Super proud of this one - my process is to look at my reference photo and contemplate/ruminate on it until the image goes from my head to my heart. This one went all the way through to my heart because after thinking on it a couple weeks, I had this baby so clearly not just in my mind where I think logically about where the shadows go, but in my heart. Since I felt like I knew her - my "under painting" actually captured her essence in the first layer. This NEVER happens. My art teacher was with me the day I painted this, and when I was done she said "Don't touch this!" Art is spiritual, and once in a while it can feel like magic. That's how I felt when I painted this - I couldn't do this one again if I tried.