This is another challenge posted on www.differentstrokesfromdifferentfolks.blogspot.com blog.  I had alot of fun with this one and am pleased with how it turned out.  I did not realize when I started how many colors are in "black".  I also learned alot about how to take a reference picture and edit it to help with "glare" from the glossy dark oil paints and how to enhance the color without making it better than the original painting.  I am also learning photoshop helps me investigate how to add more color to make a painting better.  I'm not sure if some would consider this "cheating", but I am finding if I cannot use the tools that are available, I am not improving myself as a painter and that is my goal.  I anticipate that at some point, I will not need all the tools I am using now.

Well, the best of resolutions can still be hard to follow through on.  My intention of working a FULL day each week in the studio was changed last week due to my "real" work schedule.  I plan on having that day this week, but still wanted to keep the part of the resolution to post to my blog weekly.  Although this piece is not finished, I have found time to work on it every week.  I hope to have it finished to put in a display of my work in February, but there is still alot to do.  I purchased an "Icarsus drawing board" that allows me to heat the surface and then blend the colored pencil better, and my goal is to use that technique on this piece to see how it works.  I also have another colored pencil piece in progress that I might use some Odorless Mineral Spirits to see how that works for blending.  I love oils, but am finding that I love my colored pencil for the flexibility and versatility. 

I have resolved to post to this blog at least weekly over the next year.  I hate to admit that I had "fallen off" the creative and marketing proccess of art for the last few months of 2008.  There is no excuse for it, other than poor time management.  I have vowed to follow tips from Alyson Stanfield in her book "I'd Rather Be in the Studio" regarding to be successful, you have to make time to market (and create).  I have rearranged my work schedule to allow one full day each week in the studio and another two (1/2 days) to market my art.  I hope to have many successful stories to post!

That being said, I have completed this oil portrait in conjunction with other artists participating in the bi-weekly painting challenge on Different Strokes from Different Folks blog.  I do not know who she is, but I hope she likes her portrait.  I was pleased that I finally did an oil portrait and it looks like a live person (usually my oil portraits look like some ghastly zombie!)  This has motivated me to try more portraits in oil (although I will not give up my handy colored pencils!)  Have a great week and check back with me to help keep me on goal.