Josefa’s Portrait
For several weeks in July I labored over this portrait of Josefa, a sweet little doll I adopted in 2019. It was a very challenging project for me as a beginner in acrylics. (I said “Crap!” a lot as I worked.) I had no idea how to paint a carriage—or a doll’s eyes or nose or skin. My previous subjects had been pretty much limited to teddy bears, which, compared to dolls, are a cinch to paint. I messed up so many parts of this painting (in it, for example, Josefa appears to have some serious bruising about the head), but, hey, at least I persevered to the end. At least I finished it! Hopefully I learned a few lessons in the process and my next attempt will go a little more smoothly!


Adorable! You’re much too hard on yourself. You did a lovely job.