New Painting Provokes Comments

I found the original photo online of a woman dressed to the nines but with tennis shoes on.  What intrigued me was the orange stucco of the background and the crocheted skirt.  In the original picture the woman had the butt of a cigar stuck in her mouth!  She had a fan but it was at a different angle.  She was in a different chair.  Her face was totally different.  When I sent this painting out to a group of friends I got some very different reactions.  Most were bothered by the tennis shoes.  Some wanted more in the background.

I have not finished this painting, but I had to stop and re-evaluate it.  I think the shadows need work (especially on the right side of the chair.)  I would appreciate any helpful comments.  Thanks!

"Laundry" Makes the Cut

My painting "Laundry" was selected to be in the 22nd Annual Juried Competition of the Arts Council of York County (Rock Hill, SC).  I feel honored to be included in the show for the fourth straight year with a different judge each year.  Especially so, since I've only been painting that long!  Of course, I was always waiting to be an artist, but I copped out again and again--quitting art in college for literature, teaching English for years, taking an occasional drawing class.  Always saying when looking at art, "I could do that!"  Well, one day I had a "sit-down" with myself and said, "How many years do you think you've got?"  

Please take a look at my older posts as well.