18

I painted this of my niece as she was turning 18 and was worried about her future. She stopped by my studio after school one afternoon to talk, and between some laughs and some tears, I snapped a few pictures of her many moods. The next day I started this painting while she and her feelings were fresh in my mind. I tried to convey her worries as well as the angst every 18 year old goes through as they embark on a new life. I kept the colors somber, but wanted to use the pastels in a bold and confident way, helping to express the mood of my subject. Painted on Sennelier La Carte paper using a variety of soft to medium hard pastels including, Great American, Terry Ludwig and Gerault.