I  recently completed the commission of these pastel portraits of two darling sisters.  Working on their sweet faces added a welcome cheer to the doldrums of winter.  

I just finished this pastel commission.  I so enjoyed painting this darling, bright eyed child.  

Jo Jo

This little sweetie flashed on the home screen of my friend at work every day. Each time I was drawn into her bright, joyful,  inquisitive eyes!  Finally, one day I announced that I must paint her!  I hadn't done a portrait commission in a while so it was time to jump in again.   I was happy to give it to her daughter as a gift for giving me the pleasure of painting her!

Pensive Nick

My son, Nicholas, was my first subject in an endeavor to loosen up my painting, though I hadn't begun "official" daily painting when I did this.  I was desperate to overcome an art block and knew that working small may help.  Nick was about 17 years old at the time, and I was pestering him to sit for me so I could paint him (again!).   He was clearly not happy to be doing this.  I took several photographs of him and then let him out of his misery.   I was happy to have found them now, years later,  to work with!

I know this face so well that it practically painted itself.   It seems to capture that teenaged angst.