What I did over Christmas vacation....
 

Actually, it was before Christmas. I have never had much in the way of commissions and all of a sudden, I was swimming in smaller ones, all to be done by Christmas, of course. I'll attach a few here....

and a few more....

Hi Julie,
It seems to me you used your time very well these days.
Very nice works!

Thanks!

These aren't involved pieces, but they mean a lot to the families. I had one mother cry (with tears of happiness) when she saw her child's portrait. That's a special memory.

Julie, looks like you've been busy! You've created several lovely pieces in such a short time. I especially like the three single pencil (?) portraits because of the way you have evoked a feeling of animation and personality in these children's faces. It's so rewarding when the parents love what you have done.

Thanks, Alexandra. Actually, it's charcoal. I'm trying to remember all I did - here's the tally as best as I can recall:

10 single charcoal head and shoulders
1 double charcoal
10 single pastel head and shoulders
1 double pet pastel
1 triple, still in progress (have some fixes to do)

Exhausting, especially as I wasn't expecting it and had planned other things to do, like a workshop to attend. I am the featured portrait artist at a Christmas charity event here in town, and this is my second year doing it. So word got out. Plus some of the charity auction coupons I donated are beginning to be used, so more work is coming in. Exciting but tiring.

Julie, congratulations on a hugely successful month! I really like the sensitive soft line in your drawings.

Thanks, Linda.

It meant that I can legitimately continue to give myself "business" status this year with the IRS. :sunnysmil As I understand it, 3 out of 5 years have to show a profit. This is year no. 3 for me. The first two, especially year no. 1, were in the hole due to buying all the necessary supplies.

Wow Julie, you have been busy!! Congrats! Do you mean to say you've done all that in one month? Good for you!

Actually, the Christmas show was early November, so there was a little more time than that. But it still was a crazy time.