It’s never easy, drawing someone smiling. I know I sound like a broken record, but it’s true. This portrait of Mariella’s daughter, Erica, is going to sweat me because of the big smile. Erica has an off-center face as well. I create a grid to get my proportions correct and still I feel the eyes don’t line up properly. I can’t insist that Erica come to Bixio and sit for me, this is an apology gig. No, I must use the little photo Mariella gave me and get the most from it.

Anyway, there’s something cool about the “snapshot” portrait. I will take an image which has already been stamped, use my skills with line and volume and render it anew. It’s just that the pressure’s on and this must be perfect!