That beautiful moment...

The latest commission project

Yesterday I turned over the latest commission project to my client who also happens to be my landlord and my friend.
He LOVED IT! And it made me happy because I toiled so hard on that thing! So I'll let you in on a little secret...I am not fond of doing portraits. Dread fills me and I would rather do anything else. Your pet, your plants, your dream. But it is part of life for an artist to get asked to do portraits so I figured I better get good at it. Painting over 500 records got me fairly ok at it but I still didn't like all the background work that goes along with portraits sometimes. This one required lots of detail...that lamp post...the table stuff...the drink with all the reflection stuff and condensation, etc...so much no one even knows goes into this kind of work. But I put my all into it and its one of my better portraits.
This year Im aiming for intensifying my "light", colors and composition. I always see where I can do better and I always try to do better on the next painting. So even though portraits are not my bag I do them to get better at painting, seeing, patience and life. I say life because doing things you don't really like to do is a great discipline in life. I started looking at things as a challenge and opportunity for growth ...and not like "that thing I don't want to do" and that philosophy is going to be a game changer for me in 2020.
Now with all commissions complete for the moment - I can do something magical. Paint for ME.
It is that beautiful moment.

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