As an artist, I am awed by and in love with all of God's creation! Painting landscapes, portraits of people and animals, I try to depict the essence of that individual subject. Often I will take photographs before and after some quick sketches, jotting down notes on the sketch about the color, or feeling of the piece and then begin painting. But, with portraits, sometimes having the subject actually present is not possible. Then, I need to get to know the subject, through discussion with a person who did actually know, or through biographies, photos, old...more
