Parting with Illusions by Barbara Fox

Figurative and portrait work has never been my strong suit, even after many years of practice during my weekly life drawing sessions. I started getting serious about it while working at the Ani Academy. My first serious hyper-realism charcoal drawing was chosen by the Art Renewal Center for a purchase prize. A few more drawings focused on the figure, (including some drawings of sculpture). This drawing, "Parting With Illusions" is my largest and most complicated.

My model is Quincey, who I’ve known since she was 3 or 4. She was a very good sport to hop in the pond on a chilly May afternoon. I had an idea of how I wanted her to pose in the water, but, as so often happens, the candid photos I took were much more interesting to me. From this one photo session, I wound end up portraying Quincey in 7 different drawings and paintings…. so far. A lovely young woman in a beautiful setting; how can I resist?