I think we're in the dog days of summer although I must confess that I had to look up "dog days" just to make sure I referenced it correctly.  Wikipedia says it is hot and sultry days.  Well, we have had our share of hot and sultry days recently, particularly ones that are in the 90's.  

I'm looking forward to fall already.

The art world has been crazy busy for me lately.  I had a big commission and immediately after it was completed I headed back to the Midwest to pick up art from my Iowa gallery, Black Earth, which closed its physical location and refresh the inventory of my Chicago gallery, Chicago Art Source. I drove 2400 miles.  Whew! I was very grateful to get home.

I had the great good fortune to be interviewed by Voyage Denver, an online magazine.  Here's the interview just in case you're interested in my words of wisdom:  

http://voyagedenver.com/interview/meet-patricia-j-finley-fine-art-central-denver-country-club-district-close-cheesman-park/

There has been yet another bit of good fortune for me.  That is the safe arrival of my second granddaughter whose first name is ... wait for it ... Finley.

Here's one of the latest series that I've created, Sextet.  It is 6 panels each of which is 24" x 6".

Savor the rest of summer for too soon it will be over.

Carly Simon's song, Anticipation, goes like this:

Substitute "procrastination" for "anticipation" and you've described my morning - at least until I woman-upped and got on it.

Early on, I caught myself cleaning remote controls and contemplating cleaning all of the door knobs in our house when it dawned on me that I  was procrastinating.  That dreaded Jiminy Cricket-like creature called "Procrastination" had hijacked my early morning effectiveness.  I had read some news articles, reread why artists should blog, installed a cargo net in my car, delivered requested recipes to a friend, cleaned my cell phone, talked to my daughter; and wrote an email advising that I would not be able to attend an artists panel that I was to be on.

Why, you might ask, was I procrastinating?  What was I avoiding?

FOF - fear of failure

You see, I have a commission, a big one for me, 48" x 60".  It is due quite immediately.  I've gessoed the panel and I am ready to do the work.  However, fear of failure is holding me back, slowing me down, keeping me from going for it.

So I told myself, "Self, you're being an idiot."  I'm ready.  I'm ready to face FOF and go for it.  I'm out of delaying tactics, out of time and out of excuses.  I'm doing it!  And you should too.