Kiddo and Chase

This past December 26th was my half-sister's Sweet 16th birthday, and I knew exactly what I was going to do...until one of my coworkers suggested I sketch her and not a delayed project involving her and her boyfriend. That being said, I focused on her love of Equestrian riding and thankfully had a photo she had me take four months back of her and her favorite horse, Chase Your Dreams. The image was so intimate that it was screaming to be captured. So, over the course of two weeks, I used every trick I've learned up till now and created one of my best pieces to date. Etched on 9 x 12" Bienfang with mixed media, I'm extremely proud of the blending I did with my Copics and the decision to minimize the use of Microns and bring up the background with Prismacolor-rendered edges to distinguish it from the foreground. I've gotten dozens of compliments from friends and colleagues, but my sister's hugs were my best and most cherished response of all. Especially knowing she hung it in a special place in her room. Even her mother and stepfather asked me how I pulled it off. I love you, Kiddo. Happy birthday.