Finished - Carter portrait no.3

Here is the completed portrait of Carter. It is A4 on Arches paper and is done with graphite pencils. I'm really pleased with it. I can see my drawing improving every time which is really good. I just need to do one this size of my daughter Tayla and then get them both framed to give to my Dad as his 60th birthday present.

Speaking of Carter, I thought that I would show one of his latest artworks. It is acrylic on canvas 300 x 200mm and is currently hanging on our dining room wall. He loves painting and drawing and he got all inspired after we visited The Original Art Sale on Sunday and as soon as we got home, he wanted his paints. I point around to all the paintings in the house and say who has painted them and he really likes seeing his painting on the wall. He was so cute at the art sale, we let him walk rather than putting him in the stroller with Tayla and we told him at the start that he couldn't touch so he didn't. He would run up really close to a painting, and then clasp his hands behind his back and stare intently at it before moving on to the next. He found some really colourful textured pieces that he loved. So for a 21 month old, I think he definitely has some appreciation of art.

I haven't done much art over the past week as I have had a nanny here looking after the munchkins so that I can get work done. Horrible accounts that I can't stand doing, but I don't trust anyone else to do them as well and as accurately as me, so I have had days of MYOB. I've got one more day of that tomorrow and then once that is up to date, I am going to really focus on where I want my business to go. That is the Human Resources side of things. I've worked out that I really don't want to go back to full-time work in HR. I love my mummy time, my study time and my art time and I enjoy having this balance. I do however really want to do some HR work as I actually miss being "professional Melissa" and I miss my business suits (is that silly?). So I was in talks about a 2 day a week HR Manager contract role but I realised that this wasn't what I wanted either. So what I am going to do, is to set myself up doing HR consultancy with small businesses and make it easy for them to have the right employee practices and health and safety practices. I think there is a real gap in the construction industry in particular and employers are getting stung as they aren't following the legal requirements with things like H&S and dismissals etc. As my dear husband is in this industry, I've got a pretty good idea of what it is all about so I'm going to really spend some time putting thought into how I will market myself and setting up the basics. I'm really excited about it and I think that is what will fit best into my life now.

On a side note, I got the email the other day saying that I have been accepted for The Affordable Art Show down in Wellington shortly so I'm really pleased about that and will be sending two pieces done. Must go as I need to send a folder of drawings down to TLC this afternoon so I need to catch up and draw today. I've got my easel in the lounge and can draw while kiddies are playing at my feet (although Carter tries to draw on the bottom corner of the paper which is all he can reach).