I started to arrange another study of eleven apples, and then things snowballed as I emptied out a fresh new bag to bring the total up to seventeen apples, with a few oddly shaped pieces being set aside as dog treats. I edited things down to a nice arrangement of thirteen, but after a brief consultation with my wife I decided that too much meaning is coupled with that number, so I had to remove one, for a nice tight arrangement of twelve. I mixed most of my colors and blocked in some areas just to get things moving. So far it’s a big mess, but it does feel good to be starting on something huge and substantial. All of the tricks and imprecision of working small feels like magic and sleight of hand, while a grand scale demands accountability. I’ll be interested in studying all the different ways that edges can be lost through all the different light sources, as the fresh apples are fairly glossy and reflective.

Speaking of things snowballing, I never did manage to completely shovel out my hundred yards of driveway from last weekend’s blizzard before yet another blizzard will be upon us by tomorrow evening. Normally I’d have no problem waiting until the spring thaw to get vehicles from my house to the street. Of course I will be trying to leave for Naples, Florida early next week, so at some point the big truck will have to navigate the luge run that is now my driveway.