Tis the season for gifts to loved ones and what better to share than my artistic ability?  I'm blessed with many long time friends.  Some of those friends have been able to support my art by purchasing more than a few paintings, so for them, I wanted to do something special.  I consider a portrait of a grandchild to be memorable, so that has been my gift.  As I've stated in another post, I think my portraits are informal, but I've completely enjoyed improving my painting skills as I create each new one.

Silas offered his unique share of challenges as each painting does.  I started over completely two to three times because of the size of his head.  He's a big boy!  The angle of his head in several tries made it look bigger and distorted, so I couldn't have that because he is a great looking child.  Facial proportions are distinctive in each individual, but generally the same.  Eyes are usually as far apart as they are wide....had to correct that error.  The eyes, nose, and mouth corners are parallel and his nose did not meet that criteria, so another adjustment.  My friend loves clear colors, so the background was a special request, but I had to make it fit the painting.  There are always many decisions and choices to make for a piece of art, some being easy and others more difficult.

Off now to work on two more portraits that I would love to complete by Christmas, but getting them to a standard that I can live with is more important.  What special occasion or person in your life calls for an original piece of art?  Plan ahead because the artist needs time to deliver a wonderful product for that special time in a loved ones life.