LETTING A BIRD FLY FREE

"Letting Go" 22x28" Oil Painting on wood panel

During these difficult times, I find"letting go"to be a great challenge, although I didn't start this painting with that in mind.

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I started with a loose sketch of a woman in a sitting position. Initially, I painted her hand lying in her lap.

Then repainted it hanging at her side. Neither place felt right to me. I didn't like the composition or the feeling of "giving up" the hanging arm represented.

At that point, I decided she should have her arm lifted into the air in a position that said, "letting go." 
I set my tripod up in front of a mirror and began photographing my hand in different positions, flinging my hand into the air and imagining I was letting a bird fly free out of my hand.