Every once in a while, you get to do a job that pays you nothing yet gives you everything. Let me tell you about one of those times.
You see, every year, my wife puts together a family calendar. We hunt around and find as many images as we can find of everyone from the past year. It's a neat idea, and we get to relive the past year as we remember those who were around us. Since there are twelve of us, we all get our birth month with pics of us. Some folks share a month, but they don't mind all that much. For this year's calendar, my wife had a brilliant idea.
Patrice: "Hey Rick, I was thinking." Usually, I start running at the sound, or I try to look as busy as possible. I didn't make it this time.
Artguy: "What's that?"
Patrice "I thought it would be nice if you drew portraits of all of us for the calendar this year. I think it will be real nice."
Now I had to admit it was a good idea, and since I was looking for something to work on, I agreed. So I jumped in my truck and headed down to the local art supply. I chose some grey Canson illustration board for this project and got to work. The results are what you see above. There are some that I like, some that I love, and of course, some parts of them that I keep thinking I could have done better. I think it's the last comment which keeps me doing what I do. Reaching for the ever-elusive perfection. Honestly, I hope I never find it.
P.S.The finished 8"x10" drawings made a fantastic Christmas present for my in-laws. As the old commercial said, "The look on their faces, priceless."