Disappointment

I had a bit of a wake-up call last week. The family portrait that I finished was not liked by the customer, and was returned to me for additional work. This was especially disappointing to me because the things that she didn't like about it were the parts I was least happy with before I finished. If I had spent more time on them before completion, it would have probably been acceptable.

Now I have to try to correct my mistakes, as well as complete my next commission by Friday.

Side Project - Flowers

As a side project to help me practice different techniques, my wife requested a pastel drawing based on a photograph she took of some flowers at the Sacramento Zoo. This is the result. The original is on a 5x7 pastel board. Prints are available through the following link:

http://ajhines.imagekind.com/

Commission - And Comparison

My second commission is now complete. This is Oscar, an old Boxer, and friend of another of my wife's coworkers. This is 10x10 on pastel board.

I originally had started this one before the triptych, but hit a roadblock when I just couldn't get him to look right on paper. I was trying to get a fur texture, but the paper didn't have enough grain to support more than a couple of layers, making him look like he was drawn in crayon.

Below is the unfinished paper version for comparison. I really love these boards!