Surprise Commission After More Progress --(Shhh!!!)

6 1/2" x 3 3/4", completed graphite miniature portrait on Avon Smoothcard

I'll reveal who is in this miniature portrait later on, but it's a surprise, so Shhh!

Surprise Commission --(Shhh!!!)

6 1/2" x 3 3/4", miniature portrait (in progress), graphite on Avon Smoothcard

Here is my start on a dual miniature pencil portrait, but it's a secret about who it is, and who it is for, so Shhh!

"Heaven on Earth Rose," Step 3

"Heaven on Earth Rose," in progress, shown at actual size

Another progress update after two more sessions on the rose. The hardest areas to blend in egg tempera are open areas, or areas with a shadow that has to fade into a light area. In this painting that is happening in several of the outer petals, and I am still working on evening out that blend.

Flowers are a great challenge because they are so subtle in the variations of tones and colors petal to petal. Egg tempera is a perfect medium for subtle variations because of what can be accomplished with transparent glazing and translucent scumbling.

Progress on "Heaven on Earth Rose"

Heaven on Earth Rose (in progress), 2 1/2" x 2 7/8", egg tempera on Kelmscott vellum

Here's an update on my progress with my second in a series of rose miniatures. As mentioned earlier, this kind of miniature which zeros in on a small subject is one that some refer to as 'atypical' because it has all the qualities of a miniature, except 1/6th scale. More to come on it, plus a start on a new miniature.

The previous step in "Heaven on Earth Rose" as it posted earlier this Fall, (a Floribunda species called, "Heaven on Earth")

My Niece Goes to the Nationals!!!!!!!!!

A pause just to say: My niece's college soccer team WON THE SOUTHERN CONFERENCE TITLE TODAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Congratulations to Lauren and the Davidson Wildcats, & onward to the National championship!

Lauren's Shining Moment

"Sweet Pea Blossom," 3" x 2", egg tempera on vellum, NFS

"When Lauren Smiles," 2 7/8" x 3 3/4", egg tempera on gessoed panel, NFS

Above are two miniature portraits I created of my brother's daughter, Lauren, which were on exhibit in the first Miniature Art Society of Florida annual miniature show that I participated back in (2003). More recently you may remember that I drew a pencil portrait of Lauren on her birthday in an earlier post in Aug. '09.

As her Aunt, I'm very proud of her for yesterday scoring the winning goal for her women's college soccer team against the #1 team, enabling her team to advance to the Southern Conference championship game against Charleston tomorrow! It was an absolute thrill also today for me to see her pictured on the Southern Conference homepage. I'll be routing for you and your team tomorrow, Lauren!

"Eric", Final Version

"Eric," 8 1/2" x 8", small work, final version of the pencil portrait of my nephew Eric

Although my initial drawing made a nice study of Eric himself, I wanted to spend some time on the clothing, but more specifically on the background of this drawing so it is clear to the viewer that Eric is on the subway. The reason is that Eric has loved trains and all things 'train' since the age of 3. He knows the NYC commuter and subway lines inside out (better than Aunt Mona who is a New Yorker of many years), as well as many other train networks around the world as a result of his enjoyment of trains. So of course he knew right away that this was drawn from a photo of him on his last birthday, while riding the "E" train!