375' x 275' Pastel painting for contest FINISHED!

[george c martins]

Hi everyone


Finally going to post the painting that I'm doing...I had the idea of posting it already done...but thought a little, here goes ....

comments are realy realy welcome....this contest is making me nervous...had a suggestion to keep it as a experience....but as the deadline is coming can't help it....its my first huge participation...

Painting......

Paper canson 110cmx150cm on pastel (Faber Canson)

I'm going to show first the old man (comes from a sketch I did and posted on WC)

I'm going to show the process of painting, but I must say that I'm new at this...

Old man I: its just the guidelines. The paper (huge) is on the wall....best place to put it.

Old Man II: started withbthe eye with pastel pencil....

Old Man III: here on the face, I used sanguine, cinnamon and cream....and lots of finger works....

Old Man VI: tha hair! I know lots of work here, besides got great suggestion on it....cold grey II, VI and white...

ohhh...please do not mind the date of the photo....bought the camera days ago....

regards

[george c martins]

....and more posting........ coming

comments please.....

Afincan child: is just the guidelines....

From African child I to IV, the pastels I used was:
sanguine, caput mortumm, cold grey VI, burnt umber, cream, white (pastels) and french grey (pastel pencil)

He not done yet, still got one more week on him, so you can see that there's still lots to do....i just hope I can achive the goal....

On African child I, i painted a blood tear drop...Afrinca child II, III and IV I worked only on the blood drop...I hope it works...
why the blood drop and a normal drop on the old man? I'll answer that question, but got more posts to do.....

oh, and of course lots lots lots or fingers work, gentilly...

regards

http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/15-Oct-2008/151331-African_child.JPG
http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/15-Oct-2008/151331-African_child_I.JPG
http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/15-Oct-2008/151331-African_child_II.JPG
http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/15-Oct-2008/151331-African_child_III.JPG
http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/15-Oct-2008/151331-African_child_IV.JPG

[helenh]

Fantastic job on both. The child portrait is absolutely horrifying, but I'm sure that's the effect you wanted. Gut wrenching. I wonder what the old man is thinking about and looking at. I look forward to seeing more. What is the theme of the contest?

Helen

[robertsloan2]

These are both so powerful. The African child is heartbreaking to me, and the blood from his eye reminds me of so many diseases that are running rampant in Africa right now. The tear in the old man's eye is a story, but I don't know the story. I only know that I like his profile and your powerful way of doing faces.

[binkie]

George, Both of these are going to be great. I look forward to seeing them finished. Excellent rendering of the ribs in your own unique style. As mentioned above the second one is very disturbing. It will definitely evoke strong emotions in viewers and aid in focusing attention on the plight of African children.

binkie

[george c martins]

Thanks very for your comments Helen, robertsloan2 and binkie, I needed those comments for motivation....its past one week and half, and I've been working at night, stoping somewhere between 02am - 03am, and rising up at 07am...

Helen:
I'll like to explain a bit why this painting....It came to me as a vision, believe me, and what trick that vision, was on Saints Fiesta that we have every year in Portugal, during June....its a religious celebration of three saints: S. Peter, S. Jonh and S. Anthony...and me and my family got invited by my daughter's nanny friends and nanny. We where all outside celebrating on the pavement with a barbecue, when a homeless came by streching his hand for a peece of meat and bread...well he stayed there for a while...me and my wife we looked around, everyone singing and dancing like he never existed......I just couldn't hold it any longer....I took him to my side and my wife gave him same of your meat, bread and some wine....
....and in South Africa (at the appertheid time)....besides been only a kid, I always saw the hunger that hooved around them....sorry.... I'm going stop here....this painting that I'm doing its kind of let going my emotions of what I saw near my eyes and see on news and other programms.

Helen: I think this answers what I want from the African child...
The theme of the contest? free imagination...
What's the Old Man thinking?....well Helen let me say that the images that I'm going to post from now on, will answer once more again...and it will be a suprise

robertsloan2: like the way you see the blood drop, the same way I also see it, a reference to the diseases, plus, the last second breath of the African child, but which tries to keep himself alive, and drop of blood shows that he's still alive....

binkie: in matter fact one of the reasons of the painting is to focus on the plight of the African child.

