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Paul (Dixie) Dean

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Not sure why but I will blame the weather, festivities or maybe just a phase but , I haven’t painted over Christmas and started to on Sunday but soo stopped as I just became uninterested. It’s happening again both yesterday and today, as I was not enthusiastic about the painting I was doing I worked on another one thinking it might be better. Definitely not fifteen minutes I and I doing thing without thinking or any enthusiasm , silly mistake being made as well . Is anyone else having I can’t be bothered, can’t focus or simply put sod it and stop painting, please tell me I’m not the only person in the world who is being affected. My son in law thinks it because I’m just so old and grumpy, but what does he know . Hopefully Robert will have a theory or observation that can help. 
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Marjorie Firth

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For me it’s being out of my routine ( although I did paint on Christmas Day and Boxing day because I had time to myself). Now I’m sitting here staring around, moving things, can’t settle even though I have some paintings planned. Ideally I like the morning into early afternoon butI’ve left it late….as soon as I put paint down I’ll be off…hopefully.

Norrette Moore

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It's the light Paul, or lack of it. I had to put the kitchen light on just to make lunch... grr.Tomorrow is promised to be better. Although not what the shipping forecast indicates!
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Paul (Dixie) Dean

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I think you are  both right a combination of out of routine fir a week or so and the poor light fir quite a while. When I was working in the mental health field several people I worked with suffered from SADS ( Seasonal Acquired Depressive Syndrome) some folk could hardly function it was so debilitating, Thankfully I’m just having a short spell of it   I’m sat having a cuppa and it’s so dull I’ve had the light on for most of the day today , fortunately I bought myself a lamp to use when painting , worth every penny I would be totally lost without it now .

Collette Hughes

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I agree with Norrette right now for me it's the lack of light and the short days. I do go through periods of not painting. Not so much being blocked as feeling down and it's a vicious cycle because not painting gets me down. At the moment I'm feeling full of enthusiasm to paint just that I have no light. I paint in this outbuilding and the electric cable that supplies the building needs replacing or I would have bought daylight lamps already. 
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Paul (Dixie) Dean

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Having read your post Norrette I looked and there are rechargeable daylight lamps available not to costly either, might nor be the best but better than nothing till you can get the cable changed . 
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Marjorie Firth

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There are certainly table ones on Amazon, rechargeable and cheap. 

Diane Boswell

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Well, I've painted today for the first time in about 3 weeks I think. Had visitors over Christmas but also been struggling with various health issues. It's always poor light in my house and much worse at this time of year. I have bought a small daylight lamp now and that definitely helps. I was so grateful to be able to paint today.

Norrette Moore

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Will definitely look into daylight lamps.  It's sad we have to give up almost 8 weeks at this time of the year.
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Paul (Dixie) Dean

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Quite a lot of people I spoke on POL have lamps , I know Ruth Dolan used one and she said it enabled her to paint much longer . I think Sylvia uses them as well but not to sure . Doesn’t matter what age or vision you have they do certain make it a lot better. It’s taken me a few week to get used to it as the colours look much brighter, I checked back on older paintings and was surprised how bright they looked . What is good is the have several different settings for brightness and different colours of light from a dull amber light to full headlight brightness. Mine has three lamps that cover the whole area I’m working on and because it come in at different angles there is virtually no shadow .  I paid around forty pounds for the one I use and it excellent, no I’m not on commission or have shares in the company, wish I did though.  I took this shot to show my son in law who researched and found it for me back in November.

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by Paul (Dixie) Dean

Tessa Gwynne

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I have one similar to that Dixie. Wouldn't be without it. I haven’t painted much over Christmas for a few weeks, just because too much going on preparing etc.. Hopefully I will get cracking again now the holiday period is over. I agree the light is awful but I have painted today. Our art group resumes later this month and we have a challenge to paint in the style of Matisse, not my favourite!