"Driving Off the Edge of the Beara Peninsula" - mixed media on aquabord, 20" x 16".  Available on Artfinder.

I meandered back into the land of abstracts as I continue my marathon of paint-overs.  This one arm-wrestled me to the ground and held me captive until it was done.  A determined piece.  My mind was stuck in a moment from Ireland...driving down the mountains on the Beara Peninsula as the sun began to set.  It glowed from behind the mountaintops, but ahead of us the valleys went dark and lights winked on in the farm houses below.  The road dipped and turned so it seemed as if we would drive over the very edge.  Untamed beauty set against a darkening background.  One of those halcyon moments I return to over and over, catching my breath again each time.  Sigh.
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Part of me wants to live in one of those little farm houses, so remote and nestled snuggly into the valley of monoliths.

There is little left of the "failed" painting underneath this one.  Maybe a hint of blue, a little texture from the paper collage.  But what does remain is the idea of bravery.  The girl in the original piece was based upon a brave woman I know, who leaped out of her comfort zone into art last year.  And the energy of that courage remains in the new piece.

Whether we are leaving the shore and exploring the deep water or driving over the edge of the mountains in search of beauty and adventure, we are courageous in our pursuit of a life lived well and fully.   Even if that adventure is limited to the edges of our canvas and paint, we leap into the darkness and trust fall into whatever is waiting.  I may have my eyes tightly closed and be screaming at the top of my voice, but leap I will. :)