I have recently begun the color phase of my recent bathing swan miniature commission. I like the way it’s turning out. A photo of the color painting is now posted next to the sketch in my studio’s commissions page if you’d like to take a look. I’ve just started the 20×30 swan painting. I chose to paint a little different pose and a different species then I normally do — a trumpeter swan this time. I also chose to start the piece without a traditional drawing of pencil or similar method. I began by drawing with my brush. Beginning in this way is less forgiving of course, but I like the fluidity of the "sketch". I know of several portrait painters that work in this way (one of them is Daniel Greene who my mother studied with), so I thought it might be interesting to try. I did start my painting "Cockatoo Talk" without a drawing, just began painting, but that was because I couldn’t find a pencil. I am also working on a squirrel painting from some of the references I shot while we were on the east coast. One thing you can be sure of in Minnesota this time of year is that it will be chilly. My family and I went up north a few days ago for a photoshoot. The Twin Cities area doesn’t have a lot of snow or ice, so we had to travel north a bit, which also means colder temperatures. The thermometer didn’t rise above 27° during the entire shoot — making for some numb fingers & toes. I could have taken a break to warm up — which, yes I should have :) & was reminded of — but I was having so much fun I couldn’t bring myself to quit. We did come away with some very nice photo references in spite the cold. The area had a nice subtle look with a lot of delicate tones — very inspiring! Just about all of our shots turned out. I took about 1,300 in the 3hr shoot. More ideas to paint!! "Let the beauty of what you love, be what you do." — unknown