It's a brand new year, ladies and gentlemen. 2009 to be exact. We can thank Julius Caesar for creating the Julian Calendar which quickly lead to the calendar system we now recognize, but we can thank this month's Toil girl Elizabeth for ushering in a new calendar year with such grace and beauty.

My personal input on this portrait is that the art was solely inspired by Elizabeth's soft and feminine features. When she first began sending me photos of herself to work from, I was at awe of her delicate facial features. In all sincerity she looked to be a renaissance artist's dream. Clear, bright hazel eyes, tender lips, gorgeous cheek bones, and a full, flowing flock of honey-colored hair to frame her face. In her gentle appearance Elizabeth seemed almost angelic to me, and I knew I didn't need to render her with wings and a harp for her to appear that way to the patrons of this gallery. The soft colors didn't hinder my objective either.

Now that I've waxed aesthetically on Elizabeth's portrait, let's find out a little something about Elizabeth herself--from Elizabeth herself!

As soon as I saw Les Toil's Toil Girls I knew I HAD to be one! I am a single mom and business owner and keep very busy trying to stay on top of day-to-day life, so working with Les on this portrait of me enjoying a more relaxing time was a great diversion. I live in a beach town in Southern California with my son and two dogs. I love spending time with good friends, cooking a good meal, drinking some champagne, and relaxing with a good book. I like being catered to (and who doesn't?), going to the movies, good conversation and people with a great sense of humor.

Thanks immensely for such a nice, pleasant and tranquil portrait theme. I hope those adjectives also define this new year we face. In January is looking this attractive, things can only get better.

Hugs and great wishes to you and yours, Elizabeth, as well as to everyone out there within eye's reach of this.