Last week I went back to the art table after several weeks away. After a particularly frustrating painting session on Day 1, I wanted to get back to it before I lost my nerve so I hit the table again on Day 2. I must say I was pleasantly surprised.

The original canvas I started with (below) was painted in January 2010 and sat on my shelf for a year waiting to be finished. I decided to use it - no use letting a perfectly good canvas go to waste right?

After collaging (is that even a word?) three more ladies and trying to brighten up the piece, here's the end result of a frustrating Day 1:

The scribbles were added at the end of the session in a "take that!" kind of a way. As if the canvas cared.

But lo & behold, here's what Day 2 brought:

Coming in fresh, I saw facial features in my scribbled grid of frustration so I pulled out my drawing book and worked with it.

I still don't know where this piece is going (though I'm thinking aviator goggles à la Amelia Earhart?), but I certainly never would have predicted it getting to where it's at today.

The moral of this story? I don't really know what the moral is. But I do know that when it comes to painting, checking my expectations at the door seems to produce the most pleasant surprises!