Artist Reply: Thank you Carolyn. This is one of my earlier style works. Since I was dealing with many children at the same time, these are more simplistic results. I was still learning to do portraits & did not have quite the skills I have developed now. Still, I use the same fundimental brushes. I often had to finish one every couple evenings after work at the center to get these back to the kids. I was working half shifts so could get in 5 or more hours painting. I think in all I must of did over a hundred kids in a 2 year period.

Artist Reply: Thank you! They all volunteer, only a few ever didn't want to pose. I give them a disk with their portrait on it and a print so they can share it with thier family and firiends as a thank you. Some e-mail deployed service parents, or relatives far away, some give it as a gift for golidays, but all love it, and the parents are pleasently surprized by the gift. It is a great self estem booster for many as well. I have worked in many types of child care fields over the years, from Scouts, 4-H club, Boy & Girls CLub, Youth & Day Care Centers, and schools. Finding models, besides commisions are easy. Doing them so they look like the person, it the hardest part, but also, rewarding by getting it done. If I run out of models, I pick on my family members.

Artist Reply: Thank you so much Gregory!

Artist Reply: Thank you so much Dee!

Artist Reply: Thank you! The look on the children's faces make it worth working so many hours on them to get them done, and not to miss any of the kids I work with.