Portrait Artist Forum - Hello from New Jersey!

Hello! I am so happy to have been accepted into the forum. Thank you for accepting me!

I wanted to introduce myself....I am a part-time portrait artist (have to work full time to pay the bills :D). I take commissions and work in graphite and colored pencil. I am always looking for ways to improve. I still struggle with hair sometimes but for the most part think I have a pretty good handle on the whole rendering thing. Below are two portraits I have done already this year.

One is my daughter (she has the sleeve over her face) and the other is half of a commission I am currently working on. I still have to complete her sister. Both are 11 x 14 and are done in graphite. I hope to someday when I retire, be able to dedicate myself fully to portraiture. It is not a hobby for me, I am 100% serious about it.

It is so nice to be a part of this forum and cannot wait to read about and meet everyone here!