I hadn't been able to log on to Deviant for a few weeks while on a business trip.

When I got home and did log on .... so many amazing pieces were in my new deviations box. You people are really great artists.

I felt a bit sheepish as I have had such low output this year... while all of you are creating real art.

Made me stay up late the past two nights and finish the portrait of Ricci Pearl I had started a while back. Ricci is my friend. My wife and I have been babysitting her in our home about twice a week for the past two years (well, except when I am away). She just turned 5, but this portrait was from a photo I took of her when she was three. The girl has an extremely high energy level and can wear me down in two hours.

As I put in the little write up. I used pastel on this primarily as I am amazed by the Spanish artist Aixado, on deviant. She achieves such amazing detail in her work... and I still don't know how she does it. I guess I made a mistake by starting this portrait with paint on canvas and then switched to pastel after completing the underpainting in acrylic. Should probably use paper....

All the Best

Jim