It has been good to rework two earlier canvasses. Painting, I’m learning, isn’t always about progression. Sometimes I need to circle back with different eyes. Not because they were failures, but because they were unfinished thoughts. I can see more clearly now what they needed (and what they didn’t). Funny how distance does that.
The first one originally called “Little Red Fish” is now renamed “Swimmers” because I have added a towel clad woman to the estuary scene where a little red fish has been swimming alone.
There was a selection of bathing scenes from Karaka Bay, St Heliers and Glen Innes in my sketch book which gave me a choice of subjects and helped provide the inspiration.
The second canvas was painted as a horizontal work but has now been turned on its side to become vertical. (They say that any good abstract can be read from any angle!) This time the abstracted bird is really flying through the landscape! I have named my bird painting, “Bird in the Landscape.”
These two canvasses have taught me—an artist of some 80 years—plenty. I’d be glad to hear: is there a craft or skill in your life that has taught you something, too?
Penny Otto 
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