Tim, that's magnificent. And yes, I knew it was all painted; the level of realism is approximately the same throughout so it all read like artwork and not frame. Bravo!

Tim - this reminds me of the one you did of your wife sitting in the wooden crate window which was equally amazing. This looks somewhat like her..was she the model? Don't think I've seen the other one posted here...could you post so others could appreciate?

Tim,
this is a very beautiful peace of art. Actually it seems to me that you made different techniques and strokes here unlike your previous works that can be seen in your web. I thought it was a picture because it looks so real and i like it so much. How did you do it anyway?
God bless in your career,
Xander

Thanks all
 

Xander, interesting question you ask. The brushstrokes are thicker than one might expect from the photos and I believe this helps with the light concept. Some parts (the darks) are very thin. Then bright passages very thick so the light refracts from the strokes and helps these areas appear even brighter. This is an old trick of course that has been done since 1600. But, it still works.

I have a ton of time in this piece (for me)...maybe that accounts for some of these differences you note. Here's the model and the box she posed in.

Thanks to you all for the nice remarks, Tim

Hey Tim -- love the closeups

and Cool that you built that box for her to pose in! (But who's that in there, Sasquatch?!?)

Scale
 

This may show some scale and how the panel is built.

Who?
 

Terri, you'd recognize that paunch anywhere wouldn't you?

Just out of curiosity - how long could she hold that pose for you at a time? It must have slowed down the process a bit I would imagine.

Cool hat
 

I superglued her hands to the bar and then tided the bar to the wood. She was still for many hours although she did wilt a bit. But she never ever complained. She of course still has the crow bar.

Well, would recognize that blur anywhere... :sunnysmil