Blog

  This is Neva, a very good friend of mine. For years, we've talked about her commissioning a portrait. A few weeks ago during our girl lunch, we decided the time is now. I interviewed her after she took her portrait home. I asked Neva to share her experience with me, so I could share it with you. I asked...

I've know Quentin since he was a little boy. It always amazes me how portraits come to life. I start with a blank piece of very nice paper and my graphite pencils. I usually place the eyes first, then the rest of the face, ears, neck, and hair. Something happened while I was drawing Quentin's portrait. It was so special....

I remember meeting Mija. She came around the corner and wiggled her way into the front lobby. What an adorable dog. For this blog post, I want to talk about what make's a good reference photo. The picture needs to be in focus. I prefer close-up pictures. They help me see the facial details. I recommend avoiding the harsh middle-of-the-day...

What comes to mind when you see this portrait? Do you enjoy looking at wolves? I do. They are stunning. They are fascinating creatures. Drawing this beautiful wolf captivated my attention. Notice his eyes. There's a wildness in them. We don't see that wildness in the eyes of domestic animals. I spent quality time drawing his eyes. I wanted to...

This was a special day. I don't always get the opportunity to meet my subjects. I met Piper after I drew her portrait. Piper's Mom texted me many photos. I took my time looking through them. What am I looking for? Is the lighting good? Is the expression good? Are the details that I need present? If not, I ask...