When you think you can't do it

What insurmountable thing gives you fear and trepidation? Whenever I reach for a brand new blank canvas my insecurities start to bubble up and I begin to question whether or not I'm up to the task. It's my earnest intention to enter the studio humble and God-dependent, but, you know...the project takes over the consciousness and intentions are lost.


This good man brought freshly caught shrimp to our resort every morning in Mazatlan. We could watch the shrimp boat lights out on the water at night  from our deck. We bought a couple pounds of large beautiful shrimp from him during our stay and prepared them ala Bubba (Forest Gump) style through the week. 


So I wanted to try painting him. Very intimidating! And I wanted to do it using the skills I've learned in the last couple years: good drawing, large shapes, values, shape relationships, perspective. Though there's no rule against them, I wanted to forgo shortcuts like tracing his outline. I wanted to make myself really see what I was looking at. Of course, I was looking at a photograph and a purist might give a thumbs-down to that. Live figure drawing might be my next frontier.


Doesn't he have such an interesting face? And that hat! Is that even ok to have the Pope on a hat?? 

So here is my painting and I had so much fun doing it! What do you think?