Among the shopping, traveling and festivities I had a blast finishing this portrait assignment over the holiday break. I've always loved the happiness that completing a portrait brings. Capturing a person's likeness is a challenge uniquely set-aside from other forms of figurative painting and drawing. People are often most critical and self-editing of their own appearance and the trick is to not just capture their outward physical appearance but to make it express what they want to see in themselves. This involves a deeper investigation than just the cold hard reality found in a casual photograph. But if you get it right, there can be no greater joy or sense of pride for an artist even if it is only an audience of one.
Image: "Momma Chu" ©Copyright Trey Gallaher
conte crayon and gouache on toned paper