Panel Progress, "The 'Mary' in Kimberly"

I'm working behind the scenes to enter two portraits in a competition, but here's a small progress report on my panel painting, working further here on the hands.

"Mary in Amma in Kimberly" (final version)

"Mary in Amma in Kimberly," 19 1/2" x 25 1/2", pastel on La Carte sanded pastel paper

(click on image for a larger view)

More pastel in progress ~ Kimberly

pastel in progress (working right to left helps me avoid smudging, since I am left-handed)

*I'm also honored to receive an award, created by Kim Ratigan, which is being passed from artist to artist in honor of their passion for painting from Akiko Watanabe.  The receiving artist is asked to acknowledge the artist who passed on the award (please check out Akiko's wonderful art by clicking on her name), name 7 loves, and pass it forward to 7 artists.  (I received this same award for my Ruby Slippers blog too, from Deb Kierce this week, and will post in response to that on The Ruby Slippers following the end of my spring sale on April 5.)

7 loves:   1) water  2) the color viridian green  3) the color coral melon  4) Mary  5) Amritanandamayi Ma  6) Mother Meera  7) God

Most of the artists I'd like to acknowledge have received this award, but there are 3 I would like to pass it on to:  my friend Bill Mundy, a great miniature portrait painter, and my friends 

Wes and Rachelle Siegrist a very special husband and wife team of wildlife miniature painters.

Second try - More on the Mary in Kimberly

(click on image for a larger view)

This image was hard to capture, so here is another try with my camera, in case it's helpful.

Discovered today when I logged onto this blog that all my posts had disappeared!  Quelle nightmare!  Luckily, I figured out how to bring them back, but sorry if you logged on to find nothing at all here earlier today.  

Happy Valentine's Day to everyone!