March 8th

Couldn't focus on my Space Blanket piece so I worked on the Miniature Tigers painting until everything was too wet to go on. Then I began this self-portrait as a clown done on another scrap piece of cardboard.

Had trouble photographing the entire portrait as the lighting on the wet paint was causing glare. Here is a close up for now.

December 7th

Here is the in progress shot of Harlee from a couple weeks back. Still occasionally working on the face trying to get the resemblance down. Then I need to fix the blonde highlights.

Will try to be better about this and post more updated in progress photos.

October 13th

I know, I've been horrible with keeping up to date.

Here are some photographs of the works in progress I have going.

Two of my College buddies, Nikki Reese and William Miller

I went a little crazy with the colors but I was using Nikki's favorite colors as for the palette.

Portrait of a friend, Harlee Kramer for her Birthday

Almost there, just need to get the face done; its pretty difficult since the reference photo shows her face with very little color variation. Gonna have to pull some colors out of nowhere.

I am working on my Space Blanket Series still, however the in progress shots are not very telling. Guess I will just have to wait to post that one.

April 24th

John Settino
March 9, 1986 - April 17, 2010

This is a portrait of my friend, John, who passed away last Saturday from Cystic Fibrosis. Before he passed he asked for a portrait to be done of him. I hadn't had the opportunity to start his before his passing, so on Wednesday I spent a good part of the evening well into the early hours of Thursday painting this. I put the finishing touches on it today just before I went to his memorial service. It may have still been wet, but I wanted to make sure to get this to his loved ones.

This is the first painting I've ever given anyone outside my family. I am so happy to have shared this with his family and friends. Rest in peace John.

November 15th

Almost finished with Liam's portrait. Just have to do a background and a few finishing touches. Definitely need to get a good photograph of this when it is complete. One that gives a better representation of the colors.

November 11th

Spent most of the evening working on a portrait of an internet acquaintance. Seems entirely peculiar to spend so much time studying the face of a person I've never met before, but alas, he replied to my request of subjects, thus he is painted.

I chose the first photograph I ever saw of him; not only was it the most familiar, but the facial expression interested me. Not to mention, as Liam describes, he is "sexy and regal" in this photograph.
I did a bit of work on his shirt and the paper mache horse (not pictured) after this photograph was taken, but that will have to be documented at another time. I am leaving his eyes, lips and piercings for when the face has dried and I am less likely to smear the canvas with my clumsiness. It is so nice to have the luxury of time now that I have graduated. No more rushing and last minute uh-ohs.

I also worked a bit on a portrait on my old high school boyfriend, Pernell. I am not too happy with it at this moment and contemplating using a different photograph. The photo I decided on was taken at night with a difficult orange haze to it. Additionally, I started on a background of Eric Prine's portrait; I still need to sketch and create an underpainting for that one.

So I don't forget, here is the list of portraits I promised to produce:
Liam McNeeley
Pernell Fowler
Eric Prine
Eric Aichele
Clint Severns
Camille Abramson

Certainly I will receive plenty of much needed practice painting facial hair with these portraits (minus Camille).

Sadly, I will not continue on Bryan's portrait that I began purely to occupy myself while waiting for responses to my offer. I won't go into details, just personal reasons restrain me from wanting to finish it.
This is the quick underpainting I completed in my refurbished phonebook sketchbook I made. I found it fitting because the page prior contained a doodle we did on a pizza box when he came to visit me in Savannah, GA. Ironically, the backdrop behind him displays the great obstacle which cursed our budding relationship; distance. Perhaps once issues are illuminated, I will work once more on it. It's a pity I feel must dismiss this one since so many have taken a liking to it (myself included, but I consider myself bias). I suppose I should do another phonebook portrait to make those admirers happy.

Lastly, I have grown tired of receiving the advice to set up a website and just might get motivated to do so (its hard to want to do that in your free time when it is your job). Can anyone recommend good hosts?