Carol,
You are too kind. Thank You. If I inspire anyone it's because I have been inspired by so many here. For years I have worked at this and have shifted my efforts in "high gear" over the past year. I study paintings of other atrists "daily" (old and new), visit the museum frequently , taking pictures, making notes and painting from life weekly. I am doing alot of "studies" these days; paintings of just the eyes, nose, mouth and hands to try to see the simplicity of the features rather than the complexity of them. That's what I am trying to accomplish in these that I am posting.

Thanks again!

Dear Mike,

I can only echo what has already been said - you are doing such strong, sculptural work - great color and solid design.

I love seeing these.

Thank you Chris. Your comments are an encouragement to me.

Mike,

I was really taken by what you had begun and I wanted to try my hand at it. Unfortunately I do not have a good studio space for a model so I thought I would try a photograph.

There is a gentleman who wants his and his wife's portrait done but he can not convince her. She is uncomfortable with posing.

During the process I asked if he had a nice photograph of her suggesting it might be possible to use her photograph as a reference and then use him for the other and to play around with this type of approach.

He gave me a photo and I decided to give myself 3 hours to see what I could do. I have his permission to post this.

Here is my first effort. I like what I accomplished. I will try one from life at an open studio downtown soon.