Thoughts to share, ideas to ponder

I "saw" this painting in my head--after seeing an iphone photo of her holding her bow and arrow at the ready--about 6 months before I started it, beginning with having her pose outside in a beautiful southern California hillside setting with all of her archery gear. 

And then there was an additional study, painting the surrounding vegetation when the "post spring rain" green had diminished a bit to the more usual color.

This painting summarizes an ideal, but one that is achievable: This young girl is strong, unselfconscious, feminine in her skirt, practical in her boots, focused, and determined. 

She is a real "girly girl".