Broken Shell

This is a broken shell painted in watercolor. It always makes me feel good when I tackle  this object. I guess that my wife and I picked it up at the shore years ago and perhaps because this was the only trip to the shore we've made together, it has a special meaning to me. The shell has been drawn in every possible way: watercolor, pen and ink, colored pencil,  pastel, and conte crayon. I don't think I have done it in acrylic yet. Anyway, this attempt has a few flaws and it is not one of my best. The color works but there is a problem with the rendering. It was done in pencil so changes could have been made. Sometimes I get in a hurry to see the finished product and overlook certain compositional shortcomings. Sometimes I get so anxious when I am presented with a problem that I rush right through it. It is a very old character defect and would probably explain why I never chose to improve my art skills and do more with them. I have not learned to deal with stress in a healthy way. I had some bad habits and learned that the least offensive one was eating a package of red licorice when I am upset. This one bothers me but so far it has proven to be the least irritating.
     Stress can be difficult. Art seems to be the way I deal with mine when I'm not munching on licorice. Just taking the time to create something that never existed before is rewarding. I'd like to say it always works but some days I settle for the candy. This can be problematic because I have some days when I just can just eat too much. Well, I will sign off, there are some demands on my time that need to be tended to. Hope that this missive finds its way into peaceful surroundings. God Bless. Dale