Hi fori, That's a charming little painting. The varnish has yellowed. To really get the colors back, you would need to remove it and revarnish. Since you're losing paint in the center, I'd be loath to try this myself. OTOH, painting restoration can be kind of pricey. A restorer would take off the old varnish, stabilize the areas of loss with adhesive, inpaint, and revarnish. The painting would look great. But depending on where you live, it could cost more than the painting is worth. It looks like oil on board to me, too. You might be safe with a water-dampened cotton ball or soft cloth in the areas with no cracking, just to see if you can get the surface dirt off. As for the frame, I like it, but I think it belongs to a later period. Still, if it were mine, I'd be more inclined to spend a couple of hundred on restoration than on a new frame.

Often, I think, we learn it from the world around us. Barry Manilow told a great story about how encouraging and supportive his family always was -- he was laughing about how he could've been booed off the stage and never would have even noticed or realized! I also remember a teacher telling us how he no longer goes back to his teachers to ask what they think -- cause he can never please them or something. I like Schwarzenegger's thoughts on doing what you want or love -- to go for it and 'just put on your blinders and go!' It's hard and easier said than done, but you really do need to let your inner voice guide you and tune out the noise as best as possible. Whether it be your own noise or somebody elses :) Another thought, the Circle of Known -- the more you learn, the more you learn how much you don't know :) These days, I just like to think of my endeavors as progress; just working along a continuum. And there will always be people who can just 'blow you away.' A lot of people don't realize that even the greats have to work very, very hard. Enjoy what you can do, and admire what they can do, and continue to seek to aspire. So, support group, what time? lol

We've had Antiqued Cambrian Black for 10 years now and still very happy. We are not good about remembering to re-seal it and it really doesn't matter...maybe looks a little more dull when we go a long time without, but doesn't bother us at all. It has not stained. It has held up great. This granite is made up of little chunks and we had two little chips happen along counter's edge, pretty early on in having it (one in front of sink...maybe got dinged by a big pot?) and the other you can't see but can feel a rough spot. But no big whoop (though certainly not perfect). I think our edge was called "flat polished" and we had just a slight curve on the corners...going for a bit of a vintage look - nothing fancy. Only downsides, I would say are that it definitely sucks light out of the room to have a black top and that it is so good at hiding stuff, you might not see the tiny sugar ants that have set up a march on your counter, or the wayward crumbs. Overall, we have loved it and would pick it again. This choice was EXACTLY what we were looking for in terms of a black countertop that isn't shiny and has some vintage charm (almost like lab counters).

Javachik, you are so sweet! Yayagal, for someone who is an artist used to creating with their hands everyday how on earth have you coped? I wish I could see your work. Is it allowed here? Balego, thank you for the Ikea ideas. I think that will work well in the open closet to free up the rest of the space. I thought of something I may be able to use. My mom was of modest means but when she passed she left me a small oak cabinet that I guess was passed down through the family. It may have been a water cupboard and has a drawer. It’s up north at my sisters waiting for me. Maybe I can modify it slightly with wheels on the bottom. Mom loved to write poetry and I know she would be happy if I used it for something creative. I could put heavy glass on the top and use it for paints next to the easel. Yep, I think she would like that and be happy that I was using something of hers to get back into painting. I think I see her smiling! That’s it then. So, now I need to concentrate on something to clean the air or??? Husband hates the smell of painting. Right or wrong some people stereotype artsy sorts as eccentric or quirky. When I’m doing art I feel whole and that I have a place in the world. In other words I have an excuse for quirky when painting. I do like remodeling and decorating but the type of decorating I would like to do is several price brackets above what I can do, so I’m always a bit frustrated on not being able to complete the picture in my head… exactly. With painting there is no limit. I just need lots of time lol.