"Here is a picture of my mom.  I know you don't need history like with my grandmother but I thought you might want to know a little about your subject. This is Rita Catherine Farrell. I am sure it was taken before her marriage. She was born in Detroit Michigan as one of 5 children. She and her older sister Margaret were the only ones who survived childhood. 3 siblings died of tuberculosis. After school, she became a hairdresser and had a shop in her house. After marrying my father she had 6 children and remained a homemaker. There were three girls and three boys. She had a beautiful singing voice. At my brother's wedding, she sang Sunrise Sunset from Fiddler on the Roof. She loved musicals like Carousel, the King and I, and opera. Mario Lanza was a favorite and later in life, she loved Pavorotti. She was a skilled seamstress. She made all our clothes and taught her 3 daughters to sew as well. She also taught her sons to cook. She loved Vogue patterns and was stylish in her dress and loved hats. She was an avid reader and passed that love on to her children as well. When she came to visit me she fell in love with the Tetons and with wolves." ~ Kate Robertson

"​My career and work has evolved over time.  I began my career as an ICU Trauma bedside nurse.  This evolved over time into the business aspect of caring for patients and morphed into work as a corporate executive who was responsible for patient advocacy and professional relations. 
 
In 2018, I was part of a major downsizing.  Thankfully, I received a year’s severance and went to art school.  This is my current career.
 
I will say what has been a consistent part of anything I’ve done over the years is volunteerism (be it the President of our national nursing organization, one of the global regional Chairs of the Healthcare Businesswomen’s Association, or serving on various national boards of directors as a few examples) and working on social justice issues such as gender equity, diversity, inclusion and belonging, and mentoring." ~ Pamela Madrid

I don't often paint males, but since I have painted the rest of one of my closest friend's family I couldn't not paint her husband, too. It is definitely a challenge for me, though each portrait is a challenge on its own in any case, but it is a good challenge. I have to remember to look at shapes, contrast, highlights & shadows. And, oddly enough, I love painting lips/mouths and since his are an interesting shape, I enjoyed working on them, too. Anyway, I hope he likes it.