I’m finally gaining some ground with painting, but of course, it’s slow going As usual.

I’ve been working on the 24 x 24-inch panel. I’m fond of it, I think. It’s going okay, anyway.

I also got an appointment with the neurosurgeon, but it’s not until August 5th! That’s going to be one of the longest months to endure. Jeez. There’s nothing I can do about it, other than hope I get in earlier. They put me on a waiting list in case they get a cancellation before then. Better than nothing, I guess.

The other doc in Riverside never called me back. I left two messages saying that I need an appointment. All I get is a recording.

I’ve been having headaches again. The emergency pills haven’t been working lately. It also kinda helped with the dizziness, but both symptoms are hanging out around me.

Here’s how far I’ve progressed on the wood panel painting, which is now titled. It’s called West Valley Fiction. It took a while to think of a perfect title. Sometimes, it takes some thinking for me. And sometimes, it comes to me right away.

I have a ways to go, but I’m very happy their faces are practically done. The one on the left is done. I mean, I just need a couple more streaks of hair near the top. On the right side, their face is not done yet, nor is their hair. The dress they are wearing is going to be a pain in the ass, unless I get impatient and make it a solid color, which I don’t exactly want to do. In the real photo, the dress is checkered in red and white. I’m going to attempt it, but I may abandon it.

I haven’t checked on the other two to see if either is dry. They are both in the garage, which tends to get pretty hot in the summer. I think the portrait will be dry. If not, something very fishy is going on around here, like I’m in the Twilight Zone.

I also titled the portrait, “Sucker.” That took a while to title, too. Other names that almost made it are: Malcontent, Forsaken, or Babe in the Woods. I liked Sucker the best. It’s stronger. Other names I’d considered for the wood panel were: Pretenders, Hath no Fury, and Between Love and Madness.

This one that I need to fix and move on with was already titled. I was using a “working title.” Now decided to keep it for the actual title: What Love.

Ahhh, posting that hurt. Even though it’s not at all finished, that bright yellow is killing me! It needs a lot of yellow Ochre in it to calm it down. I have to paint it all over again.

My goal is to have all three of these done before the end of July, which I think I can definitely swing.