This week I took the plunge. I'm diving into my new series: women and windows. Another time I will explain why I'm drawn to this pairing. But most immediately, my challenges are physically intimidating: How do I get models? How do I help the models and myself survive the exposure? How does one paint a body? How will I paint them so they speak my words, my feelings? Will my abilities to represent both of these things contribute any thought to the world?

But then again, painting is turning out to be one of those things that I'd rather do badly then to not do at all. And, I have to say, I'm also looking forward to the laughter. Are we agreed on this? Any time naked bodies and learning are entwined there's going to be some humorous stories to take away.

So, my first strokes in these deep waters confirm my ideas that THIS whole thing is going to be a challenge. Nevertheless I'm swimming out. Roethke said, "I learn by going where I have to go." It's my IEP.

Degas inspires me with: "Only when he no longer knows what he is doing does the painter do good things." May it be so.

I decided to show my very first attempt just to be humble, to make visible how "you do not have to be good". And also, I hope that we can all see over time that I will at the very least get BETTER. I do, after all, have some pride. With that lowering of expectations, may I introduce the process of getting down my first woman.