First Attempt At Self Portrait Friday

Blogging and participating in blogging events helps keep me motivated to try new things.
Something I find helpful when working in a home studio and not socializing as much as I'm used to.

I've admired Andrew Thornton's posts for his Self Portrait Fridays (of which he has taken a break from).
The origination of the Self Portrait Fridays comes from Nina Bagley's Blog: Ornamental

 Looking at myself in the mirror, I don't recognize the person that is standing there…

But maybe in a photograph I will...

 Where has this person that I am seeing come from?

 I find that I am rarely in front of the camera.

Somewhat because I'm not happy with my outer appearance.

And I am usually the one with the camera in hand.

So I decided to finally just sit down and take some pictures...

 I can feel the smile - and what that looks like because that one thing I am rarely without...

 And the rolls of fat that have accumulated over the last 10 to 15 years…

I hate the feeling of them, of the sweat accumulated there in the summer…

I loathe summer because of it.

Well, fat sweat and mosquitos...

 But even those, albeit uncomfortable to feel - the fat, not the smile… 

Make me who I am…

At least on the outside...

I am going to try to look inward and take pictures to express that...

The fat is what happens when you become a shell of yourself when overwhelmed at what life throws at you. 

Good (like real Italian food from a family that loves to eat… and eat… and eat)

Bad (losing my mom to Leukemia 3 years ago)

Both Good and Bad (my work selling well = lots of sitting work = bad eating habits & less exercise)

So now is the time for me to look at this person I have become and figure out what in life she wants…

It is a time in my life of great change and many things happening...

Chloe painting. Summer 2010.

I want to paint…

I should take lessons from my two year old daughter on that one…

I actually think I might!

Chloe painting the wall tile at Longwood Gardens.

She adores painting - with anything!

And she is so much like me… 

in the little details and quirks…

And I am so much like my parents… 

qualities of both…

And she is developing the sense of humor & whit of her father…

And he is rubbing off on me a bit too - at least the laughter part…

Dave allows me to smile and find happiness within myself…

He is such an amazing person…

I hope by finding out who I am, and who I want to be - I can help him do the same…

Or at least give him the tools he needs to relax and enjoy life a bit more...