Trees with Wings, 30″ x 40″, ©Kellie Day, Available

In the fall, the light is magnificent in southwest Colorado. The heat has dissipated, the snow has dusted the mountain tops, the river has slowed, and the trees are turning gold. So why paint red trees?

There is no planning in art, and if there is, it is a different sort of art. At times, the painting takes control of the canvas. At others, the artist sculpts the painting into what he thinks it should be. Or could be. Which is better? Maybe neither, maybe it’s just a dance between the two.

In this painting, I saw trees amidst my collage papers and just played with Fluid paints, gold leaf, and stamps, in order to bring the trees out more.

The most important thing is just to keep experimenting, letting go, letting the painting have it’s way with you. See where it leads you. Be OK with walking in the dark, not selling, making stuff that only you like. Actually, someone will like it somewhere. And from each painting we learn something. And that’s the most important thing of all.

I image by the time I hit 70, I might be beginning to get somewhere amazing as a painter.