My Friends: A Good Year!

For many of my friends, this year was a busy and exciting time that lead to one of the most important moments in life: Graduation. Everyone looks forward to being a Senior in high school! After all, Seniors rule the school, and there are so many activities to take part in and decisions to make. What will you wear to Prom? What photographer will you choose for Senior pictures? How will you design your ring? Although for me, that choice was made in my Junior year.

If memory serves, my graduation was a 3-day event -- Ring night, Senior night and the actual Graduation ceremony. Unfortunately, at my school, a graduating senior couldn't march with his or her fellow classmates unless they participated in these ceremonies. Sometimes schedules conflict, and so another decision needed to be made. Needless to say, I marched. But as the school year neared its end, I realized how swiftly four years have gone by. Its hard saying goodbye to favorite teachers and to your friends. One more decision: What next?

All of my friends have graduated from my former school, and I wanted to do something special to mark the excitement of being a graduate. This is an example of my gift to them.

Congratulations Class of 2006!

My Future Masterpiece!

Have you ever been in the middle of an assignment and suddenly *bam!* had a great idea for an exciting, new project? That happens to me alot. Usually, I'm able to finish what I've started, but I've had this craving for this particular art project that won't be satisfied until completed. It's one of my ambitions, but will become my masterpiece! After all, it's modeled from a masterpiece by one of the world's greatest artists!

John Singer Sargent was an American painter in the late-1800s to the mid-1900s. The portrait shown is the famous "Lady Agnew of Lochnaw". It currently hangs in a museum in Scotland. Sargent was a man of deep convictions and would not give in to please his patron. A difficult thing for me; besides seeing myself as my worst critic, I want all of my clients to be more than pleased with my work.

This beautiful art piece was modernized in a recent issue of a bridal magazine. Unfortunately, my 'great idea' didn't come to me until too late and other issues of the magazine had been published. So now it comes to me to reproduce what I saw from that magazine and put the face of "Lady Agnew" on canvas once more. This time, for the 21st century!

My First Blog Entry!

Hi there. My name is Nichole, and this is my blog. I'm here to tell you a little about myself and my love of painting. I find painting to be relaxing, as well as a way to challenge myself. One of my first endeavors at painting was at the age of five (don't laugh). I remember painting on a white wall of my house. I don't even remember what the painting was supposed to be, but I remember I was having fun! And years later, I still feel that way about every chance I get to paint.

I started taking my painting more seriously in high school in the VTAP (Visually Talented Art Program). My teacher told me to focus on portraiture because she felt that was my area of expertise. I actually didn't want to work with portraits because I felt my paintings didn't accurately portray the subjects. Besides, I couldn't see my grade depending on portraits (hahah). But... I tried it anyway. And here I am. And I love it!

I hope you come back to keep up with my blog. I'll try to add new work on a regular basis. Feel free to click the above image to see a larger version.