Van Gogh Doctor

I've got a few more pictures to post from my Florida trip and a couple other posts in the wings, too, but I thought I'd take today to show you one of the paintings that Amanda recently completed. Inspired by the latest episode of Doctor Who on BBC America, Amanda wanted to do a picture of the 11th Doctor who is played by Matt Smith in a Van Gogh style.  The painting was done in oil, not her favorite medium, but a good choice for portraits.

I told her that I thought he had that "Bill the Nye the Science Guy" look about him and she said that was what she was shooting for - in which case she was right on target! 

A Peaceful Painting

It seems like I've been busier than a one-armed paperhanger the past few days and have barely had a chance to sit down and catch my breath since starting out on my adventure to Boston last Friday with Jamie. Between that whirlwind tour of a good part of Beantown and coming back home to working a couple of extra shifts, I haven't had much time to do anything other than feel overwhelmed. Perhaps I need some good diet pills to give me a little boost of extra energy? It would be an added bonus if they actually curbed my appetite, too!

This evening I finally decided to sit down for a minute, take a breather, and just relax for a few moments. One of the best ways I know how to do that is to park myself on the couch and gaze at my very favorite painting that hangs in the living room -

Even though it's your generic run-of-the-mill mountain landscape that can be bought at any starving artist sale or flea market (I did, in fact, buy this at the Roseville Flea Market outside of Sacramento, California in 1984), I really like it as it's just so peaceful and relaxing. If I look at it long enough I can almost smell the scent of pine and hear the wind as it quietly rustles through the trees and it never fails to relax me and calm me down.

What about you? Do you have a favorite painting or picture that you like to look at - one that helps you to unwind or de-stress?