What's the Difference?

This is the same painting at different stages of completion. It difficult to know when to stop. Click on the image to enlarge it.

This and That

Along with the fish I decided to widen my painting horizons to the sugar birds of St John. They are so fast it's difficult to photograph them. They flock by the dozens (decided 3 was enough) at Maho Bay Campground to get the sugar water the campers put in saucers for them.






The second is a beautiful child I photographed in the Greenlake park swimming pool in Seattle. Her father came to ask my intentions and allowed me to paint her. Abandoned in a doorway in Ethopia, she was adopted by loving parents. You'll see her in the frog painting as well. Yes, her eyes are just as dark, exotic, and entrancing.














The third is the final result of the 4th of July painting entered earlier. A good friend suggested adding the rollercoaster in the background. I think it works. I tried to put a few finishes on the girl's nose and wound up creating a nightmare for myself by wandering all over her face and aging her at least 5 years. I never recaptured the original expression on her face. For me, it's better to walk away from a painting and never "fix" anything.