My artwork begins with a reference photograph taken by me, unless otherwise noted in the description. I then draw the image and use a technique of shading, blending and layering with mixed media to create the final piece. I enjoy the process of taking my work from the beginning composition and photograph to the final finished artwork. I have been drawing since childhood and worked primarily in graphite and charcoal. I always wanted to paint and create in color. I tried oil painting, acrylic and watercolor, but never found a medium that was a 'fit' for...more