Second Anniversary of Gallery!

Even though the rest of America thinks of February 2nd as Groundhog's Day, for me it's when I opened Susan Carlin Art Studio And Gallery in 2008. These have been the best two years of my life. It was crazy, but when I opened the gallery I still tried to see patients one day a week for a while. I got a grip around April and closed my chiropractic practice for good.
Well-meaning friends and patients expressed a lot of concern and sometimes outright pessimism about my plan to earn my living from painting alone. It's so great to stand here two years later thrilled at how well it's gone. If you need any encouragement to take your dreams seriously, I offer that encouragement now. Just take one step in that direction. Then another. Then another. Who knows? Maybe you'll find yourself in a happy brisk walk with a grin on your face sooner than you thought!

The above is the start of an 18"x24" oil of the Arneson River Theater on San Antonio's Riverwalk. It's about 100 steps from my little gallery. This morning I went to take photos of the trees on either side of this scene to fill in the gaps on the references I've been using. I've put together three photos for the main reference and have removed some people and rearranged the others. I'm thinking of giving the woman in the foreground an ice cream cone. Too cutesy? Hmmm...