I have taken a nice long break after painting all year for the art exhibition last July. I am now finally working on another piece. It is my Uncle Dick "Richard Moles" playing his Accordion. I'm painting this for him because it is my own birthday gift to him. It is proving to take quite a while. There is allot of detail in the Accordion. But I am enjoying this peice because there is feeling and love involved. This man is so special to me.

I find it difficult to paint commissions because of the pressure involved. It takes the joy away. I am usually asked, how much longer will it take? When will it be ready?
I am thinking about not painting commissions anymore. Not unless they pay a really fair price. To many people do not realize the work that goes into a portrait. Figured up, every inch of the painting can take an hour. If I charge even less that minimum wage, you are looking at a very expensive piece. If painting becomes work for me instead of a true pleasure, I certainly expect to be paid at least $5.00 and hour for painting a portrait.  That would be $5.00 a square inch.
Otherwise, I will just work on the paintings I love to paint the most.