And now for more images of the WIP of my painting...

http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/16-Oct-2008/151331-African_child_V.jpg
http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/16-Oct-2008/151331-African_child_VI.jpg

[george c martins]

...another more images post....

...but I'm about to reveal who's the Old Man.....
Forgive me everyone, but what you about to see is not, I repeat, not againts Christian's believes or believers....theres a subtitle message on the painting....

so here goes...

next posts are the Old Mna's hands process....same colors used on the portrait making, and of course lots and lots of fingers work.


http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/16-Oct-2008/151331-s_hand_I.JPG
http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/16-Oct-2008/151331-s_hand_II.JPG
http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/16-Oct-2008/151331-s_hand_III.JPG
http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/16-Oct-2008/151331-Christ_hand.JPG
http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/16-Oct-2008/151331-Afrinca_child_drop_blood.JPG

...and yes....that circle on the Old Man's wrist is the scar of Christ's crucification

Comments are really wellcome

[bnoonan]

Nice painting style but I have to admit it's too disturbing for me to look at just now. Wow - you really capture a sense of emotion in this piece.

Barb

[ponting]

Well George, this is a powerful image and I am certain it is going to have the impact you are striving for.

From a technical point of view. I feel that the splatter on the hand appears to be a little high and right of where it would sit on the hand and where it would line up below the droplets. I think it would also be wise to do a little research on liquid hitting liquid as I think you could simplify it and still have the same effect with less of a spidery look to it. I have seen many photos on the net of water droplets hitting a surface that might prove useful.

Awesome piece :thumbsup: ....regards, Dianna

[Colorix]

I think I have it figured out, but I won't say, as I will not spoil your surprise.

I can't quote the bible in English, but your story about how you and your wife fed the beggar reminds me of the place that goes something like this: When you gave them food, it was Me you fed. I'm deeply touched by how you two managed to *see* the by God created human in the shape of the beggar.

This is going to be an awfully strong piece, and some are going to be upset, and others will find the imagery apt. You are going to remind us of things we have forgotten, or chosen to not care about. Of course it will upset us.

As the images are and will be very strong, I personally think that you don't have to underline all aspects equally, by using hard contrasts everywhere. Save the darkest darks for where they really help to tell the story, and go a bit smoother and lighter where you don't want the eye to linger. That, I think, would make the important parts stand out. Sort of, if everyone is screaming all at once, you can't hear what is said. I know you're nowhere near completion, but let me use the ribs of the child as an example: You would want enough contrast there to make us see starvation, but, you'd also want the rib-cage to curve back in space. I just think that you're shouting a little bit too loudly where it isn't necessary. I realize that strong emotions flow over, but they can be shown in intensity, in passion, rather than 'loudness', if you get what I mean? The deep shadows around the child's eyes do tell much, so the shadows above the brows could be way less dark, letting us know that the ridge of the brow is part of the skull. Then the effect of the dark hollows of the eyes would really punch us in the guts. Well, unless your aim *is* for us to focus on the ridge of the browbone, of course.

Gee, this is powerful, and a daunting task. Will be back, gotta go now.

Charlie

[george c martins]

Hi Dianna and Charlie. Thank you VERY much for your comments and advices....

Dianna, I'm already doing a research on water droplets and next week re-paint the splatter.... And after I end the painting, I'm going to create kind of a database with drawing and photos and post it at the library of WC....

Charlie, I'll take you advice of darking the places that I want to tell the story, contrasting what's to show and tell....believe me I'll keep now that on mind, because next week its the details section.

Got more to post and everyone to see and C&C are very welcome.

http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/17-Oct-2008/151331-1-4_painting_done.JPG

http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/17-Oct-2008/151331-Sleeve.JPG
http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/17-Oct-2008/151331-sleeve_I.JPG
http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/17-Oct-2008/151331-Cloth.JPG

on this part of the process I used dark chrome yellow, orange glaze, burnt umber, cold grey VI

regards

[george c martins]

Hi everyone


here goes more images of my, well, WIP if you can say that...


