1:23 PM: upon entering my studio and re-connecting with rain, i found it to be more compellingly beautiful than i had remembered. the central area with the red oval is the one that needs work. but i just didn't have the juice for it. so i'm going to take a little break and make some gouache studies as i sit facing the painting, reviewing it's strengths and weaknesses and contemplating my next move. there's no rush, especially with a painting like this, which has so much going for it. it would be a shame to jump back in and wipe out any of it's more beautiful passages.
i'm learning from experience not to be so hasty and throw out the baby with the bath water.