“Annette” 70 x 45 inch watercolor with pen and ink drawing

I don’t know that I so much completed this drawing today as simply called it ‘done’. Either way, I’m moving on! “Annette” is my mother-in-law and she does NOT appreciate this portrait at all — she thinks it makes her look too old and wrinkly (she’s only eighty-one years old, after all) and just hates it! But _I_ love this image of her even though I had trouble with the drawing from beginning to end! I composed the image during two and a half weeks in December and began actually drawing and painting it January 2, 2008. I stopped work on it this morning after 592 hours of continuous drawing and 34 Sakura Jelly Roll .3mm ink pens. The Sakura pens are advertised to write to the last drop, but that last drop usually happens LONG before the ink runs out — VERY annoying! Still searching for that ‘ideal’ writing instrument which leaves a permanent mark, very fine line, and writes reliably until the ink runs out. Not easy to find!

"Annette", Jan 27, 2008, 70 x 45 inches, watercolor with pen and ink drawing on Arches 300lb. hot press watercolor paper, collection: Barkley (the largest employee-owned advertising agency in the USA)

detail of "Annette" showing lines and colors

"Annette" next to "Crosby" on 2nd floor of my studio this morning