mission accomplished

I was so thrilled last week to have finished the first portrait painting that I've done in the last 17 years (besides some sets and mural painting)! Yep, she's done... and I completed her right before my birthday, as I'd hoped to (happy b-day to me!). First mission accomplished, and I've already got so much new stuff churning up inside me; ideas waiting to be explored, designs to discover, work I'm eager to meet on paper and canvas. Here's my folksy Guinevere (who's many imperfections are already glaring at me)...

"The Lady Guinevere"
Acrylics and collaged papers on 20x24" stretched canvas.

I've especially enjoyed the collaging aspect of this piece, which has been something new to me. I'm looking forward to experimenting more with collage; fascinated by all of the interesting textures and design elements from the papers that show through once layers of paint have been removed. These methods seem to really organically facilitate my creative process and I like the *building* effect it gives; layer upon layer.
I took some macro pics to show up close some of the details, which you can click here to view on flickr. I do wish that I had taken more pictures of  her at different stages during the creative process (like the underpainting in paynes gray & titanium white), but was so into the working at that point that I didn't even think to stop. Also, it was night-time and I was working by lamp-light with not the greatest lighting for taking pics at that point anyways, so it's probably just as well. I did get one though, here:

I do plan to take more pics during the creating process on the next one though (which I've already started)!
Here's the illustration that inspired my painting, from a book we have here at home, which you can see online here. Obviously I made quite a few changes, and would have included more (like the jousting knights in the background) had I'd started with a larger canvas, but I'm fairly pleased with her as the first piece I've done in a long time. Honestly, it just feels so good to be engaged and working creatively with my hands in this manner again. I'm very excited about adding papers to my pallet too.