[Darla Dixon]

Thanks John, I think the nose and ear are pretty 'blah' too ... I need to bring more to those parts.

The background in person isn't as evident as it is in this scan. I usually go with plain white background, but more and more, I hear 'give it background to give it depth!' So, being fairly unknowledgeable about backgrounds, I just try different things. This one was made by smudging pencil in and then swooping into it with kneaded rubber eraser.

I'm planning on taking an oil portrait painting course in February 2002 (taught by Deborah Kepes) and that is pretty exciting! I hope the pencil drawings have given me a good base from which to work, but I know I have plenty to learn and I have not worked from life nearly enough.

Thanks again!