I have been working on toddler and baby dolls the last few days and I'm feeling very inspired to do portraits of my own children. I did many portraits before I had children of my own. I think it is time to create some portraits of my children while they are so young, so I can cherish their beautiful, innocent faces and pass them down to them when they are grown.
I'm imagining elegant pastel portraits on warm toned paper, half complete, with very lifelike face and loose sketches of clothing and no background. I want them large, almost life size, and framed huge, with wide white matts and chunky silver frames to hang in my bedroom. Another creative project to add to my list!
Today I went out with the family for dinner and to a student art fair at the local high school. It was quite nice, and very large, with art from students 6th grade through high school. It reminded me of the many art fairs I had been in at that age. I browsed around working my way towards the two pieces of my 12 year daughter's. As we neared the table to where her piece was displayed we were elated when we saw that she had won 1st place!! My daughter, my little girl, growing up, and now she won one of only a few first place ribbons! Her piece was the only paper mache chosen from her 7th grade class to represent the project. It was a Fanta pop can and it looked amazing! Her other painting was a monochromatic painting of a fox, also executed very well. There were many budding artists there at the show, and I hope that they continue to follow their passion and develop as artists. Whether they choose art as a career or not, I hope that they continue to appreciate the process of creating. 
