Neglected Artwork

I have a confession.  I have had the same picture stuck on my easel now for over... um..... I think 3 years?!  It sat in the same unfinished state for so long because I was really not very happy with how meticulous I was being on the background and I just lost interest in it.  I have done a few other things off of my easel, but those were mainly example artworks for my students and I don't really count most of those as serious efforts.  But lately, I have had several painting ideas floating around in my head and I need my easel back.  So, it is time to revisit this artwork and finish it.

 I am going to rework the background into a more painterly, impressionistic looking style, and I think that will help it out.  It is a picture of my two boys one Sunday morning putting their ties on.  I thought it would make a good subject matter in a sort of Norman Rockwell sort of way.  This is being done in soft pastels, one of my favorites!  Technically, pastels are considered a drawing tool, but I can't help but think of it as a painting.

 Will

 Matt

The reference photo was taken years ago, when Matt was a teen and Will was still in Elementary school.  Now Matt is 23 and married, and Will is going into high school and will get his driver's permit next week!  Ahhhh!   Time goes so fast!

I'll post more updates as I continue to work on this one!