Commission for a father's retirement present. My client originally asked that I make sure to exaggerate his chin as it is the family trademark. Given that license, I went for it. Luckily I sent a rough sketch first, because both she and her mother asked that I not exaggerate it SO much. They also wanted me to make him look younger. Women seem to want everyone to look better, not just themselves!!

Birthdays seem to come around extremely often, and here it is, time for the annual card to my sister Karen. We both read the Hunger Games trilogy recently, so this is a little play on that idea, with reaching the half century mark playing center stage.

Heather spent this last summer in Italy as a nanny, so I incorporated a well known tourist attraction into the holiday theme. Funny that the tower leans in the candle holder as well...art imitating life!

Kristi loves working at the Cloverleaf bakery where she is a barista creating artwork in customers lattes, so I decided it would be applicable to paint her a holiday cup of joe to soothe her for those occasions when a grinch comes through the door.

Lauren is spending her Christmas in Brazil this year. The family she stays with have ranches and farms which she thrives on because of her love for animals and getting down and dirty...so she gets a jingle bell calf this year!

Since I abhor shopping and can never figure out what to get that my girls would appreciate, I resort to a hand painted card with money...then they can go out and get something they like. Here are this years additions.

The girlfriend wasn't too thrilled with my first caricature of her boyfriend. She didn't get the golf club on his head gag, so I did a second one with just him being a chef. Though I sent a preliminary sketch for approval this time, and it was okayed before final painting, she and her sister still seemed less than enthusiastic when it arrived by mail. Oh well...can't hit a home run 100% of the time, and at least they paid for both.

My sister Shauna had a close encounter with a bear while hiking on a trail somewhere in the Teton National Forest with her son Justin, so I thought this year's birthday card should reflect her rather frightful experience, also perfect because her BD is so close to Halloween.

My oldest daughter has been living with a family near Pisa Italy as a nanny for their little girl. She has been loving her experience and has had some awesome personal growth, so for her birthday I sent this painting which I felt represented her transformations as a maturing young adult.