Windows

More Burnt Sienna goes onto the palette.

'Careful. Not too much. You'll need what's left for the big canvas.'

'Wish it covered better. Hate having to paint over and over it again.'

'Where are the corners of my eye? There. We'll say there… and there. 'Everything goes out from there.'

'God my eyes are bloodshot.'

'Shape of the eyes seems right. Is my nose that wide? Seems so.'

'Lessee… Put in some eyebrows, sink in the eyes with a bit a shadow… add some shape to the head. Put in some wrinkles for reference.' [Smiling.]

Sweater goes back on. Sleeves get pulled up. Another look in the mirror.

"Lookit all those wrinkles. 'Vanity?' Yeah, right. More like 'reality check.'"

'I'm getting old, aren't I?'

I stand back and look.

'I look scared or startled or something, but I'm not. Naw, just more shading and wrinkles around the eyes are needed is all.'

'This looks like crap. The colors are all wrong.'

'Keep going. It'll all work itself out.'

'The eyes… windows to the soul,' I've heard.'

'Spose they are.'

Sweater comes off again.

'Time to switch to a smaller brush.'