Beginning commissioned portrait from life


I had the best time today. This fun couple from Houston spent four hours with me at the gallery while I roughed in the beginning of their 16x20 oil portrait. I took several photos as references for later when I do the work of finishing it. I had them sit separately, taking turns as I painted. Both of them have excellent interviewing skills, so I'm afraid I talked a blue streak all the while. I managed to get the conversation focused on them in return toward the end and wished I'd done that sooner- they're fascinating.
It's unusual that I have so many portraits in the works at one time. I prefer to focus on one until it's finished and then start the next. But right now I have the two children in oil on 8x10 canvases, John Pototschnik on 18 x 24 canvas, the woman from the newspaper clipping on 16x20 and now this new one- all in progress. Next week I take photos for a very large portrait of a 14/15 year old girl, and there's another waiting to begin- a fairly large one of two children. But somewhere in there I need to do my taxes. So, I plan to do my broadcast Tuesday evening -oh! that's tonight!- and then buckle down and figure out the figures for a few days.
Am I the only one who's waited until the last minute to do her taxes?? Send encouragement, send caffeine, send chocolate!

4 comments:

Regina Calton Burchett said...

Can I send you an extension?? I'll bring chocolate on Friday!

Jo Castillo said...

You are soooo busy. Regina is right,maybe an extension. However, I am doing taxes, too. Well, after I post this. :) Why do we do this?

I better go get some cocoa and get started. Hugs.... You are doing well.

Ann Reyes said...

What a wonderful beginning for this portrait! No, you aren't the only one who hasn't done taxes. I keep putting it off. Guess I'd better "buckle down", too. I think it's great to have so many commissions!!!

"JeanneG" said...

Having commissions sounds great. We had our taxes done a few weeks ago. Have already gotten our refund. My mother-in-law always started and finished hers on the 15th and delivered them to the post office just before midnight. Every year the same thing. She was a real procrastinator. And the week before and especially that day, you didn't go near her or talk to her.

Good luck getting them done on time. Then you can relax and finish up the commissions.