I have some new photos of the work in progress on "Faithful Nichols II". The graphics are nearly complete and I'm working on the metal on the gun.  I like to paint the highlights very thick; I tried to get an image of that. There is still some work to do, but it is getting close.  I have the frame built, but I need the weather to warm up a bit before I can paint it in my spray booth, aka the backyard shed!

The last photo is of me using butterfly binoculars to view the detail in the still life.  They focus as close as 18" away from the subject, and from that distance you can see magnified dust! They are very cool to bring to art museums too!

If you are an emerging artist living in the Chicago area, take a few minutes and apply for the 2016 Luminarts Visual Arts Fellowship Competition. It is free to submit and the awards are outstanding.  As a 2015 Luminarts Fellow, I can tell you this is an origination you want to be a part of. Be sure to submit before the March 18th deadline.