This is the first version of the Buckeye Bridge. It was hard to paint – combining several photos to get the best of each, dealing with water, trying to get all those browns and greens, grays and a little blue to look like something beautiful. . .

It looks better now. I added a tree, strengthened the contrasts, put more light upstream from the bridge, more detail in the rocks and brighter colors on the water.

Now here’s a weird thing: normally my paintings look best when scanned. The one at the bottom is the newer version, but this is how it appeared when I photographed it in the sunlight.

Confused and conflicted – I thought scanning was superior. Now do I need to go back and rephoto all my unsold paintings?? Or, do I go get the painting from the studio and try to see which version is the most accurate.

Troubled artist over bridge. . . that’s me.