I had to change the cloth colors, wasn't liking it...so here goes the changes...

http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/20-Oct-2008/151331-Cloth.JPG
http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/20-Oct-2008/151331-cloth_I.JPG
http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/20-Oct-2008/151331-cloth_II.JPG

I think know it looks better....started also the hang bag that contens the bread that Christ was about to give....

http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/20-Oct-2008/151331-hand_bag.JPG

...and a close up to the bread....not done yet....
http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/20-Oct-2008/151331-Bread.jpg

and that will be all for now...tomorrow will have more to show...

thanks everyone and C&C are very welcome

regards

[george c martins]

Hi once more again...

Done the cross where African Child is....

http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/21-Oct-2008/151331-Cross.jpg
http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/21-Oct-2008/151331-cross_I.JPG
http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/21-Oct-2008/151331-cross_II.JPG
http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/21-Oct-2008/151331-cross_III.JPG

thanks for seeing...

regards

[ponting]

Hi George. I am sure you will catch this yourself later but sooner is better...for the perspective to be correct on the cross...the crossarm on our left would have to end just past the child's elbow or the crossarm on the right would have to extend beyond the edge of the painting. As it is, its a little lop-sided.

Cheers, Dianna :cat:

[Colorix]

Definitely a Work In Progress -- a WIP. You work, and we follow the progress. :-D

With great interest. Keep on!

Charlie

[george c martins]

Hi Dianna

the sooner the better....I've notice that there was something weird with the crossarms, but I've doing the painting at late night, and the anxious of the deadline is more and more....and as I keep focusing on other spots (detailing it now) I think that I'll notice, but obviously....later....

Now with your fantastic observation, you saved my day:clap: .....our left side is the one that's going be change, by the point of the viewer...

Oh, I've already started to change the splatter.... done search and found out that is not that easy to do it simple....wow....(definitly a beginner)

I've also started to darken thae shadows of the light....well I'm going keep posting....

very honoured with your comments and thank you very, very much....

kind regrads

[george c martins]

Hi Charlie

I hope it is a *WIP*, well, I've seen others, and I know that there's missing some description, by at the end I'll will tell whitch of the 17 colors of my 36 pastels set I've used to paint this huge piece.

I'm starting to do what you suggested: I'm darking and lighting and focusing and desfocusing what's to tell the story....

thank you very, very much to comment...its been very important to me....

kind regards

Also saw your *gone fishing*: WOW:thumbsup:

[george c martins]

Hi everyone

Here goes more of my work in progress

detailed the crossarm's wood, but I must say that, the left crossarm is wrong in terms of perspective...It will be change....

http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/22-Oct-2008/151331-Crossarm_wood.jpg
http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/22-Oct-2008/151331-Crossarm_wood_I.JPG
http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/22-Oct-2008/151331-Crossarm_wood_II.JPG
http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/22-Oct-2008/151331-Crossarm_wood_III.JPG

[george c martins]

....oh oh oh...

got more to show....

the ground, the lower part of the painting....

http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/22-Oct-2008/151331-n_stones.JPG
http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/22-Oct-2008/151331-n_Stick.JPG

the rocks and the stick are not yet detailed or finished...its coming
...also done some changing or more work on...this case...the Christ's hair...
http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/22-Oct-2008/151331-s_darking_hair.JPG

[george c martins]

Hi everyone, once more again

don't worry, boring days will end, just more little patience and it will be finished....

Sunday, last touching day....

Now, for more posts:

Rick 'n stick detailed, darker hair and face of Christ and finished the ground and bread (part)....

http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/23-Oct-2008/151331-n_stick_I.JPG

http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/23-Oct-2008/151331-Darking_shapes_Old_Man_II.JPG

http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/23-Oct-2008/151331-Bread_I.JPG

regards

[george c martins]

Done major chnages on the blood splatter....

the old way realy looked wierd, so, I did a research and found out that it's not easy to do one....

