prairie”, was so much fun to paint that I knew I had to paint the second one. And here it is! They turned out quite different from each other, as I meant them to.

Unlike my usual leisurely, thoughtful approach to painting, this time I really attacked it. I painted it in just a few days in a marathon session. I stayed up into the wee hours each night until I collapsed exhausted into bed, only to drag myself out again the next morning to pick up the paint brush again. I don’t normally like to work like this, but I think it’s a useful exercise once in a while. It reminds me of my absolute limits. Doing this reminds me exactly how far I can push myself.

The reason for the madness this time? My big show this weekend in Malibu. I really needed another big painting, having sold the first “San Joaquin Prairie” recently.