[Tessa Stanley]

Hi, I returned from our New Year's ski/boarding trip to find I am cleared for posting! I am excited to get involved with this forum, as I have been admiring the quality of work from so many of the members, and am looking forward to getting tips and help with some of my portrait painting dilemmas. I am relatively new to art, having started about 5 years ago when I left my career in the health care field to stay home to raise my little ones. I began painting as a means of escape and to have some 'me' time and found an all consuming passion. I now am almost done a Fine Arts Certificate program from the University of Alberta and try to paint daily. I hope to start doing commissions this year - so look forward to reading and learning a lot in this forum. Attached is a small self-portrait in oil.