I tried my best (still new at this all - no scholl arts), hope it looks better, or more close to real ones....

http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/23-Oct-2008/151331-new_splatter.JPG
http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/23-Oct-2008/151331-new_splatter_I.JPG
http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/23-Oct-2008/151331-new_splatter_II.JPG
http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/23-Oct-2008/151331-new_splatter_III.JPG

well....

[george c martins]

Next...correcting the perspective of the crossarms....

I think I've manage it...

http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/23-Oct-2008/151331-shadowing_left_Crossarm.JPG
http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/23-Oct-2008/151331-shadowing_left_Crossarm_I.JPG
http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/23-Oct-2008/151331-shadowing_left_crossarm_II.JPG
http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/23-Oct-2008/151331-detailing_cross.JPG
http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/23-Oct-2008/151331-detailing_cross_I.JPG

this two last ones, I just shadow it and detailed...

hope everyone is liking the WIP and of course the painting....

I want thank once more those how commented my thread and motivation given....I'll never forget it...

regards

[george c martins]

...okidoki....for today its the last post...tomorow there will be more....

what comes now, is just something that I did'nt want to do, but I never could take it out of my mind...

When I did the scar hole on Christ arm, I just wanted to have that sign to reveal who the Old Man was, but...I wasn't enough...so

here goes the scars on the forehead....must remeber that its not finished yet...to dark....

http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/23-Oct-2008/151331-Scars_on_Forehead.JPG
http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/23-Oct-2008/151331-CU_-_scars_on_forehead.JPG

sorry, now only tomorrow...comments please....I'm at the end....

regards

[ponting]

Oh yes George....that is much better!! Looking good in both the perspective and the splatter. I might suggest softening up the shadow of the staff that runs across his robes. It is so difficult to compose something without actual references. I would suggest you set something up to imitate the lighting of those type of areas. You will find that the coloration,intensity and even width of the shadow varies from where it begins to where it ends.

Keep up the great work...Cheers, Dianna :thumbsup:

[george c martins]

Hi Dianna


thanks for your comments...you can't believe the motivation I'm getting by reading your comments and suggestions, yours and Charlie....

You can't wonder how happy that I'm now, for justing for making tha splatter better and obvious the crossarm.....thank you thank you....

You don't imagine the changes that I gave to the shadow side of his cloths...I made ahuge research on cloths and folds and its values, it's all about values....and everyone say its not easy to play with...

I'm going take all that grey and give a darker value of the color base...honestly I hope I can....

Dianna, if possible, you've might have seen that there's this black painting between the Old Man's arm and the cross...well, I'm planning on painting the background in black. Why? the main idea is to creat more enphasis on both characters...You think it will saty good?


thank you very much for commenting...

(I'm blessed)

kind regards

[Colorix]

Wow, now *that's* a great splatter of blood! Almost like a tidal wave. Cross looks great now, in perspective. I like the scars in the forhead, it strengthens the signals that this is indeed the Christ -- and we need that, as He is usually portrayed as much younger. And I've noticed that you've given him the scars on his wrists instead of through the hands, and this is more right, as the hands would never have worked. (Makes me wonder about all people who've had, or claimed they were, stigmatised...)

Is Sunday your deadline? You'll make it, and it'll be a very strong painting!

Charlie

[george c martins]

Hi Charlie


Thank you for your comments and by keeping seeing the WIP.....I feel honoured.

Yes, Sunday *D Day*. Today I'll post more of my work and then during the weeend I'll take more photos and Monday or Tuesday I'll will post the finished painting.....or on this thread or at a new one....

My worries goes now to the folds....I hope I can achive what Dianna suggested, which is right....I was using to much grey on the dark side and on the light side I've got also to much darks inside the folds....

Yes Charlie....matter fact I had to do does small scar on his foreheaded....I neede them to show who he is realy....

the bg is another worry and it's what delaying at this moment....left it till the end, and no I thought I new what to do with it.... I'm have this feeling and this site of seeing at same time black but a disfouced image...so what I'm going to do, and hope it work, is paint it all in black and then do a very smooth colored strokes of a landscape...

