Artist Reply: Thanks Greg! She was fussing at me not to take photos for a painting reference. She didn't have her hair fixed, or make up on, etc. I told just hold the pose I had spotted her in and that when I paint, I can paint her as if her hair was fixed, had make up on. It's easiy than painting her with flaws anyways. I had more trouble figuring out how to paint earrings than her skin tones. Plus, if I am familar, as I am with her face asI'm her mom, I know what she looks like very well. This is the first one I painted when I upgraded my Corel Painter. It finally let me do fine details, such as eyelashes as I wanted. This one was sketched, then I digitally painted it with the art software. I didn't use a auto paint type feature or manipulate the photos used for reference. I enjoy working on a painting until I get it the way I imaged it. I Printed it out on canvas on my new computer, it came out fantastic! I work really had to make sure there aren't pixelation or noise that you get with digital. I hate if there is any, but have figured out the resolution and sizes now to advoid it. I love the soft look, like this one, so often spend hours blending the brush strokes out to look as this one does. I think it gives it a truer fine oil look. Thanks Greg!

Artist Reply: Thank you my friend! I had finally decided to sit and learn to use the Painter IX program instead of letting it scare me off. I had gotten so comfortable with the old predicessor, Painter Classic. IX lets me do the details I could not befroe, so I am going nuts with it now. Even going back to improve older works. Such a difference! I learn something every time I use it and other programs. I'm so ADHD right now, with so many programs and effects, brushes, and tools, I have to set some time limes and rules. My daughter thinks she is a Queen, and it shows. LOL! Cherish yourself, as you deserve it as well!

Artist Reply: Thank you Maddison! She does, I couldn't even do half her lashes in this, she has so many, they'd look fake. She was pleased with this portrait and posed for some others I'm just starting to work on.

Artist Reply: Thank you Jimmie! She was, she was also giving me glares of, "My hairs a mess & I've no make up on!" It gave me the eyebrow cocked, so that was a bonus. I had to promise not to make her look like she just got up. (I do love to torture my daughters when they visit me now..) She was pleased with the results, aso is planing to come pose again for me. Now, if I can only get her other sisters to do the same! There is 4 in all. One is holding out so far.

Artist Reply: So welcomed and thank you! I try to paint how I see one's inner beauty, and some are so easy to do, such as a loved one. So many take lovely family photos that capture the person so well, and I find those to be the best. It doesn't take a fancy camera, just some clear photos to get the feel of the person. Sometimes I get a photo of a person that seems emotionless, or bad capture, but it's all they have. I can also compare family features as well to get the look. One person sent her photo of her late mother and herself. They had identical mouths. Mom wasn't smiling, as the photo was taken at the hospital. I could see how she would have been by her daughter's smile and description of her mother. I was able to do the portrait of the two of them together, mom smiling, minus the effects of her illness. It was one of my best and I was glad that it came out so well.

Artist Reply: Thank you Randy!

Artist Reply: Thank you! I've been practicing portraits and improving bit by bit. My hands shake sometimes, so it takes a while some days to get it right.

Artist Reply: Thank you! She was just looking at it. She laughed because she had complained she had no make up on and her hair had been a mess. She forgets I don't have to paint it that way. She likes I finally figured out eyelashes.

Artist Reply: Thank you Emily! This one took longer, but worth the effort to get her eyes done.

Artist Reply: Thank you Jennifer! Sometimes these shrunken imagiages do look more photo like than painting. I also work hard on ones such as this style to blend and smooth the skin and brush stokes so it looks more realistic. Still learning and trying to improve my work.

Artist Reply: Thank you Sam for leaving such a nice comment! Will be adding addition portraits as I get them done. This one worked out well and I've pleased with the results.

Artist Reply: Thank You John! That means alot to me!

Artist Reply: Thanks Joke! Always happy to find a willing model to practice on.

Artist Reply: Thank you Analua! I really appreciate hearing from you!

Artist Reply: Thank you! I enjoyed making this one!

Artist Reply: Thank you so much Loredana!

Artist Reply: Thank You! She's always an excellent model to do.

Artist Reply: Thank you Mira! Theresa will be a frequent model of mine. I finally learned to do decent eyelashes!

Artist Reply: Thank you! I've been practicing portraits for under three years now. The more I do, the more it becomes easier. I have been trying various brush tools and mediams to learn a variety of techniques. I perfer this type as it worked more flawless in blending the brush stokes. I use water or blenders to create a smoother skin suface and look more realistic.

Artist Reply: Thank you Jerry! She wanted to lean forward for this pose, wasn't sure if it would look okay at first. I will be doing others of her in the near future. I will do a series of several of my daughters, depending if they can put up with me.