First I'd like to address your chronic hives. Sounds viral, if you haven't been able to determine an allergic reason for their recurrance. While en employee at our local hospital, our wellness department gave all emplyees a home health guide to common illnesses. There was a page on relieving the itch of poison ivy, oak, hives..yadda. One suggesstion is to put the affected area under almost hot water, not so hot as to burn, but as hot as you can stand it for a few minutes. This releases the histamines. It itches like crazy for the few minutes you're in the water, but then voila, the itch is greatly diminished or gone for about 8 hours! This works for my husband and I when we get poinson ivy most summers. Hope it helps you! As for studio time: as a new artist, I'm committed to a quick sketch of any subject daily, and at least one daily painting...always after my morning chores of breakfast, dishes, laundry, phone calls, supplies ordering, and the like. With all of that out of the way, my mind is cleared for take off! Thanks for sharing your terrific exercise on layering for more, and more interesting greens! Outstanding idea!
