Final Project - November-December 2018 (Drawing I)
My grandfather on my dad’s side, known affectionately as PaPa to me and my sister, is someone I have always looked up to. Growing up we spent many Sunday dinners and yearly sleepovers with big breakfasts and fun adventures at his house on the other side of town. My grandfather is the definition of patience, a trait which it seems I am the only family member to have remotely received. His kindness and compassion have taught me endlessly about how to treat others and his hard work and drive has showed me how to be motivated. He is someone in my life I have always felt immensely close to. The photograph which this painting is based off of was taken during a family trip to Alaska for his 70th birthday. I chose to paint this photograph because this year is his 75th birthday. This painting is done in acrylic paint on canvas. This project was a challenge for me in many ways. First, I had never done a portrait. Second, I had never done an acrylic painting. And third, I had never done a work of art of this size before. However, as much as it was a challenge for me, it was exciting and fun to work on and complete. Though time consuming, I found much pride in my developing skills as an artist as I observed and photographed the progress I made each day. This portrait is meant as a piece to showcase someone important in my life and challenge myself as an artist, two things which I feel I have succeeded in.