3 year anniversary!

This month marks my three year anniversary of studying at the Hein Academy of Art! I dug up an old self-portrait from college and it's kind of amazing for me to see how much I've improved. My progress has been so gradual that I didn't realize how much I've learned until I see the difference side by side. 

AFTER

BEFORE

Below is a progression of  self-portraits I've drawn or painted, starting with my most recent, and working back 18 years! All of these were done from life, looking in a mirror.

January 2013 (after 2.5 years at the Hein Academy)

April 2012 (after 2 years at the Hein Academy)

2004 (during college)

1998 (senior in high school)

1996 (sophomore in high school)

4 paintings for four 8-year-olds

A few years ago I started a tradition of doing a little painting for each of my nieces and nephews when they turn eight years old. I got behind last year and just had two more nephews turn eight this spring so I took a couple days last week to catch up and get their paintings done.

It was actually quite fun doing some paintings outside of my school assignments. It was liberating not having to make them PERFECT...I just stopped when I thought they looked good. It was also satisfying finishing them in such a short amount of time, which doesn't happen with my assignments.

These paintings are each about 6-8 inches wide. Cute little things.