Thank you very very very much...

kind regards

[george c martins]

Hi everyone

Today I'll only post three images

the two hands of the African Child and a picture of the whole painting....

http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/24-Oct-2008/151331-letf_hand.JPG
http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/24-Oct-2008/151331-right_hand_-_AC.JPG
http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/24-Oct-2008/151331-Uploading_.JPG

Done same change sorrounding the dark side folds...took out thebgray and tried my best to use color value.....eh eh first time doing that...

regards

[george c martins]

....my camera worked....here goes my last photos of my WIP....

you'll see now that i started to change the color of the darkside folds....

honestly I like it more than it was

http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/24-Oct-2008/151331-IMGP2501_resize.JPG
http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/24-Oct-2008/151331-IMGP2502_resize.JPG
http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/24-Oct-2008/151331-IMGP2506_resize.JPG


this next image reflects more or less the real colors of the painting....

http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/24-Oct-2008/151331-real_color_resize.JPG

...comments.....

regards

[george c martins]

oh sorry just one more thing....

this is how I'm planning to paint the bg....

http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/24-Oct-2008/151331-bg_resize.JPG

the idea is not to give any kind of details...I don't want to distract the eye of the viewer..

....comments....

regards

[ponting]

Looking good George!!

Cheers, Dianna :wave:

[george c martins]

Hi Dianna


thank you, thank you, thank you...

Monday or Tuesday I'll be posting the last changes and post the the finished painting....to be commented.....

then I'll be, waiting nervously, for two weeks to know what the jury's position....

well just like Charlie more or less said: consider the contest as a way to achive more exprience....

thank you very much Dianna

what a inspiration...

kind regards

[george c martins]

Hi everyone

As I said last Friday, here goes the last WIP of my painting...

it's the background....

I've already finished and today I'm gong to give it away to the contest...

wish me luck....

http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/28-Oct-2008/151331-Bg.jpg
http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/28-Oct-2008/151331-bg_I.JPG
http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/28-Oct-2008/151331-bg_II.JPG
http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/28-Oct-2008/151331-bg_III.JPG
http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/28-Oct-2008/151331-bg_IV.JPG
http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/28-Oct-2008/151331-bg_V.JPG
http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/28-Oct-2008/151331-bg_VI.JPG
http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/28-Oct-2008/151331-bgVII.JPG
http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/28-Oct-2008/151331-bg_VIII.JPG

...and that's done...................

colors use, beside white, black and permanente red of Rembrants.....

Faber - Castell Soft pastels:

Ivory, Cream, cadmium yellow, orange glaze, permanent carmine, light purple pink, violet, colbalt blue, small blue, helio turquoise, caput mortuum, light flesh, cinnamon, sanguine, light yellow, burnt umber, cold grey II, cold grey VI....

...and lot of finger work....

regards

[george c martins]

...and now the finished WIP :clap: :clap: :clap: :clap: :clap:

http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/28-Oct-2008/151331-real_painting_resize.JPG


I hope everyone liked seen the WIP.....

thank you very much for the comments..., they helped very much....

regrads

[george c martins]

Hi everyone

finally finished my huge painting for a contest....

C&C are very welcome...

http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/28-Oct-2008/151331-real_painting_resize.JPG

regards to all

[mrking]

Very clean and very illustration like. I had my concerns when seeing the WIP but your technique is very good. Congratulations.

I do not know anything about the subject so I cannot comment on that, sorry.

[ponting]

What a lot of work and heart you have put into this wonderful piece George. I wish you the very best in the competition but should it not take a place, I am sure you will derive much satisfaction from knowing that will be an inspiration to many. :clap: :clap: :clap:
Cheer, Dianna :cat:

[george c martins]

HI Dianna


Thank you very much Dianna for your kind and fantastic words...which gives me inspiration...
I do hope that it will bring some inspiration.....for me it was....

thank you for you knowledge (?) and motivation


kind regards

[george c martins]

Hi Michael

the subject?

well, I'll try to explain it...

first place: the title of the painting : "Forgive me for..."

