[John Bruso]

Sharon, I agree, portraits from life should be the standard whenever possible. Currently, I am painting a portrait from a live model, and the differences between working from a photo and working from life are huge! I'll tell you the "secret" reason I chose not to use a mirror and work from life....My facial features are very asymmetrical. I have used a mirror to draw myself in the past, and the mirrored image of myself looked strange to me. A mirror image of my face doesn't look like photographs of me (which is the way other's see me, right?). I was afraid I would get all caught up in "fixing" those awkward subtleties, that my goal of painting realistic skin tone would be side stepped. But, your comment has made me consider painting myself again - from life this time!

One comment I have received from several friends is that the painting doesn't show my personality. Perhaps a painting from life would have made all the difference.