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Whether or not you are an artist, have you ever created something that you pretty much liked, but ... there was just something that was missing? This is my most recent experience.

About a year ago I commemorated the first ballet recital of my granddaughter Chloe by painting six little dancers, all in a row, each in her own little world. The dance instructor had taped a line onto the stage floor to get them organized, and I suspect she was in the wings calling out the steps they were to be doing. As I remember, this particular instruction was something like "Put your right foot forward and tap, tap, tap." The little girl on the far right seemed to be close, the one next to her had the wrong foot, two others were oblivious, and the girls with their arms in the air had already sped way past that part of the choreography and were already into the "Ta Da!" part of the performance. How adorable!

Unfortunately, I was not as pleased with my painting of this event. Loved the little figures, but something was not right. For several months I couldn't see what I needed to do - until last week. To my eye at least, even if the image was accurate, the background was just too dark. I warmed it up and lightened it with a bluish green and I was transported back to that audience, applauding the dance divas of the future.

To see the original painting before tweaking, scroll down to the next entry.

This is the first version of this painting that I referenced in the blog "A Eureka Moment" blog above.

I often wonder why artists gravitate toward certain subject matters. I am sure there are many reasons, such as a love for the outdoors inspiring landscape paintings; a love of sailing leading to a love of painting seascapes; western subject matters for the cowboy enthusiast, and so forth.

Or, sometimes, the artist just finds he is having more "fun" when painting a certain type of painting. For me, it's color and motion. More exactly, I love painting people in motion (sometimes animals are exciting also). And, since I particularly love painting dancers, I almost always have the extra benefit of luscious color - in the dance costumes, or in the decor or lighting. Maybe it's the influence of the many dance contests on television.

And since I have found that people enjoy my paintings of dancers, it is a win-win situation. The image for today's blog is my second painting of a particular dancing couple (see previous blog for the first painting). I love their dance positions, their facial expression, and the color of the clothing. Fun for me, and, I hope, fun for the viewer.

OK, that is not a quote from me. That is what the young lady at UPS said when she saw this painting, which I had just handed to her to ship to a California buyer several months ago.  I guess that comment meant she liked it, right? Actually, two buyers wanted to purchase this one. I am very grateful and I would love to be that lucky again.

I love painting dancers, tango dancers in particular. The exaggerated and elegant movements are glorious to watch and great fun, if somewhat difficult, to paint.

So, I am painting the same couple again, in a different dance position. I will put it on my next blog in a few days