"Reigning cats over dogs " oil on hardboard panel 12" x 16" x1/2" 
Over the last two weeks I've primarily been working on comissions from photos. I decided to break up and paint this scene from my living room. ...Photos are great for times when you want a reference for specific lighting from a specific time of year, but should be use in moderation. In a sense, for a painter, photo references can be compared to a drug, when considering my approach to painting, they are a quicker solution to solving the problem of needing a reference, but the more you rely on them, the more distant your observations get from reality, and the less dynamic your paintings become, and before you know it, you have become reliant on them, and the quality of your work is suffering for it.  it's knowing this, that I try to not allow myself to spend to much time painting from photos, I always break it up with a session or two from life, and each time I do, I remember the magic that comes with painting directly from life.