Subject: hunger! is it still possible to save?

Christ (the old man) tries all his effort to save the African Child to starv (?) hunger, to death, so he breaks his bread, but as he looks up to the child's face, he sees that his bleeding, so he quickly tries to stop his blood, kinda saving the childs death, but, that's becaming impossible, because the African child his defenitly dieing (dead), and that's the last droplets of his life...

why Christ asks for forgiveness? can any tell me?

I feel glad that after all you liked....

regards

[Mary Brigid]

Wow George this is excellent. I find it has a 3D effect. Almost like a carving.
I think you have a great take on the subject of hunger.
Mary Brigid

[Colorix]

Wow!

That black background really suits this painting. I see a hint of a landscape to the lower right, and the effect is as if you've lit the scene with a floodlight, directing all focus on what is happening.

You have your own style, and it is consistent all through the painting. At the same time, I find many echoes in it. I've mentioned some before, so this time I'll mention the stylization of the icons of the eastern churches, especially in the folds, but they also go back on late medieval folds, late Gothic, which, considering the subject, is apt. I don't know much about Portugese art, but Spanish religious art often portrays blood, tears, suffering -- and your painting echoes that and fit in. And, of course, it is a highly Symbolic painting.

Yes, there are some issues in technique and about effect, but as you've already entered it, I won't mention them.

The message is universal, encompassing all of mankind. And somehow, you managed to make the child into a Christ, not because of the obvious cross and blood and that, but because you somehow made the child express a mildness and a love, of Divine nature. It does look both apathic and alert in the same time. That, I think, is the huge strength of this painting -- that incorporated (literally) a paradox. That is what lifts this to a real work of art.

And may you win the competition!

Charlie

[dustybritches]

Hi George! Your work is breathtaking! Is it truly 375 *feet* by 275 *feet*?? I'm having a hard time imagining such a scale! What surface is it painted on and how long did the entire work take you?
Charlie, I understand your reluctance to comment on the work after its submission to a contest, but for those of us who are learning, would you mind pointing out what you might have done differently?
Again, George, I'm an absolute beginner and my opinion lacks worth, but your passion and your talent are undeniable. Fantastic job!

[Artistammy]

Very emotional. I like that you have your own style also.
Tammy

[george c martins]

Hi

Mary, Charlie, dustybritches and Tammy for your kind and fantastic comments.

Mary, about the "3D effect", thank you very much....I do realy hope that subject wakes up emotions....to what still hoovers...yes I had to give this light landscape into it...if didn't do that, I believe that it would have breaked the piece...

Charlie, I feel glad that the black works on the painting, because Iwas realy concern on that....as dustybritches says, please, if may point out some issues techniques and effect, so I also can learn and do better on other....

dustybritches....its no feet....no no no...its inches...well we here in Portugal don't often use inches or feet, itsmore "cm", "meters" and "Km", but for the frame I had to cut a bit the piece so it became to 144cmx107cm, thats 360'x267,5' inches....not big, but worky...
I used several Faber-Castell soft pastel and some Rembrants on Canson paper, but on bcakside of it. It took me three weeks, doing four hours on it each day. Didn't work on weekends, expect on the last weekend. Dustybritchers, believe me, I'm also a bedinner on this, as in pastel as in artistical drawing...all I do, is lot of reseach....and every day drawings...

Tammy I feel touched when say "very emotional", thank you...

regards to all

and I'll like to say a big THANK YOU to all who comment and gave me inspiration and motivation to end this huge piece of pastel....you all don't imagine the strenght given...

[binkie]

George, I really like your style. This is a disturbing piece that stirs a lot of emotion. It certainly squeezes my heart. I'll keep my fingers crossed that you win!!

binkie

[dustybritches]

Thank you for your answers to my questions, George. And consider my fingers crossed for a win also! I am in complete agreement with those who have commended your personal style. It's quite an accomplishment!