Norene 2017

This is my annual portrait of my wife, Norene.  I’ve been a member of a national portrait society for a few years.  I’ve attended their conventions.  Each year I look at their award winners.  I’ve gotten quite turned off by them because they look exactly like photographs.  I think there are  a lot of beautiful photo portraits, but I feel a painted portrait should look like paint.  There is a beauty in an oil painting that a photo doesn’t have.  It’s like spoken word versus singing.  The painting is the singing version.  I prefer painted portraits.