Nixed by Mr. Fuz Zy Pants

Mr. Fuz Zy Pants, charcoal, thirty minute study, 9 x 11.

I have no idea what the measurement points are for a cat, but I'll figure them  out.
This drawing is my first pass ever at a cat.As I was drawing him, I felt my nose clogging up.
He's a long hair on my long list of allergies, an itchy addition to my full Fall/Winter schedule.

My Fall/Winter Workload:

Steve and Zac , oil on canvas, 9 x 11
It is an afternoon away from "done and move on."

My Three Guys, oil, 18 x 30,

This painting has been patiently sitting in the studio waiting for the big finish.
I'm going to keep them rough, just the way they were started. They are my first
attempt at taking liberties with a reference photo. Michael was a seat away
from his brothers; I brought him in closer. Steve also sat a bit away from Jon.
All three were being patient with me as I took the photograph of the three
of them together like they were, but aren't anymore. 

I've Gotta Crow has  to be painted. I like the composition
of this charcoal. JD's pose could be any twelve year old boy. They
are full  life and not so full of themselves as they like to pretend.

And  We, me, wants to do this one. After the cat.

My granddaughter nixed the four-in-one portrait of herself. She thought it might look like she was too full of herself; she wanted a portrait of her cat, Mr. Fuz Zy Pants. I'm on it; she had a point. I'm not a cat person. I AM, however, a Taylor person. So I did chose a reference photo from one of her FB albums that has her in it. Now we'll both be happy.

I can tolerate cats when my GD is in the picture.
My reference photo for Mr. Fuz Zy Pants.It's loaded with half values

I'm going to do the four-in-one  of her for myself. Portrait artists need samples of their work, a resume,  a portfolio. This is my objective.How else do you find your niche  than by painting  your genre-of-choice non-stop?

My dance card for the Fall and Winter season is filled : Steve and Zac; My Guys; I've Gotta Crow (JD); and We. Very ambitious. Maybe overly so? Nevertheless, that load, and maybe a pastry or two thrown in  for fun, should keep me happily busy till Spring. 

I think I'm out of my mind. An old broad with pipe dreams. But portraiture keeps me thinking; keeps me intrigued; keeps me eager to go down to the studio--indeed, wakes me up in the morning.   I may have bitten off more than I can chew, but I'm
really enjoying the meal.

I saw Mary Martin in Peter Pan on the stage. I was immediately flown away to Neverland with Peter.  A cherished, specially guarded part of me still lives there. It's the part of me that paints pastries.