Twisting the Night Away - 8x10 watercolor by Lauren Alexander on Etsy

I can’t look at this painting without hearing the title ring through my head in Sam Cooke’s soul shaking voice.

“Let me tell you bout a place…“

But for a minute no one was going to look at the painting because about halfway through I started to hate it and wanted to throw it away.  Sometimes it’s just good editing and sometimes it’s only for the thrill, the power, the glory of deciding an artwork’s fate (insert evil genius laugh).

I did not toss it out. But I came to a turning point while painting and decided I was just going to have fun with it and paint it how I wanted. I think you can tell I was not so strict about painting over paint (which can be really tricky with watercolor) and I can almost hear my painting teacher in high school shouting at me, “Don’t make it muddy!”

I exercised some restraint and came out with this pretty picture of a gang of owls having a night time soiree. By pure sweet wonderful miracle I sold the painting on the same day I listed it for sale. That almost never happens! But you can pre-order the print if you like. It will be in by Saturday, Dec. 3rd.