I forgot how much I enjoy portraits. I feel like I get to know the subject while I'm painting and if I already know or have known the subject, it feels like a personal visit with them. It reminds me of all the love I have for them, their sense of humor and kindness. It's an intimate experience even with animal portraits.
Here's a portrait I painted a decade ago and gave to my eldest sister, Mae for Christmas. She'd given me her piano and so many other things that I just wanted to thank her in a special way. And I loved the subject! This is Sherpa who accompanied Mae's group on a trek in Nepal. She'd bummed a cigarette from Mae while they rested along their journey and let Mae snap the photo.
Nepalese Sherpa, 16 x 20, Oil on canvas, NFS |