To me, old age is always 15 years older than I am. Bernard M. Baruch 1870-1965

Last night I was delighted to attend a birthday party for Mary, the Mother of some dear friends of mine. Mary was celebrating her 90th year and looked amazing…she was decked out in a new suit for the occasion and was happily greeting and chatting with all of the 47 family members and friends who came in honor of her. The tables were decorated so elegantly and the cuisine was delicious, as well as a work of art. For dessert, the chocolate mousse birthday cake was to die for!

Through out the evening I learned some surprising things about Mary. For instance, her brown hair is natural…it’s never been colored to cover gray. Also, her intense love of sweets and chocolate seems to be agreeing with her…I’m so jealous! During the evening, while listening to “Mary” stories, I tried to figure out how she has pulled off such an achievement. I feel that with her “down to earth” demeanor and happy disposition, Mary seems to have perfected the art of aging gracefully.

Today I entered two of my Eiffel Tower paintings in a small image competition. The show is juried, which means a judge will decide which paintings will stay, and which ones will be…rejected.

I don’t know about you, but when I see a painting for the first time, I usually can tell right away if I like it or not. What exactly does a painting need to be considered a good, or a great one? First of all, it needs a Focal Point…That place where your eye goes to first…what draws you in. It should be the most detailed part of the painting and have the most contrast and color “sizzle”.

Next, and very important is Composition…The shapes should be organized in pleasing patterns and relate to each other well. Think of arranging the furniture in your living room. The big pieces anchor the room and then the accessories are added in pleasing details. It has to…flow. One way to check for composition is to turn a painting upside down. It’s amazing how the mistakes will pop out.

To make a painting interesting, it must have Values. This means there is a range of lights and darks. I was taught to use the darkest shade of a color, to the lightest shade of a color, without using pure black or white. This is what gives a painting depth and contrast.

While there are many elements to a good or great painting, it really comes down to connecting to your soul. Does this painting speak to you or not? The best compliment I can receive is when someone looking at one of my paintings tells me they wish they could be there…They want to “jump in”!

Hopefully this will help you understand why a painting might appeal to you or not. I’m just hoping the judge looking at my Eiffel Tower paintings will connect with them in a positive way!