7″x5″ Pastel on sanded paper by Dana (an open studio visitor)
One of my favorite things about running an open studio is helping people realize images that are in their heads. It is like solving a puzzle for me. This study as done on one such afternoon. Dana sat at my open studio, having just lost her uncle Elwin. She wasn’t a portrait artist, she had limited time, and a limited selection of pastels, but a desire to express. So I sat with her and suggested she do a value study, in colors that weren’t flesh tones just somehow represented her Uncle. As she worked she told me about her uncle.

About Elwin (in Dana’s words): He was just short of his 88th bday. He was born on a farm in southeast NE and raised thru the depression. Since I can remember, he’s been a treasure hunter. Hugely interested in rocks of all kinds and rock hunting… also collected antiques and memorabilia. He had a great eye for finding something that has value. Traveled the world leading people on tours. He had over 70,000 photos on file, and was the go to guy for entities that needed a photo of any given situation (for a price). He was a top seller in eBay until the day he died.

Great painting Dana!