The flower is the poetry of reproduction.  It is the example of the eternal seductiveness of life.

                                                      Jean Giraudoux

      This painting has taken a long time to evolve.  I have a wonderful new teacher who suggested the shadow in the upper right hand corner.  What a nice dramatic touch!  I had a difficult time deciding on the value for the purple flowers in the front.  The photograph I was working from didn't have much depth at all and I really wanted the smaller flowers to really come out of the picture.  This may need a little more tweeking but for now I am setting it aside.

Courage is doing what you're afraid to do.  There can be no courage unless you're scared.

                    Eddie Rickenbacker


     Well, I finally got this bike on the ground.  Although it was my intent to have her be the main focus, the drawing just didn't look finished until she had some ground under her.  It was tempting to keep going and add some landscape but I think any more background would just detract from her.  I love her look of determination!  As far as technique within this drawing, smudging was a huge problem.  At a recent art show I saw a charcoal artist using some sort of contraption that allowed his arms and hands to rest on it yet allowed him to work easily.  I am on a hunt!