What to do?

This picture, snagged from the excellent Facebook page Grammarly, pretty much sums it up. I told you last week how awesome "The Girl With All The Gifts" was. The problem is, I have started and stopped four other books since then. It's not that any of these are fundamentally flawed in any way... I just can't seem to find the right follow-up. I am also reading "The Last American Vampire" by Seth Grahame-Smith, which is great, but I need an audiobook so that I can read while doing other things. My paintings don't turn out nearly as well if I'm reading hard copy, and the library tends to get cranky about paint on their books. If anyone has any suggestions, feel free to share! Otherwise I am just going to browse Audible and cry until I fill this book-shaped hole in my life.

In other news... it's been a slow start to the week for painting. Between homework, packing, and work, I haven't gotten too much done. I am working on a second Tolkien portrait, by request. Like a crazy person, I decided to fill in the lettering first, then start working on the background. It seemed like a good idea at the time... instant gratification and whatnot. But now I am painting around all those little detailed letters and leaves. This is what it looks like so far.

I'll post tomorrow (hopefully with a finish!) but in the meantime, there's always Facebook, Etsy, and now Instagram! Thanks for stopping by!

Abraham Lincoln

If you're returning after reading my book review earlier, welcome back! If not... hello there!

I wanted to post some pictures from today's work, which has SOLD!!! But, if this is up your alley, you can visit me on Facebook and let me know. I don't have a listing for commissions at this point on the Etsy shop, but I'm happy to take requests. This one was a special request from Facebook, in fact.

My Dad has always been a huge admirer of Abraham Lincoln. So it wasn't all that surprising when he suggested doing a portrait of our 16th president. It was also quite fitting, as I made a clay relief sculpture of Abraham Lincoln for him during art class about eighteen years ago! So everything comes round full circle, you see.

This is the finished project, along with a few different detail angles.

 

As you can see, Zino was a big help in the process. He has invented a game, wherein he tosses his slobbery Kong into my box of paints, under the easel, etc. and then I have to find and throw it without toppling everything over.

 I ought to be off to bed right now, but I'm sort of on a roll with painting and listening to Men at Work, so I'll probably end up staying up deciding on the next piece. Thanks for checking in, see you tomorrow, and don't forget to visit Etsy if you haven't yet. :)