What I did over Christmas vacation....

[Alexandra Tyng]

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.

[Julie Deane]

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.

[Linda Brandon]

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

[Julie Deane]

Thanks, Linda.

It meant that I can legitimately continue to give myself "business" status this year with the IRS. 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.

[Terri Ficenec]

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

[Julie Deane]

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

[Kimberly Dow]

Wow Julie! Rock on....

have you recovered yet?