Sharbat Gula

Sweetwater flower girl

It's not a perfect likeness by far, but I guess none of my portraits ever are. First of all, the subject in the drawing is a thirteen year old Afghan girl whose portrait was photographed by Steve McCurry in 1984. She was a refugee of the border conflict between the Soviets and Afghanistan in the early eighties and shortly before the photo which was used as reference for this drawing had been taken, she witnessed the destruction of her village and the death of both her parents. The human eye has for quite some time been my favorite subject to draw, so it seemed fitting to draw a portrait of someone bearing such a striking gaze. There it is, for all it's worth, now I must retire to bed.

West and Wewaxation

Wednesday-- slept late, mowed the yard, packed, attended a viewing for a co-worker's brother, drove to the cabin, read, ate, slept

Thursday-- slept late, ate, read, slept, read, ate, slept, read

Friday-- ate & read. Watched it rain all day. No sleeping.

Saturday-- ate, drove to State College, found several art galleries and a musuem. Looked at $3500 prints and $10,000 originals for sale. Laughed. Ate. Slept.

Sunday-- ate, read, slept, cleaned, came home.

I have two more days off until my fall vacation is over. I have big plans.