Is a set of horizons too focused? Were my 2010 trees too focused? How much variation is too much? Did the 2012 images have too many directions? Welcome to the questions buzzing in my head as I try to finish up a body of work for the year!

I normally wait to ascertain a theme for the year until it’s almost too late: I let the images I’ve been drawn to reveal their similarities slowly. Sometimes, in the last month of wrapping up final details, I might hurry things along by applying a common texture or finish to tie too-disparate images together.

Last year, I couldn’t decide between THREE themes — that’s too much! This year, while I’m still drawn to botanical images, I’m thinking of making that theme just a sideline. As a main focus, I am considering a series of horizons, taken from the same spot as if to make a very long panorama, and working each of them up with a variation of texture and color.

What do you think? TOO much the same? Sure, this is only a sample of three works in progress, which I purposely chose with variety of palette in mind. But what about a full set of the series? Would you rather have some botanical and other tree collages thrown in? Or does that dilute the concept? Answers to these buzzing questions welcomed!