This is a very beautiful piece, Isabel, great personality. I'm scared to see what you can do with the pastel. If you're not struggling with them, lie and say you did! :o

If you're lucky, you will go through different stages in your life, then decide which is best for you. To make up your mind this early in life is, imo, a mistake. I applaud you for working looser, and you've done a great job with it, but there is nothing wrong with experimenting. There seems to be a similar discussion in my recent thread, so I'll discuss my personal experience there rather than take away from your
thread.

I'm sure you will do great things whatever you decide to do.

Well said!

Wow Isabel, this is just gorgeous!

Michlele, I doubt anyone would want to pay $2000 for my drawing. I haven't done a commission before. But thank you for the encouragement!

Mike, Thanks again for the great tips. Now I just need a better camera. I'm saving money for a Digital SLR.

Mary, Thank you! It's great to know that you enjoy my work. What an honor!

Jimmie, you're right! it's not wise to limit myself to anything. I guess the best way to advance is to keep taking risk, not staying in a comfort zone for too long. I notice everytime I made a significant progress is when I made a decision to change. If something doesn't feel right to me anymore, it needs to be changed. Change is scary, but it also opens up new possibilities. Anything could happen.

Terri, Thank you again!

Don't sell yourself short. This work is truly of the highest quality.

Isabel, you are so talented! It is a beautiful drawing, so masterful and sensitive.

Alex

Isabel, sorry so late in responding. I was out of town.

This is a wonderful marriage of loose and detailed. I think you have found a terrific balance of the two! I do so love your work. I really do. I also know what you mean when you try to reach out of your comfort zone but need to be true to yourself. I will never be an impressionist but I think you can do anything you want. You have proved that to be true.

I might also add that I don't think how many commissions you have done matters that much. Your price should be comensurate with your amazing work.

Again, very well done.

Isabel this is incredibly wonderful, right down to your signature - I love the stamp!

Michele, Thanks! I'll take your words by heart.

Lisa, It's always great to hear from you. yeah... I just feel tired of doing the same thing over and over again. Now my biggest challenge is to keep it exciting and refreshing for me and for the viewers. I don't want to get to a point where I lose my passion one day. Being a good drawer doesn't automatically make me an artist. Art is about passion. If my work doesn't speak for itself, or doesn't show a bit of my passion, then I fail to be an artist, despite my patience and technical ability. I know I can do a decent job of rendering, but my real challenge is to capture life, to share the emotional impact the sitter has on me and to do a drawing that