My Neighbor

I've known Jocelyn for years. She's my neighbor. I absolutely love her. I've seen her grow into a beautiful young woman. She'll be graduating from high school soon. Her whole life is before her.

Jocelyn's stepmom is a wonderful friend. She is smart, beautiful, courageous, and determined to enjoy every day. I've learned a lot from her. I see her love of life. With so much going on and all the stress that bubbles up each day, it's easy to lose sight of the beauty around us and the One who created this beauty!

I asked Lora, Jocelyn's stepmom, to text me a few pictures of Jocelyn. She sent a lot of pics! That's always helpful. It helps me see the details I need to see in order to capture a likeness.

I got my drawing area ready to go. I set up my easel and camera, took a deep breath, whispered a quick prayer, pushed the start button, and began drawing.

It looks like I'm fast. I'm not. What you see in 20-30 seconds takes a few hours, sometimes more. I'm deliberate with my marks.

My process involves adding charcoal and taking off charcoal. I've found that this helps me create a realistic face. In a few seconds, the portrait comes to life. I love watching this process. Do you?

When I'm all done. I stand up and walk away from the drawing for a few minutes. Then I walk back in the room with fresh eyes. This is the time for me to make any adjustments.

I love drawing faces.

Giving the gift of a portrait is a very thoughtful gift. It's a gift that is deeply treasured.

Click the link below to watch the video of Jocelyn's portrait. Share your thoughts and comments. I love hearing from you.

With love, Trae ✍️ 😊

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