Sometimes I get this urge to paint One Specific Thing. Usually a very simple thing, a small thing, the sort of thing that would be a minor detail. And driven by some sort of mad self-justification, I produce an absurdly large painting merely so that I have an excuse to paint the thing. "The Polar Court" was driven by the desire to paint checkerboard tile. This one was driven by a sudden itch to paint tree bark. Just...tree bark. Not even that MUCH tree bark. A few inches of tree bark would have been sufficient.

But no. I had to do an 18 x 36 mixed media piece, featuring three frogs, fierce amphibious jungle warriors, (kin, presumably, to the Kachina Frog elsewhere in my gallery) slime-skinned terrors of the treetop canopy (except for my favorite, who appears to be ready for a nap) and abuse the limits of what clayboard is willing to take from colored pencils, acrylic ink, acrylic, and pen. It took me days. I mean, usually a painting takes a day, maybe two, sometimes three. I was hammering on this sucker for a week. Because I had an urge to paint tree bark. Because tree bark was yammering and dancing in my brain like a small dog hearing the can opener. (It's shut up now, I hasten to add.) I obviously have no sense of proportion.

Anyway. Big piece. Original is for sale, but not cheap, send note for pricing. However, I have prints! Jumbo 13 x 19 for a mere $20 plus shipping, drop a line!